A new video game show is starting in 2025.
Picross Showdown is based on the Japanese number puzzle game (also known as Nonograms) and will be played on a knockout basis over 12 episodes.
Players will compete to solve a picture made up of 20 individual Picross puzzles (ranging from 5 x 5 to 20 x 20), with the first to complete it going to the next round.
There will be two head-to-head battles each episode, with 32 players in total.
After the initial knockout stage, the remaining 16 players will compete in the Round of 16, Quarter Finals, Semi-Finals, and Grand Final.
Video game company Circular Thinking will stream the series on its YouTube channel, provide the prize money to the top four semi-finalists, and give the winner a chance to create their own Picross game for the company (available to download on Android and Apple smart devices).
It’s just as well, as Picross Showdown creator Adam Coney wasn’t able to strike a deal with any streaming services.
“Everyone said watching people do number puzzles sounded boring. But I love playing Picross and believe in the format, so I wasn’t going to quit. Thankfully, Circular Thinking stepped in. And I’m happy to host the show.”
And in a carrot to gain viewers, every puzzle on Picross Showdown will be free to play on Circular Thinking’s website after the episodes has aired, with every puzzle available once the series has finished.
