What Is Star Battle?
Star Battle is a placement puzzle played on a square grid divided into irregular regions. You place stars so that every row, every column, and every region reaches the same target, while no two stars touch in any direction.
The featured format here is 2-Star Battle. In 2-Star Battle, every row, column, and region contains exactly two stars. That extra star creates overlapping capacity problems and longer chains of deduction than the one-star introduction.
How to Play Star Battle
Choose the Star tool to place a star and use X marks to rule out impossible squares. You only need to place every correct star; the other squares may remain empty.
- Place the target number of stars in every row.
- Place the same number of stars in every column.
- Place the same number of stars in every irregular region.
- Keep every star separated from all other stars, including diagonally.
1-Star vs 2-Star Battle
1-Star introduction
Each row, column, and region needs one star. This smaller format is a clear way to learn region boundaries and the no-touch rule.
2-Star main challenge
Each unit needs two stars. Locked pairs, combined row capacity, and interactions between neighboring regions become central to the solve.
Star Battle Tips and Strategies
- Mark every square around a confirmed star. The no-touch rule includes all four diagonal neighbors.
- When a row, column, or region has reached its star target, mark every remaining square in that unit.
- Count candidate capacity in short runs. Three consecutive open squares can hold at most two stars.
- Look for a region whose remaining stars are confined to one row or column, then use that locked capacity outside the region.
- In 2-Star puzzles, compare pairs of rows and regions instead of solving each unit in isolation.
Daily Star Battle
The dated challenge gives every player the same reproducible puzzle. Daily boards favor the two-star format and save their progress separately from unlimited games.
Every Published Puzzle Has One Solution
Each generated region map is checked for complete coverage and orthogonal connectivity. A constraint solver enforces row, column, region, and no-touch rules, and the puzzle is accepted only when it finds exactly one solution.
Star Battle vs Queens
Queens is a one-piece regional placement puzzle. Star Battle includes a one-star introduction but centers on the more advanced two-star format, where every row, column, and region must hold two non-touching stars.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Star Battle?
Star Battle is a logic puzzle with irregular regions. Place the required number of stars in every row, column, and region while keeping all stars from touching.
How do you play Star Battle?
Use the row, column, and region targets together to find forced star positions. X marks are optional notes for squares that cannot contain a star, and a puzzle is complete once every correct star is placed.
What is 2-Star Battle?
In 2-Star Battle, every row, column, and region contains exactly two stars. The stars still cannot touch horizontally, vertically, or diagonally.
How many stars go in each row?
The selected mode sets the target for every unit. A 1-Star puzzle needs one star in each row, column, and region; a 2-Star puzzle needs two.
Can stars touch diagonally?
No. Two stars may not share an edge or a corner, so all eight squares around a star are unavailable to another star.
Does every region need the same number of stars?
Yes. Regions use the same one-star or two-star target as the rows and columns, even though their shapes and sizes can differ.
What is the difference between Star Battle and Queens?
Queens uses one piece per row, column, and region. Star Battle also offers that introductory format, but its main 2-Star mode requires two non-touching stars in every unit and creates a different level of deduction.
Does every puzzle have one solution?
Yes. Published puzzles are checked with a solver that stops when it finds a second solution, and only uniquely solvable region maps are accepted.
Is Star Battle free to play?
Yes. Unlimited and Daily Star Battle puzzles are free to play in your browser, with no download required.
Can I play Star Battle on mobile?
Yes. The board and tools adapt to phone and tablet screens, including the larger 10×10 and 12×12 formats.