Picross

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

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.

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.

Games

Game title	Developer	Publisher	System	Release	Notes
Mario's Picross	Jupiter Corporation, Ape Inc.	Nintendo	Game Boy	1995	First game in the Picross franchise, and first game in the Mario's Picross series.
Tamori no Picross			Super Famicom (Satellaview)		Broadcast from April 23rd to September 2nd, 1995. Only released in Japan.
Mario's Super Picross			Super Famicom		Second game in the Mario's Picross series. Originally only released in Japan, later received a European release on Wii, and a worldwide release on Nintendo Switch.
Picross 2	Jupiter Corporation, Creatures Inc.		Game Boy	1996	Last game in the Mario's Picross series. Only released in Japan.
Satella de Picross	Jupiter Corporation	Nintendo, St.GIGA	Super Famicom (Satellaview)	1997	Was broadcast on November 30th of 1997, and ran for 27 days. Only released in Japan.
Picross NP series	Jupiter Corporation, Nintendo	Nintendo	Super Famicom (Nintendo Power)	1999-2000	Series of 8 volumes that released for the Nintendo Power service. Only released in Japan.
Picross DS	Jupiter Corporation		Nintendo DS	2007	First Picross game in 12 years to release outside of Japan.
Picross 3D	HAL Laboratory			2009	First game not developed by Jupiter Corporation, and first game in the Picross 3D series.
Picross e series	Jupiter Corporation	Jupiter Corporation	Nintendo 3DS	2011-2018	Received nine numbered entries. The first game is the first Picross game to not be published by Nintendo. Picross e9 only released in Japan.
Club Nintendo Picross		Nintendo		2012	Given away as reward for the Club Nintendo loyalty program. Only released in Japan and South Korea.
Club Nintendo Picross+				2014	Given away as reward for the Club Nintendo loyalty program. Only released in Japan.
Picross 3D: Round 2	HAL Laboratory			2015	Second game in the Picross 3D series.
Pokémon Picross	Jupiter Corporation	The Pokémon Company
My Nintendo Picross: The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess		Nintendo		2016	Given away as a reward for the My Nintendo loyalty program.
Picross S series		Jupiter Corporation	Nintendo Switch	2017-2024	Received nine numbered entries, plus a few spin-offs: • Picross S: Genesis & Master System Edition - Crossover with properties owned by Sega, such as Sonic the Hedgehog, Bonanza Bros., Puyo Puyo, and Golden Axe. • Picross S+ - A compilation of all 9 Picross e games' puzzles. • Picross S: Namco Legendary Edition - Crossover with properties owned by Namco, such as Pac-Man, Galaga, Dig Dug, and Mappy.
Sanrio characters Picross			Nintendo 3DS	2018	Crossover with characters and properties owned by Sanrio such as Hello Kitty, Bad Badtz-Maru, My Melody, and Kirimichan.
Kemono Friends Picross			Nintendo Switch		Crossover with the Kemono Friends media franchise.
Picross: Lord of the Nazarick				2019	Crossover with the Overlord light novel series.
Picross X: Picbits vs Uzboross				2022
Logiart Grimoire / Picross -LogiartGrimoire-			Windows, Nintendo Switch	2024	Is only considered to be part of the Picross franchise on Nintendo Switch. Originally released on Steam as Early Access on September 12 of 2023.
Picross: Records of The Shield Hero			Nintendo Switch		Crossover with The Rising of the Shield Hero multimedia franchise.

Cancelled

Game Title	Developer	Publisher	System	Revealed	Notes
Pokémon Picross	Jupiter Corporation	The Pokémon Company	Game Boy Color	1999	Originally shown in various Japanese magazines around spring of 1999, the game was cancelled for unknown reasons. The game was later found in a Nintendo data leak in 2020.