Logic Puzzle
Free Minesweeper Online
Clear the board, not your patience. Flag the mines, reveal the safe cells, and prove your logic is faster than your panic. No download required.
How to Play Minesweeper
Minesweeper is simple to learn and brutally honest. Here's how to play in under a minute.
Reveal a Cell
Left click to reveal a cell. If it's a mine, game over. If it shows a number, that number tells you how many mines touch it.
Flag a Mine
Right click to place a flag where you're sure a mine is hiding. Flags stop you from misclicking, and they help you reason about the remaining cells.
Clear the Board
Reveal all non-mine cells to win. Fast wins feel good. Clean logic wins feel better.
Minesweeper Difficulty Levels Explained
Not sure which board size to pick? Here's what each difficulty level means — and who it's best for.
Easy (9×9)
A 9×9 grid with only 10 mines. Perfect for beginners or quick warm-ups. Most games take under 2 minutes. Low pressure, high reward.
Medium (16×16)
A 16×16 grid with 40 mines. The sweet spot for most players. Requires real pattern recognition, but mistakes are recoverable. Expect 5–10 minute games.
Hard (16×30)
A wide 16×30 grid with 99 mines. The classic expert mode. One wrong click and it's over. Serious players aim for sub-100 second clears.
What is Minesweeper?
Minesweeper is the classic logic puzzle where every click is a decision. Each number is a constraint: it tells you exactly how many mines exist in the surrounding 8 cells. Your job is to deduce which cells are safe — without guessing.
The fun part is the chain reaction: once you confidently identify mines with flags, whole regions open up. The scary part is the same thing… when you get sloppy.
On Queens Game, you can play Minesweeper instantly in your browser and choose between easy, medium, and hard boards. Your best time becomes the real opponent.
The History of Minesweeper
Minesweeper was created by Robert Donner and Curt Johnson at Microsoft in 1989. It first appeared in the Microsoft Entertainment Pack for Windows and was later bundled with Windows 3.1 in 1992 — making it one of the most widely distributed games in history.
The original purpose was surprisingly practical: Microsoft included Minesweeper to teach users how to use the mouse, specifically left-click, right-click, and drag. The game turned millions of office workers into accidental puzzle solvers.
Over the decades, Minesweeper developed a competitive speedrunning community. The world record for expert mode (99 mines on a 30×16 board) has been pushed below 30 seconds by top players using advanced flagging techniques and pattern memorization.
Today, Minesweeper remains a beloved classic. Modern versions — like the one on Queens Game — preserve the original mechanics while adding quality-of-life improvements like safe first clicks and cleaner visuals.
Why Play Minesweeper?
Minesweeper isn't just a time-killer. It's a genuine brain workout disguised as a simple game.
Sharpens Logical Thinking
Every move requires deduction. You're constantly asking: 'If this cell is a mine, what does that mean for its neighbors?' This kind of reasoning transfers to real-world problem solving.
Improves Pattern Recognition
Experienced players don't calculate every cell — they recognize common configurations instantly. This speeds up decision-making in many areas of life.
Builds Focus and Patience
One careless click ends the game. Minesweeper trains you to slow down, double-check, and stay present — skills that are increasingly rare in the age of distraction.
Provides Low-Stakes Challenge
Unlike competitive games, Minesweeper is you vs. the board. There's no opponent to tilt you. Just pure puzzle satisfaction when you clear a tough grid.
Advanced Minesweeper Patterns
Once you master the basics, these patterns will help you solve boards faster and with more confidence.
The 1-1 Pattern
When two 1s sit next to each other along an edge, and one of them touches an unrevealed corner, the mine is in that corner. This is one of the most common and useful patterns.
The 1-2-1 Pattern
Three numbers in a row: 1-2-1. The two mines are in the cells diagonally adjacent to the 2. Once you spot this, you can safely reveal the cells on either side.
The 1-2-2-1 Pattern
Four numbers along an edge: 1-2-2-1. The mines are always in the two cells touching the 2s from the outside. Memorize this and you'll clear edges faster.
Corner Deduction
Corner cells only touch 3 neighbors. If a corner cell shows a 2, and one neighbor is already flagged, the other two unrevealed neighbors are both mines. Simple math, big impact.
Subtraction Method
If a number has already accounted for all its adjacent mines (via flags), all other unrevealed neighbors are safe. Click them confidently.
Edge Counting
Along board edges, cells have fewer neighbors (5 instead of 8). This makes deduction easier. Start from edges and work inward.
Minesweeper Strategies That Actually Work
Start with Constraints, Not Courage
Numbers are information. Click around revealed numbers to expand the 'known' area. Random clicks are last resort — not a personality.
Use the 1-2-1 Pattern
If you see 1-2-1 along an edge, the mines often sit in the diagonal positions around the 2. Learn a few common patterns and you'll feel like you're cheating.
Flag Only When You're Sure
Over-flagging wastes time and adds confusion. If you're not sure, keep exploring safer areas to gather more constraints.
When Stuck, Count Remaining Mines
Your mine counter isn't decoration. If you know how many mines remain, you can sometimes eliminate entire sections logically.
Minesweeper FAQ
Is this Minesweeper free to play?
Yes. You can play Minesweeper online for free on Queens Game — directly in your browser, no download or sign-up required.
Is the first click always safe?
Yes. On Queens Game, the first click is guaranteed safe. Mines are placed after your first click, so you'll never lose on turn one.
How do I flag a cell on mobile?
On desktop, right-click to flag. On mobile, long-press a cell or use the F key if you have a keyboard. Mobile-optimized controls are coming soon.
What's a good time for expert mode?
Beginner expert players typically finish in 3–5 minutes. Intermediate players aim for under 2 minutes. Competitive speedrunners clear expert in under 40 seconds.
Is Minesweeper just luck?
Mostly no. With proper technique, over 90% of boards are solvable without guessing. Occasionally you'll face a 50/50 situation, but skilled players minimize these.
Can I play Minesweeper offline?
Queens Game is a web app, so you need an internet connection to load it. Once loaded, the game runs locally in your browser — no server calls during play.
Why does Minesweeper help with focus?
Each move requires full attention. One distracted click can end your game. This trains sustained concentration in a low-stakes, enjoyable way.
What's the world record for Minesweeper?
World records change over time, but elite players clear expert mode (99 mines) in under 30 seconds, and beginner mode can be completed in under a second.
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