How to Play 2048
- Tap the board or Start New Game. The first gesture only opens the game.
- Swipe left, right, up, or down. Arrow keys work while playing too.
- Equal tiles meeting in the direction of movement merge once per move.
- A successful move adds one random tile; a move that changes nothing adds none.
- Reach your target, then keep scoring. A full board with no possible merges ends the game.
See the merge examples or 2048 strategy tips.
Four Goals on a 4×4 Board
All modes use the same board size. Difficulty changes the target, starting tiles, and random tile mix. Medium uses the familiar 2048 target; these are our own four profiles, with Undo available in each.
- Easy: target 256; starts with two 2s. New tiles are 2 or 4.
- Medium: target 2048; starts with a 2 and a 4. New tiles are 2 or 4.
- Hard: target 4096; starts with two 4s. New tiles are 2 or 4, with more 4s than on Medium.
- Expert: target 8192; starts with 2, 4, and 8. New tiles can be 2, 4, or 8.
2048 Merge Rules and Examples
A new tile cannot merge twice
Swipe left: the two 2s make a 4 and add 4 points. That new 4 does not merge with the existing 4 on the same move. Dots mean empty cells. These examples show the row before a new random tile appears.
Two pairs make two merges
Swipe left: the first pair and second pair each make a 4. The score gains 8 points, not 16, and the row does not turn into an 8 in one move.
2048 Strategy: Keep Room to Merge
Keep your largest tile near a corner
Pick a corner and try to keep your largest tile there. Arrange nearby values in descending order so matching tiles can meet. Check where every tile will finish before swiping away from that corner.
Compare space, not only points
A high-scoring move can leave a cramped board. Look for moves that create empty cells and keep equal tiles within reach. If your preferred direction changes nothing, compare another direction rather than repeating it.
Use Undo to explore a different move
Undo returns to the board and score before the last move, including its random tile. Try another direction and compare the result. Undo gives one step back, not unlimited history. New tiles are random, so no corner pattern guarantees a win.
2048 FAQ
How do I play 2048?
Tap the board or Start New Game to open the game. Then swipe on the board to slide tiles. Matching numbers merge once per move. You can also use the arrow keys while playing.
Which mode has the 2048 target?
Medium has a 2048 target on a 4×4 board. Easy targets 256, Hard 4096, and Expert 8192. The starting tiles and random new tile mix also vary by mode.
How is the score calculated?
The score increases by the value of each tile created by a merge. Two 2s make a 4 and add 4 points. Reaching a target tile and earning that many points are different things.
Can I undo a move?
Yes. Undo restores the board and score before your last move, including removing the tile that appeared afterwards. You can undo once, then make another move.
What happens after I reach the goal?
Choose Continue playing to continue on the same board, or Next Level to start the next difficulty. On Expert, the second option opens Lights Out.
When is the game over?
The game ends when the board is full and no adjacent equal tiles can merge. Undo Move can restore the previous position. Restart creates a new random board.
Does the game save my progress?
Your best score is saved in this browser separately for each difficulty when local storage is available. Leaving the game for the page preserves your current board, but reloading the page starts a new game.
Is this 2048 game free and ad-free?
Yes. You can play in your browser without ads, an account, or an app download.
Can a strategy guarantee a win?
New tiles appear randomly, so keeping a corner and planning merges do not guarantee a win. Compare the whole board, leave room for new tiles, and treat Undo as a way to explore alternatives.
About 2048
The original 2048 was created by Gabriele Cirulli. This version uses the same sliding and matching idea, with paper tiles, four target profiles, and a one-move Undo.