2048
Slide the tiles, merge equal numbers, reach 2048.
Slide with the arrow keys or swipe. Equal tiles merge and double; a new tile appears after every move. Reach the 2048 tile to win — run out of moves and it's game over.
About 2048
2048 is the sliding-tile puzzle Gabriele Cirulli released as a free, open-source game in 2014 — and it promptly conquered the world. You slide the whole grid with arrow keys or swipes; tiles with equal numbers merge into their sum, and after every move a new 2 or 4 appears. Build ever-larger powers of two until the 2048 tile is on the board — or until no move is left.
The original deals random tiles every game, so no two runs compare. Ludingo's version has 1000 numbered games: board #217 always deals the exact same tile sequence for everyone. Send a link and race a friend on the identical board — your time to reach 2048 is recorded, and undo is available (and counted, like hints in our other puzzles). Free, unlimited, no account, and fully swipe-ready on mobile. Not affiliated with any brand.
How to play
- Slide all tiles with the arrow keys, or swipe on touch screens. Every tile moves as far as it can.
- Two tiles with the same number merge into one tile with their sum when they collide.
- After every move a new tile (2 or 4) appears on an empty cell — on a numbered board, the sequence is fixed.
- Create the 2048 tile to win; if the grid is full and no merge is possible, the game is over. You may keep playing past 2048 — the recorded time is taken when 2048 first appears.
How to win 2048 — strategy and techniques
Pick a corner and keep your biggest tile there for the whole game. Every merge should feed that corner: the moment the largest tile drifts to the middle, every new tile spawns as a threat instead of fuel.
Build a snake: arrange tiles in decreasing order along the bottom row, then wind up through the next row in the opposite direction. A monotonic chain lets each new merge cascade into the next — a 128 sliding into another 128 rolls straight down the staircase into your corner.
Declare one direction forbidden. If your corner is bottom-left, never press up — the one axis that rips the anchor loose. Play left, down and right, and reach for the forbidden key only when literally nothing else moves; then repair the corner immediately.
Keep the bottom row full at all times. With no gap in the home row, horizontal moves cannot dislodge it, so they become safe. And think two merges ahead: a small merge that scatters your chain costs more than it gains — on Ludingo an undo is cheaper than a broken corner, but each one is counted.
Tips for faster solves
- Choose your corner within the first five moves and never let the biggest tile leave it.
- Order the home row like a staircase — each tile should merge into its bigger neighbour.
- One direction is off-limits; press it only when no other move exists, then fix the corner.
- Slow down once the board is half full — one rushed swipe undoes fifty good ones.
Questions about 2048
What are the rules of 2048?
Slide all tiles in one of four directions; tiles with equal numbers merge and double when they collide. After every move a new 2 or 4 appears. Create the 2048 tile to win — if the board fills up and no merge is possible, the game is over.
How do the numbered boards work?
Ludingo has 1000 numbered games. Board #217 always deals the same starting tiles and the same spawn sequence for everyone, on every device. Share the URL and a friend plays the exact same game — the classic version is random every time, so times were never comparable.
Can every board be won?
Reaching 2048 depends on skill, not on the board number — both players get an identical tile stream, so races stay fair. Careful corner play wins the vast majority of games, and the undo button lets you take back a fatal swipe (each undo is counted in your result).
Can I play 2048 on my phone?
Yes — swipe in any direction to slide the tiles; the board works in any mobile browser, no app needed. On desktop, use the arrow keys. Your current game is saved locally, so you can pick it up later.
Is it free? Is there a daily limit?
Completely free and unlimited — 1000 numbered boards, no account, no sign-up and no daily cap. Pick a board and play.
What exactly is recorded?
Every finished game is recorded: reaching 2048 stores your time and undo count as a win, and a game over stores the final score you reached. You may keep playing past 2048 for higher tiles, but the clock stops the moment 2048 first appears.