2048
Slide the tiles to merge matching numbers and reach 2048. Pick a board size, undo a mistake, and share a challenge with your friends.
A game is in progress. Start a new one?
Arrow keys or WASD to move, U to undo. On a phone, swipe on the board.
How to play
- Slide all the tiles with the arrow keys, WASD, a swipe on the board, or the buttons.
- Two matching tiles that collide merge and add their value to the score.
- If the move changes the board, a new tile appears (2 or 4).
- You reach the goal by making the target tile. You can keep playing afterward.
Your stats
How to use it
- Move the tiles with the arrow keys, with WASD, by swiping on the board, or with the direction buttons.
- When two tiles with the same number collide, they merge into one tile with their sum.
- A new tile appears after every move. Plan ahead so the board does not fill up.
- Reach the 2048 tile to win. If you like, keep playing to improve your score.
Frequently asked questions
How do you win at 2048?
You need to make a tile with the goal value by merging matching tiles. On the 4x4 board the goal is 2048. Once you get there, you can choose “Keep playing” to go for a higher score.
When does the game end?
It ends when the board is full and no two matching tiles are next to each other. If you make a mistake before that, you can use “Undo.”
Can I play on my phone?
Yes. Swipe on the board to move the tiles; the page does not scroll while you play. There are also direction buttons you can turn on in the options.
What are the board sizes and the seed for?
The 3x3 board is shorter and harder, and the 5x5 and 6x6 boards are more relaxed. The seed makes new tiles show up the same way every time, so you can share a challenge and compare results with someone else.
Are my game and my best score saved?
Yes, in your own browser: when you reload the page you pick up where you left off. Nothing is sent to a server, and if you clear the site data your records are cleared too.
The rules of 2048
- Each move slides every tile to one side until it hits the edge or another tile.
- Two matching tiles that collide merge into one. A tile can merge only once per move.
- A new tile (almost always a 2, sometimes a 4) appears only if the move changed the board.
- The score adds the value of each merge: merging two 8s gives 16 points.
The corner and snake strategy
The most reliable way to reach 2048 is to pick a corner for your largest tile and never move it away. The rest of the tiles line up in a row or column that goes from largest to smallest, like a snake: the largest tile against the corner, then the next one down, and so on to the smallest. In that order, each push merges tiles in a chain and the large tile only grows.
Tips during the game
- Alternate between just two directions and use the other two only when there is no way out.
- Before you move, think about where the new tile can land, and do not leave gaps in the middle of the snake.
- Do not chase big merges far from the corner: keeping the order is worth more than a few points.
Common mistakes
The most common mistake is “clearing” the corner by moving the largest tile to merge it with another one: getting that position back takes many moves and usually ends the game. Another is turning in all four directions without a plan; every extra turn breaks up the snake and opens gaps. It also pays not to merge mid-size tiles too early: sometimes it is better to wait until they have a pair.
Boards from 3x3 to 6x6 and seeded challenges
Besides the classic 4x4 with a goal of 2048, there are 3x3 (goal 256), 5x5 (4096), and 6x6 (8192) boards, each with its own best score. Larger boards forgive more mistakes but ask for more patience; 3x3 is short and very tactical. You can share a seeded challenge so someone else plays exactly the same sequence of tiles and compares scores, and undo up to three moves or with no limit, as you prefer.
Keys
Arrow keys or WASD to move, U or Z to undo. On a phone, swipe on the board or use the direction buttons. The whole game can be played without a mouse.
Updated on September 29, 2026