Inkwell Games · Stars

Inkwell Stars solution — October 2, 2026

Stuck on today's Inkwell Games Stars puzzle? Here's the complete step-by-step solution to the 10×10 grid for October 2, 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 57

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 (Row 1): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 1).
  3. Column completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 1, column 1).
  4. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 2).
  5. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 10, column 1).
  6. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 10, column 2).
  7. Clump analysis (Column 2): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 3).
  8. Clump analysis (Region 3): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 3, column 8).
  9. Clump analysis (Region 4): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 1, column 10).
  10. Clump analysis (Region 8): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 5).
  11. Clump analysis (Region 10): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 10, column 7).
  12. Clump analysis (Region 9): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 6, column 8).
  13. Clump analysis (Region 3): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 1, column 5).
  14. Clump analysis (Region 5): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 4, column 4).
  15. Clump analysis (Column 2): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 3, column 3).
  16. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 3, column 4).
  17. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 5).
  18. Three candidates in a row: Middle cell can't hold a star (row 2, column 7).
  19. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 2, column 6).
  20. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 8).
  21. Clump analysis (Region 6): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 5, column 6).
  22. Crowding (Column 5): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 6, column 6).
  23. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 5, column 5).
  24. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 6).
  25. Clump analysis (Column 6): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 9, column 5).
  26. Clump analysis (Column 7): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 5, column 8).
  27. Two last candidates (column 6): Eliminate 1 cell adjacent to both (row 10, column 5).
  28. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 5).
  29. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 4).
  30. Crowding (Row 8): a star here would leave too little room for its 2 remaining stars (row 9, column 8).
  31. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 8).
  32. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 7).
  33. Three candidates in a column: Middle cell can't hold a star (row 7, column 7).
  34. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 6, column 7).
  35. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 7).
  36. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 6).
  37. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 10, column 6).
  38. Region complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 10, column 3).
  39. Clump analysis (Row 9): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 8, column 9).
  40. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 2).
  41. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 2).
  42. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 4).
  43. Column 4 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 4).
  44. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 3).
  45. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 9, column 9).
  46. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 10).
  47. Two-option rule: Cell adjacent to both candidates (row 7, column 10).
  48. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 9).
  49. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 9).
  50. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 3).
  51. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 5, column 3).
  52. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 10).
  53. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 10).
  54. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 10).
  55. Row 3 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 3, column 2).
  56. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 2).
  57. 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.