2048 Game
Slide numbered tiles around a 4x4 grid and merge matching pairs until you reach 2048.
2048
Slide numbered tiles around a 4x4 grid and merge matching pairs until you reach 2048.
Starts in your browser. Instructions are below.
Controls
- Keyboard and mouse
- Arrow keys slide every tile on the board up, down, left or right at once.
- Touch
- Swipe in any direction on the board. One swipe is one move.
Scoring and how to win
- When two tiles with the same number touch, they merge into one tile worth their sum, and that sum is added to your score. Merging two 64s adds 128 points.
- A new 2 or 4 appears after every move that changes the board. The game ends when the board is full and no neighbouring tiles match.
- Reaching the 2048 tile is the classic goal, but you can keep going. Your best score is saved in this browser.
$ leaderboard --top 10
The top ten scores appear here. Finish a round to post yours, with or without an account.
How to play 2048
- 01Use the arrow keys on desktop, or swipe on a touch screen, to slide every tile in one direction.
- 02When two tiles with the same number touch, they merge into one tile with double the value.
- 03A new tile appears after each move. Keep merging until a 2048 tile appears, or until the board fills up.
About 2048
2048 is a sliding puzzle played on a four-by-four grid. Every move pushes all tiles as far as they can go in the chosen direction, so the whole board reacts to a single input. The challenge is keeping the board tidy: once it fills with tiles that cannot merge, the game ends.
The most reliable strategy is to pick one corner and never move your largest tile out of it. Build a descending row along one edge, use only three of the four directions where possible, and merge upward in value rather than chasing every small pair.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the goal of 2048?
- Merge tiles until one of them reaches 2048. You can keep playing after that to reach 4096 and beyond.
- Can I play 2048 on my phone?
- Yes. Swipe in any direction to move the tiles, the board scales to fit your screen.
- Is this version of 2048 free to play?
- Yes. It is free to play in your browser with no sign-up and no limit on how many rounds you play.
- What happens after I reach 2048?
- The game tells you that you reached it and lets you keep playing on the same board to try for 4096 or higher.
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