Picross DS

System: Nintendo DS Release date: 11/05/2007

As of May 20th, 2014, the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection service was discontinued and it is now no longer possible to use online features of Nintendo DS/DSi and Wii software such as online play, matchmaking, competitions and leaderboards. For more information, please visit our Support section.

The word Picross is a combination of "picture" and "crossword puzzle". Each Picross puzzle consists of a grid whose cells need to be filled with squares and crosses. By doing this correctly, you essentially ‘paint’ a picture.

There are numbers at the head of the grid's columns and rows which signify how the grid needs to be filled out, but it will take a sharp mind to figure out the solution.

This description was provided by the publisher.

What you need to know

This content is sold by Nintendo of Europe AG. The payment will be made with Nintendo eShop funds usable through the Nintendo Account used to complete the purchase.

This content is sold by Nintendo of Europe AG, payable with Nintendo eShop funds usable through your Nintendo Account. The Nintendo Account Agreement applies to the purchase of this content.

This content may be purchased by users who have registered a Nintendo Account and accepted the respective legal terms. To be able to purchase content for Wii U or Nintendo 3DS family systems, a Nintendo Network ID is also required and your funds usable through the Nintendo Account must be merged with the funds tied to your Nintendo Network ID. If the funds have not yet been merged, you will have the option to do so during the purchase process. To start the purchasing process, it is necessary to sign in with the Nintendo Account and the Nintendo Network ID. After signing in it will be possible to review the details and complete the purchase.

To be able to purchase content for Wii U or Nintendo 3DS family systems, your funds usable through the Nintendo Account must be merged with the funds tied to your Nintendo Network ID. If the funds have not yet been merged, you will have the option to do so during the purchase process. You will be able to review the details and complete the purchase on the next screen.

The details of this offer apply to users who sign in using a Nintendo Account with the country setting corresponding to the country setting of this website. If the country setting of a Nintendo Account is different, the details of this offer may be adjusted (for example, the price will be displayed in the respective local currency).

After your payment has been processed, the content will be downloaded to the applicable system linked to the respective Nintendo Account, or respective Nintendo Network ID in the case of Wii U and Nintendo 3DS family systems. This system must be updated to the latest system software and connected to the internet with automatic downloads enabled, and it must have enough storage to complete the download. Depending on the system/console/hardware model you own and your use of it, an additional storage device may be required to download software from Nintendo eShop. Please visit our Support section for more information.

In the case of games that use cloud streaming technology, only the free launcher application can be downloaded.

Please make sure you have enough storage to complete the download.

After your payment has been processed, the content will be downloaded to the applicable system linked to your Nintendo Account, or your Nintendo Network ID in the case of Wii U or Nintendo 3DS family systems. This system must be updated to the latest system software and connected to the internet with automatic downloads enabled, and it must have enough storage to complete the download. Depending on the system/console/hardware model you own and your use of it, an additional storage device may be required to download software from Nintendo eShop. Please visit our Support section for more information.

In the case of games that use cloud streaming technology, only the free launcher application can be downloaded.

Please make sure you have enough storage to complete the download.

The details of the offer are displayed based on the country settings of your Nintendo Account.

The Nintendo Account Agreement applies to the purchase of this content.

The use of an unauthorised device or software that enables technical modification of the Nintendo console or software may render this game unplayable.

This product contains technological protection measures.

Content not playable before the release date: {{releaseDate}} . For pre-orders, payments will be taken automatically starting from 7 days before the release date. If you pre-order less than 7 days before the release date, payment will be taken immediately upon purchase.

What's in the Game?

The game’s main Picross Mode offers a staggering 300 puzzles available to play at your leisure. Ranging from the elementary five by five grids to highly complicated twenty by twenty grids, this mode will surely keep even the most hardened gamers happy.

Those less certain of their skills can opt to receive clues to help finish puzzles, or get a head start with a roulette-style hint function that reveals one line of the puzzle.

My Picross

Bring your individual talents to the table with My Picross Mode, in which you can design your very own puzzles to share with your friends (please refer to the section 'Share it with Friends' for more information.).

A variety of unlockable background themes ranging from nature to sports give you all the customisation tools you’ll need to make Picross DS fit your own style.

Daily Picross

Daily Picross Mode is where your day-to-day puzzle needs are met. With several quick challenges on offer every day and a chart plotting your progress, this is where you can see just how good you’re getting over time.

Plus, by playing Daily Picross Mode on consecutive days, you can unlock all-new gameplay modes, such as No X’s, Error Search and Memory.

Online Battle

You can take on another player anywhere in the world by playing the Online Battle Mode using Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. This is a free* online service that uses the wireless capabilities of the Nintendo DS to connect to the Internet via a wireless access point.

Using Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, you can even download extra official puzzles from Nintendo or from other players worldwide!

* A broadband Internet connection including wireless access point, or access to a hotspot are required to use Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. For more information, please visit www.nintendowifi.co.uk.

Share it with Friends

Because one Nintendo DS system can connect wirelessly with another, you can enjoy Picross DS together with your friends.

Compete directly with up to two other friends and see who can finish first, or tease their brains with your own original puzzles drawn with the stylus in My Picross Mode!

One Picross DS Game Card and multiple Nintendo DS systems are enough to start sharpening your brains the social way. For detailed information on how to set up a game of Picross DS between more people, please refer to the game manual.

How to Play

With the stylus that comes with the Nintendo DS, you fill the cells of the grid displayed on the Touch Screen either with crosses (empty spaces) or squares (filled spaces).

Number clues next to each row and column tell you how many consecutive squares you need to fill in.

Tips & Tricks

What is the key to solving Picross DS puzzles quickly? We can give you some insights to this highly addictive game.

Think Big!

Look for the biggest number offered as a clue in the puzzle. In a 10x10 grid, if one clue is a 10, you can fill in the entire row and go from there.

In the same grid, you can solve at least one cell on a row when the row’s clue is 6 or higher. With a 6, you know 2 cells (the middle 2) will be a part of the solution and are mutually shared regardless of whether the row of 6 cells originates from the left or the right.

Start at the Top

The numbered clues on a row or column correspond to the position filled-in cells appear on that row from left to right or on that column from top to bottom.

If the clue is 3-1-2 and the first block of the row is filled in, you know that the two cells that come after it in that row will be filled in as well to complete the 3.

X It Out

When you have solved a row, take the time to X out the cells that are not part of the solution. Empty cells in the puzzle could cloud your thought process, making you think there are more eligible cells available than there really are.

Nintendo DS Game Card

System

Nintendo DS

Release date

11/05/2007

Age rating

PEGI 3