Picombo

What it is

Picombo is a visual puzzle game about reconstructing pictures by combining image layers. Each challenge shows a target image and asks you to pick two layers whose overlap recreates it. The game was designed by Kai Uwe Barthel.

Editor takes

NicoThe Commuter

“Tap two layers, watch them blend, and you're in—short sessions work great, and completed puzzles stay around for quick replays on the go.”

JunoThe Puzzle Purist

“The color-combination rule is crisp, the tutorial earns its 'aha,' and each target is a fair puzzle—though the sample JSON dependence makes the gallery feel incomplete.”

BeaThe Jam Judge

“Turns a niche image-coding idea into a tidy, well-presented browser toy; the scope is small, but the polish and tutorial make it feel complete.”

RookThe Run Addict

“Replaying a completed picture is a fun check, but the real replay hook is importing new puzzle JSON instead of a built-in endless run.”

How to play

Open a puzzle from the gallery and study the target picture at the top. Choose exactly two image layers from the bottom to combine them. The overlap should match the target; if it does, the puzzle is complete.

Tips

• Look at the target's light and dark areas: the site notes that two light layers make a darker overlap.
• Think about color mixing: overlapping colors combine, so predict what each pair will produce before tapping.
• Use the interface helpers such as Dim others and Lines to compare the target with candidates.
• Replay finished puzzles to understand how different layer pairs build the same picture.

Questions