Play Hanjie Puzzles Online

What Is Hanjie?

Hanjie (sometimes spelled "Han-jie") is a name for nonogram puzzles widely used in the United Kingdom. The term comes from Japanese and was popularized by puzzle magazines in the 1990s. In every respect, Hanjie puzzles follow the same rules as nonograms, Picross, and Griddlers.

You're given a grid with numeric clues along each row and column. Each number describes a consecutive block of filled cells in that line, with at least one empty cell separating each block. By reasoning through these constraints, you fill or mark every cell — no guessing required.

The Many Names

The same puzzle goes by several names across the world:

• Nonogram — the standard generic name, from inventor Non Ishida
• Picross — Nintendo's trademark, short for "picture crossword"
• Griddlers — favored by online communities
• Hanjie — popular in UK puzzle magazines
• Paint by Numbers, Pic-a-Pix, Japanese crosswords — other less common names

Free Hanjie Puzzles

Our collection includes 180 free Hanjie puzzles across four difficulty levels.

Hanjie History

The term "Hanjie" emerged in the 1990s when Japanese-style logic puzzles took the UK by storm. The Sunday Telegraph was one of the first Western publications to feature nonograms in 1990, and British puzzle magazines soon adopted the name "Hanjie" as a nod to the puzzle's Japanese origins.

Today, Hanjie puzzles are a staple in puzzle magazines, mobile apps, and online platforms. Their pure-logic nature — every puzzle has exactly one solution achievable without guessing — makes them a favorite among puzzle enthusiasts seeking a cerebral challenge.