About Minesweeper
Minesweeper is a deduction game wearing a grid's clothing. Every revealed number tells you exactly how many mines touch that square, and the whole board is a chain of small logical proofs built from those numbers. Almost every move you make should be certain; the ones that aren't are where the game gets its reputation.
The first click is always safe here, which turns the opening from a coin flip into a real puzzle. Three difficulties are included: Beginner (9×9, 10 mines), Intermediate (16×16, 40 mines) and Expert (30×16, 99 mines), matching the classic sizes. Your best clear time is saved per difficulty.
How to play
- Left click a square to reveal it. The first click is guaranteed not to be a mine.
- A revealed number tells you how many of the eight neighbouring squares contain a mine.
- Right click (or long press on touch) to place a flag on a square you believe holds a mine.
- Revealing an empty square with no adjacent mines automatically opens the whole surrounding region.
- Reveal every safe square to win. Revealing a mine ends the game.
Five tips that actually move your score
- Learn the 1-2-1 pattern. Three consecutive numbers reading 1-2-1 along a wall always means mine, safe, mine beneath them. It appears constantly.
- Count flags against numbers. When a number already touches that many flags, every other neighbouring square is provably safe — that's where fast clears come from.
- Work the edges first. Border and corner squares have fewer neighbours, so they generate simpler, more decisive deductions than open middle ground.
- Flag only when it helps you think. Competitive players skip most flags for speed, but if the board is getting complicated, flagging turns a hard mental problem into an easy visual one.
- When you truly must guess, guess in the corner. Corners have the lowest neighbour count, so a wrong guess there tends to reveal less of the board and cost you less information.
Frequently asked questions
Is the first click always safe?
Yes. The mine layout is generated after your first click, so you can never lose on move one.
How do I flag on a phone?
Press and hold a square for about half a second. There is also a flag-mode toggle button above the board.
What are good times?
On Beginner, under 15 seconds is quick. On Intermediate, under 60. On Expert, under 200 seconds is a strong result for a casual player.
Does Minesweeper ever require guessing?
Occasionally, yes — some board states are genuinely ambiguous. Good play minimises how often you reach one, but it cannot eliminate them entirely.