2048

My kids enjoy the simple challenge of merging the numbers to clear space and stay alive. It’s great to see them figure out strategies to merge bigger and bigger numbers efficiently. They don’t realize it, but they are learning to make quick additions. There’s also a lot of geographical thinking ahead to avoid making a move that gets you stuck.

Review by FamilyGamingDatabase.

How to Play 2048

Use your arrow keys to move all the tiles in the specified direction. Every time you move, another two is spawned into the game. When two tiles with the same number touch, they merge into one, doubling the numerical value. Keep sliding the tiles around until you reach your highest score. The final objective is to get one tile to reach the number 2048. Be careful to think about your movements, as the board will keep filling up each time you move! If the board fills all the way without you reaching 2048, it's game over.

What is 2048?

2048 is an open-source puzzle game with math elements where players slide numerical tiles around a grid to create larger numbers. The game took the world by storm in March 2014 when it was released, surprising the developer who made it in a weekend.

Thanks to the open-source project, many variations have been created and distributed since then. The 2048 game on this page is the original, but you can find more versions below.

Tips & Tricks

• Focus on the edge of the grid. You want the highest number in a lovely corner for easy access.
• Keep making the larger numbers around that corner so you can combine them when they match.
• If you end up with the higher numbers towards the middle, you can quickly get lost with inaccessible numbers, and eventually, you will have to start a new game.

More Games Like This

If you’re a fan of puzzle games and enjoy a good brain workout, you’re in luck! Try Word Wipe, where you frantically clear words before time runs out. For a different twist, 10x10 will have you scratching your head as you fit pieces like a puzzled Tetris master. And if you love word games, Word Scramble will have you rearranging letters so much that you’ll start dreaming in anagrams. Dive into these brain teasers and prepare for some serious fun!

Other versions of 2048

Check out our 2048 games for more versions of this web classic! You can play a unique version of 2048 online in Cubes 2048.io, or play the delicious sushi variation of the original in Sushi Drop.

Developer

Gabriele Cirulli created 2048. It is based on 1024 by Veewo Studio and is conceptually similar to Threes by Asher Vollmer.

Release Date

March 2014

Platforms

This game with puzzling tiles is available in a browser and works on any device (including iOS and Android smartphones).

Gameplay-video