Start a game
Open the game board and use the arrow keys on a keyboard. On a phone or tablet, swipe across the board or use the on-screen arrow buttons. Every move slides all tiles in that direction. When two tiles with the same value meet, they combine into one tile with the next value and add to your score. A new tile appears after a valid move.
Make space and score
Plan around open squares. Try to keep your highest-value tile near a corner and build neighboring values toward it. Avoid alternating directions without a plan: a crowded board leaves fewer ways to merge. The run ends when there are no legal moves. Reach the 2048 tile to complete the classic objective, then keep playing for a higher score if the board allows it.