Nonogram Guides & Tutorials

New to Nonograms? Start small, learn the one trick that solves most puzzles, then work your way up. Everything here is free, and every board has exactly one answer, so you never have to guess.

Start here

• What is a Nonogram? — the rules explained in plain English, plus the other names this puzzle goes by.
• How to play Nonogram — rules, desktop & mobile controls (including long-press Mark X), first 5×5, with picture lessons.
• How to solve Nonograms — a step-by-step beginner tutorial with the overlap method and diagrams.
• Nonogram tips for beginners — ten habits that stop you from guessing.
• Nonogram rules for beginners — the complete rules, the gap rule, and a full 5×5 walkthrough.
• How to read Nonogram clues — single and multiple numbers, minimum line length, and worked examples.

Go deeper

• Nonogram strategies — edge logic, counting shortcuts, and how to work a board efficiently.
• Nonogram vs Picross — why the same puzzle has so many names.
• Nonogram variants — color, hex, and other designs explained.
• The overlap method — the single most useful Nonogram technique, with worked examples.
• The history of Nonograms — from late-1980s Japan to daily digital puzzles.

Practice what you learn

The fastest way to improve is to solve a little every day. Start with a beginner Nonogram, try a 10×10, or open today’s Nonogram.