Puzzles
Play 2048 online
Four directions, a 4×4 board, one new tile after every move. Two equal numbers merge into their double. The target is 2048, but the real game starts after that.
Play 2048 nowFree · no download · no sign-up
At a glance
- Category
- Puzzles
- Controls
- arrow keys · swiping
- Price
- free
- Sign-up
- not required
2048 is you against yourself and the clock – there is no opponent at the table, only your own record. Scores and achievements still count.
Where 2048 comes from
The nineteen-year-old Italian Gabriele Cirulli programmed 2048 over a weekend in March 2014 and put it online for free – as a variation on the games 1024 and Threes!. Within a week it had millions of players. Cirulli never made money from it and released the source code openly; that is exactly what made 2048 one of the most copied game ideas ever.
How it works
Slide all numbers in one direction. When two equal numbers meet they merge into one twice as big. Reach 2048!
Arrow keys or W A S D, or swipe with the mouse. "Undo" (or Z) takes back one move.
Three tips for better results
- 1Keep your largest tile locked in a corner and never swipe the opposite way.
- 2Build the top row in descending order – then it merges through in a single move.
- 3Swipe twice in the same direction rather than scrambling the board once.
Frequently asked questions
Is 2048 free to play?
Yes. 2048 runs straight in your browser, costs nothing and needs no installation. There is no paywall – the chips in the game are play money and cannot be bought. The site is funded by advertising, which appears only if you agree to it.
Do I need an account to play 2048?
No. The home page offers “play now without an account” – that starts you straight away and your progress stays in this browser. An account is only worth it if you want the same progress on several devices; name and PIN are enough, and we never ask for an email address. A guest profile can be turned into an account at any time without losing anything.
How do you play 2048?
Slide all numbers in one direction. When two equal numbers meet they merge into one twice as big. Reach 2048!
Where does 2048 come from?
The nineteen-year-old Italian Gabriele Cirulli programmed 2048 over a weekend in March 2014 and put it online for free – as a variation on the games 1024 and Threes!. Within a week it had millions of players. Cirulli never made money from it and released the source code openly; that is exactly what made 2048 one of the most copied game ideas ever.
Does 2048 work on a phone?
The site adapts to the screen size, and anything you can click can also be tapped. Games controlled with arrow keys do need a keyboard, though.
Do I have to download anything to play 2048?
No. 2048 runs in the browser – on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iPhone alike. There is no app, no plugin and nothing to install.
Can I play 2048 against the computer?
2048 is you against yourself and the clock – there is no opponent at the table, only your own record. Scores and achievements still count.
Does 2048 work without an internet connection?
The page has to load once; after that the game itself runs entirely in your browser and needs no connection. If you use an account, your progress syncs again as soon as you are back online.
Also known as
These are the terms people use to look for 2048.
- 2048 online
- free 2048 game
- merge numbers
- 2048 puzzle
- tile game
- browser 2048
- number puzzle
- 2048 strategy
- no sign up puzzle
- sliding tiles