About 2048
2048 is the famously addictive sliding-number puzzle created by Gabriele Cirulli in 2014. The rules take ten seconds to learn: slide the tiles, merge equal numbers, and try to build a single 2048 tile. Mastering it takes much longer. This version is built for phones — just swipe — loads instantly, saves your game automatically and even lets you undo one move.
How to play
- Swipe up, down, left or right. All tiles slide as far as they can in that direction.
- Two tiles with the same number merge into one: 2 + 2 = 4, 4 + 4 = 8, and so on.
- A new tile (usually a 2) appears after every move.
- Create the 2048 tile to win. The game ends when no moves are left.
The maths behind 2048
Every tile is a power of two. To build a 2048 tile (211) you need the equivalent of 1,024 tiles of value 2 merged together, which takes roughly 1,000 moves. Each merge adds the new tile's value to your score.
Score gained per merge = value of the new tile (e.g. 64 + 64 → +128)
Example
A row reading 2 · 2 · 4 · 8 swiped left becomes 4 · 4 · 8 · _ — only one merge happens per tile per move, so the new 4 doesn't immediately merge again. Swipe left once more for8 · 8 · _ · _, then again for 16.
Winning strategy
- Pick a corner for your biggest tile and keep it there.
- Avoid the fourth direction — only press it when nothing else works.
- Keep the edge row full so the big tile can't be pushed out.
- Think a move ahead about where the new tile might appear.
Need a different kind of brain workout? Try Memory Match or the daily stock chart puzzle.