How to Solve Star Circle

The rules of Star Circle

Fill every cell with either a star or a circle. Each row and each column must contain the same number of stars and circles, so a 6 by 6 puzzle needs three of each symbol in every line, an 8 by 8 puzzle needs four of each, and a 10 by 10 puzzle needs five of each.

No row or column may contain three of the same symbol in a row. Two stars beside each other force any open cell at either end to be a circle, and the same is true in reverse. A star, an empty cell and another star also force the middle cell to be a circle.

= means the two cells share the same symbol. × means the two cells must use different symbols. These badges sit on the border between neighbouring cells, so read each one as a rule for that exact pair.

Tap through the symbols

Tap a cell to cycle from empty to star to circle and back to empty. Given cells are already filled when the puzzle starts, and they are locked because they anchor the solution.

Use the cycle to test deductions quickly, but keep each placement tied to a rule. If a line already has its full count of stars, every remaining empty cell in that line must be a circle. If a clue touches a filled cell, it often fixes the neighbour at once.

Start with local clues

The fastest opening move is scanning for two matching symbols in a line and for clue badges touching givens. Two matching neighbours block a third copy at either end. A matching pair split by one empty cell blocks the same symbol in the gap.

Then apply the badges. If a given star touches an = badge, the neighbour is also a star. If it touches a × badge, the neighbour is a circle. Each new symbol can trigger another no-three deduction or another badge, so follow the chain before looking elsewhere.

Use balance to finish lines

Balance is the main counting rule. A row or column that already has its full count of one symbol cannot take more of that symbol. Fill every remaining empty cell in that line with the other symbol.

The reverse is useful too. If a line has only enough empty cells left to reach its needed count of stars or circles, those cells are forced. Count both symbols often, especially after a badge chain fills several cells.

Paint colors to track parity

A chain of = and × badges often links two cells' symbols together before you know which symbol either one is. Painting every cell in that chain the same color records the link, and painting cells forced to the opposite symbol a second color keeps the two groups visibly apart while you work the rest of the grid.

As chains grow and merge, use Swap to recolor every cell of one color to another in two taps, so two linked groups become one without repainting each cell by hand. Painting is a note-taking tool only, it never affects correctness, mistakes, or completion, so paint as freely as you like.

Check or play instant feedback

In check mode, the board gives no live feedback as you play. When every cell is filled, press Check to test whether the grid obeys every rule. There is no mistake limit, so you can keep editing or clear the board and try again.

In instant feedback mode, correct placements lock in and wrong placements count as mistakes. On the third mistake, the instant attempt ends. Star Circle is currently marked beta, so rules and tuning may still change as the puzzle is tested.