Pictopix

78%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,725 reviews
  • music
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Pictopix Game Cover
Pictopix is a quiet and relaxing nonogram puzzler with plenty of challenging puzzles and the right amount of helpful hints for beginners. The major drawbacks are a lack of a save feature and the inability to choose your own music.
Starting at €6.99Buy now
Get on Steam Get on itch.io Store

Pictopix is a single-player action game with good mechanics, fabulous visuals, and outstanding music. In Pictopix, you use logic to color squares on grids and reveal pictures, with over 150 colored puzzles, shuffle mode, and puzzle editor. Additionally, the game offers multiple save slots, useful hints, and is playable with mouse, keyboard, or game controller.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Windows
  • Linux
  • Tablet
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

78%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,725 reviews
music72 positive mentions
grinding10 negative mentions
  • Pictopix offers a vast array of puzzles, ranging from easy to extremely challenging, ensuring hours of engaging gameplay.
  • The game features a clean and intuitive user interface, making it easy to navigate and solve puzzles.
  • With Steam Workshop support, players can create, share, and download an endless supply of user-generated puzzles, enhancing replayability.
  • The game penalizes players for using helpful features like auto-greying numbers, which can be frustrating for those aiming for perfect scores.
  • Some puzzles, especially larger ones, may require guesswork rather than pure logic, which can detract from the experience.
  • The in-game music can become repetitive over time, leading some players to mute it and listen to their own music instead.
  • music169 mentions

    The music in the game is generally described as relaxing and catchy, featuring a smooth jazz and bossa nova soundtrack that enhances the gameplay experience. However, many players note that the music can become repetitive over time, leading some to mute it and listen to their own playlists instead. Overall, while the soundtrack contributes positively to the game's atmosphere, a desire for more variety and longer tracks is a common sentiment among users.

    • “It's got all the things you'd want in that type of game plus maybe the most ridiculously fun and relaxing soundtrack I've ever heard.”
    • “The jazzy soundtrack is terrific and catchy, and I often find myself humming along.”
    • “Great to put on some music and just zone out while solving puzzles.”
    • “The music gets a little repetitive after a while, and the main theme is merely a 20-second loop.”
    • “The only negative I would say is the music repeats very quickly, and for longer sessions, I usually turn the music off and play something else in the background.”
    • “The music is chill, but on the side of boring elevator music; so not enjoyable.”
  • gameplay54 mentions

    The gameplay is highly praised for its addictive and engaging mechanics, rooted in the classic nonogram/picross format, which features simple rules and a variety of puzzles that cater to different skill levels. Players appreciate the smooth, responsive controls and the ability to customize their experience, while the charming pixel art and relaxing soundtrack enhance the overall atmosphere. With hundreds of puzzles and community-generated content, the game offers endless replayability, making it a standout in the puzzle genre.

    • “The game is easy to pick up, and features challenges, mosaics, and community content for additional gameplay.”
    • “Gameplay is very responsive and smartly assisted by the game (you may place temporary tiles, numbers can be faded, drawn lines are automatically kept straight, etc.).”
    • “Pictopix is a fantastic picross/nonogram game, and finally brings the pencil-and-paper classic to the PC with a fantastic presentation and good gameplay that I have yet to see outmatched.”
    • “Also wouldn't it be better if portrait levels are rotated to landscape during gameplay?”
    • “Given how the area (and thus the number of gameplay tiles) goes up with the square of the edge's length, it comes at no surprise that most of the gameplay hours are to be found in these later levels.”
    • “In conclusion, it speaks volumes that after 300 hours of gameplay my only criticisms are a bad menu sound effect and how the game reacts when you tab away.”
  • graphics32 mentions

    The graphics of the game are generally praised for their charming pixel art and minimalist aesthetic, providing a pleasant visual experience that complements the gameplay. While some reviewers note that the visuals are simplistic and could benefit from more detail, they agree that the clean and functional design enhances the overall enjoyment of the game. Overall, the graphics are considered a solid fit for the puzzle genre, contributing to a relaxing and engaging atmosphere.

    • “The graphics are gorgeous (for a nonograms game), the UI design is impeccable, the music is a little repetitive, but the smooth jazz is so well-composed that it's easy to listen to for hours on end.”
    • “Great game, good visuals and works as it should.”
    • “Lovely minimalist aesthetic, sensible and well thought out controls and a decent amount of puzzles to start off with, plus planned support for future packs - can't help but recommend to anyone who loves picross specifically or chilled out puzzle games in general.”
    • “Too simply made, not enough graphics or automatic actions.”
    • “Music is chill, graphics are a little flat but they don't really need to be flashy with this kind of game anyways... overall a very solid package for some chill puzzle gaming!”
    • “Presentation-wise, the visuals are simplistic but don't come off as dull in the long run.”
  • grinding10 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and unfulfilling, particularly when completing mosaic puzzles, which can lead to eyestrain and a sense of monotony. Achievements feel less rewarding, as they are perceived as mere milestones for enduring the grind rather than genuine accomplishments. Additionally, the requirement to complete smaller puzzles before accessing larger ones can frustrate more experienced players.

    • “This isn't something that makes the game any easier or harder, it just makes it more tedious and contributes to eyestrain when you're trying to count how many 1s you've filled in in a column with 10+ 1s.”
    • “My only complaints with the game so far are that the mosaic puzzles are extremely boring, and getting the achievements for completing them only feels like an achievement for grinding through them.”
    • “Switching to solving the first mosaic also felt unfulfilling and by the last two rows very tedious, with a result that felt incredibly unrewarding to me.”
  • stability8 mentions

    Overall, the game demonstrates solid stability across various systems, with users reporting minimal bugs and glitches, particularly on Linux. While some players experienced occasional issues, especially in challenge mode and on tablet devices, these did not significantly detract from the gameplay experience. The puzzles are generally well-designed, allowing for enjoyable play without guesswork.

    • “Runs great on Linux.”
    • “I do find that I get occasional glitches with the 'challenge' mode, and the randomly generated puzzles do seem a bit simpler than the non-random puzzles of the same size.”
    • “There are a few glitches I've run into, but that's mostly because I'm running this on a screen tablet.”
    • “The randomly generated puzzles do seem a bit simpler than the non-random puzzles of the same size, but the half-hourly refresh means that isn't too bad.”
  • humor8 mentions

    The game incorporates humor through clever hidden secrets and Easter eggs, including alternate funny names for each level that enhance replayability. Players who appreciate picross will find the humor adds an enjoyable layer to the experience, making it a worthwhile choice for those seeking a lighthearted twist.

    • “I do like some of the hidden secrets the developer left around, and they can be pretty funny if you understand the references to these secrets.”
    • “If you're into picross and want a little bit of humor in your picross experience, go ahead and give this one a try.”
    • “There was an easter egg that gives each level an alternate (and often funny) name, encouraging you to replay the 200 classic mode levels.”
  • optimization6 mentions

    Overall, "Pictopix" is praised for its clean performance and smooth gameplay, making it a worthwhile purchase despite the presence of free alternatives. However, some users have noted concerns regarding high CPU usage, suggesting potential optimization issues that could be addressed.

    • “While you can find other games like this free online, the clean performance and presentation make Pictopix well worth your money.”
    • “It runs smoothly and is easy to understand, but I always found new strategies to use to beat levels efficiently!”
    • “100% CPU for a game like this feels like an optimization problem.”
    • “100% CPU usage for a game like this feels like an optimization problem.”
  • atmosphere6 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is characterized by a soothing and pleasant ambiance, enhanced by its user interface, sound design, and a relaxing jazz/bossa nova soundtrack. While some puzzles may be underwhelming, the overall presentation and atmosphere create an inviting experience that encourages a cozy, tea-drinking vibe.

    • “These boards are aided by the UI and music, which help to create a nice, soothing atmosphere.”
    • “In fact, they add to a pleasant gameplay atmosphere that also encompasses its sound design and jazz/bossa nova soundtrack.”
    • “Some puzzles are mediocre, but the presentation and atmosphere make me want hot tea.”
  • story4 mentions

    The game lacks a narrative or story element, focusing instead on gameplay mechanics and tutorials that help players develop their skills. While it provides useful guidance for novices, it does not delve into any storytelling aspects.

    • “No story.”
    • “No story.”
  • monetization2 mentions

    The monetization strategy of the game has been criticized for its reliance on microtransactions, which restricts players to only one puzzle per day, leading to frustration and a negative experience.

    • “I had an app on my phone that was this kind of puzzle game, but I could only play one per day because of the built-in microtransactions.”
    • “I had an app on my phone that was this kind of puzzle game, but I could only play one per day because of the built-in microtransactions.”
  • replayability2 mentions

    Users consistently highlight the game's excellent replayability, indicating that it offers engaging content that encourages multiple playthroughs.

    • “Great replayability.”
    • “Great replayability.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

80% average critic score

Buy Pictopix

Play time

100hMedian play time
130hAverage play time
99-300hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 8 analyzed playthroughs

Videos

Similar Games

Game News