"Solve the grid, beat the clock, or perish in the dark."
Updates & Events
CiniCross - 17% OFF on Steam
CiniCross is currently featured on the Steam store!
About
CiniCross ingeniously fuses logic-based nonogram puzzles with the high-stakes tension of a roguelite dungeon crawler. Players must solve procedurally generated grids to attack enemies and navigate branching paths, all while battling a relentless countdown timer where time equals survival. With every room cleared, you gather powerful artifacts to bend the rules, but one mistake on the grid can cost you your life.
Story
Set in a grim, dark fantasy universe, you are an adventurer descending into a perilous, shifting dungeon filled with ancient traps and deadly guardians. The narrative is told through environmental details—campfires that offer a moment of respite and comfort amidst the darkness—and the brutal reality of the cycle of death and rebirth.
Gameplay
The core loop revolves on solving 'Picross'-style logic puzzles to deal damage and progress, but with a twist: a persistent timer acts as a resource that drains your health if it hits zero. Players must manage this pressure while utilizing active and passive artifacts found in shops and chests. Boss fights introduce unique gimmicks, such as health regeneration or status effects like freezing, requiring adaptive strategies and rapid puzzle-solving precision.
Key Features
- 1Procedural Nonograms
- 2Time-is-Health Mechanic
- 3Branching Dungeon Paths
- 4Rule-Bending Artifacts
- 5Multi-Stage Boss Battles
- 6Shop & Campfire Systems
- 7Permadeath Progression
- 8Status Effect Mechanics
Highlights
Pros & Cons
Pros
- +Unique blend of relaxation and high tension
- +High replayability via procedural generation
- +Deep strategic layer with artifacts
- +Responsive mouse-optimized controls
Cons
- -Punishing difficulty for puzzle novices
- -Unforgiving timer mechanics on deeper floors
- -Boss gimmicks can feel overwhelming initially
Game Ratings
Complex, procedurally generated grids
Relentless timer acts as a health drain
Randomized dungeons and artifact builds
Grim dark fantasy pixel art style
Simple rules, but steep mastery curve
Who Will Enjoy This?
Fans of Picross and logic grids
Gamers seeking item synergy and runs
Players who thrive under time pressure
Similar To
Core Puzzle Mechanic
Picross S Series
match
Dungeon Structure
Slay the Spire
match
Puzzle-RPG Blend
Murder by Numbers
match
💡 Did You Know?
The 'Health' of the player is directly tied to the timer; running out of time drains physical HP.
Features 'Campfires' that heal wounds, a direct nod to Dark Souls-style respite.
Bosses have unique abilities, such as regenerating 1 HP every 10 seconds, forcing aggressive play.
Every puzzle is procedurally generated but guaranteed to have a single, logical solution.
Developed by Hydrobates and featured prominently in the October 2025 Steam Next Fest.
Latest Updates & Events
CiniCross - 17% OFF on Steam
CiniCross is currently featured on the Steam store!
“A dark fantasy roguelite where nonogram puzzles meet dungeon crawling. Each room is a puzzle. Each boss, a deadly challenge.”— Hydrobates
“Intuitive Picross variant with roguelike tension that creates a 'one more run' compulsion.”— Steam Next Fest Feedback
Game Ratings
Complex, procedurally generated grids
Relentless timer acts as a health drain
Randomized dungeons and artifact builds
Grim dark fantasy pixel art style
Simple rules, but steep mastery curve
Who Will Enjoy This?
Fans of Picross and logic grids
Gamers seeking item synergy and runs
Players who thrive under time pressure
Similar To
💡 Did You Know?
The 'Health' of the player is directly tied to the timer; running out of time drains physical HP.
Features 'Campfires' that heal wounds, a direct nod to Dark Souls-style respite.
Bosses have unique abilities, such as regenerating 1 HP every 10 seconds, forcing aggressive play.
Every puzzle is procedurally generated but guaranteed to have a single, logical solution.
Developed by Hydrobates and featured prominently in the October 2025 Steam Next Fest.
Latest Updates & Events
CiniCross - 17% OFF on Steam
CiniCross is currently featured on the Steam store!
Timeline
Artifact Examples
- •Sacrificial Dagger: Trade HP for extra time
- •Block Buffer: Deal extra damage per filled block
- •Freeze Charm: Alters puzzle rules temporarily
Game Details
- Developer
- Hydrobates
- Publisher
- Hydrobates
- Platforms
- PC
- Genres
- Roguelite, Puzzle +1
- Atmosphere
- dark/mysterious/intense