2048

What it is

2048 is one of our own arcade games: the sliding-tile puzzle on a four-by-four grid. Every move slides all the tiles one way, equal tiles that meet merge into one worth double, and a new 2 or 4 appears somewhere on the board. Keep doubling until you build a 2048 tile, or until the board is full and nothing can move.

How to play

Use the arrow keys, swipe on a phone, or tap the on-screen arrows. Two tiles are on the board when you start. Slide, merge, slide. The score counts the value of every merge, and the Best score is kept in your browser so you always have a number to beat. There is an undo button and a Z key for the move you regret, and a restart for the game you regret.

What makes it different

Ours has an undo, which the strict versions leave out, and it saves your best score without an account or a cookie banner. The tiles animate smoothly and the whole page is the game: no ads, no consent dialog, no sign-up nudges. It also sits next to the rest of the arcade, so when you finally get the tile you can move on to Sudoku mini or Slide fifteen without leaving the site.

Why it is on Bored

Everyone has had a 2048 tab open somewhere, and we would rather you had it here than on a page that makes you close three things first. It is a good lunchtime puzzle, and the best score sits there waiting for tomorrow.

Tips

• Pick a corner and keep your biggest tile there
• Build one descending row along an edge instead of scattered pairs
• Avoid the move that pulls your big tiles to the middle
• If a swipe changes nothing, try another direction rather than the same one again

FAQ