How to play Star Battle (Queens)
Star Battle, also known as Queens, is a logic puzzle on a square grid divided into regions. Place stars so that every row, every column and every region holds exactly one star, and no two stars touch, not even at a corner. There are no numbers: the shapes of the regions are the only clue.
The rules of Star Battle
- Tap a square once for a cross, which means no star here. Tap again for a star, and a third time to clear the square.
- Every row holds exactly one star.
- Every column holds exactly one star.
- Every region, drawn with a thick outline, holds exactly one star.
- No two stars may touch, not even diagonally at a corner.
- There are no numbers or digits: the shapes of the regions are your only clue.
Every puzzle can be reasoned out, so there is always a next step that follows from logic alone.
How to solve a Star Battle
Three habits carry you through most beginner puzzles. Use them in turn and keep marking crosses as you go.
Cross out around every star
As soon as a star is placed, nothing else in its row, its column or its region can hold a star, and neither can the eight squares around it. Mark all of those with crosses. In Vellara a cross is simply the first tap on a square, so your reasoning stays visible on the board.
Start with the smallest regions
A region of one or two squares leaves almost no choice. If a region lies entirely inside one row or one column, its star must be in that line, so every other square of that row or column can be crossed out. Look for these tight shapes first.
Count regions against rows
If two regions lie entirely within the same two rows, together they use up the stars of those rows. Any square of a third region inside those two rows can be crossed out. The same counting works for columns, and for three regions in three rows.
Watch: how to play Star Battle (Queens)
The video explains the rules of Star Battle, also known as Queens, and the basic techniques for solving it, and it shows how the puzzle is played in Vellara.
Playing Star Battle in Vellara
Tap a square for a cross, tap again for a star and a third time to clear it. Every row, column and region holds exactly one star, and no two stars touch. Star Battle comes in three levels, from a gentle 6×6 grid with six regions to an expert 9×9 grid whose regions get in each other's way.
- Above the grid: buttons to make the board smaller or larger, a fit-to-screen button, an info button that explains the rules, and a check button.
- A counter in the top right corner shows how many stars you have placed.
- Press Play now to continue with your level, or play a single puzzle at the difficulty you want.
- No time pressure: a clock runs along, but you can take as long as you like.
- Every puzzle can be reasoned out, so you never have to guess.
Questions about Star Battle
Is there only one solution to a Star Battle puzzle?
Yes. Every puzzle in Vellara has exactly one solution and can be reasoned out, so you never need to guess.
Can two stars touch in Star Battle?
No. Two stars may not touch anywhere, including diagonally at a corner. That is why every star lets you cross out the eight squares around it.
Is Star Battle the same as Queens?
In practice, yes: Queens is another name for the same idea of one mark per row, column and region with none touching. Vellara uses stars. Some Star Battle puzzles elsewhere use two stars per row; in Vellara there is one.
What is the difference between easy and hard?
Harder levels have bigger grids and regions that get in each other's way, so you have to think further ahead. The gentle level is 6×6 and the expert level is 9×9.
Is Star Battle in Vellara free?
Yes. Vellara is free to download, needs no account and works offline.
Play Star Battle free in Vellara
Vellara is calm, free and works offline. It sends no notifications and puts no time pressure on you.
More puzzles in Vellara
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