How to play 2048
2048 is a sliding number puzzle on a 4 × 4 grid. Every move slides all tiles in one direction, and two tiles with the same number merge into one with double the value.
Keep merging, 2 + 2 = 4, 4 + 4 = 8 and so on, until you build a 2048 tile.
Rules
- After every move a new 2 (or occasionally a 4) appears in an empty cell.
- Each merge adds the value of the new tile to your score. A tile can only merge once per move.
- Reach 2048 to win, then keep going for a bigger tile and a higher score if you like.
- The game ends when the board is full and no two neighbouring tiles match.
- Your game is saved, so you can leave and pick it up later.
Controls
- Arrows / WASD
- Slide the tiles
- Swipe
- Slide on touch screens
- N
- New game
Tips
- Pick a corner and keep your biggest tile in it.
- Mostly use two or three directions. Only press the fourth when you have to.
- Build a chain of falling values along one edge so merges cascade into the corner.
About 2048
2048 was written over a weekend by Gabriele Cirulli, a 19-year-old Italian developer, and released free on the web in March 2014. He took the idea from the games 1024 and Threes and expected a few friends to try it; within weeks it had millions of players and a great many quiet browser tabs open in offices.
This is our own version of the puzzle, with the same 4 × 4 grid and merge rules, keyboard and swipe controls, an auto-saved game and a local best score.
Questions
Is this the original 2048?
No. This is our own browser version inspired by Gabriele Cirulli’s 2014 original, with the same rules and nothing to download.
How do I play 2048 on a phone?
Swipe up, down, left or right on the board to slide the tiles. On a keyboard use the arrows or WASD, and N starts a new game.
How is the score calculated?
Every merge adds the value of the new tile to your score: merging two 8s gives 16 points. The big merges late in the game are where most of the score comes from.
What happens after I reach 2048?
You win, and you can keep playing for a 4096 tile or higher and a bigger score. The game only ends when the board is full and no neighbouring tiles match.