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Star Battle Puzzle vs Queens: Rules, Differences & Which to Play

Star Battle puzzle and Queens puzzle are two closely related logic games that challenge players to place symbols on a grid without any two touching.

While Queens* went viral on LinkedIn and offers a modern, beginner-friendly experience, Star Battle puzzle is the original Dutch logic game that inspired it—featuring black-and-white grids, harder 2-star variants, and a classic puzzle book aesthetic.

If you've enjoyed Queens and wonder where it came from, or you're a Star Battle veteran curious about the modern spin, this guide breaks down the similarities, differences, and which puzzle is right for you.

Star Battle Puzzle & Queens Puzzle: Core Similarities

First off, here are the primary similarities that both games have:

✅ Both are grid-type puzzles

✅ Both have the same placement constraints (no two regions, rows and columns rules)

✅ Both have no adjacent cells/no diagonally touching rule

✅ Both work on pure logic, no numbers or any other means

Star Battle Puzzle vs Queens Puzzle: Key Differences

These two games are very similar to one another, but there are distinct qualities that separate them from one another. Now, it's time to list down what sets them apart.

Queens puzzle

Uses a chess queen (♕) icon or symbol
Has colored regions in its grid
Is generally more appealing to the eye with its minimalistic colors and designs
Limited to having only 1 queen per row, column and region
Has a shorter playtime
Has modern features like auto-marking and auto-check
Ideal for a wide range of players
Has a specific pattern system for logical elimination
Also known as Crowns or N-Queens Problem
Originates from the scholarly N-Queens chess problem dating to 1848

Star Battle puzzle

Uses a star (★) icon or symbol
Uses thick lines as a separator for regions; everything is black and white
Has a more classic puzzle appeal that is targeted towards an older demographic
Can have more than 1 star in play (usually two stars), depending on what kind of grid and puzzle you're playing
Has a longer playtime
Requires manual marking and checking
Made specifically for old school puzzlers
Has a specific pattern system for logical elimination
Also known as Two Not Touch
Has Dutch puzzle roots

Star Battle Puzzle vs Queens: Side-by-Side Comparison

With the information above, here's a table comparing the key differences between the two puzzles:

Feature	Queens	Star Battle
Colored regions	✅	❌
Can use more than 1 symbol per constraint	❌	✅
Origin	Chess problem	Dutch puzzle
Beginner-friendly	✅	❌
Modern features	✅	❌
Average playtime	2-5mins	5-15mins

Which Puzzle Is Right for You?

Choose Queens if...

You're new to logic puzzles (or try Mini Sudoku for an even gentler intro)
You like playing something challenging yet simple
You want a quick daily brain workout (2-5 minutes)
You enjoyed LinkedIn's Queens game
You prefer linear skill progress through difficulty levels
You enjoy something more modern
You like mobile-friendly, modern interfaces

Play Queens Ultimate for free now →

Choose Star Battle if...

You've mastered basic Queens puzzles
You like to test the limits of your logical deduction skills
You want a harder and upfront challenge (2-star variants)
You enjoy longer puzzle runs (5-15 minutes)
You look for more dynamic puzzle setups
You prefer something classic
You like printable puzzle books

Play Star Battle now →

Why not both?

Star Battle is significantly harder

Star Battle has a steeper learning curve than Queens, so it's not ideal for a new player to play both at the same time.

Both have a different target audience

While it's definitely possible to enjoy both at the same time, they are visually different from each other, with one having a more modern appeal and the other being a classic. Not only that, but Queens is more for beginners and casual players, while Star Battle is for the dedicated puzzler.

Only a certain set of techniques can carry over

While both games function off the same core mechanics, only the 1★ Star Battle puzzle techniques can truly be used in Queens, as 2★ Star Battle techniques use different patterns and placements.

Queens is better for younger players

It's okay to offer both puzzles for children and teens, but Queens will definitely be more appealing to them, as all the other cells are colorful and not confusing to look at.

Star Battle is primarily made for printing

While there are Star Battle sites that offer a modern experience or fix what's lacking in app versions, the overall puzzling experience is different than printing the puzzle itself (which is black and white on purpose).

Solving Strategies That Work for Both

These constraint-based techniques also work in Sudoku puzzles, where you're placing numbers instead of symbols but using the same row-column-region logic.

Start with constrained regions

Look for small regions (2-3 cells) first
These have limited placement options
Mark cells that definitely cannot have a symbol

Use the row/column rule

Count cells available in each row and column
If only X cells remain and you need X symbols, they must all be filled
Eliminate cells that would make this impossible

Use the adjacency rule to your advantage

Once you place a symbol, mark all 8 surrounding cells as "blocked"
This often reveals forced placements elsewhere

Look for "Forced" Placements

When a region has only one valid cell remaining
When a row/column can only fit a symbol in one spot

FAQ

Is Queens the same as Star Battle?

They're closely related but not identical. Queens has colored regions, while Star Battle doesn't. Queens always uses 1 symbol per row/column/region, while Star Battle can have more than 1. Both share the "no adjacency" rule, though.

What is "Two Not Touch" puzzle?

"Two Not Touch" is the New York Times' name for Star Battle puzzles. The name refers to the rule that two symbols cannot touch each other.

Can Star Battle have other cells that are colored?

Yes, there are colored Star Battle puzzles. However, they are generally made to be specifically black and white for mass printing and books.

Is Star Battle harder than Queens?

It depends on the variant. 1★ Star Battle puzzles are similar to Queens in difficulty, but Star Battle often uses bigger grids even in its lowest difficulties. 2★ Star Battle puzzles are significantly harder because you must place twice as many symbols and the pattern techniques work differently as well.

Can I use the same strategies for both?

Yes! Core strategies like region elimination, row/column forcing and adjacency logic work for both puzzle types. However, keep in mind that strats for 2★ Star Battle puzzles don't work the same way in Queens puzzles

Where can I play Queens puzzles online?

Queens Ultimate offers free unlimited Queens puzzles at multiple difficulty levels, plus daily challenges.

Where did these puzzles originate?

Queens puzzles trace back to the 1848 N-Queens problem, while Star Battle was created for the 2003 World Puzzle Championship in Arnhem, The Netherlands.

More Logic Puzzles to Try

Game	Type	Difficulty	Play Time
Queens Ultimate	Placement logic	Beginner-friendly	1-3 min
Sudoku Conquest	Number logic	Easy to hard	5-15 min
Mini Sudoku	Number logic (6x6)	Beginner	2-5 min
Kakuro Conquest	Cross-sum logic	Medium to hard	10-20 min
Sumplete	Number elimination	Medium	2-7 min
Mathler	Equation logic	Medium	3-7 min
Hitori Conquest	Number elimination	Hard	10-15 min

Play a logic puzzle today!

If you enjoy playing logic puzzles like these, then check out our website and subscribe to our newsletter for more. We also publish daily math puzzles like Mathler and number logic games like Sumplete.

Looking for other logic puzzles beyond Star Battle and Queens? Try Kakuro for cross-sum challenges, Sumplete for number elimination, or Mathler for daily equation puzzles.

For word-based logic puzzles, Crosswordle combines Wordle's mechanics with crossword-style constraints.

Play Queens Ultimate now →

Play Hitori Conquest, a number logic puzzle →

Play Sudoku, a classic logic puzzle grid →

*Queens Ultimate is not affiliated with LinkedIn or its games.