The game was later included in Windows 3.1 (1992) and was part of the operating system until 2012.

The goal of Minesweeper is to open all safe squares using the number clues to avoid hidden mines. The original game has three difficulty levels (Beginner is 8*8 with 10 mines, Intermediate is 16*16 with 40 mines, Expert is 30*16 with 99 mines). You can also play custom sizes up to 30*24 with (X-1)(Y-1) mines. The timer counts your solving time in seconds and a highscore list saves your best score per level.

Windows 2000 increased the Beginner level to 9x9 and fixed several issues. These included saving scores in the Windows Registry instead of an easily edited text file, fixing a bug that moved the game window higher up your screen when you change the difficulty level and fixing a bug that caused the first second of the game to be shorter than a full second.

The Windows Vista release in 2007 was a completely new version by Oberon Media. The rules remained the same but all graphics and sound effects were updated. For example, the Smiley Face button was removed and you can choose to play with either mines or flowers. One major change was the ability to save games and to re-play lost games. Expert was renamed Advanced with the the Highscores list saving your five best times per level and tracking your win percentages.

Windows 8 (2012) removed Minesweeper from the operating system into the Microsoft Store. See 'Microsoft Minesweeper' for details.

The following attributes can be used to map the evolution of Minesweeper. Blue cells are confirmed attributes for official versions of Windows Minesweeper. Yellow cells are unknown.