How to Play
The board is a 4 by 4 grid that starts with two numbered tiles. Each move slides every tile on the board as far as it can go in one direction: up, down, left, or right. Use the arrow keys or WASD, or swipe across the board on a touch screen.
When two tiles with the same number bump into each other, they merge into a single tile worth their sum. Two 8s become a 16, two 16s become a 32, and so on. After every move that changes the board, a new small tile drops into a random empty cell.
Rules
- New tiles are almost always a 2; about one in ten is a 4.
- A tile can only merge once per move, so a row of four 2s becomes two 4s, not one 8.
- Every merge adds the new tile's value to your score.
- A move that would not change the board does nothing and does not spawn a tile.
- Building the goal tile, eleven doublings up from a 2, shows a win screen. You can choose to keep going for a higher score.
- The game ends when the board is full and no two neighboring tiles match.
Tips & Strategy
Pick a corner and stay loyal
Keep your largest tile in one corner, for example the bottom left. Most of your moves should be down and left, with right as a backup, so that tile never gets pushed out into the middle.
Build a descending chain
Line up tiles in falling order next to your corner tile: 256, 128, 64, 32. When the small end merges, the whole chain can collapse into the corner in a few moves.
Avoid the fourth direction
If your corner is bottom left, pressing up lets a small tile slide under your big one. Only use that direction when nothing else moves.
Keep an empty cell or two
A crowded board leaves you no choice about where the next tile lands. Merge small tiles early to keep room to breathe.
FAQ
Is there a way to undo a move?
No. Every slide is final, which is what makes planning your corner and your chain so important.
What happens after I reach the goal tile?
A win message appears. Press Keep going to continue on the same board; your score keeps counting until the board locks up.
Is it all luck?
Where the next tile appears is random, but a steady strategy wins far more often than random swiping. Strong players reach the same big tiles again and again.