Nonogram Variants Explained
Nonogram variants keep the same idea — clues describe runs of filled cells that form a picture — but change colors, grid shape, or spacing rules. NonogramGo ships two playable modes today: classic black & white and color Nonogram.
Classic square Nonogram (black & white)
Each row and column lists the lengths of consecutive filled blocks, in order. Between two blocks you leave at least one empty cell. A well-designed board has a unique solution you can reach by logic alone — no guessing.
Synonyms online include Picross (a Nintendo brand name — we mention it only as a synonym), Hanjie, Griddlers, and Japanese crossword. The homepage board, Daily Challenge, solver, and printables all use this classic form.
New here? Start with a beginner 5×5 on the home board, then read how to solve Nonograms for overlap and edge techniques.
Color Nonogram
Color Nonograms replace a single “filled” state with several palette colors. Each clue number sits on a colored chip: the number is the run length, the chip color is which paint to use. Under ordered colored-run rules (the mode NonogramGo uses), blocks are listed left→right / top→bottom. Same-color blocks still need at least one empty between them; different colors may touch.
Pick a swatch, paint cells, and mark empties with X — the same muscle memory as classic, with color as an extra constraint. Themes include animals, food, nature, objects, and a photo pack.
Play Color Nonogram How to play
Hexagonal Nonogram
Hex grids give each cell up to six neighbors and typically three clue directions instead of two. Search interest is niche, so NonogramGo documents the idea here rather than shipping a full hex mode yet.
Circular and experimental layouts
Hobby tools occasionally offer rings, wedges, or irregular shapes. They are fun experiments, but keyword demand is thin and interaction is harder on phones. We treat them as encyclopedia topics for now.
How NonogramGo chooses what to build
We prioritize by search demand and engineering cost. Classic black & white remains the default Daily and homepage experience. Color is live as a first-class variant. Hex and circular stay content-only until Search Console shows a clear signal.
FAQ
What Nonogram variants exist?
Classic square (black & white), color, hexagonal, and rarer circular or experimental layouts.
Does NonogramGo support color Nonograms?
Yes — play free color boards at /nonogram/color/.
Should beginners start with a variant?
Learn classic black-and-white first on Black&White, then try color when you are comfortable reading multi-block clues.
Play Color Nonogram Play Black&White What is a Nonogram?