2048

2048 is the deceptively simple sliding-tile puzzle that became a worldwide phenomenon. The rules take five seconds to learn and the strategy takes far longer to master, which is exactly why it is so addictive.

How to play

Every tile shows a power of two. Use the arrow keys — or swipe on a touchscreen — to slide every tile as far as it will go in one direction. When two tiles with the same number collide, they merge into a single tile of double the value: two 2s become a 4, two 4s become an 8, and so on. After each move, a new 2 (or occasionally a 4) appears on a random empty square. The goal is to build a 2048 tile.

Strategy that actually works

- **Pick a corner and commit to it.** Keep your biggest tile locked in one corner and build a descending "chain" of values along an edge toward it. - **Avoid the up-move** (if your corner is at the bottom) so your big tiles never leave home. - **Don't chase merges randomly.** Set up long runs so several merges cascade in a single slide. - **Keep the board open.** A cluttered board with no matching neighbours is how you lose — every move should preserve future options.

The game ends when the board is full and no adjacent tiles can merge. Reach 2048 and you can keep going for 4096 and beyond. Everything runs in your browser, and your board resets fresh each game.