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How to play Color by Number
Color by Number is a calm pixel-art painting puzzle. Every picture starts as a grid of grey cells, each one marked with a number. Choose a colour from the palette at the bottom, then tap or drag across all the cells that show the same number and watch the picture come to life, one colour at a time.
There are ten pictures to paint, from a small tulip you can finish in a minute to larger ones such as a kitten, a puppy, a goldfish, a sunflower, a butterfly and a night owl. Cells of the colour you picked light up so they are easy to find, the Find button points at the next cell, and the palette shows how many cells each number still has. Wrong taps cost a little, long streaks earn bonus points, and you get up to three stars for every picture.
Stuck on a big area? Watch a short video to use the magic wand, which paints a whole patch of the selected colour for you. Your progress and best scores are saved on your device, so you can leave a picture and come back to it later.
Controls
Mouse: click a number, then click or drag over cells with that number. Keys 1 to 9 pick a colour, H finds a cell, Esc goes back.
Tap a number at the bottom, then tap or drag your finger over the cells with that number. Tap Find to see the next cell.
FAQ
How do I paint a cell?
Pick a number in the palette, then tap or drag over cells that carry the same number. Cells of the selected number are highlighted.
What happens if I tap the wrong number?
Nothing is painted, your streak resets and it counts as a mistake. Dragging over other numbers is ignored, so only single taps can be mistakes.
How do I get three stars?
Finish a picture with almost no wrong taps and without the magic wand. Fewer mistakes mean more stars.
Is my progress saved?
Yes. Every picture remembers which cells you painted, and your stars and best scores are kept on your device.
Is Color by Number free?
Yes. It is free to play in your browser, with no download and no account.
Can I play on my phone?
Yes. It runs on phones, tablets and computers. Tap a number at the bottom, then tap or drag your finger over the cells with that number. Tap Find to see the next cell.