About Pixel Protocol
Pixel Protocol is an arcade-style Nonogram logic puzzle where you decode numbered row and column clues to reveal hidden pixel-art signals. Fill cells that belong to the solution and mark cells you know should remain empty. The game contains a sequence of 30 puzzles that progress from smaller 5×5 grids to larger 10×10 challenges.
The primary objective is to correctly reconstruct the hidden pixel-art image on each puzzle grid.
To solve a puzzle, every required solution cell must be filled, while no incorrect cells may be filled or incorrectly marked. Empty solution cells can remain blank or be marked with an X.
Pixel Protocol is a Nonogram arcade puzzle built around decoding hidden pixel-art signals from numerical clues. Numbers beside each row indicate consecutive groups of filled cells from left to right, while numbers above the board describe the same groups vertically. Players must use the intersection of these clues to determine which cells belong to the hidden image.
The board supports three cell states: empty, filled, and marked empty. Choose Fill or Mark mode from the game controls, then tap or click cells to apply the selected state. On desktop, right-clicking can mark a cell as empty, while dragging lets you paint across multiple cells. Keyboard players can use the arrow keys to move the selected cell and the other documented shortcuts to fill, mark, undo, restart, pause, or request hints.
The archive contains 30 puzzles across 5×5, 7×7, and 10×10 grids, with difficulty increasing through the sequence. Three solver-backed hints are available per level, but using them reduces the score. Players who enjoy logic-based challenges can also explore our puzzle games or browse strategy games for similar problem-solving gameplay.
Progress, scores, stars, times, and an unfinished puzzle can be saved and restored. Audio, vibration, volume, reduced-motion, and fullscreen options are available through Settings.
How to Play
- Start Pixel Protocol by selecting Play, a level from Level Select, or Continue if an unfinished puzzle has been saved.
- Read the numbered clues beside the rows and above the columns. Each number represents the size of a consecutive filled group.
- Use Fill mode to select cells that belong to the hidden image.
- Use Mark mode to place an X on cells that you know are empty.
- On desktop, right-click can also mark a cell empty.
- Use dragging to paint the selected state across cells.
- Keyboard players can move the selected cell with the arrow keys and use the available shortcuts for filling, marking, hints, undo, restart, and pause.
- If you are stuck, use one of the three available solver-backed hints. A hint highlights a logically valid cell without changing it.
- Continue until every required image cell is correctly filled and there are no conflicting filled or marked cells.
- Completing a puzzle unlocks the next level and records its score, stars, and best time.
If an incorrect cell is committed, the game records a mistake and reduces the score. The level does not immediately end because of an individual mistake.
Winning & Losing Conditions
Winning Condition
A puzzle is completed when every solution cell is correctly filled, no solution cell is incorrectly marked, and no non-solution cell is incorrectly filled. Completing a level records its score, time, and star rating and unlocks the next level.
Losing Condition
There is no traditional instant game-over condition. Incorrect fills or marks count as mistakes and reduce the score, but the player can continue correcting the puzzle.
Features
- 30 original pixel-art Nonogram puzzles
- 5×5, 7×7, and 10×10 grids
- Sequential level unlocking
- Row and column numerical clues
- Fill and Mark cell modes
- Three-state cells: empty, filled, and marked empty
- Score tracking
- Move counter
- Puzzle timer
- Mistake-based scoring
- Three solver-backed hints per puzzle
- Undo system
- Restart confirmation
- Pause/resume
- Best scores, times, and star ratings
- Save and resume unfinished puzzles
- Main menu and level selection
- How to Play guide
- Music and sound-effect settings
- Master volume control
- Vibration setting
- Reduced-motion setting
- Fullscreen option
- Responsive layouts for different screen sizes
Tips & Strategies
- Start with strong clues. A clue that occupies a large portion of a row or column can reveal several cells immediately.
- Use crossing information. A filled cell determined by a row can help constrain the corresponding column, and vice versa.
- Mark confirmed empty cells. X marks make known gaps explicit and help prevent accidental fills.
- Remember the separation rule. Multiple clue groups must have at least one empty cell between them.
- Use hints selectively. Each level provides three hints, and using one reduces the score, so reserve them for cells that cannot be resolved confidently.
- Correct mistakes rather than restarting immediately. Mistakes lower the score but do not automatically end the puzzle, and the Undo function can restore previous cell transactions.
