2048
Slide, merge, double. One simple rule, and a game that is very hard to put down.
2048 is a free puzzle game you can play instantly in your web browser on a phone, tablet or computer, with no download and no sign-up. Slide the tiles and merge equal numbers to reach 2048. Classic 4×4 plus 3×3, 5×5 and 6×6 boards.
- Genre
- Puzzle, Number puzzle
- Controls
- Swipe or arrow keys
- Plays on
- Phone, tablet and computer
- Price
- Free, no account needed
How to play 2048
2048 is played on a grid of numbered tiles. Each move slides every tile as far as it can go in one direction: up, down, left or right. When two tiles with the same number touch, they merge into one tile worth their total, so 2 and 2 make 4, 4 and 4 make 8, and so on. After every move a new 2 (or occasionally a 4) appears in an empty square.
Your goal is to build a tile worth 2048. Your score goes up by the value of every tile you create. The game ends when the board is full and no tiles can merge. After you reach 2048 you can keep playing for 4096, 8192 and a higher score.
Controls
| Action | Phone or tablet | Computer |
|---|---|---|
| Slide tiles | Swipe up, down, left or right | Arrow keys or W A S D |
| Undo | Undo button (3 per game) | Z or U |
| New game or board size | New game button | New game button |
Board sizes
- Classic 4×4: the original challenge. Reaching 2048 takes planning.
- Big 5×5 and Huge 6×6: more room, so 2048 is easier and very high scores are possible.
- Tiny 3×3: a brutal test. Few players get beyond 256.
2048 strategy: how to win
- Pick a corner and keep your biggest tile in it. Most strong players use the bottom-left or bottom-right corner.
- Mostly use only two or three directions. If your corner is bottom-left, slide down and left as much as you can, use right when you must, and avoid up, which pulls your big tile out of the corner.
- Keep the row along your corner full. A full bottom row cannot shift sideways, so your big tile stays put.
- Build a chain of decreasing tiles next to your biggest tile, for example 512, 256, 128, 64 in a snake along the bottom rows. Merging the small end then collapses the whole chain.
- Think before merging small tiles in the middle. Scattered small tiles are what fill the board.
Our blog has a full guide: 2048 strategy: how to reach 2048 every time.
Questions
Is 2048 free to play?
Yes. This version of 2048 is free, runs in your browser with no download and works on phones, tablets and computers. Your current game and best scores are saved in your browser.
What happens after you reach 2048?
You can choose to keep going. The next tiles are 4096, 8192 and beyond, and your score keeps rising until the board locks up.
Is 2048 based on luck or skill?
Mostly skill. New tiles appear at random, but a consistent corner strategy wins the large majority of games on the 4×4 board.
What is the highest possible tile in 2048?
On a 4×4 board the theoretical maximum is 131,072, which is far beyond what almost anyone reaches. Getting 4096 or 8192 is already an excellent result.
Can I undo a move?
Yes, up to three times per game. Use them to escape a bad tile spawn.
