What does the smiley face mean in Minesweeper?
The smiley face is the reset button. Clicking it starts a new board immediately. It also reports the state of the game through its expression, which is why it changes while you play.
What each face means
| Face | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Smiling | Normal play, nothing pending |
| Open mouth | You are holding the mouse button down over a cell |
| Sunglasses | You cleared the board |
| Dead, with crosses | You revealed a mine |
Why the open-mouth face exists
It is feedback, not decoration. The face reacts the moment you press down rather than when you release, so you can tell the click registered before committing to it - and on a cell you have second thoughts about, you can still drag off it and release somewhere harmless.
The other two displays
Either side of the face are two counters. The left one shows mines remaining, which is simply the total mine count minus the flags you have placed - so it lies to you if you flag incorrectly. The right one is the timer, which starts on your first click. Both use the three-digit LED styling from the original Windows version.
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