Way back on the Game Boy, around 20 years ago, Nintendo took another chance with their leading star (back then it was normal).  Nonogram’s, aka Hanjie Picross and Griddlers, are logic puzzles that create a simple image (recent variations have brought this type of game into the 3^rd dimension).  Mario’s Picross is probably the most familiar of these types of games for retrogaming fans.  On more current hardware there are a few releases in the Nonogram style, of varying quality.  PixlCross is coming to the Wii U, Windows, Macintosh and Linux and it is bringing some interesting additions to the genre.

PixlCross will feature over 150 number logic puzzles for gamers to plow through.  As par for the course in these types of games, there are various difficulty levels to cater to different skill levels.  From 5×5 grids that are easy peasy to complete up to more challenging 35×35 grid puzzles that will keep you contemplating the next move.

The basic idea of Nonogram games is pretty simple.  There is a grid, duh, with numbers on the top and left side of the screen.  These numbers are clues to either filling in, or leaving blank, the squares in the grid area.  When you figure out what gets what you will see a picture emerge.  These are pretty simple pictures, think shadow figures and other “black/white” picture styles.  That is what you are creating here as there is no shading to speak of, there is no color, etc.

On the Super Nintendo we saw a few games like this, all Japan exclusives and on the Game Boy there was a Picross 2 that was also a Japanese exclusive.  Sadly we don’t see many games like this in North America, even though there are more and more puzzle game fans looking for a new challenge.

PixlCross is currently on Steam Greenlight looking for assistance in getting approved.  If you enjoy these types of games, or are just tired of seeing nothing but first person shooters on Steam, then cast your vote for PixlCross.

PixlCross by PixlBit Studios
Platform: Wii U, Steam for Windows, Mac and Linux
Genre: Puzzle
Rated: probably going to be E for Everyone or around there
Available soon on Steam and Wii U

Carl Williams

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