Inkwell Games · Stars

Inkwell Stars solution — March 27, 2026

Stuck on today's Inkwell Games Stars puzzle? Here's the complete step-by-step solution to the 10×10 grid for March 27, 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 56

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 9): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 9, column 9).
  3. Undercounting: 4 regions fit in cols 4-7, eliminate 9 outside candidates (row 1, column 7).
  4. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 2, column 2).
  5. Clump analysis (Region 6): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 3, column 2).
  6. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 1, column 2).
  7. Clump analysis (Region 1): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 1, column 4).
  8. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 2, column 6).
  9. Clump analysis (Column 4): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 8, column 3).
  10. Clump analysis (Column 4): each clump must supply its full share of stars (row 3, column 4).
  11. Mark 5 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 3).
  12. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must have star (row 1, column 3).
  13. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must have star (row 4, column 2).
  14. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 1).
  15. Clump analysis (Row 5): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 4, column 7).
  16. Clump analysis (Column 2): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 9, column 1).
  17. Clump analysis (Region 2): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 8).
  18. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 2, column 1).
  19. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 3, column 9).
  20. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 3, column 10).
  21. Row completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 3, column 7).
  22. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 7).
  23. Row completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 4, column 10).
  24. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 9).
  25. Row 3 candidates: Middle cell cannot have star (row 5, column 7).
  26. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 5, column 6).
  27. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 5).
  28. Row completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 5, column 8).
  29. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 8).
  30. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 8, column 6).
  31. Clump analysis (Column 7): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 9, column 6).
  32. Clump analysis (Region 6): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 10, column 3).
  33. Clump analysis (Region 8): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 8, column 8).
  34. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must have star (row 7, column 8).
  35. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 9).
  36. Column completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 9, column 7).
  37. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 10, column 6).
  38. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 10, column 9).
  39. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 10).
  40. Column completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 2, column 9).
  41. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 10).
  42. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must have star (row 10, column 5).
  43. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 4).
  44. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 8, column 4).
  45. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 3).
  46. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 6, column 3).
  47. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 7, column 6).
  48. Row 7 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 7, column 1).
  49. Row completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 9, column 2).
  50. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 1).
  51. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 6, column 1).
  52. Row 6 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 6, column 10).
  53. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 8, column 10).
  54. Column completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 1, column 5).
  55. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 6).
  56. 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.