Inkwell Games · Stars

Inkwell Stars solution — January 15, 2026

Stuck on today's Inkwell Games Stars puzzle? Here's the complete step-by-step solution to the 10×10 grid for January 15, 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 59

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