Free Queens Puzzle Alternative

Speed Stars - free Queens puzzle alternative

Love the Queens puzzle? Play Speed Stars — the same star-placement logic, plus timed competition and global leaderboards. Free every day.

Why Speed Stars Is the Best Queens Puzzle Alternative

The Queens puzzle took off in 2024, first on LinkedIn and then through NYT Games. The concept is simple but satisfying: given a grid of colored regions, place exactly one star in each row, column, and color region, with no two stars touching. It's the kind of logic puzzle that feels just right for a daily brain teaser — approachable enough for casual players, deep enough to stay interesting.

Speed Stars brings that same mechanic to PEMDAS Games with one crucial addition: competition. Every daily puzzle is timed. When you finish, you're placed on a global leaderboard alongside every other player who solved that day's grid. You can also follow friends and compare solve times directly. It's the Queens experience with stakes.

Speed Stars is completely free — no subscription, no ads, no paywall. A new puzzle drops every day at midnight, playable on the web, iOS, and Android. If you enjoy the Queens puzzle and want a version that tracks your progress and lets you compete, Speed Stars is the answer.

Speed Stars daily logic puzzle screenshot

Speed Stars

Place one star per row, column, and color region. No two stars can touch. A daily logic puzzle with timed leaderboards — the competitive Queens experience.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Queens puzzle?

The Queens puzzle is a logic game played on a colored grid. The goal is to place exactly one star (or queen) in each row, each column, and each color region. No two stars can touch each other, even diagonally. It became widely popular through the NYT Games app and LinkedIn.

Is Speed Stars the same as NYT Queens?

Speed Stars uses the same core mechanic — place one star per row, column, and color region on a grid. The key difference is competition: Speed Stars tracks your solve time and ranks you on a global leaderboard, turning each daily puzzle into a race.

Can I play a Queens-like puzzle for free?

Yes. Speed Stars is completely free to play on the web, iOS, and Android. No subscription, no ads, no account required. A new puzzle is available every day.

Does Speed Stars have new puzzles every day?

Yes, a brand new logic grid is released daily at midnight. Every player gets the same puzzle, making leaderboard competition fair. You can also challenge friends to see who solves it fastest.

What makes Speed Stars different from other Queens alternatives?

Speed Stars is built around competition. While most Queens-style games are solo experiences, Speed Stars adds global leaderboards and friend challenges. Your solve time matters — it's not just about finishing, it's about finishing fastest.