Is Minesweeper Luck or Skill? Unraveling the Game

Minesweeper is a game that is much loved and played worldwide. It's a hugely popular video game that has been around since the '80s and is still played today. You may have heard of Minesweeper or have even played it before, but that doesn't mean it's just a classic video game you turn to when you want to pass the time.

When it comes to Minesweeper, knowing how to play the game is a must! It's actually a fun, yet challenging classic online game that requires both a mix of skill and luck. In order to make sure that you master it, it's important to get to know the rules of the game, how it works, and how you become a winner in every single game.

In this blog post, we're going to take a look at the Minesweeper game in great detail, including;

• The history of Minesweeper
• How to play and the rules of the game
• Understanding the skill of Minesweeper
• Minesweeper strategies for you to implement
• What to avoid in your Minesweeper games

Let's get into it!

An Introduction to Minesweeper

First created in 1989 by Robert Donner, Minesweeper is a puzzle game based on logic. It was first released as a video game in 1990 by Microsoft. It certainly took the world by storm when first introduced, but ever since it's continued to be a popular online game to play.

But what is it about Minesweeper that makes it both so addictive and fun to play?

Interestingly, Minesweeper has a very basic aim of the game – to identify where the mines are in the 'minefield' without actually hitting one. When you click on a square, the Minesweeper will essentially 'dig' the plot. Based on what is revealed, you can then work your way around the game board to try and locate them all.

Because of it's simple aim and easy gameboard, it's popular with people of all ages and backgrounds around the world. To truly understand the game, it also helps to see exactly where the game came from and how it's meant to be used.

The Origins of Minesweeper

Despite being first launched in 1990 by Microsoft, Minesweeper actually has an interesting history. It first debuted in the Windows Entertainment Pack, but then was later released as a standard feature from Windows 3.1 onward. This is when we first got to know the click-for-fun game. But, games featuring mines had actually been running long before.

It's believed that the game 'Mined-Out' that was released in 1983 for the Sinclair Spectrum is an earlier style of the game. But at the same time, we can see that board games like Battleships even have a similar idea. It's safe to say that as a community of gameplayers, we have loved this style of game for decades if not longer!

According to TechRadar, Minesweeper was showcased to help us with mouse clicking way back in the day. Because you have the option to left click for mining and right clicking to add your flags, it was a way of getting us used to the click!

But with the history lesson out of the way, it's time for us to learn how to master Minesweeper and actually get into the swing of winning.

Understanding the Basics of Minesweeper

Minesweeper by nature is a clickable game based on logic. It's a puzzle that you're trying to solve and essentially 'win'. But it's long been questioned as to whether Minesweeper is actually a game of luck or whether there is some kind of strategy to it. In order for us to actually determine that, it's helpful to look at the basic rules of play. When you understand how the game works, it's easier to analyze how much is skill and how much is pure luck!

Although it's a game that has been around for decades – and you've probably found yourself playing it once or twice (even if it's been a while!) – not everyone really knows how to play it. Have you ever found yourself clicking around and seeing if you can master a game while you're killing time? Or maybe you've found yourself opening up Minesweeper when you're supposed to be working or writing a paper? This is the beauty of Minesweeper, it's an easy game to get into and want to play again and again.

But in order for you to do that, we need to understand the basic aim of the game and what the reveals mean as you go along. So let's dive into that next.

How to Play Minesweeper

This classic PC game is fun to play for people of all ages. It might have been around for decades, but not everyone has tried their hand at a game of Minesweeper. If this is your first go at playing, you'll want to make sure that you know what to expect before you dive in. As with any game, it's handy to know exactly what the rules of play are so that you can find your feet. Understanding the aim of the game also gives you a better shot at actually getting through your first round.

Minesweeper is a simple game that sees you clicking on tiles within the game board that is positioned to be the 'minefield'. As you do so, your minesweeper will essentially 'dig' to reveal any mines underneath. If you're lucky enough not to land on a mind, you'll find that one of a few things gets revealed, such as:

• A Blank Space: This shows that you're safe and you haven't stuck a mine (phew!)
• A Number: This is an indication of whether a mine is close to the tile you clicked on. You'll see a number from 1-8 here.
• A Mine: This is what you really don't want to see as it signifies that the game is over!

In order to play your game well and become a master of Minesweeper, you need to bring a bit of logic and calculation in here. This is what the number tiles help you with. Each number represents how many mines are connected to that particular tile. Each time has 8 additional tiles connected to it – when you see that particular tile, each of the 8 mines go around it from the upper left and right corners and down to the same tiles on the bottom.

If a number one shows up, it means that there's just one tile connected that is a mine. If it's an eight, then you know every tile around it is actually a mine! Pretty cool, huh?

Getting Started as a Beginner

When you're a beginner, you're going to want to be as vigilant as possible as you're getting started. Learning to take a look at the numbers and try to figure out where the mines could be is such as huge part of the game. In order to help you keep your calculations in mind, you get to put down flags. You'll look to put down flags when you think a mine might be on that tile. This when stops you from clicking the tile and potentially revealing your suspected mine!

As you're clicking tiles and revealing numbers, you're going to want to work out (or guess, to begin with!) which tiles you think could reveal mines. As you put down your flags, you can then look to try and stay safe from the mines and avoid landing on one. You'll then be able to win the game by planning your flags on all of the correct tiles in the minefield that contain mines! But, if you do hit a mine, the game board is going to blow up and you've essentially lost the game.

This is why many people wonder whether Minesweeper is a game of luck or a game of skill. It might be the case that you need to have a few goes at playing it yourself to work that out. But we can also explore a few theories here too!

Analyzing Skill vs. Luck in Minesweeper

So now we get to the biggest question of them all. Is it really a game of luck or a game of skill and strategy? First of all, you're going to want to understand that it's very unlikely that you're going to hit a mine on your very first click. Yes, this means that the minefield game board was created in such a way that it won't happen. But who's not to say that it won't happen on the second click? In order to stop that from happening, you're going to want to make sure that you've learned the rules of play and that you're harnessing smart strategies to keep you 'alive'. That way, you have a much better shot at getting to the end and winning the game!

When you're new the to game, you're going to want to start off easy with a smaller board (the 9x9 is a great starting point). This gives you a much better chance of getting in some wins. You should also think about avoiding corners initially, as well as borders of the minefield square – this is generally a safer bet. And before you play a move, think about what's going to help you out the most instead of randomly clicking (don't worry, we've all been there)!

How Much is Skill or Strategy?

As you start to get into your serious Minesweeper game player, you may even find yourself being able to clear the game board in just a few clicks! But in order to do that, you'll find that you need to be able to have the skills to make it happen. This is where pattern recognition comes in. As you get more and more experienced with the game, you'll start to figure out where the mines are likely to be based on the reveals you're shown. But again, this is something that very much comes with time and experience – so get practicing! As you start to build up your skills, you'll also be able to get through the game quicker and quicker each time (but in the beginning, don't worry about timing – just focus on your precision).

Because of this, you will find that Minesweeper is very much a game of skill, problem-solving, pattern recognition, and logic. If you see it as just a game of luck, you may not advance your skills or be able to develop into a master player. However, with that being said, it doesn't mean that some luck won't help!

Where Luck Comes in

So next, we're going to take a look at just how luck does come into play here. Initially, you may think that it is just a game of luck – but as you get more and more into the game, you'll see that having the right strategies will not only stop you from clicking on mines (and losing!), but help you to win in fewer clicks too.

However, on the initial launch of the game, you can click on any tile by chance and there won't be a mine. It is programmed so that you're first click is going to start off the game (and not reveal a mine). So you could say that your first go is a lucky pick! From there, however, it all comes down to you reading the reveals on the board and making strategic decisions on what to click next.

Once the game is underway, if you were to click at random, you'd find on average that you tend to lose more than you win! This is why it's important to understand the numbers and begin to use your judgment and drop the flag. Of course, smart strategies can come in handy here too.

Strategies to Improve Your Minesweeper Game

If you know that you really want to improve your Minesweeper game, you have to practice! No amount of research or planning is going to prepare you like actually playing the game. It's safe to say that it can be a game of luck in the very beginning. But if you're just clicking at random, you're more likely to lose games than you are if you use skill and a well-thought-out strategy. So, next, you're going to want to make sure that you have a few strategies up your sleeve to help you get started.

• For starters, you always want to start in the center of the board – always leave the edges of the minefield until last.
• You should also aim to go slow – if you rush, you may find that you hit a mine quicker!
• Use your flags wisely – only mark out your suspected mine if you're sure other squares are clear.
• Try not to guess – but if you have to, use your logic and try to use the less risky route!

Ultimately, you're going to want to take a deep breath, use your problem-solving logic, and read the board well. Remember, it's all about trying to do this logically and in the least clicks possible. After all, that is the aim of the game!

Common Minesweeper Mistakes to Avoid

Along with the idea of utilizing key strategies in Minesweeper to help you succeed, it's helpful to make sure that you're avoiding certain things too. Ultimately, there are always going to be things that you might end up doing that cause you to lose the game. But that's okay – we've all got to start somewhere. And it's through practice that you're going to get better.

As you're getting started, remember not to rush. Rush can mean that you're not using skill or logic. Likewise, try not to guess. Again, this is likely to cause you to find a mine. Try not to just pick any old next move – always look for the best move possible. And finally, try to avoid the outer edge of the board, to begin with – leave it until last after you've exhausted the center of the board!

Final Thoughts: Is Minesweeper Luck or Skill?

When it comes to playing Minesweeper, it's safe to say that both luck and skill very much come into the game. Because Minesweeper is a puzzle game that requires logic, skill definitely comes into play here. Once you understand how the rules of play work, it's easy to become a master at Minesweeper and work your way through the games without fail.

But, even with that in mind – how can you possibly know which tile to click first or which tiles could possibly reveal a mine? Because of this, some may say that Minesweeper can be considered a game of chance! Why not get started and see which you believe it to be?

If you're looking for hours of fun, make sure that you get started with our free online Minesweeper game here at 247 Minesweeper. Get started, choose your level of play, and look to build your skill as you work your way around the game board. Good luck!

DISCLAIMER: The games on this website are using PLAY (fake) money. No payouts will be awarded, there are no "winnings", as all games represented by 247 Games LLC are free to play. Play strictly for fun.