Inkwell Games · Stars

Inkwell Stars solution — September 26, 2026

Stuck on today's Inkwell Games Stars puzzle? Here's the complete step-by-step solution to the 9×9 grid for September 26, 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 55

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 2): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 1, column 2).
  3. Clump analysis (Region 4): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 3, column 3).
  4. Clump analysis (Region 2): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 3, column 1).
  5. Clump analysis (Region 5): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 3, column 8).
  6. Clump analysis (Region 6): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 4, column 6).
  7. Clump analysis (Region 7): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 5, column 4).
  8. Clump analysis (Region 4): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 5, column 2).
  9. Clump analysis (Region 6): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 4, column 8).
  10. Generalized counting (rows 1-2): region star limits exclude these cells (row 3, column 6).
  11. Crowding (Row 3): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 2, column 3).
  12. Crowding (Column 6): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 8, column 7).
  13. Squeeze (rows 2-3): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 1, column 6).
  14. Squeeze (rows 3-4): each clump in the band must supply its full share of stars (row 4, column 7).
  15. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 7).
  16. Squeeze (columns 5-6): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 6, column 5).
  17. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 3, column 4).
  18. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 4).
  19. Clump analysis (Region 7): each clump must supply its full share of stars (row 5, column 5).
  20. Crowding (Row 6): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 7, column 2).
  21. Generalized counting (columns 6-9): region star limits exclude these cells (row 1, column 4).
  22. Two last candidates (column 5): Eliminate 1 cell adjacent to both (row 8, column 4).
  23. Two last candidates (column 4): Eliminate 1 cell adjacent to both (row 8, column 3).
  24. Clump analysis (Row 8): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 7, column 1).
  25. Clump analysis (Row 7): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 3).
  26. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 3).
  27. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 2).
  28. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 9).
  29. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 9).
  30. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 8).
  31. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 7).
  32. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 6).
  33. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 5).
  34. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 4).
  35. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 3).
  36. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 2).
  37. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 1).
  38. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 3).
  39. Row 5 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 5, column 1).
  40. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 1, column 1).
  41. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 2).
  42. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 1).
  43. Row 1 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 8).
  44. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 1).
  45. Column 4 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 9, column 4).
  46. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 5).
  47. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 6).
  48. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 7).
  49. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 8, column 8).
  50. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 9).
  51. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 6).
  52. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 7).
  53. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 8).
  54. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 9).
  55. 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.