What is a Nonogram?
A Nonogram is a logic puzzle where you fill in a grid of cells according to number clues on the side. Each number tells you how many consecutive filled cells appear in that row or column, in order — with at least one empty cell between each group. The goal is to reveal a hidden pattern using pure logic, no guessing required.
Nonograms go by many names — Picross, Griddlers, Hanjie, Paint by Numbers, Pic-a-Pix — but they all describe the same puzzle. The name you know usually depends on where you grew up or which game series you first encountered them in.
Read more about Nonogram vs Picross and other names →
How to Play
Each row and column has a list of numbers above or to the left of it. A clue like 3 1 means there is a group of 3 filled cells, then a gap, then 1 filled cell — in that order. A clue of 0 means the entire line is empty.
Start with the lines where the numbers leave very little room to move — these give you the most information earliest. Cross-reference the rows and columns you've partially solved to narrow down the rest.
Want a deeper breakdown of solving techniques?
Read the full Nonogram strategy guide →
About this site
nonogram.ch is a free daily Nonogram puzzle site built and maintained by Juulian, based in St. Gallen, Switzerland. A new puzzle is published every day at midnight. There is no app, no account, and no subscription required — just open the site and play.
The site is part of a small family of free logic puzzle sites. If you enjoy Nonograms you might also like shikaku.ch, a daily Shikaku puzzle site with a global leaderboard.
nonogram.ch is completely free and always will be.
If you enjoy it, a coffee goes a long way.
☕ Buy me a coffee
FAQ
Is nonogram.ch free?
Yes, completely free. No account, no subscription, no ads that get in the way of playing.
Do I need to create an account?
No. Your progress, streak, and best times are saved automatically in your browser. Nothing is tied to an account.
How often is a new puzzle published?
One new puzzle per size (5×5, 10×10, 15×15, 20×20) every day at midnight. That's four fresh puzzles every 24 hours.
What is the difference between a Nonogram and Picross?
Nothing — they are exactly the same puzzle. Picross is the name Nintendo uses for their series; Nonogram is the more common name for the puzzle type in general.
Read the full comparison →
Is there a mobile app?
No app needed — the site works directly in your mobile browser. Just open nonogram.ch and add it to your home screen for a near-app experience.
Can I play past puzzles?
Not currently. The
unlimited play page lets you generate as many fresh puzzles as you like in any size.
If you enjoy Nonograms on paper
There is something satisfying about solving these with a pencil. Here is a well-rated book if you want to take it offline:
📖
Nonogram Puzzle Book — 200 Puzzles
View on Amazon →
As an Amazon Associate, nonogram.ch earns a small commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
Privacy Policy
nonogram.ch uses Google Analytics to understand how visitors use the site (pages visited, time on site, country). This data is anonymised and aggregated — no personally identifiable information is collected.
The site uses Google AdSense to display advertisements. AdSense may use cookies to serve ads based on your prior visits to this or other websites. You can opt out of personalised advertising at google.com/settings/ads.
Your puzzle progress, streak, and best times are stored in your browser's localStorage. This data never leaves your device and is not transmitted to any server.
Leaderboard submissions (name, country, and solve time) are stored in a database to power the public leaderboard. No email address or account is required, and submissions are voluntary.
This site contains affiliate links to Amazon. If you purchase a product through one of these links, nonogram.ch may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
For questions about your data, contact juulian@gmail.com.