2048
Slide numbered tiles with the arrow keys or a swipe, merge equal pairs, and try to build the 2048 tile.
Use the arrow keys, or swipe on the board, to slide the tiles.
How it works
- Press an arrow key, or swipe on the board on a touch screen, to slide every tile in that direction.
- When two tiles with the same number collide they merge into one tile of double the value and add that value to your score.
- Keep merging until you build the 2048 tile — then continue for a higher score, or press New Game to start over.
Frequently asked questions
- How does merging work in 2048?
- Each move slides all tiles as far as they can go in one direction. When two tiles with the same number collide, they combine into a single tile of double the value. A tile can only take part in one merge per move, so a row of 2, 2, 4 pressed left becomes 4, 4 — not 8 — which is the same rule the original game uses.
- What is a good strategy for reaching 2048?
- Keep your highest tile locked in one corner and avoid moves that pull it out. Build descending chains along one edge so merges cascade into the corner, and try to use only two or three of the four directions. Random early merges feel productive but tend to scatter large tiles across the board.
- Where is my best score stored?
- Your best score is saved in your browser’s localStorage on your own device. Nothing is sent to a server — the entire game runs locally in the page, so it also keeps working offline once loaded. Clearing site data in your browser resets the saved score.
- Can I undo a move?
- Yes, the Undo button takes back exactly one move, restoring the previous board and score. Only the latest move is kept, so you cannot step back repeatedly. It is most useful when a slide accidentally spawns a tile in the corner you were protecting.
- What happens after I reach the 2048 tile?
- The game shows a win screen with a choice: stop there or keep playing on the same board. If you continue, tiles keep merging past 2048 into 4096, 8192 and beyond until no legal move remains. Your score keeps counting the whole time, so chasing larger tiles is the natural way to push your best score.
About this tool
2048 is a sliding-tile puzzle played on a 4×4 grid. Every move pushes all tiles in one direction; when two tiles carrying the same number collide, they merge into one tile of double the value, and a new 2 or 4 appears in a random empty cell. The goal is to keep combining pairs — 2 and 2 into 4, 4 and 4 into 8, and so on — until a 2048 tile appears. The game ends when the board is full and no neighbouring tiles match.
This version runs entirely in your browser. The board, merge logic, animations and scoring are plain client-side code, so no data leaves your device and there is nothing to install. It follows the original rules faithfully, including the single-merge-per-move rule: a tile that was just created by a merge cannot merge again in the same move. Your best score is kept in localStorage, so it survives page reloads on the same browser.
Controls adapt to your device. On a keyboard, the four arrow keys move the board; on a phone or tablet, swipe anywhere on the grid in the direction you want the tiles to go. A one-step Undo lets you take back the last move when a bad slide ruins your setup, and New Game resets the board at any time while your best score stays on record.
A few practical tips: pick one corner early and keep your largest tile there for the whole game, ideally by never pressing the direction that would pull it away. Fill the adjacent edge with a descending sequence so each new merge feeds the next one. When the board gets crowded, look for moves that open space near your big tiles rather than merges that score a few quick points on the far side.