Play 2048 in your browser. Slide matching numbers together, build larger tiles and plan your next move with touch, mouse or keyboard controls.

How to play

Slide the board in one direction. Two tiles with the same number merge into one with twice the value: 2 and 2 make 4, then 4 and 4 make 8. Keep combining numbers to reach 2048. Each move can change the whole board, so leave room for new tiles.

A useful starting tip

Keep your largest tile near a corner and build a sequence beside it. Check whether a move will separate tiles you want to merge.

One tile changes the whole plan

In 2048 you control the arrangement of numbers across the entire board. A useful slide raises a pair's value and makes room for later combinations. As the board develops, small numbers must reach their partners without obstructing larger ones. Both empty cells and access to those cells matter; a gap that cannot help a pair is less useful than it looks.

Recheck neighbouring values after a new tile appears. Your intended sequence may need a different direction. A full board alone does not end the game: a legal merge between adjacent equal numbers can still provide a continuation.

Starting your first attempt

Choose an edge for the large values and try building an ordered row beside it. Before sliding, follow one small tile: will it approach its partner or become trapped between incompatible numbers? This helps you see consequences beyond immediate points. When room becomes scarce, look for a move that restores a choice of directions rather than preserving a pattern automatically.

When a tidy row stops helping

An ordered edge is useful only while the smaller values can still reach each other. If a 2 and a 4 keep arriving on the wrong side of the board, give up a little neatness to reopen a route. The score can wait; a move that leaves two directions available is usually worth more than a flashy merge that seals the board.