Inkwell Games · Stars

Inkwell Stars solution — March 25, 2026

Stuck on today's Inkwell Games Stars puzzle? Here's the complete step-by-step solution to the 10×10 grid for March 25, 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 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. Blocking rule: a star here would touch every other open cell in its region, leaving no room for the region's second star (row 9, column 2).
  3. Blocking rule: a star here would touch every other open cell in its region, leaving no room for the region's second star (row 10, column 2).
  4. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 10, column 3).
  5. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 3).
  6. Clump analysis (Region 1): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 1, column 2).
  7. Clump analysis (Region 5): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 3, column 6).
  8. Clump analysis (Region 6): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 5, column 7).
  9. Clump analysis (Region 7): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 6).
  10. Clump analysis (Region 6): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 4, column 5).
  11. Clump analysis (Region 8): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 7, column 5).
  12. Clump analysis (Region 7): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 5, column 4).
  13. Clump analysis (Region 9): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 8, column 6).
  14. Clump analysis (Region 8): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 3).
  15. Generalized counting (columns 1-1): region star limits exclude these cells (row 5, column 1).
  16. Joint analysis (Column 10 + Region 4): every legal combination of their stars rules these cells out (row 2, column 9).
  17. Joint analysis (Region 5 + Region 6): every legal combination of their stars rules these cells out (row 4, column 6).
  18. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 3, column 5).
  19. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 7).
  20. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 5, column 3).
  21. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 2).
  22. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 6).
  23. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 7).
  24. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 5, column 5).
  25. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 8).
  26. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 9).
  27. Row 5 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 5, column 10).
  28. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 10).
  29. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 10).
  30. Column 3 complete: Mark 5 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 3).
  31. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 7, column 2).
  32. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 2).
  33. Row 7 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 7, column 4).
  34. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 4).
  35. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 4).
  36. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 9, column 6).
  37. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 7).
  38. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 8).
  39. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 9).
  40. Row 8 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 8, column 10).
  41. Column 6 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 1, column 6).
  42. Column 8 complete: Mark 3 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 8).
  43. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 2, column 7).
  44. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 7).
  45. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 9).
  46. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 9).
  47. Row 4 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 4, column 1).
  48. 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 1).
  49. 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 2).
  50. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 10).
  51. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 9).
  52. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 1).
  53. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 2).
  54. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 1).
  55. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 10, column 9).
  56. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 10).
  57. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 1).
  58. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 10, 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.