Star Battle is a logic puzzle that has taken the puzzle world by storm. If you've ever enjoyed Sudoku and wanted something fresh, Star Battle offers a completely different challenge that's just as addictive - perhaps even more so.
The Basic Concept
At its core, Star Battle is beautifully simple. You're given a grid divided into irregular regions (sometimes called "cages" or "areas"), and your goal is to place stars in the grid following a few straightforward rules.
Unlike Sudoku where you work with numbers, Star Battle uses just one symbol: the star. This makes it visually cleaner and, for many people, more intuitive to learn.
The Rules of Star Battle
Every Star Battle puzzle follows these four rules:
- Each row must contain exactly 2 stars (in standard puzzles)
- Each column must contain exactly 2 stars
- Each outlined region must contain exactly 2 stars
- Stars cannot touch each other - not even diagonally
That fourth rule is what gives the puzzle its alternate name: Two Not Touch or 2 No Touch. Stars must be completely isolated from each other, with at least one empty cell between them in every direction.
Why Star Battle is Different from Other Puzzles
What makes Star Battle special compared to other logic puzzles?
No Numbers to Track
Unlike Sudoku where you're juggling nine different numbers, Star Battle only uses stars. This means less mental bookkeeping and more focus on spatial reasoning.
No Trivia Knowledge Required
Unlike crosswords, you don't need to know obscure facts. Star Battle is pure logic - everything you need to solve the puzzle is right there on the grid.
Guaranteed Solvable Without Guessing
Well-designed Star Battle puzzles (like those at TryHard Puzzles) can always be solved through logical deduction alone. You never need to guess and check. Every star placement follows inevitably from the previous moves.
Grid Sizes and Difficulty
Star Battle puzzles typically come in several sizes:
- 8x8 - Great for beginners, usually easier puzzles
- 9x9 - Medium difficulty, the most common size
- 10x10 - Larger grids mean more complex logic
The difficulty isn't just about size though. The shape of the regions matters enormously. Puzzles with small, oddly-shaped regions tend to be easier because there are fewer possibilities. Large, sprawling regions require more advanced techniques.
A Brief History
Star Battle puzzles originated in puzzle competitions, particularly the World Puzzle Championship, where they've been a staple since the 1990s. The puzzle format was created to test spatial reasoning and logical deduction in a unique way.
In recent years, Star Battle has spread well beyond competition circles. The New York Times publishes it daily under the name Two Not Touch, and LinkedIn's Queens — a close cousin that trades regions for colored areas and stars for queens — has pulled a whole new audience toward this family of puzzles.
Who Enjoys Star Battle?
Star Battle appeals to a wide range of puzzle enthusiasts:
- Sudoku fans looking for a fresh challenge
- Visual thinkers who prefer spatial reasoning over number manipulation
- Completionists who love the satisfaction of a perfectly solved grid
- Beginners who find the simple ruleset approachable
- Puzzle veterans who appreciate the depth of advanced techniques
Getting Started
Ready to try your first Star Battle puzzle? The best way to learn is by doing. Start with an easy puzzle - the small regions and straightforward logic will help you understand the rules naturally.
Here at TryHard Puzzles, we offer four difficulty levels every day: Easy, Medium, Hard, and Expert. Each puzzle is computer-verified to have exactly one solution that can be found through pure logic.
Check out our interactive tutorial to learn the basic techniques, then head to today's puzzles.