How to play Minesweeper?
At the start of the game, you are presented with a grid of covered fields, under which mines are randomly located (read: hidden). The goal of the game is to uncover all the mines hidden in the grid field, without clicking on them. When you click on a selected field, a number appears on the field indicating the number of mines in the adjacent fields. Your task is to logically infer from this information where the mines are hidden in the fields around the selected field and avoid them.
No points, playing time matters
The online game of Minesweeper is successfully completed when you uncover all the fields under which mines are NOT hidden, resulting in a game field that contains only the remaining covered fields with mines. In Minesweeper, you do not collect points, but success is measured by the time that starts running with your first move. This gives you the opportunity to try to improve your playing time each time.
In the illustration below, we have prepared a basic presentation of how to play Minesweeper for you.
What do the numbers in Minesweeper tell you and how to use flags?
Let's start with flags. These are markers that you can use to “lock” a field or mark it because you are sure that a mine is hidden underneath it. This way, you will know during the game that this will be one of the fields that will remain covered at the end of the game (the game ends when only the fields hiding mines remain covered on the playing field).
The numbers that appear on selected fields tell you how many mines are hidden under the fields surrounding the selected field with the number. It is useful to quickly master classic patterns 1-1 and 1-2. These are patterns of numbers on fields that often appear in selected rows of the game field. The 1-1 pattern means that the third field will be empty, as 1 touches two fields, one of which hides a mine underneath it, and the other field with the number 1 touches the third field, which is empty. You will also often encounter a straight line of fields that will contain the number 1 next to the number 2. Focus on the number 2, as it tells you that one of the adjacent fields must hide a mine, and the third field in the row will definitely hide a mine.
From the original Minesweeper to numerous variations
On the Play123 website, you have various Minesweeper games available, such as Battleship Minesweeper, or Minesweeper Mini 3D, which offers you a 3D experience. In Minesweeper games, for example in Minesweeper Mania, you can choose between different difficulties, which vary in the number of game field squares and the consequent number of mines hidden under the squares. All online games here are free to play and available to everyone.
5 Tips for Playing Minesweeper
Tip #1: How to find the first field to start playing?
Don't try to find the optimal field to start with. The first move depends on luck, so looking for a field that would open the most number of neighboring fields is pointless.
Tip #2: Where to start playing on the game field?
Start in the middle of the game field, as starting at the edges of the game field increases the possibility of getting stuck or accidentally clicking on a field hiding a mine.
Tip #3: How fast to play Minesweeper?
Don't rush. Even though the game performance is measured in playing time, take your time and don't rush, as you can overlook obvious field positions where mines can be located.
Tip #4: Which fields to open?
Avoid unnecessary opening of fields for which you are not sure that they do not hide mines. If you continue your path to the target from the initial move, you will more easily predict mine locations.
Tip #5: How useful is it to use the question mark?
The game offers you the option to use a question mark, with which you can mark a field that you think hides a mine. Its purpose is only to remind you not to forget about the field.
Minesweeper FAQ
Who created the game Minesweeper?
The game was created by Curt Johnson (originally for IBM's OS/2), and was ported to Microsoft Windows by Robert Donner. The year of its first release is recorded as 1989.
Why was the game Minesweeper created?
Minesweeper was designed to help computer users get accustomed to using a mouse and clicking.
Is there a recorded record time for successfully completing the game Minesweeper?
The world record for successful completion of the game is 1 second for the basic level, 6 seconds for the intermediate level, and 27 seconds for the expert level. [source]
