Inkwell Games · Stars

Inkwell Stars solution — May 22, 2026

Stuck on today's Inkwell Games Stars puzzle? Here's the complete step-by-step solution to the 9×9 grid for May 22, 2026 — every star placed with pure logic, one deduction at a time, no guessing. Tap Next to step through it.

⭐ A free tool made by puzzle fans, for the Inkwell Stars community.

Done with today's Stars? We publish four free Star Battle puzzles every day, easy to expert — no app, no account. Stuck on a different board? Paint it into the Star Battle solver.

Solve walkthrough Step 1 of 53

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 4, column 4).
  3. Clump analysis (Region 6): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 2).
  4. Clump analysis (Region 7): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 8).
  5. Clump analysis (Region 8): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 7, column 4).
  6. Crowding (Column 4): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 2, column 3).
  7. Clump analysis (Region 2): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 1, column 7).
  8. Generalized counting (columns 1-2): region star limits exclude these cells (row 1, column 3).
  9. Clump analysis (Column 3): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 4).
  10. Clump analysis (Region 8): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 7, column 2).
  11. Clump analysis (Column 2): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 1).
  12. Clump analysis (Region 5): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 3, column 6).
  13. Crowding (Column 4): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 4, column 5).
  14. Clump analysis (Region 5): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 5).
  15. Squeeze (rows 2-3): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 1, column 6).
  16. Squeeze (rows 3-4): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 2, column 4).
  17. Composite container (rows 1-4): Regions 1, 2 and 3 are confined here, so the leftover cells owe exactly 2 of the band's 8 stars - a star on these cells would crowd them out (row 3, column 8).
  18. Composite container (columns 8-9): Region 4 is confined here, so the leftover cells owe exactly 2 of the band's 4 stars - a star on these cells would crowd them out (row 4, column 7).
  19. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 4, column 2).
  20. Mark 4 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 1).
  21. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 6).
  22. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 5).
  23. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 4).
  24. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 3).
  25. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 3, column 4).
  26. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 9).
  27. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 8).
  28. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 8).
  29. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 6, column 1).
  30. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 1).
  31. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 6).
  32. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 5).
  33. Column 4 complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 1, column 4).
  34. Column 6 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 2, column 6).
  35. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 1, column 5).
  36. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 7).
  37. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 8).
  38. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 9).
  39. Row 1 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 1).
  40. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 2).
  41. Column 9 complete: Mark 3 remaining cells as X (row 7, column 9).
  42. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 7, column 3).
  43. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 3).
  44. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 3).
  45. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 8).
  46. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 7).
  47. Region complete: Mark 1 remaining cell as X (row 9, column 8).
  48. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 7).
  49. Row completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 8, column 1).
  50. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 1).
  51. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 5).
  52. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 5).
  53. Solved! Every row, column, and region has its two stars, none touching.

Want to solve the next one yourself?

Play free daily Star Battle (the same puzzle, also called Two Not Touch) — easy to expert, no app.

Play Star Battle free Sign up free
← Previous day
All solutions
Next day →

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.