How to play Nonograms
Nonograms are picture logic puzzles. Numbers beside each row and above each column tell you how many squares to fill in, and in what groups. Use the clues to decide which squares are filled and which are empty, and a hidden picture appears.
Step by step
Read the clues
Each row and column has numbers beside it. Each number is a block of filled squares in that line, in order.
Remember the gaps
Between two blocks in the same line there must be at least one empty square.
Start with big numbers
A large number in a short line overlaps itself, so some squares in the middle must be filled.
Mark empty squares
When you know a square is empty, mark it with a cross or dot so you do not fill it by mistake.
Work back and forth
Each square you fill or cross gives new information to the line running the other way.
Reveal the picture
When every clue is satisfied, the filled squares show a picture.
The full rules
What you need
A Nonogram is a grid of squares, such as 5 by 5, 10 by 10 or larger. Along the left of each row and above each column is a list of numbers. These are the clues.
The rules
Every square in the grid will end up either filled or empty.
The numbers beside a row tell you the blocks of filled squares in that row, from left to right. The numbers above a column tell you the blocks in that column, from top to bottom.
For example, a row with the clue 2 3 has:
- a block of 2 filled squares,
- then at least one empty square,
- then a block of 3 filled squares.
There may be empty squares before, between and after the blocks, but there must be at least one empty square between two blocks.
A clue of 0 means the whole line is empty.
Getting started
Full lines
If a clue fills the line exactly, you can fill it straight away. In a row of 10, the clue 10 fills everything. The clue 4 5 also fills it exactly: 4 squares, a gap, then 5 squares.
The overlap method
Large numbers often overlap. Take a row of 10 with the clue 7. If the block of 7 starts as far left as possible, it covers squares 1 to 7. If it starts as far right as possible, it covers squares 4 to 10. Squares 4 to 7 are covered either way, so they must be filled.
Marking empty squares
When a row is complete, mark all its other squares as empty with a cross or dot. Knowing where squares are empty is just as useful as knowing where they are filled.
Working through the puzzle
Nonograms are solved by going back and forth between rows and columns. Each time you fill a square or mark it empty, look at the line running the other way through that square. It may now give you something new.
Keep working steadily. Small clues near the edges often become clear once a few squares nearby are known.
Winning
The puzzle is complete when every row and column matches its clue. The filled squares then show a picture, such as an animal, a house or a teacup.
Common variants
- Colour Nonograms use clues in different colours. Blocks of different colours do not need a gap between them.
- Large puzzles of 20 by 20 or more can take an hour or two.
- Mini puzzles of 5 by 5 are perfect for learning.
Tips for beginners
- Start with the biggest clues. They give the most overlap.
- Look at the edges. If a square on the edge is filled, the first block must start there, so you can fill the rest of it.
- Use crosses generously. Marking empty squares stops many mistakes.
- Add up the clues. Add the numbers and the gaps between them. If the total is close to the line length, you can fill a lot at once.
- Never guess. If you are stuck, go round all the lines again. There is always a next step.
Common questions
What do the numbers mean in a Nonogram?
Each number is a block of filled squares in that row or column, in the order shown. A clue of 3 1 means a block of 3 filled squares, then at least one gap, then a single filled square.
What does a 0 clue mean?
A 0, or no numbers at all, means that row or column has no filled squares. Every square in it is empty.
Are Nonograms the same as Hanjie and paint by numbers?
Yes. Nonograms are known by several names, including Hanjie, paint by numbers and picture logic puzzles.
Do I need to guess?
No. A well-made Nonogram can be solved by logic alone, one line at a time.
What is the overlap method?
Imagine pushing a block as far left as it can go, then as far right. Any squares covered in both positions must be filled.
Where it comes from
Nonograms are thought to have been developed in Japan in the late 1980s, and the name comes partly from one of the people who first published them. They became popular in British newspapers in the 1990s and spread from there around the world. They are now published under many names in books, magazines and puzzle apps.
