2048
PuzzleFree to playSlide the board, merge equal-numbered tiles, and build your way to 2048.
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How to Play
2048 is a sliding number puzzle played on a 4x4 grid — 16 cells in all. Every swipe moves every tile one step in that direction, and two tiles carrying the same number merge into a single tile worth double when they collide.
Your score is the running total of the value of each tile created by a merge. Merging two 32s scores 32 points, not 64, and the 2048 tile adds 2,048 the moment it appears. That is why late-game merges are worth more than a dozen early ones.
Each run opens with two tiles on the board. After any move that actually changes the grid, one new tile spawns in a random empty cell: a 2 about nine times out of ten, a 4 the rest of the time. Producing a 2048 tile counts as a win, and you can keep sliding afterwards to push the score higher. The run only ends when all 16 cells are occupied and no swipe can move or merge anything.
Controls
- Arrow Keys - Slide all tiles in that direction
- Mobile: Swipe up, down, left, or right
- R - Restart the game
Tips & Tricks
- 1Anchor your largest tile in one corner and never swipe it out — the standard corner strategy keeps big numbers out of the way of new spawns
- 2Build a descending 'snake' along the edge next to that corner so merges cascade without disturbing the anchor
- 3If your anchor sits in the bottom row, avoid pressing Up: it drags the anchor out and scatters the board
- 4With only 16 cells, surviving past roughly ten tiles means every swipe is a commitment — check that the move leaves at least one empty cell
- 5Clear small tiles immediately; waiting to pair up two 64s while 2s and 4s pile up is the usual way a board dies
- 6Plan around a constant supply of 2s rather than hoping for 4s, since about 90% of spawns are 2s
- 7A swipe that changes nothing is free — the game only spawns a new tile after a move that actually shifts or merges something
Frequently Asked Questions
How is the score calculated?
You gain the value of each tile created by a merge, so two 32s becoming a 64 scores 32 points. Reaching the 2048 tile adds 2,048 points in one go.
How often does a 4 spawn?
Roughly one new tile in ten is a 4; the other nine are 2s. Do not build a plan that depends on 4s appearing.
Can I keep playing after reaching 2048?
Yes. Forming a 2048 tile marks the win, but the board stays live and you can continue merging for a higher score.
When exactly does a run end?
When all 16 cells are filled and no swipe in any of the four directions can move or merge a tile.
Why do I keep dying around 512?
Usually because the anchor corner was abandoned. Once the largest tile drifts into the middle, merges stop cascading and empty cells disappear fast.
Is there an undo?
No. The only recovery is a restart with R, so treat each swipe as permanent.
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