hop to playPlay Nonograms

How to play
Nonograms

A picture,
one certainty at a time.

Those numbers are instructions for a hidden picture. Learn to read them, make a few sure moves, and watch something appear.

Scroll to discover Quick rules
2 1two togetherthen one2, 1
Follow the clues.
Let the picture be the surprise.

Numbers become groups.

Across a row, read left to right. A clue of 2, 1 means two filled squares together, then one separate filled square.

Keep that order. It does not mean three squares anywhere.

2 together. A gap. Then 1. This is one possible arrangement, not the only one.

Read columns from top to bottom. The clues always keep their order.

The empty space matters.

Two groups must have at least one empty square between them. Without that gap they would merge into one longer group.

Here the first two squares are filled, and square 4 is filled. Look at square 3, outlined in blue. What belongs between the groups?

Clue 2, 1. The third square separates the two groups.

What goes in square 3?

Choose a move. We’ll follow the reason together.

Read the answer

Yes. Cross square 3. Filling it would join all four filled squares into a group of 4, which does not match 2, 1. Square 5 must also stay empty.

A cross records “definitely empty”. A blank square means “not decided yet”. Neither is a filled square.

Keep what cannot move.

A single group of 4 has only two places to fit in a line of 5. Push it all the way left. Now all the way right.

The three middle squares are covered in both positions. That is overlap: they must be filled, whichever position eventually works. The two ends are still undecided.

4 filled squares. Only 5 places.

As far left as it goes
As far right as it goes
What stays the same?
Two possible placements. The same three squares covered in both.

Move the slider to compare the two possible positions. Only the three shared squares are certain.

Which squares are certain fills?

Choose a move. We’ll follow the reason together.

Read the answer

Exactly. Both placements cover squares 2, 3 and 4. Fill those three. Squares 1 and 5 are undecided: either one could be the empty end.

Fill only the overlap. Choosing an end now would be a guess. An undecided square is not an empty-square cross.

Across meets down.

Now open the line into a 5 × 5 puzzle. Left-hand clues read across; top clues read down.

Every square belongs to both a row and a column. A discovery in one direction helps you in the other.

Our worked puzzle. No squares decided yet. Filled squares are solid blue; crosses mean empty; blank squares are undecided.
Row clues on the left, column clues aboveColumn 1, clue 2Column 2, clue 4Column 3, clue 4Column 4, clue 4Column 5, clue 2
Row 1, clue 1 then 1Row 1, column 1, undecidedRow 1, column 2, undecidedRow 1, column 3, undecidedRow 1, column 4, undecidedRow 1, column 5, undecided
Row 2, clue 5Row 2, column 1, undecidedRow 2, column 2, undecidedRow 2, column 3, undecidedRow 2, column 4, undecidedRow 2, column 5, undecided
Row 3, clue 5Row 3, column 1, undecidedRow 3, column 2, undecidedRow 3, column 3, undecidedRow 3, column 4, undecidedRow 3, column 5, undecided
Row 4, clue 3Row 4, column 1, undecidedRow 4, column 2, undecidedRow 4, column 3, undecidedRow 4, column 4, undecidedRow 4, column 5, undecided
Row 5, clue 1Row 5, column 1, undecidedRow 5, column 2, undecidedRow 5, column 3, undecidedRow 5, column 4, undecidedRow 5, column 5, undecided
Our worked puzzle. No squares decided yet.

We will use only what the clues force. No picture guessing, no trial and error.

Three columns give us a foothold.

Columns 2, 3 and 4 each ask for a single group of 4 in five squares. The overlap you just found works vertically too.

Fill rows 2, 3 and 4 in each of those columns. Nine squares are now certain. Leave the ends undecided.

The middle three squares of each 4-clue column are filled. Filled squares are solid blue; crosses mean empty; blank squares are undecided.
Row clues on the left, column clues aboveColumn 1, clue 2Column 2, clue 4Column 3, clue 4Column 4, clue 4Column 5, clue 2
Row 1, clue 1 then 1Row 1, column 1, undecidedRow 1, column 2, undecidedRow 1, column 3, undecidedRow 1, column 4, undecidedRow 1, column 5, undecided
Row 2, clue 5Row 2, column 1, undecidedRow 2, column 2, filledRow 2, column 3, filledRow 2, column 4, filledRow 2, column 5, undecided
Row 3, clue 5Row 3, column 1, undecidedRow 3, column 2, filledRow 3, column 3, filledRow 3, column 4, filledRow 3, column 5, undecided
Row 4, clue 3Row 4, column 1, undecidedRow 4, column 2, filledRow 4, column 3, filledRow 4, column 4, filledRow 4, column 5, undecided
Row 5, clue 1Row 5, column 1, undecidedRow 5, column 2, undecidedRow 5, column 3, undecidedRow 5, column 4, undecidedRow 5, column 5, undecided
The middle three squares of each 4-clue column are filled.

A clue of 4 does not always start at the top. We have proved the middle, not the ends.

Five means all five.

Rows 2 and 3 each have a clue of 5. All five squares must be filled: the line and the group are the same length.

Extend the two rows to both edges. These four new squares will settle the outside columns next.

Rows 2 and 3 are completely filled. Their clues are satisfied. Filled squares are solid blue; crosses mean empty; blank squares are undecided.
Row clues on the left, column clues aboveColumn 1, clue 2Column 2, clue 4Column 3, clue 4Column 4, clue 4Column 5, clue 2
Row 1, clue 1 then 1Row 1, column 1, undecidedRow 1, column 2, undecidedRow 1, column 3, undecidedRow 1, column 4, undecidedRow 1, column 5, undecided
Row 2, clue 5Row 2, column 1, filledRow 2, column 2, filledRow 2, column 3, filledRow 2, column 4, filledRow 2, column 5, filled
Row 3, clue 5Row 3, column 1, filledRow 3, column 2, filledRow 3, column 3, filledRow 3, column 4, filledRow 3, column 5, filled
Row 4, clue 3Row 4, column 1, undecidedRow 4, column 2, filledRow 4, column 3, filledRow 4, column 4, filledRow 4, column 5, undecided
Row 5, clue 1Row 5, column 1, undecidedRow 5, column 2, undecidedRow 5, column 3, undecidedRow 5, column 4, undecidedRow 5, column 5, undecided
Rows 2 and 3 are completely filled. Their clues are satisfied.

If the groups plus their minimum gaps use the entire line, their positions are fixed.

A finished group tells you more.

Columns 1 and 5 each need a single group of 2. The filled squares in rows 2 and 3 already make that group.

Cross every other square in those two columns. Another filled square would make the group too long or add an extra group.

The outside columns are settled: two fills, with every other square crossed. Filled squares are solid blue; crosses mean empty; blank squares are undecided.
Row clues on the left, column clues aboveColumn 1, clue 2Column 2, clue 4Column 3, clue 4Column 4, clue 4Column 5, clue 2
Row 1, clue 1 then 1Row 1, column 1, crossed, emptyRow 1, column 2, undecidedRow 1, column 3, undecidedRow 1, column 4, undecidedRow 1, column 5, crossed, empty
Row 2, clue 5Row 2, column 1, filledRow 2, column 2, filledRow 2, column 3, filledRow 2, column 4, filledRow 2, column 5, filled
Row 3, clue 5Row 3, column 1, filledRow 3, column 2, filledRow 3, column 3, filledRow 3, column 4, filledRow 3, column 5, filled
Row 4, clue 3Row 4, column 1, crossed, emptyRow 4, column 2, filledRow 4, column 3, filledRow 4, column 4, filledRow 4, column 5, crossed, empty
Row 5, clue 1Row 5, column 1, crossed, emptyRow 5, column 2, undecidedRow 5, column 3, undecidedRow 5, column 4, undecidedRow 5, column 5, crossed, empty
The outside columns are settled: two fills, with every other square crossed.

Crosses are useful evidence. Carry them back into the rows they share.

The gap does the work.

Return to row 1. Its clue is 1, 1, and the two ends are now crossed. Only three squares remain available.

One fill, one mandatory gap, one fill: that uses all three. Fill columns 2 and 4. What must happen to the middle square, row 1, column 3?

Row 1 has room for exactly: fill, gap, fill. Filled squares are solid blue; crosses mean empty; blank squares are undecided.
Row clues on the left, column clues aboveColumn 1, clue 2Column 2, clue 4Column 3, clue 4Column 4, clue 4Column 5, clue 2
Row 1, clue 1 then 1Row 1, column 1, crossed, emptyRow 1, column 2, filledRow 1, column 3, undecidedRow 1, column 4, filledRow 1, column 5, crossed, empty
Row 2, clue 5Row 2, column 1, filledRow 2, column 2, filledRow 2, column 3, filledRow 2, column 4, filledRow 2, column 5, filled
Row 3, clue 5Row 3, column 1, filledRow 3, column 2, filledRow 3, column 3, filledRow 3, column 4, filledRow 3, column 5, filled
Row 4, clue 3Row 4, column 1, crossed, emptyRow 4, column 2, filledRow 4, column 3, filledRow 4, column 4, filledRow 4, column 5, crossed, empty
Row 5, clue 1Row 5, column 1, crossed, emptyRow 5, column 2, undecidedRow 5, column 3, undecidedRow 5, column 4, undecidedRow 5, column 5, crossed, empty
Row 1 has room for exactly: fill, gap, fill.

Row 1, column 3: fill or cross?

Choose a move. We’ll follow the reason together.

Read the answer

Yes. The middle is the mandatory gap between the two 1s. Row 1 is now cross, fill, cross, fill, cross. Its cross also fixes the 4 in column 3.

Count the gaps as well as the fills: 1 + 1 empty + 1 = 3 squares.

Now the picture appears.

Row 1 is filled at columns 2 and 4, with a cross at column 3. Column 3 needs four consecutive fills. Since its top square is crossed, its group must run from row 2 to row 5. Fill the bottom square.

Columns 2 and 4 already have their groups of four, from rows 1 to 4. Cross their bottom squares. Row 5 now has its single fill, and row 4 has its group of three. Every clue matches.

The complete worked solution. All five row clues and five column clues match. Filled squares are solid blue; crosses mean empty; blank squares are undecided.
Row clues on the left, column clues aboveColumn 1, clue 2Column 2, clue 4Column 3, clue 4Column 4, clue 4Column 5, clue 2
Row 1, clue 1 then 1Row 1, column 1, crossed, emptyRow 1, column 2, filledRow 1, column 3, crossed, emptyRow 1, column 4, filledRow 1, column 5, crossed, empty
Row 2, clue 5Row 2, column 1, filledRow 2, column 2, filledRow 2, column 3, filledRow 2, column 4, filledRow 2, column 5, filled
Row 3, clue 5Row 3, column 1, filledRow 3, column 2, filledRow 3, column 3, filledRow 3, column 4, filledRow 3, column 5, filled
Row 4, clue 3Row 4, column 1, crossed, emptyRow 4, column 2, filledRow 4, column 3, filledRow 4, column 4, filledRow 4, column 5, crossed, empty
Row 5, clue 1Row 5, column 1, crossed, emptyRow 5, column 2, crossed, emptyRow 5, column 3, filledRow 5, column 4, crossed, emptyRow 5, column 5, crossed, empty
The complete worked solution. All five row clues and five column clues match.

A little heart, discovered a square at a time. You never needed to know what it was going to be.

Now uncover your own

This picture
is yours to find.

A fresh 5 × 5. No prefilled squares, no timer. Start with a full line, then let each discovery help the next.

Practice stays here while this page is open. Your regular games and saves are separate.

Your 5 by 5 starter puzzle Filled squares are solid blue; crosses mean empty; blank squares are undecided.
Row clues on the left, column clues aboveColumn 1, clue 1Column 2, clue 3Column 3, clue 4Column 4, clue 5Column 5, clue 1
Row 1, clue 1
Row 2, clue 2
Row 3, clue 3
Row 4, clue 5
Row 5, clue 3
0 of 10 lines settled5 × 5

FilledEmptyUndecided

Look for a 5. Which row or column can you fill completely?

How to mark a square

Choose Fill or Cross, then tap a square. Tap again to clear that mark. Erase clears any square. A right-click also toggles a cross.

Keyboard: Tab into the board. Arrow keys move. F fills, X crosses, Delete or Backspace erases. Enter or Space uses the selected tool. Tab leaves the board.

Crosses are notes. You finish when the filled groups match every clue, even if some empty squares are not crossed.

Continue to the game
Your marks will make the picture here.

Take that little
certainty with you.

Read the groups. Leave their gaps. Keep what every placement shares. You have everything you need to begin another picture.

Play Nonograms

Free to play. No account needed.

The quick rules.

  1. Numbers describe filled groups. Each number is the length of one consecutive group.
  2. Read in order. Left to right across rows; top to bottom down columns.
  3. Separate groups. Leave at least one empty square between neighbouring groups. There may be more empty squares, including at the ends.
  4. Match both directions. Every row and column must match its clues. A 0 means the whole line is empty.

A cross means empty; a blank means undecided. Crosses help you think, but are optional for completion in our game.

Back to the guided lesson

One more thing?

Are 2, 1 and 1, 2 the same clue?

No. The groups keep their order. Across a row, 2, 1 puts the two-square group before the single square. In a column, it puts that group above the single square.

Must a group touch the edge?

No. Empty squares can come before the first group or after the last. Only fill an edge when the clues prove it.

Can filled squares touch diagonally?

Yes. There is no diagonal restriction. Clues describe horizontal and vertical groups only.

Does overlap finish the whole line?

Often it only gives you a few certain squares. Leave the other squares undecided until a row or column proves more. An undecided square is not a cross.

What if I make a mistake?

Undo a recent move, or choose Erase. Explain a move checks your current marks; if they contradict the clues it tells you to revise them. It does not silently correct the board.