Welcome to Minesweeper! Whether you're new to the game or returning after years away, this guide will help you get started. Minesweeper is a classic logic puzzle game where your objective is to clear a board without triggering hidden mines. Here, we'll cover everything you need to know to play and enjoy Minesweeper.
How to start a game of Minesweeper
A step-by-step guide for playing
How to join the leaderboard and compete with others
Where to find helpful tips and strategies
Minesweeper is a grid-based game that involves uncovering squares while avoiding hidden mines. Each time you reveal a square, it either shows a number or a blank tile. Numbers give you clues about how many mines are in the surrounding tiles, helping you make logical decisions about which squares to reveal next.
For a detailed breakdown of how the game works, view our Basics guide. For more advanced strategies, check out Advanced Play. For a historical perspective, visit History of Minesweeper.
To begin your Minesweeper journey, follow these simple steps:
On our website, you can pick between three difficulty levels:
EasyA smaller grid, 9x9 with 10 mines.
MediumA larger grid, 16x16 with 40 mines.
HardAn even larger grid, 30x16 with 99 mines.
Once you've selected a mode, the game board will appear. The game board itself is not generated until you select a mine to ensure you never hit a mine on your first click, so feel free to choose any tile to get started.
Left-click on a tile to uncover it. If the tile shows a number, it tells you how many mines are in the surrounding eight tiles. If it's blank, you can safely click around that area.
Right-click on a tile to place a flag on suspected mines. This helps keep track of dangerous spots.
At the top of the screen, you'll find a timer that tracks how long it takes you to clear the board. Your final score depends on how fast and accurately you complete the game.
If you need a refresher on the controls, visit our Minesweeper Controls and Shortcuts page.
One of the most exciting features of our Minesweeper platform is the competitive leaderboard system. You can compare your scores against players from around the world!
Learn more about leaderboard rules and ranking on our Competitive Minesweeper Leaderboards page.
If you're new to Minesweeper or looking to improve, here are some helpful tips:
The edges of the board are often the safest places to start, giving you fewer adjacent tiles to worry about.
The numbers are your guide. If a “1” is adjacent to a single hidden tile, that tile is almost certainly a mine.
Make sure you only flag tiles when you're confident they contain a mine. Flagging incorrectly can make solving the board harder.
For a more in-depth look at strategies, check out our Minesweeper Strategy Guide.
Clicking on a Mine Accidentally
This is a common problem, especially for new players. To avoid this:
Mark suspected mines to avoid clicking on them.
If you're uncertain, try working in a different part of the board and come back to tricky areas.
If you're struggling with a difficult game, check out our Troubleshooting Minesweeper Challenges page for advanced tips on how to break down complex boards.
Once you're comfortable with classic Minesweeper, why not try one of our advanced modes? Here are a few exciting options coming soon:
Stay tuned for updates on our Minesweeper Game Modes page.
We hope this guide helps you get started with Minesweeper! Dive in, practice, and don't forget to check out the leaderboard. Happy gaming!