Inkwell Games · Stars

Inkwell Stars solution — November 27, 2025

Stuck on today's Inkwell Games Stars puzzle? Here's the complete step-by-step solution to the 10×10 grid for November 27, 2025 — every star placed with pure logic, one deduction at a time, no guessing. Step through it below.

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Solve walkthrough Step 1 of 60

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 2, column 4).
  3. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 3, column 4).
  4. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must have star (row 3, column 5).
  5. Mark 6 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 5).
  6. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 2, column 2).
  7. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 3, column 2).
  8. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 9, column 2).
  9. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 10, column 2).
  10. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must have star (row 10, column 3).
  11. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 3).
  12. Clump analysis (Region 3): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 1, column 3).
  13. Clump analysis (Region 8): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 1, column 5).
  14. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must have star (row 8, column 4).
  15. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 4).
  16. Column completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 10, column 5).
  17. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 6).
  18. Row 10 complete: Mark 5 remaining cells as X (row 10, column 1).
  19. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 9, column 1).
  20. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 1).
  21. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 7, column 2).
  22. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 1).
  23. Clump analysis (Column 1): each clump must supply its full share of stars (row 5, column 2).
  24. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 1).
  25. Column 2 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 2).
  26. Clump analysis (Row 4): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 3, column 7).
  27. Clump analysis (Region 9): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 7).
  28. Crowding (Region 6): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 5, column 6).
  29. Row completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 5, column 4).
  30. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 4).
  31. Column 4 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 4).
  32. Crowding (Row 6): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 7, column 7).
  33. Squeeze (rows 6-7): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 6, column 9).
  34. Squeeze (rows 6-7): each clump in the band must supply its full share of stars (row 6, column 10).
  35. Squeeze (columns 6-7): each clump in the band must supply its full share of stars (row 4, column 7).
  36. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 8).
  37. Region complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 6, column 6).
  38. Row completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 6, column 8).
  39. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 8).
  40. Region complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 8, column 10).
  41. Row completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 7, column 6).
  42. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 6).
  43. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 9, column 7).
  44. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 8).
  45. Row completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 8, column 9).
  46. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 9).
  47. Column completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 1, column 6).
  48. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 7).
  49. Two last candidates (column 8): Eliminate 2 cells adjacent to both (row 1, column 9).
  50. Column completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 4, column 9).
  51. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 10).
  52. Region complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 8).
  53. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 2, column 8).
  54. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 2, column 10).
  55. Row completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 1, column 1).
  56. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 1).
  57. Region complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 3, column 1).
  58. Row 2 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 2, column 3).
  59. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 3, column 3).
  60. 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.