Minesweeper is a classic computer game that was popularized by Microsoft in the 1990s through its inclusion as a built-in extra in Windows. It may have been based on a game called Mined-Out, invented by Ian Andrew in 1983. The gameplay of Minesweeper is deceptively simple. It consists of a grid of hidden squares. You click on the squares one at a time to reveal what is under each one — a mine, a number indicating the number of mines located in the surrounding squares, or nothing at all. Clicking on a mine ends the game. You only have one life in Minesweeper. Winning the game involves using the numbered squares to determine where the mines are and marking them, while exposing all the other squares.
Although there are multiple Minesweeper games out there, we will stick with the current version of Microsoft Minesweeper. You have the option to download Minesweeper games for Android, which should play similarly.
How to play Minesweeper
Levels of play
The first thing you’ll notice when opening Minesweeper is that there are different levels of play, from Easy to Expert. The larger board and more squares to clear indicate higher levels. Select a difficulty level to initiate your game.
Three different types of square
At the start of the game, the playing board is entirely covered. Under each uncovered square, there is one of three things: a mine, which will end your game if you left-click on it; a number, it indicates the number of mines in the squares surrounding that square, or nothing. To play the game, the numbered squares are used to determine where the squares with mines are and to mark them by right-clicking on them. To win the game, click on all the non-mine squares as you progress.
Right-click vs left-click
There is a significant distinction between left-clicking on a square and right-clicking on it in Minesweeper. Left-clicking will reveal the square, so you have to be careful to only do it when you are sure what is below is not a mine. Left-clicking on a mine is game over. By right-clicking on a square, you can switch between marking it as a mine (a flag icon), marking it as unknown (a question mark), and returning to no mark. In Minesweeper, you can right-click where you believe a mine is located, and you can left-click where you think it is safe to reveal more of the board.
Starting the game
Microsoft does not want you to hit a mine on your first square. Once you have clicked on the first square, the game only determines which squares are empty and which have mines. A square that is not mined will always be your first choice. The game begins with the mines being set in place once you left-click on a square.
Revealing the map
A square with a number indicates that there are mines in the squares that surround the numbered square. You can start making progress by marking mines that are obvious. Here, for example, there is a square with the number 1, and all the squares around it are exposed except for one. The mine must be contained in the square that is not exposed. As you play, the counter on the right will keep track of your time and how many unmarked mines are remaining.
When you click on an empty square, Minesweeper will show you any other empty squares that are adjacent to the one you clicked on, inquiring in all directions until a numbered square is found. It’s crucial to reveal some of the board and provide enough information to determine where the mines are. By clicking on the square marked with an arrow, all the exposed squares were opened. Note that the area that has been revealed is lined with numbered squares.
Chording
Pressing both mouse buttons simultaneously in Minesweeper is known as chording. Over a numbered square that has all its mines marked, the rest of the squares surrounding that number will be revealed. This can help you save some time while playing the game. Keep in mind that if you label the incorrect squares as mines, chording will cause the mines to explode and end your game.
Winning the game
As you progress, you will uncover more and more of the board. If you’re lucky, you’ll have to guess the mine’s location at some point. This can be one of the most frustrating things in the game, when suddenly a game of strategy, observation, and pattern recognition is decided on luck or unlucky.
Left-clicking on the last non-mine square is necessary to win the game. It’s not necessary to mark the mines along the way. To make the game harder, some advanced players intentionally leave them out.
Tips
Mulligans are absent from Minesweeper. If you click on a square you didn’t intend to, you will be stuck with the consequences. So, watch carefully where your cursor is before clicking.
Expert Minesweeper players recommend clicking in the middle of the board and working your way to the edges.
After playing a few games, you will come to recognize patterns in the layout of mines. Although each game is randomized, there are some similarities. By understanding these patterns, you can make your guesses less random when needed.
Rushing can cause mistakes both in choosing a square and in mousing accurately.