Star Battle· Advanced

Goal

Place the correct number of stars (★) in each row, column, and colored region.

How to Play

  • Tap an empty cell to place a star (★)
  • Tap a star to change it to an X mark (no star here)
  • Tap an X mark to clear the cell back to empty

★ Exactly N Stars Per Row/Column/Region

Each row, each column, and each colored region must contain exactly N stars.

★★★OK
★★NG

★ Stars Cannot Touch

Stars may not be adjacent to each other in any direction — horizontally, vertically, or diagonally (all 8 directions).

★★gapOK
★★NG

Completed Example

  • 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 you place a star, its 8 surrounding cells cannot hold stars. Use X marks 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
  • Start with smaller regions — fewer options make them easier to solve

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.