Minesweeper

How to play minesweeper

Mines hide under some cells. Dig a cell and it shows a number: how many of the eight cells around it hold a mine. A cell with no mines around it opens its neighbours for you.

Plant a flag where a mine has to be. Tap a number with all its mines flagged and the rest of the cells around it are dug for you. Dig every cell without a mine to finish.

No guessing, ever

Most minesweeper games can end in a corner where two cells look the same and you have to pick one. Every Owlpuzzles board can be solved from the numbers alone, from the first dig to the last cell.

The first dig goes on a marked cell, so the board always starts with an open patch.

Hearts instead of game over

In most versions one wrong dig ends the game. Here a mine costs a heart, and you have three. Run out and the board starts again, free and as often as you like.

A new daily every day

The daily gets harder through the week, like every Owlpuzzles puzzle. Midweek boards add cages, dashed patches that show how many mines they hide. Weekend boards count a cross: a number counts up to two cells up, down, left and right, and diagonals don’t count.

Levels and unlimited play are classic minesweeper, from easy to hard.

Tips for minesweeper

Start with the ones

A 1 next to a single covered cell means that cell is a mine. Flag it, and the other cells around its neighbours often open up.

Look for 1-2-1 and 1-2-2-1

Along a straight edge, 1-2-1 means mines under both 1s and none under the 2. In 1-2-2-1 the mines sit under the two 2s. These patterns come up on almost every board.

Count what’s left

Near the end, the number of mines left can decide the last few cells. The counter next to your hearts shows how many are still to flag.

Questions about minesweeper

Is this minesweeper free?

Yes. It plays in your browser on a phone or a computer, with nothing to install and no sign-up. A free account only keeps your streak and stars on every device.

Can every board be solved without guessing?

Yes. Before a board reaches you, it’s solved the way a person would, using only the numbers. A board that needs a guess is thrown away.

Is this the same as Google minesweeper?

The rules are the same as the minesweeper Google and Windows made famous. Owlpuzzles adds a no-guess guarantee, hearts and a daily board.

How do I flag on a phone?

Long-press a cell, or switch the toolbar to Flag and tap.

What do the numbers mean?

A number counts the mines in the eight cells around it, diagonals included. On cross boards it counts up to two cells up, down, left and right instead.

More puzzles to try

Tango and star battle are logic grids with simple rules and one answer, and sudoku is the classic number puzzle.