About Minesweeper
Minesweeper shipped with Windows in 1990 and turned millions of office workers into deductive reasoners. Clear the 9×9 field without detonating any of the 10 hidden mines, using the numbered clues each safe square reveals.
How to Play Minesweeper
- 1Tap or click a square to reveal it — the first reveal is always safe.
- 2A revealed number tells you how many mines touch that square (including diagonals).
- 3Use flag mode (or right-click) to mark squares you believe hide mines.
- 4Reveal every safe square to win; the timer is your score, so speed matters.
Tips & Strategy
- ◆A "1" touching exactly one unrevealed square means that square is certainly a mine.
- ◆When a number already touches its full count of flags, every other neighbour is safe — clear them confidently.
- ◆Open with corners and edges; they generate the most cascading reveals.
- ◆The 1-2-1 pattern along a wall almost always means mines sit under both 1s.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the first click ever be a mine?
No — mines are placed after your first reveal, so opening is always safe.
Do I have to flag mines to win?
No. Flags are a thinking aid; the win condition is revealing every non-mine square.
Is Minesweeper solvable without guessing?
Usually yes at this density, though rare 50/50 endgames exist — good players minimise how often they reach one.