Nonogram vs Picross: What Is the Difference?
Short answer: there is no difference in the puzzle itself. Nonogram and Picross describe the same kind of logic puzzle, where numbers beside each row and column tell you the lengths of the filled blocks and you fill the grid to reveal a picture.
Why the puzzle has so many names
| Name | Where it comes from |
|---|---|
| Nonogram | The most common international name, used in most puzzle books and websites. |
| Picross | Nintendo brand name for its long-running puzzle series. Picross is a Nintendo trademark. |
| Hanjie | Widely used in the United Kingdom and Australia. |
| Griddlers | Popularised by a puzzle community website of the same name. |
| Japanese crossword | A descriptive name used in some European markets. |
| Picture cross | A descriptive name used by several mobile puzzle apps. |
Because the trademarked and descriptive names are all in circulation, the same puzzle can appear under six different terms. That is a naming difference, not a rules difference.
Where versions genuinely differ
Although the core rules are identical, digital implementations make different choices about how helpful to be:
- Error feedback. Some games flag a wrong cell immediately, others let you continue with a mistake.
- Hints and penalties. Some apply a single logical deduction, others reveal a whole line or apply a time penalty.
- Scoring. Time attacks, streak bonuses, and ranking systems vary by version.
- Colour and shapes. Colour Nonograms, triangular grids, and other variants change the puzzle rules themselves.
Which name should you search for?
If you want the classic black-and-white puzzle with the largest library of puzzles and the widest choice of sizes, search for Nonogram. If you specifically want Nintendo titles, search for Picross. If you are looking for printable puzzle books, Hanjie and Griddlers are also worth trying.
Try one now
Whatever you call it, the puzzle works the same way. Play a free Nonogram here, or read how to solve Nonograms if you are new to them.