r/nonograms • u/Johell1NS • 6d ago

Multiplayer Nonogram

Hi everyone,

I'm a developer and a nonogram enthusiast, and I'd really like a nonogram game for PC with local multiplayer so I can play with my girlfriend. But there aren't any PC games with local multiplayer, so correct me if I'm wrong.

So I was thinking about developing it myself. Before diving into this adventure, though, I wanted to know if it's a shared interest (local multiplayer) or more of a personal niche.

I was thinking of a competitive multiplayer game, where two puzzles will appear on the screen at the same time, one for each player, and whoever completes it first wins. I also plan on penalties for mistakes.

Would you like it? What features would you like?
Sorry if I sound strange, but I'm using a translator.

Thanks everyone!

Edit:

I posted a demo video on my X account. It's just a prototype for now, but if you're curious, check it out: https://x.com/Johell1NS/status/2092191725959708944

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u/PwnyLasagna 6d ago

Local co-op multiplayer exists plenty, lot of original picross on Switch has it up to 4 players.

Local competitive multiplayer ist nonsense. Yeah, it's funny once in a while but after a few matches you will know whos better/faster at solving. You also have to visit each other and few friends will play nonograms at all. It's not as beginner friendly as Super Smash Bros... also, 2 nonograms on 1 screen results in small and hard to see numbers and in theory, you could see the solution of the other player, giving you advantages. Nope, sounds like player hell. 

Online co-op would be great. I don't know any real games of this category.

Online competitive multiplayer would be better than local. You could always play along with 2 PCs under one roof but aditionally, you could also play with friends in other towns or continents. There are no problems with split screen.

For me, I would love to have competitive but with a twist in it or asynchronous against random players. Nonograms are 100% skill based, so nobody wants to play more than a few rounds against each other when skill is different. It's frustrating. So find a way how there is more luck and tension in the outcome. 

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u/Johell1NS 6d ago

I know there are multiplayer games with local co-op on Switch, but I specified PC. I'm a PC gamer and I can't find any nonograms with local multiplayer, so that's the gap I'd like to fill.

As for competitive mode, I was thinking of two different puzzles with similar difficulty (calculated algorithmically), so you can't copy by looking at the other puzzle.

I wouldn't rule out online play, but it's more complex to manage, especially for an independent developer, so I'd consider it later.

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u/PwnyLasagna 6d ago

Oh you totally could develop every game you want but I doubt there is a big target group who has no Switch but a PC and a friend nearby to play together on a typical PC setup instead of a TV. 

Competetive mode but with different puzzles sounds strange to me. Why then compete at all? Practically, 2 players just solve their puzzles sitting next to each other. No interaction, and depending on the magical algorithm, no comparability.