2048 Game

How to Play 2048

2048 is a sliding number puzzle played on a 4 × 4 board. Move every tile left, right, up or down. Two equal tiles that meet combine into one tile with twice their value. Merge 2 into 4, 4 into 8, and continue until you create a 2048 tile.

Use the arrow keys or W, A, S and D while the board has focus. On a phone, swipe across the board or use the four direction buttons below it. A successful move adds one new tile, normally 2 and occasionally 4. A direction that leaves the board unchanged adds no tile and earns no points.

The score increases by the value of each tile created in a merge. Reaching 2048 saves a completion and offers Keep playing, so you can aim for larger tiles. The game ends when the board is full and no neighbouring equal tiles can merge. Undo restores the previous move and is recorded as assistance.

Understand Merges and Plan Ahead

Moving the row 2, 2, 2, 2 to the left produces 4, 4, empty, empty and earns 8 points. It does not produce 8 on that same move: each tile can merge only once per move. Moving 4, 4, 8, empty left produces 8, 8, empty, empty and earns 8 points.

Try keeping a large tile near a corner and arranging smaller values so they can feed into it. Avoid filling every empty space with unrelated values. A full board can still be playable when two equal tiles touch horizontally or vertically; diagonal contact alone does not allow a merge.

New-tile placement matters, so a good move often creates room as well as points. Undo also restores the move’s random sequence. Repeating the same undone move does not keep rerolling its new tile for a more favourable position.

Daily Starts and Saved Games

Daily uses a repeatable starting board for the UTC date. Identical moves from that start produce identical results. It is a shared starting challenge, rather than a promise that every sequence of moves will win. Practice supplies a fresh start when you press New game.

Your board, score, undo state and playing time are saved automatically in this browser. You can close the page and return to continue. Your best score remains available across new games. Progress is local to this browser; another device starts with its own records.

There is no countdown or required speed. Playing time pauses while the tab is hidden. A daily streak is earned by reaching 2048, rather than by opening the page or making one move. For another number puzzle with fixed answers, try Sudoku or Math Crossword.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did a move add no tile?

A new tile appears only after a move changes the board. Trying a blocked direction leaves the board and score unchanged.

Can I continue after reaching 2048?

Yes. Keep playing resumes the same board so you can create larger tiles. Your first completion for that game remains recorded.

Will the page scroll when I use arrow keys?

Focus the board before using the keyboard. Those keys control the game while it has focus. The search field and other page controls keep their usual keyboard behaviour.