How to play nonograms

A short introduction for anyone who has seen picross grids and wants to know how they actually work.

Practical tactics that work on almost every nonogram, from beginner grids to larger boards.

The full set of nonogram rules, kept short.

Small habits that make nonograms much easier, especially on your first few boards.

Why the same puzzle has so many names, and which one to use.

Nonograms, sudoku, and slide puzzles all reward patience and logic, but each exercises a different skill — reading clues, placing numbers, or ordering tiles. Here's how the three compare, and which one fits the mood you're in.