A short history of Minesweeper
For many people, Minesweeper was the first puzzle game they ever played on a computer. Its gray grid and smiley face are among the best-known images in computing.
Early grid games
Games about finding hidden objects on a grid, using clues from nearby squares, were written for mainframe and home computers in the 1960s, 70s and 80s. Minesweeper borrowed this idea and polished it into a tidy, fast puzzle.
The Windows version
Microsoft's Minesweeper was written by Robert Donner and Curt Johnson. It first appeared in the Microsoft Entertainment Pack in 1990 and was included with Windows 3.1 in 1992. From then on it came with almost every copy of Windows for two decades.
A mouse lesson in disguise
Like Solitaire, Minesweeper had a quiet second job: it helped new computer users practice with the mouse. Left-click to open, right-click to flag — and before long, people were comfortable with both buttons.
The trouble with guessing
The classic game places mines at random. That means some boards reach a point where no amount of thinking helps and you must simply guess. Over the years, puzzle makers created versions that only offer boards that can be solved by logic. Simon Tatham's free puzzle collection is a well-known example.
A world of speed players
Minesweeper also gathered a lively community of speed players who share records and techniques online. For most players, though, it is simply a pleasant way to spend a few thoughtful minutes.
Calm Minesweeper
Calm Minesweeper follows the no-guessing tradition: every board can be solved by reasoning. The squares are large, flags can be placed with a button or a long press, there is no timer, and a mine is not the end — just tap Take it back.
Learn the rules in how to play, or study the patterns.