How to play Minesweeper
Click (or tap) any square to start — your first click is always safe on beginner and intermediate. Numbers count the mines in the eight surrounding squares. Right-click (or long-press on mobile) to flag a square you believe is a mine.
The core move is satisfaction: when a number already touches exactly that many flags, every other neighbor must be safe. Click the number itself (called chording) to reveal all remaining neighbors at once. This is how fast players fly through boards.
Learn the standard patterns. A 1-2-1 along a wall means the mines sit under the 1s. A 1-2-2-1 means the mines sit under the 2s. When logic runs out and you face a true guess, count the odds — a 50/50 late in an expert board is sometimes worth a quarter for a continue insurance run instead.
Scoring at Thodds Arcade is time-based: faster clears rank higher on the daily leaderboard. Flags are optional — no-flag play is a legitimate speed style.
Frequently asked questions
Is this minesweeper free to play?
Yes. Every difficulty gives you three free boards a day, and the daily challenge is always free. Quarters (paid tokens) are only for extras like continues after hitting a mine, additional boards beyond your free plays, and a guaranteed safe first click on expert.
What do the numbers in minesweeper mean?
Each number tells you how many mines are in the eight squares touching it, including diagonals. A 1 next to a single unrevealed square means that square is definitely a mine.
Is minesweeper luck or skill?
Mostly skill. Nearly every board is solvable by pure logic, but expert boards occasionally force a probability guess. Strong players minimize guesses by choosing lines of play that generate the most information.
How do I flag mines on a phone?
Long-press a square to place or remove a flag. Tap to reveal. You can also toggle flag mode with the flag button under the board.
What is a good minesweeper time?
Rough benchmarks: under 10 seconds on beginner, under 60 on intermediate, and under 150 on expert puts you well above average. World-class expert times are under 40 seconds.
What happens when I hit a mine?
The run ends — unless you continue. A continue costs 2 quarters and restores the board with the mine you hit safely defused, exactly like dropping a coin in an arcade cabinet.
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