Star Battle· Advanced

Goal

Place stars in each row, column, and colored region according to the rules.

Rules

Each row and each column must contain exactly N stars.
Each colored region must also contain exactly N stars.
Stars may not touch each other — not horizontally, vertically, or diagonally.

Tip

When a star is placed, mark its 8 surrounding cells with X — they cannot hold stars. Use Mark mode to eliminate impossible cells first.
If only one cell in a row, column, or region can hold a star, that cell must be the answer.

Star Battle is a constraint-satisfaction puzzle that trains spatial reasoning and logical elimination. Simultaneously tracking multiple placement constraints exercises working memory and executive function.

Miyake, A. et al. (2000). The unity and diversity of executive functions and their contributions to complex 'frontal lobe' tasks. Cognitive Psychology, 41(1), 49-100.