Pokemon Picross is slated for release on December 3 on the Nintendo 3DS eShop, according to Pokemon's official site.

Pokemon Picross will be available free of charge, but players can purchase (with real money, Nintendo notes) "picrites"—which are described as "rare stones with magical powers." Picrates are used to unlock levels and recover your Pokemon's skills.

Your Pokemon have skills that can help you move through the levels—like Lucario, whose Hyper Scan skill "scans the grid and fixes incorrect squares," or Squirtle's Blue Force, which "changes the color of hint numbers to blue on rows with squares you can definitely fill in." After using a skill, some Pokemon will be unusable for some time, unless you purchase a picrate. Pokemon are collected by solving the puzzle of their likeness.



Many Pokemon make an appearance in the game. With over 300 different puzzles, you're sure to find your favorites. Nintendo writes that "in addition to familiar Pokemon, all Mega-Evolved Pokémon that have appeared through Pokemon Omega Ruby and Pokémon Alpha Sapphire show up to help and challenge you in this game." Some legendary and mythical Pokemon make an appearance, too.

Pokemon Picross was first announced earlier this month during a Nintendo Direct broadcast.