Summary
- Release Year: 1990
- Genres: Puzzle
- Platforms: PC (Microsoft Windows)
- Publishers: Microsoft
Microsoft Minesweeper (1990): The Classic Logic Game That’s Still a Blast
Microsoft Minesweeper is a classic logic game that has been enjoyed by people of all ages for over 30 years. The game is simple to learn, but difficult to master, and it provides hours of challenging and addictive gameplay.
The goal of Minesweeper is to clear a rectangular grid of squares without detonating any of the hidden mines. Each square can contain a number, which indicates how many mines are adjacent to it. The player must use logic to deduce the location of the mines and clear the grid safely.
Minesweeper was created by Curt Johnson, a Microsoft employee, in 1990. Johnson was inspired by a similar game called “Mined-Out”, which was popular on mainframe computers at the time. Minesweeper was originally included as a pack-in game with Windows 3.1, and it quickly became one of the most popular games on the platform.
Minesweeper has been praised for its simple yet addictive gameplay, and it has been ported to numerous platforms over the years. The game is also available online, and it remains one of the most popular puzzle games in the world.
How to Play Minesweeper
To play Minesweeper, you will need a grid of squares. The grid can be any size, but the most common size is 9×9. Each square can contain a number, which indicates how many mines are adjacent to it. The player must use logic to deduce the location of the mines and clear the grid safely.
To start the game, click on any square on the grid. If the square contains a mine, the game is over. If the square does not contain a mine, a number will appear in the square. The number indicates how many mines are adjacent to the square.
The player can use the numbers to deduce the location of the mines. For example, if a square contains the number 3, then there must be three mines adjacent to the square. The player can then use this information to clear the surrounding squares safely.
The player can also use the process of elimination to deduce the location of the mines. For example, if a player knows that there are two mines adjacent to a square, and one of the adjacent squares has already been cleared, then the other adjacent square must contain a mine.
The player continues to clear squares until either all of the mines have been detonated or all of the safe squares have been cleared. If the player detonates a mine, the game is over. If the player clears all of the safe squares, the player wins.
Tips for Playing Minesweeper
Here are a few tips for playing Minesweeper:
- Start by clearing the corners. The corners of the grid are less likely to contain mines, so they are a good place to start.
- Pay attention to the numbers. The numbers in the squares indicate how many mines are adjacent to the square. Use this information to deduce the location of the mines.
- Use the process of elimination. If you know that there are two mines adjacent to a square, and one of the adjacent squares has already been cleared, then the other adjacent square must contain a mine.
- Don’t guess. If you are not sure whether a square contains a mine, don’t guess. It is better to be safe than sorry.
Conclusion
Microsoft Minesweeper is a classic logic game that is still enjoyed by people of all ages. The game is simple to learn, but difficult to master, and it provides hours of challenging and addictive gameplay. If you are looking for a fun and challenging puzzle game, then Minesweeper is the perfect game for you.
Additional Information
- Release year: 1990
- Developer: Curt Johnson
- Publisher: Microsoft
- Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android
- Genre: Puzzle game
- ESRB rating: E (Everyone)
Review Score
8.5/10
Art
Cover Art
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