Number and logic puzzles
2048
Slide the tiles. Equal numbers merge into their sum. Make a 2048 tile, then see how much further you can go.
- Levels
- Classic, Strict
- Daily
- Strict
- Scored by
- Highest score
- Today
- Daily puzzle
Setting up the board
Rules
- 1.The board is a 4 by 4 grid. Each move slides every tile as far as it can go in one direction.
- 2.When two tiles with the same number collide, they merge into one tile worth their sum, and the sum is added to your score.
- 3.A tile can merge only once per move, so a row of 2, 2, 4 slid left becomes 4, 4, not 8.
- 4.After every move that changes the board, a new tile appears on an empty square: a 2 nine times in ten, otherwise a 4.
- 5.You win when you make a 2048 tile. You can keep playing for a higher score until no move is possible.
How to play
| Input | Action |
|---|---|
| Arrow keys or W A S D | Slide the tiles |
| Swipe | Slide the tiles on a touch screen |
| U or Z | Undo the last move (Classic only) |
| N | Start a new game |
- Classic: Undo one move allowed
- Strict: No undo
Strategy
- Pick a corner and keep your largest tile there. Most strong games are built along one edge.
- Favour two directions (say left and down) and use a third only when you must. Avoid the move that pulls your big tile out of its corner.
- Keep the row next to your big tile full, so a stray move cannot drop a small tile into the corner.
- Build a descending chain along the edge (1024, 512, 256 and so on) so merges cascade toward the corner.
- Merge small tiles early. A board full of 2s and 4s leaves no room to manoeuvre.
Questions
- Is every game of 2048 winnable?
- No. New tiles appear at random, so some games end before 2048 however well you play. Good habits, like keeping your largest tile in a corner, make a win far more likely.
- What is the largest tile possible?
- On a 4 by 4 board the largest tile you can make in theory is 131,072, which needs a 4 to appear at exactly the right moments.
- How does the daily 2048 work?
- Everyone gets the same starting board and the same sequence of new tiles for the same moves. It changes at midnight UTC and is played without undo.
- How do challenge links work?
- When a game ends you can copy a link that holds the board's seed and your score. Your friend plays the identical starting board and sees the score to beat.
More games
- 01Numbers
Sudoku
4 levels / Time
- 02Numbers
Minesweeper
3 levels / Time
Quizzes to try
| No. | Quiz | Section | Format | Items | Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | US presidents Name every president of the United States, Washington to Trump: 47 presidencies in 10 minutes. Surnames are enough, and one name fills every term. History / Type them all / 47 answers | History | Type them all | 47 | 2026.10.02 |