Gooby
2048: slide, merge, beat your best
The classic sliding number game. Swipe to move every tile, merge two equal numbers into their sum, make the 2048 tile — and keep going as long as the board lets you. No ads, no sign-up, and it works offline.
How to play 2048
- Swipe up, down, left or right (or press an arrow key): every tile slides as far as it can that way.
- When two tiles with the same number meet, they merge into one tile with their sum — 2 and 2 make 4, 4 and 4 make 8. A tile merges once per move.
- After every move a new 2 (sometimes a 4) appears on an empty square.
- Each merge adds the new tile's value to your score. Make the 2048 tile, then keep going: the game ends only when the board is full and nothing can merge.
Stars for each game come from your biggest tile: one for 512, two for 1024, three for 2048 and beyond.
2048 strategy: how to win
1. Keep your biggest tile in a corner
Pick a corner — bottom left is popular — and keep your largest tile there. Big tiles in the middle split the board and block merges.
2. Lean on two or three directions
With the big tile bottom left, slide mostly down and left, use right when you must, and avoid up: it can pull the corner tile out and let a small tile slip in behind it.
3. Build a chain
Line the tiles up in falling order along the edge — 512, 256, 128, 64 — so one merge at the end runs all the way down the chain like dominoes.
4. Keep squares free
Empty squares are your room to manoeuvre. Merge small tiles early rather than letting 2s and 4s pile up in the middle.
5. Think one move ahead
Before you slide, ask where the new tile could land. If one direction leaves a gap next to your corner, choose another. Stuck? A hint suggests a good slide and says why.
2048 questions
What happens after I make 2048?
You keep playing. 2048 is the classic goal, but the game only ends when the board is full and no two neighbouring tiles match, so you can go on to 4096, 8192 and a higher score.
How is the score counted?
Every merge adds the new tile's value to your score: two 8s make a 16 and add 16 points. Your best score is kept on your device.
Is there an undo?
No — like the original, every slide counts. There are up to three hints per game that suggest a good slide when you're stuck.
Can I play 2048 offline?
Yes. After the first visit it works with no connection. Add it to your home screen to use it like an app — here's how.
Can I play with a keyboard?
Yes: the arrow keys or W, A, S and D slide the tiles. On a phone or tablet, swipe on the board.
2048 was created by Gabriele Cirulli and released as open source; this is Gooby's own version.