Guide

Nonogram Tips for Beginners

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

ContentsPick small gridsSolve the certain cells firstUse X marks freelyPause when stuck

Pick small grids

Start with 10x10 boards and easy difficulty. Small grids teach the same rules as large ones, but the solve fits into a few minutes and mistakes are quick to undo.

Solve the certain cells first

Before guessing, fill every cell you can prove. Long runs, fully constrained lines, and obvious empties give you a solid base to build on.

Use X marks freely

X marks are your memory. Marking a cell as empty is just as useful as filling one in — both reduce the options for the rows and columns that cross it.

Pause when stuck

If a line stops giving new information, switch to a different row or column. You'll almost always come back to the stuck line with a fresh cell you can use.

Learn

Related guides

Guide What Is a Nonogram?

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

 Guide How to Solve Nonograms

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

 Guide Nonogram Rules

The full set of nonogram rules, kept short.

 Guide Picross vs Nonogram

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

Play

Beginner puzzle paths

Hub Nonograms for beginners

Small boards and learning links.

 Difficulty Easy nonograms

Beginner-friendly boards.

 Size 10x10 nonograms

The smallest standard grid page.

Try after reading

Recommended puzzles

Apple Nonogram solution preview

Fruits · Easy · 10x10

Apple Nonogram

Play Apple Nonogram, a 10x10 easy nonogram with a clean browser grid and saved progress.

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FAQ

Guide FAQ

Do I need experience to read this guide?

No. The guide pages explain everything from scratch and work even if you've never seen a nonogram before.

What should I try after reading?

Open an easy 10x10 puzzle. Small grids are the fastest way to practise the rules you've just read about.

Are these nonograms free?

Yes. Every nonogram on the site is free to play in your browser, with no account and no ads inside the game.

Is my progress saved?

Yes. Your moves, timer, and completion are saved in your browser as you play, so you can close the tab and pick up where you left off.