How to Play 2048

The Basics

The game is played on a 4x4 grid (or 8x8 in advanced mode). Each turn, you slide all the tiles on the board in one direction: up, down, left, or right. When two tiles with the same number touch, they merge into one tile with their combined value.

After every move, a new tile appears on an empty spot. New tiles are usually a 2, with a small chance of being a 4. The game ends when the board is full and no more moves are possible.

Controls

How Scoring Works

Every time two tiles merge, the value of the new tile is added to your score. For example, merging two 16 tiles creates a 32 tile and adds 32 points to your score. Chain reactions (multiple merges in a single swipe) add up fast.

Your goal is to reach the highest score possible. Even after hitting the 2048 tile, you can keep playing to push your score higher.

How Tiles Merge

1. Two tiles with the same value collide when sliding in the same direction.
2. They combine into one tile with double the value (e.g., 2 + 2 = 4, 4 + 4 = 8).
3. A tile can only merge once per move. A freshly merged tile will not merge again in the same swipe.
4. Tiles slide as far as they can in the chosen direction before merging or stopping.

Game Over

The game ends when the entire board is full and no adjacent tiles share the same value. At that point, no valid moves remain and the game is over. Your final score is displayed along with your best tile.

Multiplayer Mode

The 2048 League also features real-time multiplayer. You can play ranked matches against online opponents or invite a friend for a casual game. In multiplayer, both players get the same starting board and a time limit. The player with the higher score at the end wins.

Ranked matches use an ELO rating system, so you will be matched with opponents of similar skill. Climb the ranks and prove you are the best 2048 player out there.