This article will teach you how to play Minesweeper on a Windows computer. Although the game is no longer preinstalled on Windows computers, an updated version called Microsoft Minesweeper can be downloaded for free from the Microsoft Store on Windows 10.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Basic Mechanics of Minesweeper
Step 1. Understand the principles of the game that underlie Minesweeper
Any new Minesweeper game starts with a table of unsigned squares. When you click on one of the squares presented, some of them will disappear, some will remain unsigned, and some will show numbers. Your task is to find out by numbers which of the empty squares the mines are hiding, and which of them can be safely clicked and opened.
Minesweeper is similar to Sudoku puzzles in which success depends largely on your ability to eliminate possible options until there is only one correct one
Step 2. Use the left and right mouse buttons
The only tool required to play Minesweeper is a mouse. The left mouse button opens the squares, under which there are no mines, and the right button - put flags on the squares with mines.
At higher difficulty levels, you will need to check the boxes under which there may be potential mines until you can check it
Step 3. Don't worry about starting mouse click
There will never be any mine under the first open square, and the first click will only slightly clear the playing field and number some squares.
Step 4. Understand what the numbers on the playing field mean
The number on a particular square indicates how many mines are located around in adjacent squares. For example, if you see two adjacent squares and one of them is one, know that a mine is hidden under the square adjacent to the number.
Part 2 of 3: Downloading Minesweeper
Step 1. Open the Start Menu
Click on the Windows logo (window picture) in the lower left corner of the screen.
Step 2. Type store on your keyboard
This is how you find the Microsoft Store among the applications on your computer.
Step 3. Launch Microsoft Store
Click on Microsoft Store in the search results next to the Start button.
Step 4. Click on the "Search" field in the window that opens
It's located in the upper-right corner of the Microsoft Store app window.
Step 5. Search for a game called Microsoft Minesweeper
Type microsoft minesweeper into the search box, and then wait until the search results list appears below.
Step 6. Click on the Microsoft Minesweeper icon
This will be the same game that was known in earlier versions of Windows under the name Minesweeper.
Step 7. Click the Get button
It will be a blue button under the Microsoft Minesweeper heading. By clicking on it, you will install the game on your computer.
Part 3 of 3: Gameplay
Step 1. Start Minesweeper (or “Minesweeper” in earlier versions of Windows)
Click on the “ Play ”When the installation of the game is finished. Or just open the menu “ Start ”And find the application in it Microsoft Minesweeper (or "Minesweeper").
Step 2. Choose the difficulty level
Start your first game by selecting one of the suggested difficulty levels at the top of the left pane of the window:
- “ Simple 9x9 ”- a field of nine by nine squares with ten mines;
- “ Medium 16x16 ”- a field of 16 by 16 squares with 40 mines;
- “ Expert 30x16 ”- a field of 30 by 16 squares with 99 mines;
- “ Special ”Difficulty level allows you to manually adjust the size of the playing field and the number of mines on it.
Step 3. If you want, check out the manual for the game
If this is your first time playing Microsoft Minesweeper, the software displays tutorials to help you master the basics of the game.
- If you do not want to read the tips, click on the button “ Skip ”At the top of the window.
Step 4. Click on any square of the playing field
This will start the game.
Step 5. Look at the numbers
Any number on the playing field indicates the total number of mines in adjacent squares.
Step 6. Right-click on the squares in which you think the mines are hidden
This is how you will arrange the flags. It is best to start with those squares in which there are definitely mines (for example, with single squares surrounded by ones) in order to facilitate further work for yourself.
Make sure you don't check more boxes than the total number of mines on the playing field
Step 7. Double-click the right mouse button on those squares about which you are in doubt
This will put a question mark on them, which will indicate that you have decided to postpone these squares until you can handle the rest.
This is a fairly safe strategy of actions when you have identified almost all mines on the playing field, with the exception of two or three
Step 8. Left-click on the squares that do not contain mines
This will help clear up your doubts about the squares that are marked with questions.
Step 9. Clear the entire playing field
To win the game, you need to reveal all empty squares without mines. When you do this, the game is over.
If you accidentally left-click on a square with a mine, then the game will also end. But you will have the opportunity to replay it with the same arrangement of mines
Advice
- The more you play Minesweeper, the better you become familiar with the possible combinations of numbers that indicate the exact location of the mine (or its absence).
- If you see a sequence of numbers "121" in a straight line, check the boxes next to the ones and click on the cell next to the two.