How to play 2048
Every tile on the 4×4 grid slides in the direction you press — arrow keys, WASD, or a swipe on mobile. When two tiles showing the same number collide, they merge into a single tile worth double, and that value is added to your score. After every move a new 2 (or occasionally a 4) appears in an empty cell. Keep merging upward — 2, 4, 8, 16 — with the goal of building a tile that reads 2048. The board fills quickly, so plan every slide.
Tips & strategy
- Anchor your biggest tile in a corner and never move it out of that corner.
- Build a staircase. Keep your largest tiles lined up in descending order along one edge.
- Favor two directions. Mostly slide along two axes; use a third sparingly and avoid the one that scatters your big tiles.
- Don't chase every merge. Setting up the board matters more than grabbing small combos early.
About the game
2048 was created in 2014 by 19-year-old developer Gabriele Cirulli and released as free, open-source software. It became an overnight viral hit thanks to its clean look and the surprisingly deep, almost chess-like puzzle hiding beneath a single trivial rule. Reaching the 2048 tile is really just the halfway point — dedicated players keep going for 4096, 8192, and beyond until the grid finally locks up. Your best score is stored in your browser so you can keep pushing your record.