Hard Minesweeper
A large board and many mines, for players who know the basics and like a long challenge.
This level
On a computer the board is 24 × 20 squares with 99 mines, about one in every five squares. On a phone it covers the screen, with 75 mines.
With this many mines, high numbers show up early and open spaces are rare.
Who it is for
For players who find medium too easy and want a longer game where patience counts as much as logic.
Tips for hard
- You never need to guess: every board on the site can be solved with logic alone. Scan the whole board for certain moves before opening any square.
- When you are stuck, compare the clues of two neighbouring regions: the mines left over in one often decide the other.
- Near the end, count the mines that remain. The mine counter can settle a closed-off corner in one go.
- Stuck? There is always a certain move. Re-read the numbers you opened last and compare the ones that sit side by side.
- Your best time is saved on this device, separately for each level.
This level
On a computer the board is 10 × 8 squares with 10 mines, about one mine in every eight squares. On a phone it fits the screen, also with 10 mines.
It is small enough to see all at once, and a game usually takes a few minutes.
Who it is for
For anyone who has never played or is coming back after a long time, and for a quick game in a queue or on a break.
Tips for easy
- Your first tap never lands on a mine and usually opens a big area. Start by looking at its edges.
- A number equal to the count of closed squares around it means all of them are mines. Flag them.
- A number that already has all its flags around it makes the other neighbours safe: tap it to open them at once.
- No rush: reread the numbers around a square before each move.
This level
On a computer it is 18 × 14 squares with 40 mines, about one in every six squares. On a phone the board fills the screen, with 35 mines.
You can no longer take it in at a glance. It pays to work one region at a time.
Who it is for
For players who know the rules and want a real game, with time to think and a record to beat.
Tips for medium
- Learn the 1-2-1 pattern: three numbers in a row beside a row of closed squares. The mines are under the two 1s, and the square under the 2 is safe.
- Two 1s side by side against an edge often point at the same mine. Compare the closed squares each one sees.
- Use the mine counter at the top: if it does not match the flags you placed, one of them is in the wrong place.
- Open what is certain first, anywhere on the board. A new number almost always unlocks the rest.
This level
On a computer the board is 24 × 20 squares with 99 mines, about one in every five squares. On a phone it covers the screen, with 75 mines.
With this many mines, high numbers show up early and open spaces are rare.
Who it is for
For players who find medium too easy and want a longer game where patience counts as much as logic.
Tips for hard
- You never need to guess: every board on the site can be solved with logic alone. Scan the whole board for certain moves before opening any square.
- When you are stuck, compare the clues of two neighbouring regions: the mines left over in one often decide the other.
- Near the end, count the mines that remain. The mine counter can settle a closed-off corner in one go.
- Stuck? There is always a certain move. Re-read the numbers you opened last and compare the ones that sit side by side.
- Your best time is saved on this device, separately for each level.
This level
On a computer the board is 30 × 20 squares with 120 mines, about one in every five squares: the first step beyond hard. This level only appears on computers; on a phone the page opens hard.
Who it is for
For players who finish hard without trouble and want a wider board with more to read on every move.
Tips for expert
- Work in regions: finish one part of the board before moving to another so you do not lose the thread.
- Use the mine counter. On a wide board, the count of mines left settles many corners near the end.
- Look for patterns like 1-2-1 and 1-2-2-1 along an edge: they tell you where the mines are without guessing.
- Every board can be solved with logic alone, so if you had to guess, a safe move was there and went unnoticed.
This level
On a computer the board is 40 × 24 squares with 192 mines, about one in every five squares: a board of 960 squares. This level only appears on computers; on a phone the page opens hard.
Who it is for
For players who like long games and already know the expert patterns. Set aside a few minutes.
Tips for master
- Leave no loose ends: flags and open squares scattered over the board hide certain moves. Sweep the screen now and then.
- Use the click that opens several squares at once, on a number that is already satisfied.
- If the squares look small, make the browser window bigger: they get larger and easier to hit.
- Take a breath between games. Attention runs out before patience does.
This level
On a computer the board is 50 × 30 squares with 300 mines, about one in every five squares: the biggest board on the site. This level only appears on computers; on a phone the page opens hard.
Who it is for
For players who want the ultimate challenge: 1,500 squares and 300 mines, the same logic as the start, only much longer.
Tips for extreme
- Play full screen or in a large window: at this size every square has to be easy to see.
- Work in bands, from one side to the other, instead of jumping around the board.
- Flag only what you are sure of: one wrong flag on a board this size costs a lot to find.
- The first opening is usually big. Start from its edges and move outward.