Inkwell Games · Stars

Inkwell Stars solution — December 29, 2025

Stuck on today's Inkwell Games Stars puzzle? Here's the complete step-by-step solution to the 10×10 grid for December 29, 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 2, column 2).
  3. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 2, column 5).
  4. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 9, column 2).
  5. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 9, column 8).
  6. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must have star (row 10, column 8).
  7. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 7).
  8. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 8, column 8).
  9. Mark 5 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 7).
  10. Column 8 complete: Mark 6 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 8).
  11. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must have star (row 10, column 10).
  12. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 10).
  13. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 8, column 10).
  14. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 10).
  15. Row 8 complete: Mark 6 remaining cells as X (row 8, column 1).
  16. Row 10 complete: Mark 6 remaining cells as X (row 10, column 1).
  17. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 9, column 1).
  18. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 9, column 3).
  19. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 4).
  20. Row 9 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 9, column 5).
  21. Column 10 complete: Mark 6 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 10).
  22. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must have star (row 6, column 9).
  23. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 9).
  24. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 4, column 9).
  25. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 9).
  26. Column 9 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 9).
  27. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must have star (row 3, column 7).
  28. Mark 5 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 6).
  29. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 1, column 7).
  30. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 6).
  31. Column 7 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 5, column 7).
  32. Column 3 candidates: Middle cell cannot have star (row 6, column 6).
  33. Column completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 5, column 6).
  34. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 5).
  35. Column completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 7, column 6).
  36. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 5).
  37. Column completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 1, column 5).
  38. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 4).
  39. Row 1 complete: Mark 3 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 1).
  40. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 2, column 1).
  41. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 1).
  42. Row completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 2, column 3).
  43. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 3).
  44. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 3, column 5).
  45. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 4).
  46. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 5, column 4).
  47. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 3).
  48. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 7, column 4).
  49. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 3).
  50. Row 5 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 5, column 1).
  51. Row 7 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 7, column 1).
  52. Column 1 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 4, column 1).
  53. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 4, column 2).
  54. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 6, column 2).
  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.