If you grew up with a computer in the house, you probably know the classic minesweeper puzzle: a grid of covered squares, numbers that tell you how many hidden mines are nearby, and that heart-stopping click when you get it wrong. It's one of the best little logic games ever made.
We loved it. We also noticed that, for most families, the thing hidden in the grass isn't a mine. Anyone who has a dog knows exactly what it is. So we made Puppy Sweeper: the same clever puzzle, rebuilt around something every dog owner deals with every day, with a twist at the end.
The same great logic
The heart of the game will feel familiar. You tap a tile to uncover it. If it's safe, it shows how many poops touch it, with a little fly and a number. A tile with no flies opens up its neighbours by itself. You mark the poops you've worked out with a flag, and you win the first part when every safe tile is uncovered.
We even kept the classic feel of the boards. The Puppy Pen has 9 poops in 70 tiles, about 13%, close to the 12% of the classic beginner board. The Puppy Yard has 17 poops in 108 tiles, about 16%, matching the classic expert board. The boards are tall and narrow, so tiles stay big enough for small fingers on a phone.
What's different: no guessing, no mines
Two changes make it friendlier, especially for kids:
- Nothing explodes. Step in a poop and you get an "Oops! You stepped in it." and a chance to try the same board again. It's a giggle, not a scare.
- You never have to guess. Your first tap is always safe, and every board is checked before you see it, so it can be cleaned up with logic alone. Here's how that works.
Everyday lessons, hidden in a game
We're not going to pretend a puzzle game raises children. But Puppy Sweeper is built around a few real habits that every family with a dog knows well, and kids pick them up while they play.
- Watch where you step. On the board and in the park, a little care saves a messy shoe. The game rewards slowing down and looking before you tap.
- Clean up after your dog. You can't win until every poop is found and in the trash can. In real life, dog poop can carry germs and parasites, so picking it up keeps parks, gardens and pavements safe for everyone. Bag it and bin it.
- Think before you act. Each number is a clue. Kids learn to put two clues together and work out what must be true, which is the same careful thinking that helps with maths and reading.
- Mistakes are OK. Everyone steps in it sometimes. You try again, and you get better.
For kids who are asking for a dog, or who have just got one, it's a gentle, funny way to talk about the not-so-cute part of looking after a pet.
The twist: catch the puppy
Here's where Puppy Sweeper leaves the classic behind. When the park is clean, the poops fly into the trash, the flies buzz away, and then the culprit drops in: a playful puppy, who wants nothing more than to run off and make a fresh mess somewhere else.
Now the game changes. You tap open tiles to put up fences, and after most fences the puppy makes a dash: a step, a leap or a diagonal hop, usually towards the edge. Every second fence (every third in the Puppy Park) it stops to have a sniff, which gives you a chance to get ahead. Box it in before it reaches the edge, and you get the best reward in any game we've made: a big puppy hug.
Catch it on your first try for three stars. If it gets away, you can have another go at the chase from the same clean park. In the bigger Puppy Yard there are two puppies to round up, and in the Puppy Park there's a pond in the middle to help you.
Made for families
- For kids: big tiles, Flag mode so little hands don't need a long press, a free hint on every board, and Easy mode with fewer poops.
- For grown-ups: the Puppy Yard and Puppy Park are a proper challenge, and a first-try catch is harder than it looks.
- For parents: no accounts, child-safe ads you can remove with one purchase, and optional break reminders and play limits.
Whether you're a dog owner, a kid who dreams of having one, or just someone who loved the classic puzzle, we hope Puppy Sweeper makes you smile. And next time you're out with your dog, remember: watch your step, and bring a bag.