How to play
Tap a square to open it. A number shows how many of the eight squares around it hide a mine; an empty square opens its whole neighborhood for you. Flag the squares you are sure are mines, and open everything else to win. Opening a mine ends the game.
The three boards
| Board | Size | Mines | Squares that are mines |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner | 9 × 9 | 10 | 12.3% |
| Intermediate | 16 × 16 | 40 | 15.6% |
| Expert | 30 × 16 | 99 | 20.6% |
The share of mines climbs from about one square in eight to one in five, which is why Expert feels so much harder than its size suggests. On a phone held upright, the Expert board turns on its side – 16 columns by 30 rows – so the squares stay big enough to tap.
Controls
- Open: tap or click.
- Flag: press and hold on a phone, right-click on a computer, or turn on Flag mode.
- Chord: tap an open number whose mines are all flagged to open the rest of its neighbors.
Three patterns worth knowing
- 1–2–1 along a wall of hidden squares: the mines are under the two 1s, and the square under the 2 is safe.
- 1–2–2–1 along a wall: the mines are under the two 2s.
- A number that already touches all its mines: every other square around it is safe – a perfect moment to chord.
Frequently asked questions
Can the first click be a mine?
Never. The mines are placed only after your first click, and never on that square or the eight around it, so the first click always opens an area to start from.
How do I place a flag on a phone?
Press and hold a square for about half a second, or switch on “Flag mode” so that every tap places a flag. On a computer, right-click.
What is chording?
Tap an open number whose mines are all flagged, and every other hidden square around it opens at once. It saves many taps on big boards – but a wrong flag sets off a mine.
Do I sometimes have to guess?
Sometimes, yes. Like the classic game, a board can reach a point where two squares are equally likely to hide the mine. Good play keeps those moments rare.
Does Minesweeper work offline?
Yes. After the first visit with internet, the game and your best times work fully offline.