Minesweeper
Clear every safe square without setting off a mine. Your first click is always safe.
How to use this minesweeper game
- Open the Level menu and choose Beginner (9x9 with 10 mines), Intermediate (16x16 with 40 mines), Expert (30 columns by 16 rows with 99 mines), or Custom. For Custom, set rows from 5 to 30, columns from 5 to 50, and mines from 1 up to the number of cells minus 9. Changing a Custom box starts a new game.
- Left click or tap a cell to open it. Your first click is always safe, and it opens an area around that cell.
- Read the numbers. Each one shows how many of its 8 neighbours hold a mine.
- Mark a suspected mine with a flag: right click, long-press for about 0.4 seconds, or tap with Flag mode switched on. On a keyboard, move the cursor with the arrow keys, press Space to flag, and press Enter to open.
- Click or tap an opened number when its flags match its value to open its other hidden neighbours at once.
- Open every cell that has no mine to win. Opening a mine ends the game.
Press N to start a new game and F to toggle fullscreen; fullscreen gives Intermediate and Expert boards bigger cells on a phone. Watch Mines left and Time at the top, and compare your Time with the best time saved for that level.
How to play minesweeper: the game rules explained
The goal is to open every cell that does not hide a mine. Mines are placed at random after your first click, never on that cell or its 8 neighbours. Opening a cell with no mines around it opens all its neighbours automatically, and this repeats until it reaches numbered cells. You do not need to flag every mine to win, because remaining mines are flagged for you once the board is clear. Flags are only a way to keep track.
Minesweeper numbers meaning: what do the numbers mean?
A number counts the mines in the 8 cells touching it, including diagonals. A 1 means exactly one of those cells holds a mine. A 0 is an empty cell with no mines around it. Numbers are the only clues in the game, so reading them carefully is the main skill.
Minesweeper patterns guide: strategy, tips and tricks
Most moves come from a few logical patterns. If a number already has as many flags around it as its value, all its other hidden neighbours are safe. If a number has exactly as many hidden neighbours as its value, all of them are mines. For example, a 3 that touches exactly three hidden cells marks all three as mines.
Two common edge patterns help too. Two 1s side by side along a straight wall of hidden cells, starting at a corner of the opened area, make the third cell along that wall safe. Along a straight wall, a 1 next to a 2 means the hidden cell beside the 2 on the far side from the 1 is a mine.
How does chording work in minesweeper?
Chording is a faster way to open cells. When a number has exactly as many flags around it as its value, clicking or tapping it opens all its other hidden neighbours at once. You can also use the middle mouse button or press Enter on the number. Chording only works when your flags are correct. A wrong flag makes the chord open a mine, and you lose.
How to win minesweeper more often
Start in open areas, where the first click usually reveals several numbers to work from. Flag only when you are certain, since a wrong flag can cause a bad chord. Look at corners and edges, because those cells have fewer neighbours, so their numbers give clearer information.
Is minesweeper luck or logic?
Minesweeper is mostly logic, but luck can decide some games. Sometimes the open cells leave two hidden cells that are equally likely to hold a mine, which is a true 50/50 guess. Some games cannot be won without one. Expert has the highest mine density, with 99 mines in 480 cells, or about 20.6%. Beginner has 10 in 81, about 12.3%, and Intermediate has 40 in 256, about 15.6%.
Frequently asked questions
Is Minesweeper free to play?
Yes. The game runs in your browser, with no download, no sign-up, and no payment needed.
Does Minesweeper save my game?
Yes. The game in progress, your chosen level, your Custom size, and your best time for each level are saved in your browser’s local storage. Reloading the page restores the game, and the clock continues from your next move. Clearing your browser’s site data deletes it.
Can I play Minesweeper on a phone?
Yes. Tap to open a cell and long-press to flag it, or switch on Flag mode. On a narrow screen, Expert is drawn standing up, 16 wide by 30 tall, so cells stay tappable. Beginner cells are the easiest to tap, and Intermediate and Expert are smaller, so Flag mode or fullscreen can help.
Is there an undo or a hint in Minesweeper?
No. The game has no undo and no hint. Mines are placed at random for every game, so you get a fresh board each time.
Is the first click always safe?
Yes. Mines are placed only after your first click, and never on the cell you clicked or its 8 neighbours.
What is the difference between Beginner, Intermediate, and Expert?
Beginner is a 9x9 board with 10 mines. Intermediate is 16x16 with 40 mines. Expert is 30 columns by 16 rows with 99 mines, which makes it the hardest preset.
Can I make my own Minesweeper board?
Yes. Choose Custom in the Level menu and set rows from 5 to 30, columns from 5 to 50, and the number of mines. The default is 12x12 with 25 mines.
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