Picross

Picross is a puzzle video game franchise by Nintendo, in which the player solves nonogram puzzles. The series started in 1995 when Jupiter Corporation developed Mario's Picross for the Game Boy. After many entries published by Nintendo for multiple platforms, Jupiter started self-publishing Picross games such as the Picross e and Picross S series on Nintendo 3DS and Nintendo Switch.

Picross
Genre(s)	Puzzle video game
Developer(s)	Jupiter Corporation Ape Inc. HAL Laboratory
Publisher(s)	Nintendo Jupiter Corporation
Platform(s)	Game Boy Super Nintendo Entertainment System Nintendo DS Nintendo 3DS Nintendo Switch
First release	Mario's Picross March 14, 1995
Latest release	PICROSS Records of The Shield Hero October 3, 2024

HAL Laboratory developed the Picross 3D spinoff series, with games on the Nintendo DS and Nintendo 3DS.

Development

Due to the popularity of pen-and-paper nonogram puzzles at the time in Japan, Makoto Nakayama, founder of Jupiter Corporation, pitched a video game version of nonograms to Nintendo. Since Jupiter had little experience in game development, Ape Inc. (known now as Creatures Inc.) assisted with the game's development. Shigeru Miyamoto oversaw the process from Nintendo's side and proposed adding Mario to the game. Mario's Picross was released for the Game Boy in 1995. While it did not take off in the West, it sold well in Japan and led to several Japan-only entries, including Picross 2 for the Game Boy, Mario's Super Picross for the Super Famicom, the Picross NP series for the Nintendo Power service, and Tamori no Picross for Satellaview.

Picross DS was the first Picross title in 12 years to be released internationally, launching on the Nintendo DS in 2007. Shortly thereafter, HAL Laboratory, known for the Kirby series, developed Picross 3D for the Nintendo DS. The game used similar mechanics to traditional Picross but adapted them to a three-dimensional environment. The sequel, Picross 3D: Round 2, was released for the Nintendo 3DS in 2015.

After unsuccessfully pitching a Picross DS sequel to Nintendo for the 3DS, Jupiter opted to self-publish Picross games under a licensing deal. They released nine titles and many spin-offs in the Picross e series for the Nintendo 3DS. Jupiter continues to self-publish Picross games on the Nintendo Switch, releasing nine titles and various spin-offs in the Picross S series.