Minesweeper is a classic puzzle video game that imitates the naval warship it borrows its name from, the objective being to clear a large grid containing hidden mines without detonating any of the mines.

However since the invention and subsequent wide acceptance of this classic game, a lot of other interesting variations have been built off it. That is to be expected as the game has proven to be both challenging and addictive.

Minesweeper has also been proven to benefit the frequent player, as links have been found between playing Minesweeper and general improvement of brain efficiency, like the improvement of hypothetical thinking abilities.

Though originally released in 1989 as a game bundled with Windows and some other operating systems, Minesweeper – and its variants – can now be played on several consoles and devices, and can also be played online.

If you’re an adept Minesweeper player or enthusiast, and you love the idea of being able to play Minesweeper anytime and from anywhere, without being limited by platform, then here are 4 Minesweeper games you can play online:

1. Classic Minesweeper.

Since other Minesweeper variants are basically spinoffs of the original Minesweeper – with almost identical playing style, it’s reasonable to first look at the original, classic Minesweeper.

Generally, Minesweeper is played by revealing all the (safe) blocks in a large grid without revealing any of the 99 blocks or tiles that contains a mine.

You get clues on which block to reveal and which to avoid as you play the game. When you reveal a block, the number of adjacent mines will be shown. This information can then be used to avoid mines. You can also flag a block you believe has a mine, as well as unflag it at anytime. But as soon as you hit a mine, the game ends.

This is how to play the classic Minesweeper game, which can be found online (alongside its variants on this list) on several games websites, or dedicated Minesweeper websites.

2. Hex Mines

With almost the same playing style as the classic version, Hex Mines has a little twist in it. Instead of the classic block tiles, you get hexagonal tiles in the Hex Mines, and there are only 10 tiles with mines. Your objective is to find out the locations of all 10 unsafe tiles, so you can clear the whole grid and isolate the mines.

Just like the classic Minesweeper, you get the number of adjacent mines as soon as you click a tile, and the game ends immediately you reveal a mine.

3. Mines Flagger

This is an interesting twist on the classic Minesweeper, as the Mines Flagger is played in a reverse manner.

Unlike the classic Minesweeper, this is a double-player game, and instead of revealing empty tiles, your objective is to reveal all the mines in the grid and flag them. The player that discovers the most mines (with the most flags) when time runs up wins the game. Just like the classic game though, clicking a tile also reveals adjacent mines in Mines Flagger.

4. Minesweeping Race

Very similar to the classic Minesweeper as you’re meant to reveal all tiles but those containing mines. However, Minesweeping Race contains 95 mines as opposed to the classic’s 99, and it’s a race between 2 players.

If you hit a mine, instead of the game ending, you get frozen for 10 seconds. This could be your undoing as the player with the highest number of completeness when time is up wins.

Mind you, these are just the classic Minesweeper game and 3 other identical variations, there are however tons of other Minesweeper spinoffs, with names like the “Armor Picross”, “Monkey Mines”, “Deminer”, etc.

If you ask me, I prefer the 4 that make this list.