Playboard
Minesweeper
Minesweeper is a classic logic puzzle game where you reveal hidden cells on a grid while avoiding mines. If you're searching for minesweeper rules, how to play minesweeper, or what the numbers mean, this guide explains the fundamentals clearly.
Minesweeper is popular because it combines logical deduction with risk assessment, offering satisfying moments of discovery at every difficulty level.
How to Play Minesweeper
Minesweeper is a single-player logic puzzle game. This guide explains the rules, how to read number clues, how to flag suspected mines, and strategies for clearing the board safely.
Objective
The goal is to reveal all cells on the grid that do not contain mines. You win by uncovering every safe cell without clicking on a mine.
The Grid
- The grid contains hidden cells, some of which contain mines
- Common grid sizes: 9×9 (Easy), 16×16 (Medium), 30×16 (Hard/Expert)
- Each cell can be: hidden, revealed (showing a number or empty), or flagged
How Numbers Work
When you reveal a cell, it shows a number indicating how many mines are in the 8 adjacent cells (horizontally, vertically, and diagonally).
- 1 = One mine is adjacent
- 2 = Two mines are adjacent
- 3-8 = That many mines are adjacent
- Empty = No adjacent mines (these auto-reveal neighboring cells)
Controls
Revealing Cells
Click (or tap) a cell to reveal it. If it's a mine, you lose. If it's safe, you'll see either a number or an empty space.
Flagging Mines
Use the flag toggle button to switch to flag mode, then click cells to place or remove flags. Flags help you track where you think mines are located.
Chord Reveal
Double-click on a revealed number when you've placed the correct number of flags around it. This reveals all unflagged adjacent cells at once.
Winning and Losing
- Win: Reveal all non-mine cells
- Lose: Click on a mine
Basic Strategy
Start with larger open areas
When you reveal an empty cell (no adjacent mines), it automatically reveals all connected empty cells. This gives you more information to work with.
Use the numbers
If a cell shows "1" and only one adjacent cell is hidden, that cell must be a mine. Flag it.
Count remaining mines
The counter shows how many mines remain (total mines minus placed flags). Use this to deduce positions.
Look for patterns
- A "1" next to a corner with only one hidden neighbor = that cell is a mine
- A "1-2-1" pattern along an edge often indicates mines in specific positions
Don't guess early
Try to make logical deductions before guessing. Random guessing early in the game reduces your chances of winning.
Difficulty Levels
| Level | Grid Size | Mines |
|---|---|---|
| Easy | 9×9 | 10 |
| Medium | 16×16 | 40 |
| Hard | 30×16 | 50 |
| Expert | 30×16 | 99 |
Summary
Minesweeper rewards careful observation and logical thinking. Start by clicking to reveal cells, use numbers to deduce mine locations, flag suspected mines, and work systematically to clear the entire board. With practice, you'll develop pattern recognition that makes solving faster and more satisfying.