Explosive Results: AI Agents Take on Minesweeper
Can AI coding agents recreate a classic game?
We put four AI coding models to the test, challenging them to rebuild the iconic Windows game, Minesweeper. The results were nothing short of explosive, but did they blow up in our faces?
Let's dive into this AI coding experiment and uncover the surprises, challenges, and insights along the way.
The AI Coding Conundrum
The idea of AI assisting in coding has sparked a heated debate. While some coders swear by their potential, others have lost trust due to AI's notorious mistakes. But here's where it gets controversial: can these coding agents prove their worth and overcome past shortcomings?
To find out, we tasked four leading AI models with a simple yet intriguing mission: recreate Minesweeper with a twist.
The Minesweeper Challenge
Our prompt was straightforward: create a web version of Minesweeper with sound effects, replicating the classic game and adding a fun, unexpected feature. We wanted to see how these AI agents would handle a familiar game with a creative twist.
Testing the Waters
Ars Senior AI Editor, Benj Edwards, fed the task to four AI coding agents: OpenAI's Codex, Anthropic's Claude Code, Google's Gemini CLI, and Mistral Vibe. Each agent worked its magic, manipulating code files on a local machine, guided by a supervising AI model.
The results were judged blindly by Ars Senior Gaming Editor and Minesweeper expert, Kyle Orland, without knowing which model created which clone.
AI Coding in the Real World
For this test, we wanted to see the raw, unmodified code in action, simulating a real-world scenario where AI-generated code might go through human review and tweaking.
We chose Minesweeper as a middle ground, a game complex enough to require coding skills but not so intricate that it would overwhelm the agents.
Evaluating the Clones
With the throat-clearing out of the way, let's dive into our evaluation of the AI-generated Minesweeper clones.
Agent 1: Mistral Vibe
Play it: https://www.bxfoundry.com/minesweeper/1/
This version gets points for its straightforward approach, but it lacks the crucial 'chording' feature, making gameplay feel clunky. The 'Custom' button is a bit of a mystery, and the all-black smiley face button is a bit off-putting.
Rating: 4/10
Agent 2: OpenAI Codex
Play it: https://www.bxfoundry.com/minesweeper/2/
OpenAI Codex impresses with its inclusion of chording and on-screen instructions. The mobile version is a delight, with a nice touch for flagging squares. The old-school emoticon smiley is endearing, but the sound effects are a bit dated.
Rating: 9/10
Agent 3: Anthropic Claude Code
Play it: https://www.bxfoundry.com/minesweeper/3/
Claude Code gets the gameplay basics right but misses the crucial chording feature. The presentation is polished, with cute emojis and nice graphics. The 'Power Mode' button offers fun power-ups, but they feel a bit unbalanced.
Rating: 7/10
Agent 4: Google Gemini CLI
Play it: https://www.bxfoundry.com/minesweeper/4/
Unfortunately, Google Gemini CLI failed to deliver a working game. It struggled with generating usable code and got hung up on creating sound effects. This result was a complete failure in our one-shot test.
Rating: 0/10 (Incomplete)
Final Verdict
OpenAI Codex takes the win, thanks to its inclusion of chording. Claude Code also impressed with its presentation and quick generation time. Mistral Vibe fell short, and Google CLI based on Gemini 2.5 was a disappointment.
While these models show potential, our experience suggests they work best as interactive tools, augmenting human coding skills rather than replacing them.
And this is the part most people miss...
The debate around AI coding agents is far from over. While they can produce impressive results, human oversight and interaction are still crucial. So, what do you think? Are AI coding agents the future, or do they need more time to evolve? We'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments!
