How to Play 2048

2048 is a sliding tile puzzle. Use arrow keys to slide all tiles on the grid. When two tiles with the same number collide, they merge into one. Keep merging to reach the 2048 tile - and beyond!

Controls

↑↓←→
Arrow keys - Slide all tiles in that direction. Tiles slide as far as possible and merge with equal neighbours.
WASD
WASD keys - Alternative keyboard controls. W = up, S = down, A = left, D = right.
↩
Undo button - Take back your last move. Up to 5 undos are available per game.
Mobile - Swipe in any direction to slide tiles. Works on the game board area.

Grid Sizes

Classic
4 × 4  ·  16 tiles
The original 2048 experience. Best for learning and records.
Large
5 × 5  ·  25 tiles
More space to manoeuvre. Harder to run out of moves.
Expert
6 × 6  ·  36 tiles
The prestige tier. Highest ranked scores and trophies.

Core Rules

A new tile appears after every move. Each move spawns a 2 (90% chance) or 4 (10% chance) on a random empty cell.

Each tile can only merge once per move. A 4 created by merging two 2s cannot merge again with another 4 in the same swipe.

Keep playing after 2048. Reaching the 2048 tile wins the game, but you can continue to aim for 4096, 8192 and beyond.

Game over when no moves remain. If the board is full and no two adjacent tiles share a value, the game ends.

Key Points

  • Keep your highest tile in a corner. Anchor your largest tile in a corner and build a snake pattern outward - this is the single most effective strategy.
  • Avoid filling the board. Once the grid is full it becomes very hard to merge. Always try to keep several empty cells available.
  • Prefer two directions. Focusing on left and down (or any two adjacent directions) lets you build a consistent tile chain without scattering values.
  • Plan merges ahead. Look two or three moves forward so tiles line up naturally rather than getting stuck.
  • In ranked mode, your score and move count are recorded - improvement is continuous even when you don't reach 2048.

How to Improve

1
Pick a corner and commit. Choose one corner for your highest tile and never move it. Build your chain in an L or snake shape from that corner.
2
Limit moves that disrupt your chain. Moving in the direction away from your corner tile scatters values. Try to avoid it until necessary.
3
Use undo strategically. Save your 5 undos for truly catastrophic moves rather than minor inconveniences - the game can flip quickly near the end.
4
Play ranked from the start. Ranked mode records your score and submits trophies. Every game counts even if you don't reach 2048.
Pro Tips
  • Monotonic rows and columns. Keep each row and column in decreasing order from your corner tile - this prevents getting trapped by a low-value tile in the middle.
  • The 4-tile is nearly free. Don't waste moves trying to avoid 4-tiles - they appear far less often than 2s and are easy to incorporate into your chain.
  • Expert (6×6) is more forgiving early on. The larger grid gives more room for error. Use it to practice the corner strategy with less pressure.