8Mines

Game Identity

Name: 8 Mines

Type: Educational probability game, anti-gambling demonstration tool

Genre: Puzzle, Educational, Probability-based

Platform: Web browser (desktop and mobile responsive)

Price: Free to play (ad-supported)

Languages: English, Korean (한국어), Japanese (日本語), Chinese (中文)

Game Mechanics

Objective

Successfully click 8 safe tiles across 4 progressive stages without hitting any mines. Each stage requires 2 successful clicks before advancing.

Grid Structure

• 4×4 grid (16 total tiles)
• Tiles randomly assigned as safe or mine each stage
• Mine positions generated server-side for security

Stage Progression

Stage	Mines	Safe Tiles	Clicks Required	Single Click Success	Stage Success
1	6	10	2	62.5%	39.1%
2	7	9	2	56.3%	12.4%
3	8	8	2	50.0%	3.1%
4	9	7	2	43.8%	0.6%

Mathematical Foundation

Win Probability

The overall probability of winning the entire game: P(win) = (10/16)² × (9/16)² × (8/16)² × (7/16)² ≈ 0.591%

This translates to approximately 1 win per 169 games played.

House Edge Demonstration

The game is intentionally designed with a 99.409% "house edge" (failure rate) to demonstrate how gambling establishments maintain profitability. Despite appearing "almost winnable," the mathematical reality ensures consistent losses over time.

Educational Purpose

Learning Objectives

1. Probability Understanding: Direct experience with cumulative probability
2. House Edge Awareness: Visceral understanding of mathematical disadvantage
3. Risk Assessment: Real-time odds calculation and decision making
4. Gambling Psychology: Experience the "near-win" phenomenon
5. Statistical Thinking: Understanding why "feeling lucky" doesn't change math

Target Audience

• Primary: Korean, Japanese, and English-speaking gamers
• Secondary: Educational institutions teaching probability
• Tertiary: Individuals interested in gambling education
• Age range: 13+ (appropriate for teens and adults)

Design Philosophy

8 Mines teaches through experience rather than lecture. By making the game feel "almost winnable" while being mathematically stacked against the player, it demonstrates the core principle of all gambling: short-term wins may occur, but long-term losses are mathematically guaranteed. The transparent probability display reinforces this lesson without being preachy.