2048
Slide the tiles, match the numbers, and try to reach 2048.
2048 is a sliding puzzle played on a four-by-four grid. Every move pushes every tile as far as it will go in one direction, and any two tiles showing the same number that collide become a single tile of twice the value. After each move a new 2 or 4 appears in a random empty square. The game ends when the board is full and no neighbouring tiles match.
The tension is entirely in that last rule. Every merge frees a square, and every move fills one. Play carelessly and the board silently fills with mismatched numbers you can no longer combine.
The corner strategy
Almost every good player uses the same approach. Choose a corner and commit to it. Keep your highest tile there permanently, and build a descending sequence along the edge leading away from it — 1024, 512, 256, 128 and so on.
To hold that shape you restrict yourself to two directions, say left and down, and only ever use a third when you genuinely have no legal move. The direction that would lift your largest tile out of its corner — up, in that example — is the one that loses games. One such move can undo twenty good ones, which is exactly what the undo button is for.
Controls
| Arrow keys | Slide every tile in that direction. |
|---|---|
| W A S D | The same as the arrow keys. |
| Swipe | Drag anywhere on the board to slide the tiles. |
| Undo | Takes back your most recent move. |
Questions
How do you actually win at 2048?
Keep your largest tile pinned in one corner and never move in the direction that would pull it out. Build a descending row along that edge, and use only the other two directions until you have no choice. Most losses come from a single careless move that shuffles the big tile into the middle.
Is 2048 the highest tile possible?
No. 2048 is the traditional goal, but you can keep going afterwards. The theoretical maximum on a four-by-four board is 131072, though reaching even 8192 is uncommon.
Is my best score saved?
Yes, on your own device. There is no account and nothing is uploaded, so clearing your browser data will also clear your best score.
Does the undo button have a limit?
It takes back one move. It is there for the accidental keypress rather than for working backwards out of a bad position.