Inkwell Games · Stars

Inkwell Stars solution — May 8, 2026

Stuck on today's Inkwell Games Stars puzzle? Here's the complete step-by-step solution to the 10×10 grid for May 8, 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 62

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 5): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 6).
  3. Clump analysis (Region 8): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 8, column 2).
  4. Clump analysis (Region 10): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 9, column 1).
  5. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 7, column 2).
  6. Undercounting: 6 regions fit in rows 5-10, eliminate 6 outside candidates (row 5, column 1).
  7. Clump analysis (Region 4): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 3, column 4).
  8. Row 3 candidates: Middle cell cannot have star (row 5, column 9).
  9. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 5, column 8).
  10. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 7).
  11. Row completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 5, column 10).
  12. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 10).
  13. Row 3 candidates: Middle cell cannot have star (row 4, column 5).
  14. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 4, column 4).
  15. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 3).
  16. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 4, column 6).
  17. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 2, column 2).
  18. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 2, column 9).
  19. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 7, column 5).
  20. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must have star (row 8, column 5).
  21. Mark 6 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 4).
  22. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 6, column 5).
  23. Column 5 complete: Mark 3 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 5).
  24. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must have star (row 10, column 6).
  25. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 7).
  26. Column 6 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 6).
  27. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 7, column 8).
  28. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 8, column 7).
  29. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 7, column 7).
  30. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 8).
  31. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 9, column 8).
  32. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 9).
  33. Column 8 complete: Mark 3 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 8).
  34. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 2, column 10).
  35. Two last candidates (row 6): Eliminate 1 cell adjacent to both (row 7, column 1).
  36. Clump analysis (Row 3): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 1).
  37. Clump analysis (Row 2): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 1, column 3).
  38. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 2, column 4).
  39. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 3).
  40. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 2, column 7).
  41. Column 4 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 10, column 4).
  42. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 9, column 2).
  43. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 10, column 2).
  44. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must have star (row 10, column 1).
  45. Row 10 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 10, column 3).
  46. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 9, column 3).
  47. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 3).
  48. Row 9 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 9, column 10).
  49. Column completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 7, column 3).
  50. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 2).
  51. Row completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 6, column 1).
  52. Region complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 8, column 1).
  53. Row 7 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 7, column 9).
  54. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 8, column 10).
  55. Column 1 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 1).
  56. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 1, column 2).
  57. Region completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 3, column 2).
  58. Column completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 1, column 9).
  59. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 10).
  60. Column completion: 1 stars needed, 1 candidates (row 3, column 9).
  61. Mark 1 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 10).
  62. 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.