Minesweeper Rules

Minesweeper rules are simple, but any newcomer being introduced to this classic puzzle game may find themselves overwhelmed with doubts and the fear of detonating the mines by accident. The truth is that this is a game of strategy and logic that requires a keen eye and a careful approach, which explains why many find it so daunting. 

To dispel any doubts and ensure that any player can enjoy this challenging game, here is an overview of its rules.

Minesweeper rules

The Minesweeper’s game field mimics a minefield in the shape of a grid of clickable cells, some of which hide game-ending mines. The goal is to sweep this field and mark all the dangerous mines with red flags while opening the safe cells to create a clear path.

To start the game, the player must click on a random cell to open it. If this contains a mine, the game ends. However, if the cell is safe, it will either open up an area or display a number. These numbers are crucial to the game because they work as clues about the position of the mines.

Please note that many online Minesweeper games, including ours, ensure that the opening click is always safe. This is to avoid the nuisance of restarting unplayed games.

Numbers and their meanings

Cells with numbers are the heart of Minesweeper rules and of the game itself. They are the keys to deducing where mines are located without directly clicking on them.

The number displayed on an open cell indicates the total number of mines surrounding it (above, below, to the sides, and the four diagonals). For example, a "1" means there is 1 mine in the surrounding 8 cells,  "2" indicates there are 2 mines nearby, and so forth.

When a cell does not have a number, it means that there are no mines immediately adjacent to it. In these cases, the game automatically opens up the neighboring cells until numbers are shown.

Marking the mines

When a player deduces the location of a mine, they can right-click on a cell (or use an equivalent gesture or key, depending on the device) to place a flag on it. These flags are safety measures that work to remind players of the position of the mines they have already uncovered and to prevent them from accidentally clicking and opening those cells. 

Some versions of the game also allow for a question mark to be placed on a cell, indicating uncertainty about the presence of a mine.

Winning the game

To win the game, the players must open all the safe cells on the grid. That is the general Minesweeper rule, shared by all game replicas. Additionally, some may require that the players flag all the mines to trigger the end screen. This is not a universal rule, however.

Become an expert

Minesweeper rules are very simple and straightforward. The players must only focus on interpreting the numbers and using logic to deduce which cells are safe to open and which hide mines within them. 

Once the goal and rules of the game are clear, understanding how to play Minesweeper becomes self-explanatory. Left-click to open a cell, right-click to set a red flag. 

This game also contemplates different difficulty levels, which are usually associated with the size of the grid. The larger the grid, the more mines there are to find, and the higher the chance for mistakes. However, regardless of the grid size, the rules remain unchanged in every case.

This means that, once you know them by heart, nothing can stop you from becoming a master at finding mines.