Inkwell Games · Stars

Inkwell Stars solution — December 23, 2025

Stuck on today's Inkwell Games Stars puzzle? Here's the complete step-by-step solution to the 10×10 grid for December 23, 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 55

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 3, column 4).
  3. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 5, column 3).
  4. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 8, column 8).
  5. Clump analysis (Region 3): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 3).
  6. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must have star (row 5, column 4).
  7. Mark 5 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 4).
  8. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 5, column 2).
  9. Mark 5 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 1).
  10. Row 5 complete: Mark 5 remaining cells as X (row 5, column 6).
  11. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must have star (row 3, column 5).
  12. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 4).
  13. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 3, column 3).
  14. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 2).
  15. Row 3 complete: Mark 5 remaining cells as X (row 3, column 1).
  16. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 8, column 2).
  17. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 7, column 6).
  18. Clump analysis (Row 6): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 7, column 7).
  19. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must have star (row 8, column 6).
  20. Mark 6 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 5).
  21. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 6, column 6).
  22. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 7).
  23. Column 6 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 6).
  24. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must have star (row 9, column 8).
  25. Mark 5 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 9).
  26. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 7, column 8).
  27. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 8).
  28. Row completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 6, column 10).
  29. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 10).
  30. Column 8 complete: Mark 3 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 8).
  31. Clump analysis (Row 4): each clump must supply its full share of stars (row 4, column 7).
  32. Clump analysis (Column 9): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 1, column 10).
  33. Row completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 4, column 9).
  34. Region complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 2, column 9).
  35. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 2, column 1).
  36. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 1).
  37. Row completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 2, column 7).
  38. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 7).
  39. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 1, column 9).
  40. Clump analysis (Column 10): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 10, column 3).
  41. Column completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 1, column 5).
  42. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 4).
  43. Region complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 3).
  44. Clump analysis (Row 10): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 9, column 1).
  45. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 10, column 10).
  46. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 7, column 2).
  47. Column completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 10, column 2).
  48. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 3).
  49. Row completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 9, column 4).
  50. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 3).
  51. Region complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 7, column 4).
  52. Row completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 8, column 1).
  53. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 1).
  54. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 7, column 3).
  55. 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.