With just one star per unit, 1-Star Battle is the friendliest way into the Star Battle family. The deductions are the same ones experts use on bigger boards, just easier to see.
1-Star Battle rules in 30 seconds
- 1Every row contains exactly one star.
- 2Every column contains exactly one star.
- 3Every outlined region contains exactly one star.
- 4Stars never touch: not side by side, not above or below, not diagonally.
See it on a board
Stars can't touch
The no-touching rule reaches in all eight directions. The moment you place a star, the eight cells around it can't hold another. That's why the best Star Battle players spend more time crossing cells out than placing stars.
Rows, columns and regions
Each star counts toward its row, its column and its region at the same time. Once a row has its one star, every other cell in that row is out. The same goes for columns and regions. Regions can be any shape, so follow the heavy borders carefully.
When a unit is forced
The strongest deduction in Star Battle: if a row, column or region has exactly as many available cells left as stars it still needs, all of those cells are stars.
Worked example
- 1A small region has only two cells left that aren't crossed out, and both are in the same column.
- 2The region's star must be in one of them, so that column's star is inside this region.
- 3Cross out every other cell of that column. New cells are ruled out without placing a single star.
1-Star Battle tips and strategies
Cross out aggressively
After every star, remove all eight neighbours. Eliminations reveal stars faster than hunting for them.
Start with small regions
A tiny region has very few places for its stars, and they often touch each other.
Think in groups
You may not know which cell holds a star, only that one of two cells must. That's still enough to clear cells elsewhere.
Count what's left
Needed stars versus available cells, for every row, column and region. When they match, place them.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Forgetting the diagonal part of the no-touching rule.
- Misreading a region's border around a bend.
- Placing a second star in a row that already has one.
Play 1-Star Battle in 10+ Number Puzzles
- Tap a cell to place a star when you're sure. Placements that can't be right are turned away instead of left on the board.
- Switch on Notes to mark a cell as a candidate star or as excluded (×).
- Auto Notes marks stars and excluded cells so you can study the board's structure.
- Use Check Game to confirm progress: a legal but unfinished board is simply correct so far.
- Five difficulty levels, each a ladder of stages from Easy to Genius.
- Go online for free: ranked 1v1 duels, rooms where you race, co-op or play in teams, and tournaments.
- 27 more puzzle types in the same app, and online play never costs coins.
1-Star Battle FAQ
How many stars go in each row in 1-Star Battle?
Exactly one star in every row, and the same in every column and every region.
Can stars touch diagonally in Star Battle?
No. Stars can't touch in any of the eight directions, diagonals included.
Is 1-Star Battle good for beginners?
Yes. It uses every rule of Star Battle with the smallest number of stars, so you learn the patterns before moving to 2 and 3 stars.
