Inkwell Games · Stars

Inkwell Stars solution — November 20, 2025

Stuck on today's Inkwell Games Stars puzzle? Here's the complete step-by-step solution to the 9×9 grid for November 20, 2025 — every star placed with pure logic, one deduction at a time, no guessing. Step through it below.

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Full written solution

Every deduction from the walkthrough above, in order. Each technique is explained in the Star Battle strategy guide.

  1. Starting position — the grid is split into regions (bold outlines). Each row, column, and region needs exactly two stars, and no two stars may touch.
  2. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 5, column 6).
  3. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 6, column 6).
  4. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must have star (row 5, column 5).
  5. Mark 6 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 4).
  6. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 5, column 8).
  7. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 6, column 8).
  8. Clump analysis (Region 9): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 9, column 4).
  9. Crowding (Column 4): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 2, column 3).
  10. Crowding (Region 4): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 7, column 4).
  11. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 6, column 2).
  12. Clump analysis (Region 6): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 8, column 2).
  13. Generalized counting (rows 1-4): region star limits exclude these cells (row 5, column 3).
  14. Squeeze (columns 3-4): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 7, column 2).
  15. Generalized counting (columns 9-9): region star limits exclude these cells (row 5, column 9).
  16. Composite container (rows 1-4): Regions 1, 2 and 3 are confined here, so the leftover cells owe exactly 2 of the band's 8 stars - a star on these cells would crowd them out (row 2, column 7).
  17. Composite container (rows 6-9): Regions 8 and 9 are confined here, so the leftover cells owe exactly 4 of the band's 8 stars - a star on these cells would crowd them out (row 8, column 5).
  18. Lookahead: Placing star here leads to contradiction - column 1 can only hold 2 stars but the regions there would be forced to place 3 (row 6, column 3).
  19. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must have star (row 7, column 5).
  20. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 6).
  21. Column 5 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 5).
  22. Column 3 candidates: Middle cell cannot have star (row 2, column 4).
  23. Column completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 1, column 4).
  24. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 3).
  25. Column completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 3, column 4).
  26. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 3).
  27. Region complete: Mark 3 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 6).
  28. Column 3 candidates: Middle cell cannot have star (row 8, column 3).
  29. Column completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 7, column 3).
  30. Row 7 complete: Mark 4 remaining cells as X (row 7, column 1).
  31. Column completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 9, column 3).
  32. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 2).
  33. Clump analysis (Column 2): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 1, column 1).
  34. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 5, column 2).
  35. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 1).
  36. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 6, column 7).
  37. Row completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 6, column 9).
  38. Row 3 candidates: Middle cell cannot have star (row 4, column 8).
  39. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 4, column 7).
  40. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 6).
  41. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 2, column 6).
  42. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 7).
  43. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 9, column 6).
  44. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 7).
  45. Row completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 4, column 9).
  46. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 9).
  47. Row completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 3, column 1).
  48. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 2).
  49. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 1, column 2).
  50. Row 1 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 8).
  51. Row 9 complete: Mark 3 remaining cells as X (row 9, column 1).
  52. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 8, column 1).
  53. Column completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 2, column 8).
  54. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 9).
  55. Column completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 8, column 8).
  56. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 9).
  57. Solved! Every row, column, and region has its two stars, none touching.

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This is an independent, logic-based walkthrough created by TryHard Puzzles to teach Star Battle solving technique. TryHard Puzzles is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Inkwell Games.