Inkwell Games · Stars

Inkwell Stars solution — January 4, 2026

Stuck on today's Inkwell Games Stars puzzle? Here's the complete step-by-step solution to the 10×10 grid for January 4, 2026 — 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 5, column 5).
  3. Clump analysis (Region 5): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 5, column 7).
  4. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 6, column 9).
  5. Clump analysis (Region 6): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 4, column 9).
  6. Clump analysis (Region 9): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 9, column 7).
  7. Undercounting: 7 regions fit in cols 4-10, eliminate 8 outside candidates (row 1, column 4).
  8. Column completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 3, column 4).
  9. Mark 6 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 3).
  10. Column completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 6, column 4).
  11. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 3).
  12. Clump analysis (Region 4): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 3, column 2).
  13. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must have star (row 1, column 3).
  14. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 2).
  15. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 1, column 1).
  16. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 1).
  17. Row 1 complete: Mark 6 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 5).
  18. Column 3 candidates: Middle cell cannot have star (row 9, column 5).
  19. Column completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 8, column 5).
  20. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 6).
  21. Column completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 10, column 5).
  22. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 10, column 6).
  23. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 2, column 7).
  24. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 3, column 7).
  25. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 9, column 8).
  26. Clump analysis (Column 3): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 9, column 2).
  27. Clump analysis (Region 9): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 10, column 1).
  28. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 8, column 2).
  29. Clump analysis (Column 2): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 4, column 1).
  30. Clump analysis (Region 10): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 8, column 1).
  31. Column completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 9, column 3).
  32. Clump analysis (Region 10): each clump must supply its full share of stars (row 8, column 7).
  33. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 7).
  34. Row 8 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 8, column 9).
  35. Clump analysis (Row 7): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 10).
  36. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 7, column 2).
  37. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 2).
  38. Column completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 3, column 1).
  39. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 2).
  40. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 5, column 2).
  41. Row 3 complete: Mark 4 remaining cells as X (row 3, column 6).
  42. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 2, column 6).
  43. Crowding (Row 4): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 5, column 9).
  44. Squeeze (rows 4-5): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 4, column 7).
  45. Two last candidates (row 6): Eliminate 1 cell adjacent to both (row 5, column 8).
  46. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 5, column 10).
  47. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 10).
  48. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 7, column 10).
  49. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 9).
  50. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 4, column 6).
  51. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 6).
  52. Row completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 4, column 8).
  53. Column completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 2, column 9).
  54. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 8).
  55. Column completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 9, column 9).
  56. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 10).
  57. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 10, column 7).
  58. Column 7 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 6, column 7).
  59. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 6, column 8).
  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.