Play the 2048 game online
Slide all tiles in one direction – equal numbers merge. Can you reach 2048? Swipe on your phone or use the arrow keys or WASD. Your game is kept when you come back.
How it is calculated
How to play 2048
2048 is played on a 4 × 4 grid. The game starts with two tiles showing a 2 or a 4. On each move you slide all tiles in one direction – left, right, up or down. They slide as far as they can until they hit the edge or another tile.
- Merging: when two tiles with the same number collide, they merge into one tile with their sum: 2 + 2 = 4, 4 + 4 = 8 and so on. A tile that was just created cannot merge again in the same move.
- New tile: after every move that changes the board, a new tile appears on a random empty square – as in the original, a 2 in 90% of cases and a 4 in 10%.
- Goal: you win as soon as a 2048 tile appears. You can keep playing afterwards to build higher numbers.
- Game over: when the board is full and no two equal numbers sit next to each other, no move is left.
Score, best score and undo
Every merge adds the value of the new tile to your score: two 8s give 16 points. Your highest score is kept as your best. “Undo” takes back your last move – one step only.
Controls
- Phone and tablet: swipe across the board. The page does not scroll while you play.
- Computer: arrow keys or W, A, S, D. You can also drag across the board with the mouse.
Tips and strategy
- Pick a corner: keep your largest tile in one corner and line up the next numbers in descending order beside it, like a snake.
- Favour two directions: if you mostly use two neighbouring directions (say left and down), your big tile rarely leaves its corner.
- Keep the edge row full: when the row holding your big tile is full, a sideways move cannot shift it.
- Think ahead: check where the new tile could land before you move. If you slip, use undo – the next new tile is placed at random again.
Background
2048 was written in 2014 by Italian web developer Gabriele Cirulli over a weekend and released as free and open-source software. It builds on the games “1024” and “Threes”.
Privacy
Your current game, score and best score are stored only in your browser’s localStorage so you can continue later. Nothing is sent to a server. Randomness for new tiles comes from the browser’s cryptography API.
More games: Sudoku, Tic tac toe or Hangman.
Frequently asked questions
How do you play the 2048 game?
You slide all tiles at once in one direction. Two equal numbers that collide merge into their sum. After each move a new 2 or 4 appears. The goal is a tile with 2048.
How do you win 2048?
You win as soon as a 2048 tile appears. A proven approach is to keep your largest tile in a corner, order the numbers next to it in descending order and mostly use two directions.
Can you keep playing after 2048?
Yes. After the win message, tap “Keep playing” and go on to 4096 and beyond until no move is left.
When is the game over?
When all 16 squares are filled and no two equal numbers are next to each other horizontally or vertically. Then no move is possible.
How often does a 4 appear instead of a 2?
As in the original, each new tile is a 2 with 90% probability and a 4 with 10%.
How is the score counted?
Every merge adds the value of the new tile: two 4s give 8 points, two 1024s give 2048 points. Your highest score is saved as your best.
Can I undo a move?
Yes, with “Undo” – but only your last move. The new tile on your next move is placed at random again.
Is my game saved?
Yes, only in your browser (localStorage). You can close the page and pick up where you left off.
Sources and legal basis
As of:
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