2048
Slide, merge, and chase the 2048 tile — arrow keys or swipe, with undo and your best score saved on this device.
← → ↑ ↓ or W A S D to slide · swipe on touch · Space for a new game · Z to undo
How to Play 2048 in 3 Steps
Slide the tiles
Press an arrow key (or W A S D), or swipe on a touchscreen. Every tile slides as far as it can in that direction and a new 2 or 4 appears.
Merge equal numbers
Two tiles with the same number that collide merge into one and add to your score. Keep your biggest tile in a corner and build chains toward it.
Reach 2048 — then keep going
Make a 2048 tile to win; you can keep playing for a higher score. The game ends when the board is full and no merges are left. Undo takes back one move.
Controls & boards
| Action | Keyboard | Touch |
|---|---|---|
| Slide tiles | ← → ↑ ↓ or W A S D | Swipe on the board |
| Undo last move | Z | Tap Undo |
| New game | Space | Tap New game |
| Reset best score & settings | Esc | Tap Reset |
| Board size | Toolbar: 3×3 (hard, small), 4×4 (classic), 5×5 (relaxed) |
2048 — Frequently Asked Questions
How do you win 2048?
Create a tile with the number 2048 by repeatedly merging equal tiles: 2+2=4, 4+4=8 and so on. After you win you can choose Keep playing to go for 4096 and beyond.
What is the best strategy?
Pick a corner and never move your largest tile away from it. Use only three directions as long as you can, keep the row along that corner sorted from big to small, and avoid moves that leave the corner empty.
Does Undo work more than once?
Undo restores the single previous board — one step, by design, so it saves you from a slip without turning the game into trial and error. You can disable it in the options.
Where is my best score saved?
Only in your browser's localStorage under the key toolity_2048, separately for each board size. Nothing is sent anywhere; Reset or clearing site data removes it.
Why 3×3 and 5×5 boards?
3×3 is a short, brutal variant where 256 is already an achievement; 5×5 gives you room to breathe and is a good way to learn the corner strategy before returning to the classic 4×4.