The Best Free Picross Game Has a Plot Line | Good Cheap Games

[@pirovanomg]

Dear Polygon, more BDG please.

[@kappaross6124]

(Additionally,) Dear BDG, more BDG, please.

[@pepinazco6558]

Oh no... :c

[@pirovanomg]

@@pepinazco6558 I mean, they gave me two more years.

[@torinvlietstra6002]

Loving those nails Brian

[@spockedandloaded]

3:42 I JUMPED

[@kevinnorwood9646]

same wtf

[@soupbowels]

Haha same

[@daizyduke12]

Haha. Me too

[@pcg13]

I have literally never heard of picross games. Polygon: come for the goofs, stay for the education.

Try 3D Picross for Nintendo DS, is my fave one

[@RantKid]

that makes me feel old. This has been around since the original DS

[@pcg13]

RantKid I'm 32, I just never had the money for mobile stuff until I was well into my 20s. 🙃

[@pcg13]

Rogério Gomes thanks, I'll look into it!

[@aricjohnstone4921]

RantKid well there was Mario’s Picross on gameboy

[@AndrewFallows]

The photography B plot in the background starting around 4:00 is really good, I hope those characters come back in a later episode.

[@sci_pain3409]

those guys already had enough screen time and the character design was just awful, one of the worst parts of this show imo

[@kyro8559]

POLYGON, Y’ALL NEED TO CHILL ON HOW MUCH GREAT CONTENT YOU PUT OUT PLEASE

[@CharacterDesignForge]

I don't think I need a second cup of coffee today after 3:39 - Thanks Brian!

[@timbeaux1]

That jumpscare nearly did me in

[@PCIZ503]

It made me spill my coffee.

[@ImWeirdAndILikeIt]

Brookes Eggleston - Character Design Forge I jumped out of my skin that was terrifying

[@Red5rainbow]

Oh wow, I wasn’t expecting to see you here. I love your videos!!

[@petermarsella6537]

@@PCIZ503 you didn't need it

[@aimelle3]

I downloaded Picross Luna 2 after watching this video and Brian you owe me dozens of hours of my life back.

[@koobiie]

it's been two years since this video uploaded, and brian, if you're out there, i want you to know that this video is the sole reason for my picross addiction

[@ravtimlady]

It's a very old video, but Two Eyes is a great Picross game, and it tells not one but two stories! Really cool.

[@LuneWatcher]

I'm literally playing PicrossLuna right now Brian, how the heck did you know?? The ghost thumbnail spooked me because I recognized it from a previous level.

[@itsplovertime]

An additional Picross game that's really good is Hungry Cat Picross! It controls well and has weekly Big Puzzles that keep me playing the game even though I've finished all of the other puzzles the game has to offer.

[@maeganmorin2748]

My FAVORITE mobile picross game. Love it!

[@MidoraAmora]

YES it is the best one and I love it I need those color puzzles

[@TheFivism]

i love hungry cat! it is the best best one

[@OofaDoofa27]

Everyone needs this app

[@BillTheSpill]

Hungry Cat is the bomb! Does there exist another picross game with a similar mechanic to Hungry Cat?

[@PlayItForward]

There’s a free Pokémon picross game on 3DS that does have some freemium stuff but is still very enjoyable without spending your CHEDDA BAY BISCUITS

[@Caesina]

The Pokémon one was the one that got me into picross definitely. but tbh I don't like it for the fremium bits. but that's just cause I hate being timed in games

[@PlayItForward]

Feebaqua you’re not wrong but I also felt it wasn’t AS restrictive as most games, so it was mostly just fun for me

[@Caesina]

+GameGO true, and it's still and enjoyable game! I should actually beat it someday, but I think I uninstalled it for space lol

[@abracadab1497]

it is a great game, also mario picross for gameboy (available on the 3ds eshop) is really good for some old school picross fun.

[@zanthiablue5254]

I personally would have much preferred an up front charge to the freemium model they use. I say this as someone who bought and played all 8 picross e games on ds, but I am still unwilling to shell out on pokemon picross. To get everything its like $30 and that is way too much money to spend on a picross game

[@KlooKloo]

Thank you Super Mario Picross on the Switch for getting me addicted to this

[@MidoraAmora]

YOU MISSED OUT, BRIAN - Hungry Cat Picross is my go-to. It has the cute UI that I need, just like a giant library of simple-to-difficult puzzles with time challenges, plus every week they put up a new grid (3x3 of 15x10 puzzles) and they have THREE YEARS of galleries of those. The only disclaimer is that they're all color picrosses, so if that's not your jam I get it. Seriously though I got so hype when I saw the title I am an avid picross-er and have tried all the apps and sites you've mentioned and I think you hit on all the other note-worthy ones!

[@chedddargoblin]

This video was the start of my two year Picross obsession

[@skys0uls]

If you enjoy Luna 1&2 you should get Two Eyes. Similarly it has regular Kinross and then larger story driven ones

[@PrincessCherry]

Yes! Wishfox has several picross story games

[@chelseayeager3796]

This is the one I'm playing right now!

[@edslushie570]

I had never heard of Picross before I heard him reference it in his Zelda Timeline video. Then I started playing picture cross and later found this in my recommended.

[@Arkantolas]

the first picross game he mentioned... i played it for years and years. i beat it. i beat thousands and thousands of picross puzzles.

[@machinaeZER0]

So so late to the party, but picross galaxy is my favorite mobile picross. For the larger puzzles it offers a virtual d-pad which is so much easier than touch for navigating the smaller squares!

[@angle6895]

There's a game called Across-Stitch which combines this premise with cross-stitching!

[@brookemorgenstern]

Bro as an avid picross luna fan this made me so happy. I just finished picross luna 2 actually

[@gwynethh9524]

Yes yes YES. He's BACK and better than ever! Edit: 1:58 don't call me out like this

[@Hoplitejoe]

You missed the best "hardcore" mobile nonogram game, Nonogram Katana. It doesn't have a story or too fancy graphics but it's really customisable, has great control options and best of all, the free version is basically the same as the payed, just with unobtrusive banner ads.

[@niko9023]

Hoplitejoe I love that game! I always play it while listening to podcasts

[@jellybean3935]

I was going to say the same thing! Of all the nonogram games I've tried, this one imo is the best. There are 1000s of puzzles so I don't have to ever worry about running out, and I like that it can go up to 80x80 which not many other app games do. It has both black/white and colored modes and the filtering is super convenient

[@TruxtonII]

Anyone finding this video years later and having trouble finding Picross Luna: They got renamed to Luna Story, because while the concept of Nonograms is public domain, the name Picross is a registered trademark of Nintendo.

[@nicolle2126]

Picross Luna 1 > 2 Just because you it's easier to choose which puzzles you do first so you can get all the easy ones out of the way Though luna 2 getting a "final boss" at the end of each chapter was a nice touch

[@Kwizii]

Nicolle What do you mean final boss? I completed 10-12 pictures of the story mode, there will be a boss at the end?

[@MarsCBG]

its not in story mode it's in the numbered individual modes. once you reach the top of the page theres a big puzzle that needs to be solved and reveals a larger image and smaller line of text (not sure if they're all connected ive only gotten to the first one)

[@nicolle2126]

Kwizii it's in the voyage part, not the story ^^

[@Kwizii]

OK cool I'll check it out thanks guys

[@Caesina]

Yeah and Luna 2 didn't really pull me in enough :( I mightve liked another story instead of a sequel to the first story. gives me Shrek vibes for some reason

[@elschaefer3448]

I was literally playing Picross Luna 2 when I saw this video on my recommendeds

[@samantharia7699]

This video is a) where I first saw BDG and b) the reason I spent hundreds of hours solving picross.

[@munico6055]

Picross games are now my favorite genre ever thanks to a shape

[@roselalonde5046]

i was playing picross luna on my phone and watching youtube on my laptop and this got recommended to me!

[@CountSnaqula]

Brian is so funny y'all. Very charming kind of humor. Also, is he wearing 2 watches?

[@finnmalrose3118]

CountSnaqula yes! one of them is on the UK time because his girlfriend lives in the UK.

[@boodles25]

Finn Malrose I know this is an old comment but this is the cutest shit I’ve ever read thanks

[@taakotuesdays]

Finn Malrose omg that’s so wholesome

[@taakotuesdays]

Finn Malrose wait are they still together

[@tyrakristiansen7188]

@@taakotuesdays I don't think so as Brian stopped wearing the watch around the One Night Werewolf overboard episode, but you never know as he's a very private person!

[@ehhhhlyssa]

i’ve been addicted to bdg content and picross luna 1&2 for several years and just saw this... wow... amazing

[@samrust4366]

Are your shingles gone yet? Also i did not come here for jump scares plz don't trick me with nice backgrounds and music and then betray my trust

[@plus1toawesome]

THIS VIDEO WAS MADE FOR ME. I'm literally playing picross luna 2 right now, and am so happy to learn about all these other sweet picross games. (also pssst at least on android, you can skip past the ads that run after the puzzles by hitting the back button)

[@rebeccagentzel954]

I'm just here for the smells.

[@ashnesslinguistics3570]

Terezi?

[@ElwoodSharit]

Not free, but I cannot recommend "Picross 3D" for the Nintendo DS enough, as well as it's sequel "Picross 3D Round 2" for Nintendo 3DS! If you've never played a Picross 3D game and you enjoy the 2D ones, please make it and extremely high priority to do this. I mean like, it should be up there with paying your rent in terms of things you need to get done this month. The third dimension adds a wonderful element to the puzzle solving and being in 3D means you're carving out little sculptures instead of just a 2D image. Also, in Picross Round 2 they even add two separate colors of numbers to not only enhance the puzzle solving experience but also to add more shape to the sculptures you're revealing. There's so much that these games do right and it's everything I love about picross just with a whole extra dimension! (IMAGINE THAT!) Even just the sound and animation of BUSTING one of the blocks as you tap on it, it's so SATISFYING! Okay, okay, I've recommended this enough, but- No, no I really haven't. What are you doing? GO PLAY IT! (Note: There might be free versions of this sort of experience out there. In fact, knowing the world of game development, I'm almost certain there probably is. But I cannot speak for their implementations or their quality. But the DS and 3DS one's far and away get my vote! EDIT TO NOTE: Yeah, at the end of the video you showed a 3D sort of picross game, but I'll admit, it looked terrible. Also worth mentioning that Picross 3D Round 2 has a REALLY great tutorial system, and after completing it, you'll get access to these little "tips" puzzles where they show you a neat trick or tip on how to solve tougher puzzles. Basically just showing you lines of logic you can use in scenarios you'll commonly find yourself in. It's super great and I will literally send you a copy of this game please play it. {It's free if I send it, right? That still counts?} P.S. - I play a lot of games, not just picross. We're talking literally tens of thousands of games. There's like 50 game shortcuts on my desktop right now, and those are like from the last 4 months alone. (I generally only keep games I'm actively playing on the desktop.) So if you do want some suggestions, boy can I give a doozy's worth. Any genre, and niche. You name a time and a place and I'll put a game suggestion there.... Unless that time has already passed, or I'm for some reason unavailable. Look, the point is, games.) So yeah... games.

[@nommable]

this is the video I didn't know I needed! I got way into a picross game a while back but it was so buggy I quit without realizing there were more. They're a great soothing thing to do when you want to tap at your phone but also feel like you did something kinda wholesome.

[@lifeonpause3872]

I TOO HAVE THAT SHIRT. IT'S A GOOD SHIRT

[@TheWebhippo]

Life on Pause please share where you got it! I need it....

[@46yasha]

its been 11 months please i need to know where u got that shirt

[@aishas.6895]

two years, please share sir

[@idkwhattomakethename307]

i know your name is life on pause but please where did you get it

[@drskelebone]

This is the picross game I'm playing now! I beat the first one, and was so happy to see the sequel.

[@loganhislop5485]

I play the Japanese Mario Picross from the SNES ported onto the Nintendo Switch when you get Nintendo Online

[@mikeymartyr]

I LOVE picture cross i finished every single level back in like 2018 when i was a hs sophomore at that point i think there were about 1700 levels?? i cant remember i counted and it was somewhere in the 1000s, but now theres like double the levels

[@CaptainLoony007]

Thank you. I had only played Picture Cross (very slowly, as I waited for my coins to come back), so its nice to know that there are others to place. Its also nice to know they are called Picross games, which I had not realised. This is legitimately useful to me, and I'm very thankful.

[@IsoTopicJeff]

Anyone else watching this in 2020 because they found Picross Luna II completely forgotten but still downloaded to their phone

[@nathans1954]

I was thinking about how I didn't have any games to play on my phone, I saw this thumbnail pop up on my recommended, and I immediately downloaded picross Luna 1&2, since it was a sign. They're fantastic, thanks!!

[@ORANOID]

Great video. We want more.

[@bronzeowl9]

Picross Luna was great, I didn’t know there was a second one until this video, thanks BDG! I have played a few picross games and I always found Luna to be the best. The colors in the game is very good, the large squares made of squares are good, the story is good, the controls are very good, the music is just excellent.

[@KayKnighty]

There’s Pokémon Picross on the 3DS. It’s free the entire way through, if you don’t mind the waiting for energy, and it adds interesting elements in the challenges for each puzzle, and the pokemon you have equiped to your party help by revealing certain squares/areas, stoping or slowing the clock, or as an error correct. Completing these challenges earns you the points you need to continue through the map, and you can buy these points, but the spending stops after a certain amount and you’ll have infinite points to use for unlocking areas and refilling energy for you and your pokemon.

[@DangerScone]

I tried Picross for the first time in the Switch, and discovered I love it so this video is very relevant to my interests. I'll have to download one of those mobile ones.

[@gazoopaplop2]

You’re the BEST, Brian! Thanks for highlighting a truly underappreciated puzzle game format!!

[@TissueCat]

Simon Tatham's Portable Puzzle Collection has a randomly-generated picross game (which it just calls pattern) as well as 38 other randomly-generating puzzle games. It also lets you select any size, not just preset sizes like liouh.com, even ridiculous sizes like 3x2 or 34x1 or 100x100, although larger sizes might take a while to generate. It's called "portable" because it's been ported to basically every platform. It's on Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android, and even obscure ones like Symbian S60. You can even play it in your web browser.

[@TissueCat]

It's completely free. I have Chris Boyle's Android port on my phone, and it always gives me something to do if I'm bored and don't have a phone signal. (My only criticism is the UI is a bit unpolished and old-fashioned, but it still works just fine. Also, there is no tutorial, just a 90's style help document built into the app.)

[@iTiago98]

I got genuinly scared at 3:42, thx for the rush of adrenaline i guess

[@internisus]

Always happy to receive a Picross recommendation. The best one on PC is probably Pictopix (available on Steam). If you like these games, you'd probably *love* the Hexcells games by Matthew Brown, which take the logical thinking of picross, throw in a few twists, refine a whole lot, and then present amazingly satisfying puzzles. They're cheap and also on Steam; be sure to check them out!

[@krys8748]

One of my favorites!!!

[@superapartmentfriends349]

LOVE me some Picross! After buying multiple 3DS Picross games, I am BEYOND JAZZED to have a bunch of tasty new Picross on my phone! Polygon you've done it again you little stinkers!

[@theznayx808]

Pixoji is the picross game that I love because of its sheer variety of hint types, not restricted to what you expect. Teaches you one new rule at a time and gradually gets harder. Lots of levels.

[@chameleonfoot]

Picross Luna is what got me into it and now I play like 3 a day while listening to podcasts.

[@JordanBl]

Usually don't pay much attention to Polygon, but considering I was looking for a new picross game... Thank you for directing me to Picross Luna.

[@vitraartist2622]

Picross Luna 3 just came out recently

[@CTAigis]

Thank you so much for these suggestions. Nonograms are how I relax and now I have a better term for them and very good new places to play them. And I love how you manage to present this simple topic is an engaging and funny way.

[@EmerlyNickel]

Here's a free game I used to play in my circuits lecture: Transformice It's a game where you play as a mouse that needs to collect a piece of cheese and bring it back to the mouse hole. The catch is that there are obstacles in the way preventing you from reaching said cheese or hole. One mouse is picked per round to be the shaman. The shaman has the ability to spawn in planks and boxes and things to build contraptions or bridges to help the mice get to the objective. The shaman cannot get the cheese to the hole until most of the mice do the same so it eliminates them building something just for themselves.

[@kimstone9345]

It's not free, but Pictopix on Steam is surely the best Picross I've played! Controls are smooth, puzzles are very nice and there is a lot of content. I recommend it highly ^^

[@klungar]

Picross games are all about how good the controls are, and Pixelo wins that competition with their virtual D-Pad, as well as how their rule numbers fade based on the squares you've filled. Hungry Cat Picross is also very good. I'll check out the Picross Luna games though!

[@kaycraite]

I look forward to every new good cheap games video!! I love this series!!

[@emewyn]

Two of my favorite games: Highborn ($1.99) is a turn-based strategy game with a hilarious, meta sense of humor. Blendoku (free!), especially Blendoku 2, is a soothing yet challenging puzzle app based on arranging colors in gradients. Both have kept me occupied for weeks worth of time.

[@GuilliMilliMu]

The one I really enjoyed was Somnus. It also have the story line aspect, as do luna, and the art is so pretty.

[@meowmaster]

I love that game so much! It doesn’t take long to finish tho but for those who want a nice story and stunning art this is a go to

[@boltsvids]

picross is my life and i've been craving more puzzles, thank u for this excellent content brian!!! i'm gonna go ahead and recommend picross s on the switch, it's $10 and doesn't have touch capabilities but i did somehow play it for 15 hours without really even thinking about it. please buy this game so they'll make a sequel

[@mc3612]

Thanks for the Picross reviews Brian! I love Picross games and I'm almost done with Picross Luna 2 so I'm going to need a new one to play soon. One thing I will say that detracts a little from the Picross Luna games is that sometimes the colors of the blocks and the background color are pretty similar which makes it very hard if you're colorblind. Other than that, the art is great and the puzzles are delightful time wasters.

[@CleavingGold]

Seven months later and I’ve come back to say this video got me addicted to Picross games and thanks to picross luna 1 and 2 I haven’t slept in months and am hallucinating colours that done exist

[@purpleyeseo9519]

Thank you! My picross loving heart is filled with joy!

[@laurafrakinroslin]

I’ve been spoiled by Picross on 3DS, the controls are so good. But I might check out that Luna one

[@spastichobo]

Prettypinkdork I love Picross 3D but loathe that the mark blue button is the trigger. I wish I could swap it with delete so my colors are all on the pad. It's been the cause of so many errors.

[@Caesina]

I HECKA RECOMMEND IT I was soooooo obsessed with the first Luna game I played it non-stop

[@laurafrakinroslin]

I’m not a super fan of the 3d Picross, in the later puzzles it cheats and makes you guess. But I love the Picross games you can get in the Nintendo shop

[@spastichobo]

Prettypinkdork you should never have to guess. I'm in the last 3 chapters or books or whatever playing on hard and I've never had to guess. If you tap the hint light bulb then it should direct you to a line you can do something with either marking, deleting or coloring in

[@jimbob929]

I don't know if this counts as is pretty nontraditional but "Pixoji" is a browser based picross type game that i found on armorgames that's really engaging. It as a lot of additional types of hints that make it non-traditional and the logic your using to solve the puzzles feels new and fresh every time. The puzzles are hand crafted to make you feel clever.

[@theolabbate1611]

Hi ! Another free Picross game that I love is Katana Picross on mobile. It has hundreds of Picross ranging from 5x5 to 80x80, with and without colour, and then thousands more with the online fan made picross ! A really good, complete game that got me entertained for several hours and I'm in no way close to finishing it ! I also like Pokemon Picross on the 3DS store with its fun power ups, but even though you can play it for free it isn't as good as if you buy it.

[@fobitbswo]

saw this thumbnail in the middle of watching a playlist of something else and i got so irrationally excited i fucking love picross games

[@gwonbusH]

I haven't played a picross game in so long that I didn't recognize what they were called. Back when I solved them in my dad's Games Magazine, they were called Paint by Numbers, despite that already being a thing. This was back in the early 2000s, when you bought a book full of around 200 of these puzzles and spend hours and hours solving them. After you scanned the book and printed it out, so you could have replay value instead of writing in your book with your pencil.

[@nizi0]

How am I just finding it now? I love picross, I was legit addicted to it a while back. I mostly play Logic Pic. It might not be the best one, but it sure is neat. Plus I got used to it

[@cait9896]

I really like this series. I hope it continues!

[@MrCapitalOrange]

Nonograms Katana on mobile is my jam. A billion puzzles up to like 83x83, plus online levels as big as 100x100, really nice controls, and pretty light on ads.

[@sburk.87]

Hungry Cat Picross is very good too.

[@Cscope1717]

This was a great way to find out there’s a Picross Luna 2. Polygon and bdg doing me a solid and being entertaining as hell as always

[@randomgirll3123]

Picross is my favorite. I love a good puzzle and I really enjoy the art. The music in the pic cross Luna games are really nice too.

[@dr4z3r260]

One of my perennial favorite games is the totally free Dungeon Crawl Stone Soup (DCSS). It's a roguelike that's been under active development for years, has incredible depth and variety, and has a small, wonderful community of fans. It's single player, but it still has options for offline and online play. There's a lot to learn, but the game even has a great tutorial more. Check it out Brian!

[@emmadraws14953]

The soundtrack for Picross Luna I and II is honestly the most soothing thing in the world

[@Tesseract_King]

I saw the background colors of the thumbnail and immediately knew what his #1 was going to be. And I completely agree. :D

[@leoff7]

KZbin/Google, I'm disappointed. What's the point of spying on me 24/7 if you won't get the fact I've been back into the addiction of Pricross Luna AND binging BDG's videos and you WOUDN'T RECOMMEND ME THIS ONE!? I actually searched "nonogram games" and got the pleasure of BDG talking about Picross

[@emmaschoenike739]

gdi brian you got me addicted to luna ii and id never even heard of picross until i first watched this a week and a half ago (its so good though, cant really be mad)

[@JonJacobJingleheimer]

I love picross so I've added this to a playlist just so I can keep coming back whenever I need another one

[@SuperAnonymouze]

I really like CrossME for the ipad. They've got a lot of larger puzzles, and the mechanics are really nice. I tried Luna 2, but part of what I love about nonograms is slowly revealing a picture. Coloring it in just does the work for you. I like seeing what art people design with just black and white squares.

[@ravenravenraven]

Heres some more picross games iOS - Konami Puzzle Collection DS - Picross DS and Picross 3D 3DS - Picross 3D Round 2 and Picross e series Switch - Picross S

[@Robotneonunicorn]

What about Hungry Cat Picross? It’s the best!

[@glowingandconfused]

I've played cross me color for the last 6 or so years, and I hi key recommend. Its continuously updated, with tons of levels and doesn't fault you for accidentally tapping the wrong square

[@drazzie22]

awesome i love picross and ive been looking for more picross apps so this video comes at just the right time !

[@Kriket42a]

Picross games are my jam! Thank you for this list!!

[@goldstarsupreme]

For the record, you can show the titles on nonogram.org if you wanna but like, half the fun is the mystery so why would ya?

[@ninjacheeto]

Me: Already has 3 picross apps on my phone Also me: Ooh Picross Luna 2 Looks nice!

[@wintercandle4221]

I wasn’t sure I wanted to watch this until I saw BDG

[@BJthecold]

good stuff! bdg's videos really soothe the gaping hole in my heart that's meant to be filled by genuine human interaction XP

[@behavey]

Holy shit I've been playing Picross Luna 2 every day for the past few months. I thought I was the only one who played it. God bless you BDP

[@LisavonWerder]

I just found out this video exists, and I got addicted to Picture Cross and couldn’t do anything in life or school until I finished it, and I haven’t thought about picross since I finished and deleted it and I can feel myself slipping back into the addiction

[@werewolfmack1269]

Thank you for the great content, I didn’t know this kind of game existed and I’ve been needing a new game to play before bed after I spent almost two years burning thru every tower defense game I could find on mobile. Speaking of which, you could do a video on tower defense games! Some of my favs are Carrot Defense, Kingdom Rush series, and Infinitode. Beware toxic ftp schemes however.

[@masonj4r]

i was really hoping you’d include the picross luna games because i really love them and it has soothing bg music and sounds and i always play them when i can’t sleep 🌙