Inkwell Games · Stars

Inkwell Stars solution — February 25, 2026

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