Pictopix

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Overwhelmingly Positive

Total: 911Positive: 886Negative: 25
97%
3%
Steam review score: 9

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AI Review

Pictopix scored 90.97 % rating
Pictopix is a captivating puzzle game that combines logic and creativity, perfect for fans of Picross and Nonograms. With over 300 puzzles, 4 game modes, and a robust level editor, this casual indie game offers hours of relaxing yet challenging gameplay. Players praise its addictive nature, relaxing jazz and bossa nova soundtrack, and the ability to create and share custom puzzles via Steam Workshop. The game boasts an impressive AI Community Rating of 91.01%, with keywords like 'fun,' 'relaxing,' and 'enjoyable' frequently mentioned. However, some players note frustrations with tedious manual counting and limited pixel art quality. Suggested improvements include adding auto-counting features, multi-colored puzzles, and better Steam Deck compatibility. If you're looking for a chill yet engaging puzzle experience, Pictopix is a must-try.
CasualIndieStrategy
Single-playerSteam AchievementsFull controller supportSteam Trading CardsSteam WorkshopSteam CloudSteam LeaderboardsIncludes level editorRemote Play on TabletFamily Sharing

What the community wishes

We analysed the 15 most impactful community reviews and collected 20 ideas and suggestions on how the game could be better.
Add auto-counting feature for squares
Players suggest adding an auto-counter for squares to reduce manual counting, which can be tedious, especially in larger puzzles. This would improve quality of life and reduce frustration.
Improve right-click functionality on Linux
Linux users report issues with right-click functionality, where clicks are double-registered. This issue persists across different systems and mice, suggesting a need for better Linux compatibility.
Reconsider difficulty tied to QoL features
Players dislike that quality-of-life features like auto-fade-out are disabled for higher difficulty rankings. This makes puzzles more tedious rather than challenging, leading to frustration.
Add multi-colored puzzle support
Players request the addition of multi-colored puzzles, a feature present in other Picross games, to add variety and complexity to the gameplay.
Fix Steam Deck controller support
Steam Deck users report controller support issues, including crashes and non-functional buttons. Improving compatibility would enhance the experience for handheld players.
Add a 'check' button for mistakes
Players suggest adding a 'check' button to identify mistakes mid-puzzle, as errors are often only discovered at the end, leading to frustration and wasted time.
Improve pixel art quality
Some players feel the pixel art in the game lacks polish compared to other Picross games. Enhancing the visual appeal of completed puzzles would improve satisfaction.
Expand mosaic creation in Workshop
Players request the ability to create and share mosaics via the Workshop, as the base game only includes three mosaics, limiting creative possibilities.
Reconsider ranking system implementation
The ranking system is criticized for being poorly defined and punishing players for using QoL features. A more balanced approach to rankings is suggested.
Add more music variety
Players note the limited number of music tracks and suggest adding more variety to avoid repetition and enhance the relaxing atmosphere.
Improve tutorial for new players
Some players feel the tutorial could be more comprehensive for newcomers, as the game assumes prior knowledge of Picross mechanics.
Add time-based achievements
Players suggest adding achievements tied to puzzle completion times, as the current achievements based on system clock and seasons feel arbitrary.
Optimize system resource usage
The game consumes more CPU and GPU resources than expected, especially on laptops. Optimizing performance would improve accessibility for lower-end systems.
Expand difficulty options
Players suggest adding more nuanced difficulty options, as the current system relies heavily on puzzle size rather than logical complexity.
Add QR code bypass for achievements
Players recommend providing an alternative method for the QR code achievement, as not all players have access to a QR code reader.
Improve pixel art in level editor
Players suggest enhancing the level editor's pixel art tools to allow for more creative and detailed puzzle designs.
Add more mosaic puzzles
Players request additional mosaic puzzles in the base game, as the current selection is limited and highly requested.
Reconsider forced expert mode
Players dislike being forced to use expert mode for the final levels, as it adds unnecessary tedium without enhancing the challenge.
Add more achievements for variety
Players suggest adding more diverse achievements to encourage replayability and exploration of different game modes.
Improve Steam Deck touchscreen controls
Steam Deck users report difficulties with touchscreen controls, especially for players with dexterity issues. Improving touchscreen functionality would enhance accessibility.

Reviews

Toxicity trend

N-Grams

Most relevant voices from the community
workshop integration forhighly addictive gamegreat deal $7easy to recommendgrand-ultimate Picross gamesolid Picross gameflawless and cleanchallenging levels aren'taddicted playing aworth the moneyreally nice nonogramonly game uweird issues withpuzzles are charminggets updates regularlysurprisingly fun I'mclean UI featurebest Picross Nonograminsane difficulty dailygrind your way

Keywords

Top 15 keywords for sentiments
What the community loves
We collected 253 positive keywords.
fun
13
recommend
9
best
8
great
7
relaxing
7
enjoyable
5
perfect
5
good
5
chill
4
easy
4
challenging
4
solid
4
10/10
3
catchy
3
simple
3
Where the community is undecided
We collected 228 neutral keywords.
puzzles
18
workshop
15
difficulty
12
puzzle
7
picross
6
achievements
5
Picross
5
challenging
4
levels
4
hints
4
logic
3
nonogram
3
nonograms
3
controller
3
price
3
What the community dislikes
We collected 86 negative keywords.
frustrating
3
missing
3
complaint
2
tedious
2
mistake
2
grind
2
bored
1
boring
1
breaks
1
cascading
1
chore
1
chump
1
consumed
1
controls
1
count
1

In-depth analysis of most impactful community reviews

Positive

Like mentioned a lot before: This game is highly addictive! The puzzles are so much fun. I used to make a lot of nonograms in my childhood and always loved them. So this nice little game caught my attention. The puzzles have sizes as small as 5x5 to the largest size of 25x25 which sounded rather small to me at first but it isn't a bother at all. The puzzles are charming, relaxing to solve with still quite some difficulty as you progress. It has an active workshop as well where people can create and share their own nonograms for others to be solved. So when you finish the game, there are still lots of great puzzles available. Overall; Worth the money. You wont get bored easily. EDIT 23/11/18: The game still gets updates regularly even after all this time which is a big plus too.

  • Sentiments

    • I find the game highly addictive, which makes it very enjoyable and engaging.
    • The puzzles in the game are a lot of fun, bringing back nostalgic memories of solving nonograms in my childhood.
    • The puzzle sizes range from 5x5 to 25x25, which initially seemed small but turned out to be perfectly fine and not bothersome.
    • The puzzles are charming and relaxing to solve, yet they still offer a good level of difficulty as you progress.
    • The game includes an active workshop where players can create and share their own nonograms, providing endless content even after finishing the main game.
    • I believe the game is worth the money because it offers great value and ensures you won't get bored easily.
    • The game still receives regular updates even after a long time, which is a significant positive aspect.

Positive

Many new features have been added since I originally played this three years ago. Back then, it was a decent nonogram game with workshop integration for near-endless puzzles. With many additional puzzles, plus some new quirks, it is easy to recommend this game to any fans of the genre. [h3]Additional Details[/h3] [table] [tr] [td]Operating System[/td] [td]Ubuntu Linux 16.04 | 18.04 x64[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td]CPU[/td] [td]AMD FX-8350 | Ryzen 5 1500x[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td]GPU[/td] [td]GTX 750 | GTX 1050[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td]Technical Notes[/td] [td]Unity game engine, no problems[/td] [/tr] [/table]

  • Sentiments

    • I feel that the game has improved significantly since I originally played it three years ago, with many new features added.
    • I remember the game being a decent nonogram game back then, which was enjoyable but not exceptional.
    • I appreciate the workshop integration, which provided near-endless puzzles and added replay value.
    • I am impressed by the addition of many new puzzles, which enhances the game's content and variety.
    • I find the new quirks introduced in the game to be interesting and refreshing additions.
    • I would easily recommend this game to any fans of the nonogram genre due to its improvements and added content.
    • I note that the game runs smoothly on Ubuntu Linux 16.04 and 18.04 x64, with no technical issues reported.
    • I observe that the game performs well on both AMD FX-8350 and Ryzen 5 1500x CPUs, indicating good optimization.
    • I see that the game works seamlessly with GTX 750 and GTX 1050 GPUs, showing compatibility with mid-range hardware.
    • I confirm that the game, built on the Unity engine, has no technical problems, which is a positive aspect for players.

Positive

A really nice nonogram / picross game with a variety of different game modes you can play. You can pick between: - 200+ hand made standalone levels, - mosaic mode with 3 different mosaics to solve, - endless mode with auto generated levels based on a few preferences you might have, - 5 different challenge modes that give you a new set of levels every 30 minutes, - workshop with 3000+ levels to solve. So you definitely wont run out of content to play in this game any time soon. There is also 3 different difficulty modes you can pick between depending on what you prefer and your skill level. The Linux version of the game works fine, but I had some really weird issues with right clicking. For some reason only the right click feels like it double registering the clicks about 75% of the time which is not really ideal. And I know it is not my mouse because it has not been an issue with any other game at all and it is not the PC either because I also had the issue on 2 different ones. I am not quite sure what is happening but I haven't seen any other reports of some one having the same problem so it might be something super specific in play here.

  • Sentiments

    • I find the game to be a really nice nonogram/picross game with a variety of different game modes, which makes it enjoyable and engaging.
    • I appreciate the 200+ hand-made standalone levels, as they provide a lot of content to explore and solve.
    • I like the mosaic mode with 3 different mosaics to solve, as it adds variety and creativity to the gameplay.
    • I enjoy the endless mode with auto-generated levels based on preferences, as it ensures I won't run out of content to play.
    • I find the 5 different challenge modes, which provide a new set of levels every 30 minutes, to be a great way to keep the game fresh and challenging.
    • I appreciate the workshop with 3000+ levels to solve, as it offers an extensive amount of user-generated content to explore.
    • I like the option to choose between 3 different difficulty modes, as it allows me to tailor the experience to my skill level and preference.
    • I find the Linux version of the game to work fine overall, which is a positive aspect for Linux users.
    • I experienced some really weird issues with right-clicking, where it feels like it double-registers clicks about 75% of the time, which is not ideal and frustrating.
    • I am unsure why the right-click issue occurs, as it doesn't happen with any other game or on different PCs, making it a specific and confusing problem.

Positive

The grand-ultimate Picross game on Steam. A whopping total of ~350 puzzles (plus workshop support) that range from trivial 5x5 to the hardest 40x40 I've played on the platform (took me 90 hours to full completion). A lot of options to tailor the game to your liking, from theme selection to gameplay/controls tweaks. Secret easter eggs and achievements even. Look no further because this game has it all. And if you still crave for more then I recommend [url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/385250/Paint_it_Back/]Paint it Back[/url] which does have comparably challenging puzzles, with [url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/642650/Peppers_Puzzles/]Pepper's Puzzles[/url] coming as a close second.

  • Sentiments

    • I feel that this game is the grand-ultimate Picross game on Steam, which makes it stand out as a top-tier choice for fans of the genre.
    • I am impressed by the sheer volume of content, with a whopping total of ~350 puzzles, which provides a lot of replay value and variety.
    • I appreciate the range of puzzle sizes, from trivial 5x5 to the hardest 40x40, which caters to both casual and hardcore players.
    • I found the 40x40 puzzles to be particularly challenging, as it took me 90 hours to achieve full completion, which adds to the game's depth.
    • I like the extensive customization options, such as theme selection and gameplay/controls tweaks, which allow me to tailor the experience to my preferences.
    • I enjoy the inclusion of secret easter eggs and achievements, which add an extra layer of fun and discovery to the game.
    • I feel that the game has it all, making it a comprehensive and satisfying experience for Picross enthusiasts.
    • I recommend 'Paint it Back' and 'Pepper's Puzzles' as additional games for those who crave more challenging puzzles, showing my enthusiasm for the genre.

Positive

Honestly this is the only game u need if you like Picross/Nonograms With PLENTY of levels with. Sometimes insane difficulty, daily challenges AND a workshop on top of that you wont run out of puzzles to do anytime soon Very simple and fun with a user-friendly interface I can't recommend it enough :>

  • Sentiments

    • I feel that this game is the only one you need if you enjoy Picross or Nonograms, as it perfectly caters to fans of these puzzle types.
    • I appreciate that the game offers plenty of levels, ensuring there is always something new to solve and keeping the experience fresh.
    • I find the difficulty level of some puzzles to be insane, which adds a challenging and rewarding aspect to the gameplay.
    • I enjoy the inclusion of daily challenges, as they provide a consistent and engaging reason to return to the game regularly.
    • I value the workshop feature, as it allows for endless user-generated content, ensuring I will never run out of puzzles to solve.
    • I find the game to be very simple and fun, making it accessible and enjoyable for players of all skill levels.
    • I appreciate the user-friendly interface, as it enhances the overall experience by making navigation and gameplay smooth and intuitive.
    • I highly recommend this game to others, as it combines all the elements I love about puzzle games into one outstanding package.

Negative

If you're looking for an introduction to nonograms, this is fine. If you are already familiar with them, I don't think this is right for you. Has some nice ideas, but I ended up just getting a refund. "Challenging" levels aren't harder, just bigger, and to get to to actually harder levels, you first have to grind your way through the basic ones. On top of that, the game considers quality of life options to be tied into difficulty. If you want to get a perfect rank on a puzzle, you need to disable these options. In other nonogram games, you can still have a challenging puzzle with these same quality of life options.

  • Sentiments

    • I think this game is fine as an introduction to nonograms, but it may not be suitable for those already familiar with them.
    • I found that the game has some nice ideas, but ultimately, I decided to get a refund.
    • I feel that the 'challenging' levels aren't actually harder; they are just bigger, which is disappointing.
    • I had to grind through basic levels to reach the harder ones, which felt tedious and unnecessary.
    • I dislike that quality of life options are tied into difficulty, making it harder to achieve a perfect rank.
    • I believe that in other nonogram games, quality of life options don't detract from the challenge, which makes this game feel inferior.
    • I appreciate that the game attempts to introduce nonograms to new players, which is a positive aspect.

Negative

Alongside [i]Sudoku[/i], [i]Paint by Numbers[/i] puzzles are my favourite things to kill time with. No matter if it is a book, game on my phone, PC game, I absolutely adore these... and this adoration is what lead me to purchase [i]Pictopix[/i]. Sadly, however, I find this game rather dull. Not sure if it was caused by my adoration of this particular puzzle genre which was skewing my expectations; or perhaps it was the unfulfilled desire to dive into this game for hours on end today forgetting about the world around me whilst listening to podcasts. I simply lost my interest very quickly and got bored completely halfway through 10x10s. 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. And yes, I realise, the starting point is offering really easy puzzles and I would [u]perhaps[/u] find a greater enjoyment with the supposedly harder ones later, but I just can't find the willpower to grind for any longer and feel empty doing so. Objectively, I would say this is a very well made picross game and judging by the reviews many people enjoy it, unfortunately, this wasn't my case in those few hours I've played and I've no desire to come back to it. Instead, if the itch to paint by numbers on my PC comes back, I will install and happily return to a different game - [url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/385250/Paint_it_Back/] Paint it Back [/url], which in my opinion has more of a fun and imaginative element to it. [i]Grade:[/i][b] C[/b]

  • Sentiments

    • I absolutely adore [i]Paint by Numbers[/i] puzzles and find them to be my favorite way to kill time, whether in books, phone games, or PC games.
    • My adoration for [i]Paint by Numbers[/i] puzzles led me to purchase [i]Pictopix[/i], as I was excited to explore this game.
    • I find [i]Pictopix[/i] rather dull and disappointing, which may be due to my high expectations for the puzzle genre.
    • I lost interest very quickly and got bored halfway through the 10x10 puzzles, which felt unfulfilling and tedious.
    • Switching to solving the first mosaic felt unrewarding, and the last two rows were particularly tedious.
    • I acknowledge that the starting puzzles are easy and that harder ones might be more enjoyable, but I lack the willpower to continue grinding through the game.
    • Objectively, I recognize that [i]Pictopix[/i] is a well-made picross game, and many people enjoy it based on reviews.
    • Unfortunately, I did not enjoy [i]Pictopix[/i] in the few hours I played and have no desire to return to it.
    • If I feel the urge to play [i]Paint by Numbers[/i] on my PC again, I will return to [i]Paint it Back[/i], which I find more fun and imaginative.
    • I gave [i]Pictopix[/i] a grade of C, reflecting my overall disappointment with the game.

Negative

The game is good, the puzzles are neat, graphically it's very pleasant to look at, but I have one complaint with the game that unfortunately kills it completely for me. It considers the "automatic number fade-out" feature a hint, and if you use it, you won't get all the medals for the puzzles. What that means is that instead of the game greying out a number when you've filled the appropriate number of squares in that line, you need to click on the number yourself to grey it out, it doesn't happen automatically. I feel like punishing players with not being able to get all medals just for not wanting to use a quality of life feature sucks. Automatic greying out doesn't make puzzles easier in any way, it just saves you clicks, you need to go through all logical steps all the same, it shouldn't be considered a "hint". It could've been made into a feature that can be disabled for people who don't want it, but it shouldn't be tied to 100% completion.

  • Sentiments

    • I find the game to be good overall, with enjoyable puzzles and visually pleasing graphics.
    • I appreciate the neatness of the puzzles, which adds to the overall enjoyment of the game.
    • I think the graphics are very pleasant to look at, enhancing the visual experience.
    • I feel frustrated that the 'automatic number fade-out' feature is considered a hint, which negatively impacts my experience.
    • I dislike that using the automatic fade-out feature prevents me from earning all the medals for the puzzles.
    • I find it unnecessary to manually click on numbers to grey them out when the automatic feature could save time without affecting difficulty.
    • I believe punishing players for using a quality-of-life feature is unfair and detracts from the game's enjoyment.
    • I think the automatic greying out feature should not be tied to 100% completion, as it doesn't make puzzles easier.
    • I suggest that the automatic fade-out feature could be made optional for players who prefer it, without affecting medal acquisition.
    • I feel that the game's design decision regarding the automatic fade-out feature significantly diminishes my overall satisfaction.

Negative

Unfortunately I am tainted by the Picross S series on Switch and anything that doesn't provide that level of ease-of-play just isn't worth 100%ing in my book. This one penalizes you for using literally any sort of automated marking or hinting, which just becomes exhausting over time. Alas.

  • Sentiments

    • I feel that the Picross S series on Switch has set a high standard for ease-of-play, and anything that doesn't meet that level is disappointing to me.
    • I find it frustrating that this game penalizes the use of automated marking or hinting, which makes the experience less enjoyable over time.
    • I believe that the penalties for using hints or automated features make the game feel exhausting rather than fun.
    • I am disappointed that this game doesn't meet my expectations for ease-of-play, which makes it less appealing to complete fully.

Negative

Expert mode is chump change. Excellent comment that really sums up my experience. "Still a little annoyed at Pictopix handles difficulty. To get all the points you have to turn off auto-marking completed clues. Auto-marking completed clues is a convenience thing, not a difficulty thing! Making you do it manually doesn't add difficulty, it just adds awful make-work! Picross is all about filling in spaces, and yet I can't fill in all those difficulty crowns because of that stupid decision...*grumble*"

  • Sentiments

    • I feel that Expert mode is not challenging enough, as it is described as 'chump change'.
    • I find the comment about Pictopix's difficulty handling to be excellent and relatable to my experience.
    • I am annoyed by how Pictopix handles difficulty, particularly the requirement to turn off auto-marking completed clues to earn all points.
    • I believe that auto-marking completed clues is a convenience feature, not a difficulty adjustment, and forcing manual marking feels like unnecessary work.
    • I feel frustrated that the decision to disable auto-marking adds tedious tasks rather than meaningful difficulty.
    • I am disappointed that I cannot fill in all the difficulty crowns due to the game's design choice, which feels unfair.
    • I think Picross is fundamentally about filling in spaces, but this design decision detracts from the core experience.

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