Minesweeper Game Downloads

Windows Minesweeper

Winmine

  • Year
    1990
  • Strategy
    Clear Mines
    Find Path OR Clear Mines
  • Platform
    Win16 || Windows 3.0
    Win32
    Win32 || Windows Vista
    Win32 || Windows 8

Windows Minesweeper - Game Overview

Microsoft released Minesweeper for Windows 3.0 as part of the Windows Entertainment Pack in 1990. Minesweeper was later included as part of the Windows 3.1 operating system and remained in the Windows operating system until 2012 when it moved into the online Microsoft Store.

Windows Entertainment Pack distributed Minesweeper as part of a collection of games written for Windows 3.0 by Microsoft employees. The original Win Mine game was renamed Minesweeper and a new Help File written. The object of the game was changed from marking all mines and opening all safe squares to simply opening all safe squares. Flags replaced bomb icons and Highscores were added. Beginner remained 8x8 with 10 mines and Intermediate 16x16 with 40 mines but was Expert changed from 24x24 to 30x16 with 99 mines.

Windows 3.1 updated the Help File and added a Winmine.ini file to save Preferences but made no other changes to the game.

Windows 95 changed the graphics and Help File while Windows 98 and Windows ME updated the Help File.

Windows 2000 changed Beginner to 9x9 and reverted graphics to the 3.1 version and the Italian version changed mines to flowers due to the 'International Campaign to Ban Winmine'. Windows XP modified the icon and Help File.

Windows Vista and Windows 7 introduced a completely new version developed by Oberon Games. Difficulty levels remained the same but all graphics and menus were changed and new sound effects added. Vista introduced the ability to replay lost games.

Windows 8 removed Minesweeper from the operating system into the Microsoft Store. Arkadium rewrote the game adding a new Arcade mode where you avoid obstacles and find hidden objects while navigating through different fields for points. They also added a Challenge mode where you complete challenges for online leaderboards. Arkadium made the game cross-platform and able to work with touchscreens for Windows, Windows Phone and XBox with daily and weekly competitions. In total there are 16 Achievements to obtain ranging from completing the 1-2-1 pattern 20 times under 3 seconds to killing 100 monsters. However, the free version includes advertisements and does not remember highscores.


Version History

A list of all known versions sorted by platform then version. Email admin@ if you have more! See the Downloads section for available files.

Win16WEP
Win16Windows 3.1
Win16Windows 95
Win16Windows 98
Win32Windows 2000
Win16Windows ME
Win32Windows XP
Win32Windows Vista
Win32Windows 7
Win32Windows 8

Pictures

Screenshots are sorted by platform then version.


Windows Minesweeper WEP - Beginner (lost)
Windows Minesweeper WEP - Expert (lost)
Windows Minesweeper WEP - WEP games folder
Windows Minesweeper WEP - Game menu
Windows Minesweeper WEP - Help menu
Windows Minesweeper WEP - Highscores
Windows Minesweeper WEP - About box
Windows Minesweeper WEP - Help file
Windows Minesweeper WEP - Help file
Windows Minesweeper Windows 3.1 - Intermediate (lost)
Windows Minesweeper Windows 3.1 - Help menu
Windows Minesweeper Windows 3.1 - Game menu
Windows Minesweeper Windows 3.1 - Highscores
Windows Minesweeper Windows 3.1 - Help file
Windows Minesweeper Windows 3.1 - Help file
Windows Minesweeper Windows 3.1 - About box
Windows Minesweeper Windows 3.1 - Win box
Windows Minesweeper Windows 3.1 - INI File
Windows Minesweeper Windows 95 - Intermediate (lost)
Windows Minesweeper Windows 95 - Beginner (win)
Windows Minesweeper Windows 95 - Game menu
Windows Minesweeper Windows 95 - Win box
Windows Minesweeper Windows 95 - Highscores
Windows Minesweeper Windows 95 - Custom options
Windows Minesweeper Windows 95 - Help file
Windows Minesweeper Windows 95 - Help file
Windows Minesweeper Windows 98 - Intermediate (lost)
Windows Minesweeper Windows 98 - Beginner (won)
Windows Minesweeper Windows 98 - Game menu
Windows Minesweeper Windows 98 - Win box
Windows Minesweeper Windows 98 - Highscore
Windows Minesweeper Windows 98 - INI file
Windows Minesweeper Windows 98 - Help file
Windows Minesweeper Windows 98 - About
Windows Minesweeper Windows 2000 - Intermediate (lost)
Windows Minesweeper Windows 2000 - Game menu
Windows Minesweeper Windows 2000 - Win box
Windows Minesweeper Windows 2000 - Highscores
Windows Minesweeper Windows 2000 - Help file
Windows Minesweeper Windows 2000 - Help file
Windows Minesweeper Windows 2000 - Registry
Windows Minesweeper Windows 2000 - About
Windows Minesweeper Windows ME - Intermediate (Lost)
Windows Minesweeper Windows ME - Game menu
Windows Minesweeper Windows ME - Highscores
Windows Minesweeper Windows ME - Win Box
Windows Minesweeper Windows ME - About
Windows Minesweeper Windows ME - Prato Fiorito
Windows Minesweeper Windows XP - Beginner (lose)
Windows Minesweeper Windows XP - Prato Fiorito
Windows Minesweeper Windows XP - About
Windows Minesweeper Windows XP - Help file
Windows Minesweeper Windows XP - Help file
Windows Minesweeper Windows Vista - Beginner flower skin (lost)
Windows Minesweeper Windows Vista - Beginner water skin
Windows Minesweeper Windows Vista - Beginner (won)
Windows Minesweeper Windows Vista - Bombs exploding
Windows Minesweeper Windows Vista - Beginner (lost)
Windows Minesweeper Windows Vista - Skins
Windows Minesweeper Windows Vista - Options
Windows Minesweeper Windows Vista - Highscore
Windows Minesweeper Windows Vista - Statistics
Windows Minesweeper Windows Vista - Game menu
Windows Minesweeper Windows Vista - Help menu
Windows Minesweeper Windows Vista - About
Windows Minesweeper Windows 7 - Bombs exploding
Windows Minesweeper Windows 7 - Intermediate (lost)
Windows Minesweeper Windows 7 - Notification after losing
Windows Minesweeper Windows 7 - Beginner (won)
Windows Minesweeper Windows 7 - Options
Windows Minesweeper Windows 7 - Skins
Windows Minesweeper Windows 7 - Help file
Windows Minesweeper Windows 7 - Help file
Windows Minesweeper Windows 7 - About
Windows Minesweeper Windows 8 - Expert (lose)
Windows Minesweeper Windows 8 - Ladybug skin
Windows Minesweeper Windows 8 - Homepage
Windows Minesweeper Windows 8 - Homepage
Windows Minesweeper Windows 8 - Homepage
Windows Minesweeper Windows 8 - Lose box
Windows Minesweeper Windows 8 - Win box
Windows Minesweeper Windows 8 - Saved board (won)
Windows Minesweeper Windows 8 - Arcade gameplay
Windows Minesweeper Windows 8 - Winning Arcade level
Windows Minesweeper Windows 8 - Options
Windows Minesweeper Windows 8 - Instructions
Windows Minesweeper Windows 8 - Instructions

Downloads

Versions are listed by platform, version, year, earliest known date and source of the date information.

Win16WEP19901990-10-08Publication
ZIP (EXE)English
Win16Windows 3.119921992-04-06Publication
ZIP (EXE)English
Win16Windows 9519951995-08-24Publication
ZIP (EXE)English
Win16Windows 9819981998-06-25Publication
ZIP (EXE)English
Win32Windows 200020002000-02-17Publication
ZIP (EXE)English
ZIP (EXE)Italian
Win16Windows ME20002000-09-14Publication
ZIP (EXE)English
Win32Windows XP20012001-10-25Publication
ZIP (EXE)English
ZIP (EXE)Germany
ZIP (EXE)Italian
ZIP (EXE)Russian
Win32Windows Vista20062006-11-30Publication
ZIP (EXE)English
Win32Windows 720092009-10-22Publication
ZIP (EXE)English
Win32Windows 820122012-07-27Research

Credits

People and companies are listed by platform, version, name, role and source of the information.

Win16WEP
Curt JohnsonByAbout Box
MicrosoftCopyrightAbout Box
Robert DonnerByAbout Box
Win16Windows 3.1
Curt JohnsonByAbout Box
Microsoft CorporationCopyrightAbout Box
Robert DonnerByAbout Box
Win16Windows 95
Curt JohnsonByAbout Box
Microsoft CorporationCopyrightAbout Box
Robert DonnerByAbout Box
Win16Windows 98
Curt JohnsonByAbout Box
Microsoft CorporationCopyrightAbout Box
Robert DonnerByAbout Box
Win32Windows 2000
Curt JohnsonByAbout Box
Microsoft CorporationCopyrightAbout Box
Robert DonnerByAbout Box
Win16Windows ME
Curt JohnsonByAbout Box
Microsoft CorporationCopyrightAbout Box
Robert DonnerByAbout Box
Win32Windows XP
Curt JohnsonByAbout Box
Microsoft CorporationCopyrightAbout Box
Robert DonnerByAbout Box
Win32Windows Vista
Microsoft CorporationCopyrightAbout Box
Oberon GamesByAbout Box
Win32Windows 7
Microsoft CorporationCopyrightAbout Box
Oberon GamesByAbout Box
Win32Windows 8
ArkadiumCredits
Microsoft CorporationCopyrightWebsite
Microsoft StudiosCredits

Game Links

Dead sites are often available at archive.org.

  • https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/store/p/microsoft-minesweeper/9wzdncrfhwcn

  • https://microsoftcasualgames.com/#minesweeper

  • https://zone.msn.com/en/msminesweeper/default.htm


Entity Links

Dead sites are often available at archive.org.

  • microsoft.com

  • oberon-media.com

  • https://minesweepergame.com/history/robert-donner.php
    Article about Robert Donner

  • https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-donner-75a624148
    LinkedIn profile for Robert Donner.

  • https://minesweepergame.com/history/curt-johnson.php
    Article about Curt Johnson

  • https://www.linkedin.com/in/minesweep
    LinkedIn profile for Curt Johnson.

  • xbox.com/xbox-game-studios

  • https://www.arkadium.com/