Minesweeper is a puzzle game where the player clicks on cells on a grid without hitting a mine. The goal is to figure out which cells contain mines using numbers that indicate how many adjacent cells are also mines. By looking at these numbers, the player can eliminate possible locations for the mines and mark them accordingly.
The gameplay involves strategy and logic as the player tries to clear each minefield. There are three main game modes: 9x7, 12x12, and 18x14 sizes, with increasing difficulty levels. The mission mode, also known as "voyage mode", tests the player's skills by presenting multiple minefields in different locations around the world.
Another unique feature is the editor mode, which allows players to create their own minefields. Additionally, the Game Boy version can be played with two players using a link cable, while the PC Engine (TurboGrafx CD) version features an extra "Cook's Quest" mode where the player must navigate through falling boulders in a familiar minesweeper field.