Pokémon Picross is a fascinating chapter in the Pokémon franchise, blending the intricate puzzles of Picross (nonogram puzzles) with the beloved world of Pokémon. Initially planned for release on the Game Boy in the late 1990s, this title was intended to merge the addictive puzzle-solving gameplay of Picross with Pokémon collecting elements, allowing players to solve puzzles that revealed their favorite Pokémon. However, the Game Boy version never saw the light of day and remained shelved, becoming a piece of Pokémon history that intrigued fans for years. That was until the game was leaked in 2018.
The concept was revitalized in 2015 with the release of Pokémon Picross on the Nintendo 3DS, finally bringing the vision to life. This version offered a free-to-start experience where players solve nonogram puzzles to capture Pokémon, utilizing their unique abilities to solve increasingly challenging puzzles. Pokémon Picross on the 3DS became a beloved addition to the franchise, offering a unique blend of puzzle gameplay and Pokémon collecting that appealed to both puzzle enthusiasts and Pokémon fans alike, bridging the gap between two distinct types of gameplay in the Pokémon universe.
There were actually two Pokemon Picross games released.
Pokémon Picross was an unreleased puzzle game for the Game Boy and Game Boy Color. While it was announced in various game magazines in Spring 1999, the game never officially released. In September 2020, a prototype ROM of the game was posted online. Despite being a prototype, the ROM is fully playable from start to end, and even includes credits.
Another “sequel” to this Picross game was released for the 3DS in 2015 as a freemium game.
