Welcome to Earthquake Minesweeper, where classic Minesweeper gameplay meets real-time earthquake data from around the world. Whether you're a seasoned player or new to this timeless puzzle game, this guide will help you master the fundamentals and develop winning strategies.
Minesweeper is a logic-based puzzle game where your goal is to clear a rectangular grid of hidden squares without detonating any mines. Each square either contains a mine or is safe. Your mission is to reveal all safe squares while avoiding the mines, using numerical clues to deduce their locations.
When you reveal a safe square, it displays a number from 1-8 indicating how many mines are in the eight adjacent squares (including diagonals). Blank squares have no adjacent mines and automatically reveal all connected blank areas. This cascading reveal often provides a good starting area to work from.
1. Start with corners or edges: These areas have fewer adjacent squares, making initial deductions easier.
2. Look for obvious mines: If a "1" square only touches one unrevealed square, that square must be a mine. Flag it immediately.
3. Count and deduce: If a number square already has the correct number of flagged mines around it, all other adjacent squares are safe to click.
4. Pattern recognition: Common patterns like "1-2-1" or "1-2-2-1" along edges have predictable mine placements. Learning these patterns significantly improves your speed.
5. Use the mine counter: The display shows remaining mines. When you've flagged most mines, the counter helps identify the last few locations.
Experienced players use complex logical deduction, considering multiple numbered squares simultaneously. Sometimes you'll encounter situations requiring probability assessment when logic alone isn't sufficient. In these cases, choosing squares with the lowest mine probability maximizes your chances of success.
Minesweeper typically offers three difficulty levels: Beginner (8×8 or 9×9 grid with 10 mines), Intermediate (16×16 with 40 mines), and Expert (30×16 with 99 mines). Many versions also allow custom board sizes and mine densities. Earthquake Minesweeper adds a unique twist by incorporating live seismic data, creating dynamic gameplay that changes with real-world events.
Earthquake Minesweeper enhances the classic experience by connecting your game to real-time seismic activity worldwide. As you clear the minefield, you'll stay informed about Earth's dynamic geology, making each game both entertaining and educational.
This implementation is based on Simon Tatham's Puzzles collection, ensuring smooth gameplay and reliable logic.