2048 FAQ
Common questions about rules, merging tiles, scoring, and winning strategies.
What is 2048?
A sliding puzzle where you merge numbered tiles on a 4×4 grid. Each move slides all tiles in one direction; matching tiles combine. Reach the 2048 tile to win.
How do you merge tiles?
Press an arrow key (or swipe on mobile). All tiles slide in that direction. Two tiles with the same number that collide merge into one tile with their sum.
How is the 2048 score calculated?
Score equals the sum of all merged tile values. Merging two 64-tiles adds 128 to your score. Chasing bigger merges grows your score faster than making many small ones.
What happens when the board is full?
If no adjacent tiles share a value and no empty cell remains, the game is over. A game-over dialog appears with your final score and a Play Again option.
What is the highest tile you can get?
Theoretically 131072, but reaching 4096 or 8192 is a strong result. There is no enforced cap — the board simply runs out of space before tiles can grow indefinitely.
Can you undo in 2048?
Yes — press Z or tap Undo to reverse the last move. Only one undo step is available.
What is the best strategy for 2048?
The corner strategy: keep your highest tile locked in one corner and build a descending sequence toward it. Avoid moving in the direction that would displace the corner tile.
Does 2048 have a timer?
Yes — elapsed time is shown in the toolbar for personal reference, but it does not affect your score.