PUZZLE GAME

Minesweeper

Reveal the safe squares. Every number is a clue.

Mines left010
Time000

On larger boards, swipe sideways to explore.

Click — reveal · right click or long press — flag · click a number with enough flags to open its neighbours · R — new game

About this game

Minesweeper is a logic puzzle played on a grid of covered squares. Some squares hide mines; the rest show a number that tells you how many mines touch them. Your goal is to open every safe square without ever opening a mine. It rewards careful deduction rather than speed or luck, although the very first click is always safe, and a good board can be cleared in a couple of minutes. Play Minesweeper free online in your browser — no download or sign-up needed.

Game Information

Category
Puzzle Games
Players
Single player
Difficulty
Easy, Medium and Hard boards
Game type
Logic, Classic, Deduction
Works on
Desktop and mobile browsers
Controls
  • Mouse: left click to open, right click to flag
  • Touch: tap to open, long-press to flag
  • Keyboard: R starts a new game
Features
  • Three board sizes (9×9 with 10 mines, 16×16 with 40, 16×30 with 99)
  • First click is always safe
  • Timer and best time for each size
  • Flag mode button for touch screens

How to Play Minesweeper

Objective

Open every square that does not contain a mine. The round is won the moment the last safe square is opened.

Starting a game

Choose Easy, Medium or Hard and click any square. Mines are placed after your first click, so that click (and its neighbours) can never be a mine.

Rules

  • A number tells you how many of the eight surrounding squares contain a mine.
  • An empty square (no number) opens all of its neighbours automatically, which can reveal a large area at once.
  • Right click (or long-press on a touch screen, or switch on Flag mode) places a flag on a square you believe is a mine. Flags stop you from opening that square by accident and the counter above the board shows how many mines are still unmarked.
  • Click a number whose flags already add up to its value to open all of its remaining neighbours in one move. If a flag is wrong this opens a mine.

Controls

  • Mouse: left click to open, right click to flag
  • Touch: tap to open, long-press to flag
  • Keyboard: R starts a new game

Winning and losing

You win by opening all safe squares; the time is compared with your best for that board size. Opening a mine ends the round and shows every mine and every wrong flag.

Tips and Strategies

  • Start in a corner or on an edge when you can: those squares have fewer neighbours, which makes the first clues easier to read.
  • Look for numbers that already have exactly as many hidden neighbours as their value; all of those neighbours are mines.
  • When a number is satisfied by its flags, every other neighbour is safe — use the chord click instead of opening them one by one.
  • Compare two touching numbers: the difference between their hidden neighbours often pins down a mine or a safe square.
  • Place flags only when you are sure. A wrong flag makes later deductions, and the chord click, unreliable.

Game Variations

  • Easy: 9×9 squares with 10 mines.
  • Medium: 16×16 squares with 40 mines.
  • Hard: 16×30 squares with 99 mines. Best times are kept separately for each size.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the first click really safe?

Yes. The mines are placed after your first click, and the clicked square and its neighbours are kept free of mines whenever the board has room for that.

How do I place a flag on a phone?

Press and hold a square, or switch on the Flag mode button under the board and tap squares to flag or unflag them.

Does the game remember my best time?

Yes, the best time for each board size is stored in your browser. It stays on your device and is not sent anywhere.

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