Free 2048 Game
Play 2048 free in your browser: slide tiles with the arrow keys or a swipe, merge matching numbers, undo one move and beat your saved best score.
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How to play 2048
2048 is played on a 4 by 4 board. Every move slides all the tiles as far as they go in one direction. When two tiles with the same number touch, they merge into one tile with their total. After each move a new 2 (or sometimes a 4) appears. Make a 2048 tile to win, then keep going for a higher score.
- Slide the tiles with the arrow keys or W, A, S and D, or swipe on the board on a phone or tablet.
- Matching tiles merge into one: two 2s make a 4, two 4s make an 8, and so on. Each merge adds the new tile's value to your score.
- If a move goes wrong, press Undo (or U) to take back the last move. You get one undo at a time.
- When you reach 2048 you can share the result or keep playing for a bigger tile.
- The game ends when the board is full and no tiles can merge. Your best score is saved on this device.
How scoring works
You score points only for merges: when two tiles combine, the value of the new tile is added to your score. Making one 2048 tile from 2s alone is worth about 20,000 points, and new 4 tiles save a little time along the way. Each tile can merge only once per move, so a row of 2, 2, 2, 2 slid left becomes 4, 4.
| Tile | Merges needed from 2s | Points from building it |
|---|---|---|
| 128 | 63 | About 768 |
| 512 | 255 | About 4,100 |
| 1024 | 511 | About 9,200 |
| 2048 | 1,023 | About 20,500 |
Useful tips and limitations
- Keep your biggest tile in a corner and build a chain of falling values along one edge, such as 512, 256, 128.
- Avoid the one direction that would pull your biggest tile out of its corner unless there is no other move.
- Fill one row completely before moving away from your corner, so your big tiles cannot be pushed out of line.
Common questions
Is 2048 always winnable?
No. New tiles appear in random empty spots, so some games end before 2048 however well you play. Good strategy makes winning far more likely.
Why only one undo?
A single undo forgives a slip of the finger without turning the game into trial and error. Take it back, then you must make another move before you can undo again.
Can I play 2048 on my phone?
Yes. Swipe up, down, left or right on the board. The page works on phones and tablets without an app.
Is my best score saved?
Yes, on this device. It stays until you clear your browser's data for this site.
Every puzzle is made and played in your browser. Best times, scores and solved puzzles are saved only in this browser on this device; nothing is uploaded and no account is needed. Clearing site data removes them.