Play Nonogram Online — Free Picture Logic Puzzle
Introduction
Nonogram is a picture logic puzzle that hides an image inside a grid of numbers. Each row and column carries clues that tell you exactly how many cells to fill in, in what order — and your job is to deduce which cells are filled and which stay empty. There is no guessing involved: every square can be worked out from the clues alone. Solve the grid and the hidden picture is revealed. Play it free in your browser with puzzles at several difficulty levels and no download.
About Nonogram
The nonogram was invented in the late 1980s, first in Japan and independently in Sweden, and became a worldwide puzzle craze under several names. The idea is elegant: a row with the clue "3 1" means there is a block of three filled cells, then at least one empty cell, then a block of one filled cell — in that exact order.
Solving a nonogram is pure deduction. You cannot see the picture while you work, only the numbers, and the numbers fully determine the answer. Every row you solve gives you information that constrains the columns, and every column you solve does the same for the rows. The picture at the end is the reward for a chain of logical steps.
This version is an open-source implementation by HandsomeOne, released under the MIT licence, and includes a puzzle generator so you always have fresh puzzles at easy, medium and hard difficulty. It runs entirely in your browser with no account and no download, and the controls work equally well with a mouse or on a touchscreen.
How to Play Nonogram
Read the row clues.
The numbers at the start of each row and above each column describe the blocks of filled cells in that line, in order. A clue of "2 1" means a block of two, then a block of one, separated by at least one empty cell.
Mark filled cells.
Click or tap a cell to fill it in. When you are sure a cell must be empty, mark it with an X instead — knowing where cells are not filled is just as important as knowing where they are.
Work across rows and columns.
Solve one line at a time, using what you learn from rows to constrain columns and vice versa. Each solved line makes the rest of the grid easier.
Reveal the picture.
When every row and column satisfies its clues, the filled cells form the hidden picture and the puzzle is solved.
Choose a difficulty.
Start with an easy puzzle to learn the rhythm, then move to medium and hard grids as your deduction speed improves.
Nonogram Controls
| Action | Desktop | Mobile |
|---|---|---|
| Fill a cell | Click a cell | Tap a cell |
| Mark a cell as empty | Right-click a cell, or click with the X tool selected | Use the X tool, then tap a cell |
| Clear a cell | Click a filled cell with the erase tool | Use the erase tool, then tap a cell |
| Switch tools | Click the fill, X or erase tool button | Tap the fill, X or erase tool button |
| Undo last action | Click the Undo button | Tap the Undo button |
| Restart the puzzle | Click the Restart button | Tap the Restart button |
| Choose difficulty | Select Easy, Medium or Hard before starting | Select Easy, Medium or Hard before starting |
| Fullscreen | Click the fullscreen button above the grid | Tap the fullscreen button above the grid |
| Exit fullscreen | Escape key | Tap the fullscreen button again |
Nonogram Tips & Strategies
Start with the longest clue
In every row and column, the longest block is the most constrained. A row of ten cells with a clue of "7" has very few possible positions, and you can usually fill in the overlapping cells immediately.
Use the overlap rule
For any block, count how many cells it must occupy from each end. If the block is longer than half the line, some cells are guaranteed filled no matter where it sits — fill those in first.
Mark empties as you go
Every cell you prove empty is a constraint removed. Marking Xs early keeps your working memory clear and makes the next deduction easier to see.
Work the edges inward
Cells at the edges of a row are easier to pin down than cells in the middle. Solve the outer lines first, then use the columns they constrain to push inward.
Re-read a line after every breakthrough
Solving one row often unlocks several columns. After a big deduction, scan the lines it touches again — new information usually makes old lines solvable.
Never guess
Nonograms are always solvable by logic alone. If you feel stuck, you have missed a deduction, not reached a fork in the road. Look for a line with only a few possibilities and test them.
What makes Nonogram worth playing
- Picture logic puzzles with a built-in generator at three difficulties
- Runs entirely in your browser with no download or plugin
- Fill, mark-empty and erase tools plus undo
- Deduction puzzles with no guessing required
- Open source under the MIT licence with credit to the developer
Game Info
| Developer | HandsomeOne |
|---|---|
| Released | 2015 |
| Genre | Puzzle, Logic |
| Players | Single player |
| Technology | HTML5 / JavaScript |
| Platforms | Desktop, Tablet, Mobile browser |
| Average session | About 12 minutes |
| Licence | MIT |
| Last updated |
What kind of game Nonogram is
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Nonogram — Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nonogram free to play?
Yes, completely. The game is open source under the MIT licence and free to play here with no payment, no sign-up and no premium version.
What do the numbers on a nonogram mean?
The numbers tell you the blocks of filled cells in that row or column, in order. For example, "2 1" means a block of two filled cells followed by a block of one, with at least one empty cell between them.
Do I need to guess in a nonogram?
No. Every puzzle is solvable by logic alone. If you feel forced to guess, you have missed a deduction — try a line with only a couple of possible arrangements.
Can I play Nonogram on my phone?
Yes. Tap a cell to fill it, and switch tools for marking empty cells. The game works in portrait and landscape on mobile browsers.
Are there different difficulty levels?
Yes. The game includes easy, medium and hard puzzles, which change the size of the grid and the complexity of the clues.
What is the picture at the end?
Each puzzle hides a small picture that appears when you solve the grid correctly. The picture is the reward for completing the logical chain.
What other logic puzzles are on this site?
If you enjoy deduction, Sudoku and Minesweeper are both pure logic puzzles on the same category page, free in your browser with no download.
Licence & Attribution
Nonogram by HandsomeOne · MIT License
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