The goal of Minesweeper is to clear a rectangular board containing hidden mines without detonating any of them. You must use clues about the number of neighboring mines in each field to determine where the mines are located.
Basic Controls
Left Click
Reveals what's under a cell. If it's a mine, the game ends. If it's a number, that tells you how many mines are touching that cell (including diagonally). If it's empty, it will automatically reveal all adjacent empty cells until it reaches numbered cells.
Right Click
Places or removes a flag on a cell. Use flags to mark cells where you believe mines are located. This helps you keep track of dangerous areas and plan your next moves safely.
Understanding the Numbers
When you reveal a cell, you'll see a number from 1 to 8. This number indicates how many mines are in the eight cells surrounding that number (horizontally, vertically, and diagonally).
1 means one mine is touching that cell
2 means two mines are touching that cell
3 means three mines are touching that cell
And so on up to 8 (all surrounding cells contain mines)
Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners
Start anywhere: Your first click is always safe. Click any cell to begin revealing the board.
Look for patterns: Find cells with numbers and count the surrounding unrevealed cells. If a "1" has only one unrevealed neighbor, that neighbor must be a mine.
Flag the mines: Right-click to place flags on cells you've determined contain mines. This helps you visualize the board and avoid clicking them accidentally.
Use process of elimination: If a "2" has two flags around it, all other surrounding cells are safe to click.
Work methodically: Don't rush. Take your time to analyze each number and its surroundings before making your next move.
Clear the board: Continue revealing safe cells and flagging mines until all non-mine cells are revealed. You win!
Common Beginner Mistakes
Clicking randomly without analyzing the numbers first
Forgetting that numbers count diagonal neighbors too
Not using flags to mark known mines
Rushing through the game instead of thinking carefully
Giving up too early when the solution requires logical deduction
Tips for Success
Start with the corners and edges - they have fewer neighbors to consider
Look for "1-2-1" patterns which often indicate specific mine locations
When stuck, look for cells with the most information around them
Practice on Easy difficulty before moving to Medium or Hard
Remember: every puzzle is solvable with logic - no guessing required!
Ready to Play?
Now that you understand the basics, it's time to put your skills to the test! Start with Easy mode to practice the fundamentals, then challenge yourself with Medium and Hard difficulties.