Inkwell Games · Stars

Inkwell Stars solution — February 4, 2026

Stuck on today's Inkwell Games Stars puzzle? Here's the complete step-by-step solution to the 10×10 grid for February 4, 2026 — every star placed with pure logic, one deduction at a time, no guessing. Tap Next to step through it.

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Solve walkthrough Step 1 of 58

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: a star here would touch every other open cell in its region, leaving no room for the region's second star (row 7, column 3).
  3. Clump analysis (Region 5): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 7).
  4. Clump analysis (Region 8): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 1).
  5. Blocking rule: a star here would touch every other open cell in its region, leaving no room for the region's second star (row 7, column 5).
  6. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 6, column 4).
  7. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 3).
  8. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 7, column 6).
  9. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 4, column 4).
  10. Mark 5 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 3).
  11. Column 4 complete: Mark 4 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 4).
  12. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 8, column 3).
  13. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 2).
  14. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 2).
  15. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 1).
  16. Row 6 complete: Mark 5 remaining cells as X (row 6, column 6).
  17. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 7).
  18. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 8).
  19. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 5).
  20. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 5).
  21. Row 8 complete: Mark 3 remaining cells as X (row 8, column 1).
  22. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 2, column 5).
  23. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 5).
  24. Column 5 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 10, column 5).
  25. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 4, column 7).
  26. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 5, column 8).
  27. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 8).
  28. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 7).
  29. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 8).
  30. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 6).
  31. Row 5 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 5, column 10).
  32. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 10, column 6).
  33. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 7).
  34. Column 7 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 1, column 7).
  35. Blocking rule: a star here would touch every other open cell in its region, leaving no room for the region's second star (row 2, column 9).
  36. Blocking rule: a star here would touch every other open cell in its region, leaving no room for the region's second star (row 2, column 10).
  37. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 3, column 9).
  38. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 10).
  39. Row 3 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 3, column 1).
  40. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 7, column 9).
  41. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 10).
  42. Column 9 complete: Mark 3 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 9).
  43. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 10).
  44. Clump analysis (Row 2): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 1, column 2).
  45. Clump analysis (Column 10): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 9, column 8).
  46. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 9, column 1).
  47. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 10, column 1).
  48. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 10, column 3).
  49. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 10).
  50. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 10, column 10).
  51. Column 3 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 3).
  52. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 8).
  53. Region complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 4, column 2).
  54. Row 1 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 1, column 1).
  55. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 1).
  56. Column 1 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 2, column 1).
  57. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 2).
  58. 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.