About 2048
2048 is the number-merging puzzle that took the world by storm. Slide the tiles in any direction and matching numbers combine into one. Every move adds a new tile, so the board fills up fast unless you plan ahead.
Our version has smooth sliding animations, satisfying merge sounds and four modes: the classic 4×4 board, a roomy 5×5 board, a tight 3×3 challenge with a 256 goal, and a three-minute time attack.
How to play
- Swipe or press the arrow keys to slide every tile in that direction.
- Two tiles with the same number merge into their sum.
- Your score grows by the value of every merged tile.
- Keep your biggest tile in a corner to build long chains.
How 2048 works
2048 is a sliding number puzzle created by Italian developer Gabriele Cirulli in 2014. Every move slides all tiles as far as they can go in one direction. When two tiles with the same number touch, they merge into one tile worth their sum: 2 and 2 make 4, 4 and 4 make 8, and so on up to 2048. After each move a new tile appears in an empty cell, usually a 2 and sometimes a 4. The game ends when the board is full and no merge is possible.
The corner strategy, step by step
- Choose a corner, for example bottom-left, and keep your biggest tile there for the whole game.
- Use only two or three directions. With a bottom-left corner, press Down and Left most of the time, Right when needed, and Up only in an emergency.
- Keep the bottom row full. A full row cannot shift sideways, so your big tile stays locked in its corner.
- Build a descending chain along the bottom row and up the next one, like 512, 256, 128, 64. Merges then cascade into the corner.
- Merge small tiles early. Loose 2s and 4s fill the board quickly and block your chain.
Modes for every player
Classic 4×4 is the original challenge. Big 5×5 gives more space and much higher scores. Mini 3×3 has a 256 goal, and every move matters. Time Attack gives you three minutes to score as much as you can, so fast, safe merges beat careful planning.
Common 2048 mistakes
- Pressing the fourth direction "just once". It often pulls your big tile out of the corner.
- Chasing a merge on the far side of the board instead of near your chain.
- Letting two large tiles of different values sit side by side, which blocks both.
Like number puzzles? Try Sudoku or the Slide Puzzle, or see every puzzle game.
2048 FAQ
Can you keep playing after reaching 2048?
Yes. Reaching the 2048 tile wins the goal, but you can continue toward 4096 and beyond for a higher score.
How is the score calculated?
Every merge adds the value of the new tile to your score, so merging two 64s adds 128 points.
