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2048
Move numbered tiles across the 4×4 board. Equal tiles combine into their sum; build larger numbers and reach 2048.
About 2048
2048 is a number-merging puzzle on one 4×4 board. Slide tiles in a direction, combine equal values, and build toward the 2048 tile.
A new run begins with two tiles valued at 2 or 4. Reaching 2048 pauses play so you can choose Continue; if you do, the run carries on until the board has no legal move. There are no preset levels, saved runs, timer, or best-score record.
How to play 2048
- 01Move the tiles in one direction to slide them toward that edge. Equal tiles combine when they meet, but a tile can merge only once during a move.
- 02Every new game starts with two tiles, each valued at 2 or 4. After every move that changes the board, one new tile appears in an empty cell: 90% of spawns are 2 and 10% are 4. A move that changes nothing does not add a tile or count as a turn.
- 03Your score increases by the values of the tiles created by merges. A valid move increases the move count by one; a new tile appears after that move.
- 04Reach 2048 to pause the run and choose whether to Continue. Continue keeps the board, score, and move count; it does not count as a move or create a tile. After continuing, play carries on until no legal move remains.
- 05Undo restores up to the last 1,024 actions, including Continue. Restart repeats the current run; New Game starts a fresh randomized run. Progress is not saved, and there is no timer or best-score record.
- 06Focus the board before using arrow keys or WASD. On touch, swipe with one finger to move in that direction, or tap a direction button. Press R to restart, Z to undo, or Escape to cancel an active swipe.
2048 controls
- Keyboard
- Focus the board, then use the arrow keys or W/A/S/D to move. Keyboard shortcuts work only while the board is focused. R restarts, Z undoes the latest action, and Escape cancels an active swipe.
- Touch and direction buttons
- Swipe with one finger to make a single move in its main direction, or tap a direction button. Canceling leaves the tiles unchanged; a second finger cannot take over or commit the swipe.
- Run controls
- Undo restores up to the last 1,024 actions, including a Continue action. Restart repeats the current run; New Game starts a fresh randomized run. Continue is available after the first 2048 tile and does not add a move or spawn a tile.
2048: levels and progress
The game uses one 4×4 board rather than a set of numbered levels. Every new run starts with two 2 or 4 tiles, then adds one tile after each move that changes the board.
Restart returns to the current run’s starting board. New Game starts another randomized run; neither action saves or restores a run from a previous visit.
2048 tips and strategies
Keep a home edge for your largest tile
Choose a corner or edge and build the largest values nearby. Frequent reversals can pull smaller tiles between larger ones and make them harder to combine.
Plan the whole slide
A move can merge several pairs across different rows or columns. Check the full board, remembering that each tile merges at most once in a turn.
Protect open space
A valid move adds one tile. Keeping some empty cells near your main chain gives new tiles a chance to join it.
Treat Continue as a choice
Reaching 2048 pauses the run. Continue preserves the board and totals but lets the game proceed toward a later no-moves loss.
- Choose one edge for your largest tile and try to keep it there. Random turns can break a row of larger tiles apart.
- Look across the full row or column before moving. A move may combine more than one pair, but each tile can participate in only one merge that turn.
- Keep open cells near the side where you plan to build. Empty spaces give smaller tiles room to join larger ones.
- Use Undo to review a recent move when the board becomes crowded. It restores the full previous action, including the score and move count.
2048 FAQ
How do tiles merge?
When equal tiles meet during a slide, they form one tile with their values added together. A newly merged tile cannot merge again during that same move.
How is the score calculated?
Each merge adds the value of the tile it creates. The score is the sum of those merge results; moving tiles without merging does not add points.
What happens when I reach 2048?
The run pauses and offers Continue. Continuing keeps your board, score, and move count, then lets you play on. The game ends when no legal move remains.
Is every randomized run guaranteed to reach 2048?
No. New tiles are placed randomly, so a run is not guaranteed to reach 2048.
Can I undo or save a run?
Undo can restore up to the last 1,024 actions during the current visit. The game does not save runs between visits and does not include a timer or best-score record.
Does every move add a tile?
Only a move that changes the board counts. It increases the move total by one and adds one 2 or 4 tile to an empty cell. A blocked direction does neither.
Can a tile merge twice in one move?
No. Each tile can take part in at most one merge during a single move, even if the merged value could match another tile farther along.
Does the game stop permanently at 2048?
It pauses at the first 2048 tile and offers Continue. Continuing keeps the current board and totals, then play ends only when no legal move remains.
What can Undo restore?
It restores up to the last 1,024 actions in the current run, including moves and Continue.