Inkwell Games · Stars

Inkwell Stars solution — January 23, 2026

Stuck on today's Inkwell Games Stars puzzle? Here's the complete step-by-step solution to the 10×10 grid for January 23, 2026 — every star placed with pure logic, one deduction at a time, no guessing. Step through it below.

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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 10): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 9, column 3).
  3. Clump analysis (Region 8): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 7, column 2).
  4. Undercounting: 4 regions fit in rows 4-7, eliminate 8 outside candidates (row 4, column 1).
  5. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 8, column 2).
  6. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 9, column 2).
  7. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must have star (row 8, column 3).
  8. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 3).
  9. Clump analysis (Row 7): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 6).
  10. Clump analysis (Region 1): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 2).
  11. Clump analysis (Region 9): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 5, column 2).
  12. Clump analysis (Region 5): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 3, column 2).
  13. Clump analysis (Region 10): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 9, column 1).
  14. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 8, column 1).
  15. Row 8 complete: Mark 4 remaining cells as X (row 8, column 5).
  16. Clump analysis (Row 9): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 10).
  17. Column completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 1, column 10).
  18. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 9).
  19. Column completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 9, column 10).
  20. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 9).
  21. Clump analysis (Column 9): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 4, column 8).
  22. Clump analysis (Column 8): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 1, column 7).
  23. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 9, column 8).
  24. Clump analysis (Column 7): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 4, column 6).
  25. Column 3 candidates: Middle cell cannot have star (row 2, column 6).
  26. Column completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 1, column 6).
  27. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 5).
  28. Row 1 complete: Mark 5 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 1).
  29. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 2, column 8).
  30. Column completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 3, column 6).
  31. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 5).
  32. Region complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 2, column 3).
  33. Row completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 2, column 1).
  34. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 1).
  35. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 3, column 4).
  36. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 3).
  37. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 4, column 2).
  38. Row completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 4, column 9).
  39. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 9).
  40. Column 1 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 10, column 1).
  41. Row 3 candidates: Middle cell cannot have star (row 10, column 3).
  42. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 10, column 2).
  43. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 10, column 4).
  44. Column 2 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 6, column 2).
  45. Column completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 6, column 3).
  46. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 4).
  47. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 5, column 5).
  48. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 5).
  49. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 7, column 5).
  50. Row completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 5, column 7).
  51. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 7).
  52. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 7, column 7).
  53. Row completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 6, column 9).
  54. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 9).
  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.