Under the Island is packed with puzzles, but the nonogram puzzles might be the ones that trip you up the most.
These grid-based logic puzzles pop up in two locations across Seashell Island, and if you’ve never solved a nonogram before, they can feel pretty intimidating at first glance.
There are seven nonogram puzzles total in Under the Island.
Two of them are found inside the Cereal Factory dungeon, and the remaining five are hidden in the Cursed Chicken Coop, an optional side area near Koala Village.
This guide covers every single solution so you can breeze through them without any headaches.
How Nonograms Work in Under the Island
If you’ve never encountered a nonogram before, here’s the quick version.
You’re given a grid with numbers along each row and column. Those numbers tell you how many consecutive squares need to be filled in that row or column.
If a row says “3”, that means three squares in a row need to be dug. If it says “2 1”, that means there’s a group of two dug squares, at least one empty space, then one more dug square.
In Under the Island, you solve these by digging the correct tiles after interacting with the marked spot on the floor.
Quick tip: Always start with the rows or columns that have the largest numbers. If a row on a 7×7 grid says “7,” you know every single tile in that row gets dug. Working from the biggest clues first makes the rest of the puzzle way easier to figure out.
If you dig the wrong spot don’t worry, dig again and you’ll fill it back in.
There’s no time limit on any of these puzzles either.
Cereal Factory Nonogram 1 Solution
The Cereal Factory is one of the major dungeons in Under the Island, located in the snowy Bran Bran Peak region. You’ll encounter the first nonogram puzzle as you work through the dungeon’s rooms.
Look for the dig spot on the floor to activate the grid. The numbers will appear along the edges, and you just need to dig the correct tiles to match the clues.
Refer to the screenshot above for the exact solution. Once you complete the puzzle, a chest with a key will appear so you can continue deeper into the factory.
Cereal Factory Nonogram 2 Solution
The second nonogram in the Cereal Factory works exactly the same way as the first one. Find the dig spot, activate the grid, and solve it using the row and column clues.
This one might be slightly trickier than the first, but the same strategy applies. Start with the fullest rows and columns and work your way out from there.
With both Cereal Factory nonograms solved, you’re done with the puzzle content in this dungeon. But there are five more nonograms waiting for you elsewhere on the island.
How to Access the Cursed Chicken Coop
The Cursed Chicken Coop is an entirely optional area, but it’s well worth visiting for the reward you get at the end.
You can find it near Koala Village, roughly in the center of the map, just north of the large house with the guard dog.
Before you can access it, you’ll need the shovel, which you earn during the story in Igloo Heights.
Follow the road to the left out of Koala Village and climb up the nearby vines. Use your shovel to roll some dirt into the hole blocking the path, then follow the trail until you reach a well.
Jump down into the well and you’ll be greeted by Ghost Chick.
These ghost chickens have been bored out of their minds, and they’ve been passing the time by creating nonogram puzzles for any adventurer brave enough to visit. Lucky you, you’re the first one to actually show up.
From here, you’ll work through five nonogram rooms, one after another. Solve each puzzle to open the door and descend to the next level.
Cursed Chicken Coop Nonogram 1 Solution
The first puzzle in the Cursed Chicken Coop is a gentle introduction. Walk up to the dig spot to activate the grid, and you’ll see the number clues appear along the rows and columns.
When solved correctly, this nonogram creates the shape of an arrow pointing toward the bottom-right corner of the grid. It’s a nice easy warm-up for what’s ahead.
Once completed, the door at the top of the room opens and you can head down to the next level.
Cursed Chicken Coop Nonogram 2 Solution
The second room works exactly the same way. Dig the marked spot to activate the puzzle grid, then solve it using the clue numbers.
This one is still fairly straightforward. Look for rows or columns that require you to fill in all the tiles, as those are your freebies and give you a strong starting point.
Complete it and the door opens again, leading you further into the well.
Cursed Chicken Coop Nonogram 3 Solution
The third nonogram ramps things up a little. The grid is the same size, but the clue patterns require more careful logic to work through.
A good approach here is to focus on the third row and the fourth column first. Both of these require you to dig all seven spots, which immediately gives you a ton of confirmed tiles to build from.
Work outward from those confirmed tiles and the rest of the puzzle should fall into place without too much trouble.
Cursed Chicken Coop Nonogram 4 Solution
The fourth puzzle follows the same pattern of increasing complexity. As with the previous room, look for any row or column that asks you to fill in every tile and start there.
When completed, the solved grid creates the shape of a star.
It’s one of the more satisfying-looking solutions in the set.
Solve it and push onward to the fifth and final puzzle room.
Cursed Chicken Coop Nonogram 5 Solution
This is the hardest nonogram in the entire game.
The Ghost Chick will actually be wandering around the room with you while you work on this one, seemingly excited to see someone finally tackling their puzzles.
The solution doesn’t form a super recognizable image. It ends up looking something like an irregular “N” shape with the bottom section shifted a bit.
The columns that call for six dug tiles start right from the top, with the bottom spaces left empty.
Take your time with this one.
The same strategies still work: find the most restrictive clues first, fill in what you know for certain, and work through the rest logically.
There’s no penalty for standing around and thinking it through.
Reward for Completing the Cursed Chicken Coop
After solving the fifth and final nonogram, the last door opens into a small room with a treasure chest. Inside you’ll find a Ghost Key.
This key unlocks the Cursed Chicken Coop building back up on the surface.
You’ll also unlock the “Haunted Nonogram” achievement/trophy for completing the entire minidungeon. It’s a nice bonus for what amounts to a fun optional puzzle challenge.
Head back up out of the well and use the Ghost Key on the locked building nearby.
Inside you’ll find a chest containing the Wonder Magnet, an item that will attract coins and other drops towards you from a distance plus another chest containing a Heart Coin, which contributes toward increasing Nia’s maximum health.
General Nonogram Tips
Start with the biggest numbers. Any row or column where the clue numbers add up to (or are close to) the full grid width is your best starting point. If a 7-wide grid has a row that says “7,” every tile in that row is confirmed.
Use overlap logic. If a row says “5” on a 7-wide grid, the filled section could start at position 1 or position 3 at most.
That means positions 3 through 5 are guaranteed to be filled no matter what. This “overlap” technique is the core strategy for solving any nonogram.
Mark empty spaces too. Once you know a tile should NOT be dug, mentally mark it as empty. Keeping track in your head (or on a piece of paper) helps you narrow down possibilities for neighboring clues.
Work back and forth. Solve what you can in the rows, then switch to columns. New information from rows will help you figure out columns, and vice versa. Keep alternating until everything clicks into place.
If you’re still stuck on a specific puzzle, just match your grid to the screenshot solutions above and dig accordingly.
The real adventure in Under the Island is everything else waiting for you on Seashell Island.
For more help with the game, check out our Under the Island Tips: Best Early Upgrades, Where to Explore First, and What to Avoid guide.
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Images in this article are screenshots captured by the author and used under Fair Use.