THE PLAYBOOK · ZYCGLH
How to play Minesweeper
Take a moment with Minesweeper before moving to another game. Open all 71 safe cells. Opening a mine ends the round. Flags help you mark suspected mines but do not replace opening safe cells. Use the example below to understand a decision. Identify the playing area and the controls you need. Look at what changes after your first action.
Make the controls familiar
Locate the buttons and input area before beginning a long round. Use the on-screen labels to avoid an accidental restart. Notice the feedback after each input.
Your goal
Open all 71 safe cells. Opening a mine ends the round. Flags help you mark suspected mines but do not replace opening safe cells. Keep that objective in view throughout the round. Start with a deliberate move.
Step by step
- Open a covered square to reveal it.
- A number counts mines in the surrounding eight positions.
- Right-click to flag on a computer, or enable Flag mode on a phone.
- Use safe deductions to open the remaining cells.
Controls
Click/tap to open. Right-click to flag, or use the Flag mode toggle for touch devices. On a smaller screen, keep the active part of the board within view. Use the visible help when you are unsure of the next input.
A useful example
A revealed 1 with only one covered neighbour means that neighbour contains a mine. Use the example as a guide rather than a substitute for reading your board. Notice the change in the playing area.
Watch out for this
A flag is your own note, not a confirmation from the game. Remove a mistaken flag before opening that square. Check the rule before repeating the action. Before your first action, say what you are trying to achieve. Then compare the result with the goal.
Common questions
For my first round, what is the goal of Minesweeper?
The key detail is this: Open all 71 safe cells. Opening a mine ends the round. Flags help you mark suspected mines but do not replace opening safe cells.
For my first round, how do I control Minesweeper?
The key detail is this: Click/tap to open. Right-click to flag, or use the Flag mode toggle for touch devices.
On this playing page, what example helps explain Minesweeper?
Keep this in mind: A revealed 1 with only one covered neighbour means that neighbour contains a mine.
For my first round, what should I watch out for in Minesweeper?
The key detail is this: A flag is your own note, not a confirmation from the game. Remove a mistaken flag before opening that square.
As a new player, what format does Minesweeper offer?
Play using the solo mode shown on this page. Read the controls before starting a new round.
For a quick reminder, which play mode does Minesweeper use?
The mode on this page is Solo. Same-device play uses one screen; this game library does not provide internet matchmaking.