Does Chinese 2048 save my progress?

The game may store progress in your browser, so returning on the same device and browser usually picks up where you left off. There is no account, so progress does not carry across devices.

Is there a time limit?

Puzzle games on this site vary. Many let you think as long as you like, while some add a timer for extra score. Nothing stops you from replaying a stage.

Can I play on my phone?

Yes. Most puzzles here are built with touch in mind, and tapping a piece works the same as clicking it. Rotate to landscape if the board looks cramped.

Browser game · Puzzles

Chinese 2048

2048 is often played on a plain 4×4 grid, with numbered tiles that slide when a player moves them.

4.3

Play now — it's free

Runs in your browser · no download

Category: Puzzles
Score: 4.3
Device: Mobile + Desktop
Access: Free Play
Controls: Touch + Keyboard
Type: HTML5 Game

The guide

Overview

2048 is often played on a plain 4×4 grid, with numbered tiles that slide when a player moves them using the four arrow keys. Every turn, a new tile randomly appears in an empty spot on the board with a value of either 2 or 4. Tiles slide as far as possible in the chosen direction until they are stopped by either another tile or the edge of the grid. If two tiles of the same number collide while moving, they will merge into a tile with the total value of the two tiles that collided. The resulting tile cannot merge with another tile again in the same move. Higher-scoring tiles emit a soft glow, and the highest possible tile is 131,072. If a move causes three consecutive tiles of the same value to slide together, only the two tiles farthest along the direction of motion will combine. If all four spaces in a row or column are filled with tiles of the same value, a move parallel to that row/column will combine the first two and last two. A scoreboard on the upper-right keeps track of the user's score. The user's score starts at zero and is increased whenever two tiles combine, by the value of the new tile. The game is won when a tile with a value of 2048 appears on the board, hence the name of the game. After reaching the 2048 tile, players can continue to play (beyond the 2048 tile) to reach higher scores. When the player has no legal moves (there are no empty spaces and no adjacent tiles with the same value), the game ends.

What it's like to play

A typical puzzle session starts slow. You look at the board, work out what the rules actually are, and make a tentative first move. Then the pattern clicks and the next few stages go quickly, until one stops you cold. That rhythm, easy then stuck then easy again, is the whole appeal. Most sessions last ten to twenty minutes before you reach a natural stopping point.

Controls

Use your arrow keys to move the tiles When two tiles with the same number touch they merge into one

How to play

1Study the board before touching anything and find the pieces or tiles that have only one possible place.
2Click or tap a piece to select it, then click where it should go; most puzzles let you undo a wrong move.
3Clear the easy parts first so the remaining options narrow down on their own.
4When you are stuck, step back and look for a rule you have not used yet rather than guessing.

Features

Free to play, nothing to install, no account needed
Loads in the browser tab and opens full screen when you press Play
Plays best with the phone turned sideways or on a wider screen
Touch controls on phones and tablets, mouse and keyboard on a computer
Listed under Puzzles

Why it's worth a go

Chinese 2048 rewards patience more than reflexes. Nothing punishes you for taking a minute to think, and the moment a hard stage finally gives way is worth the wait. It runs free in your browser with no download, so it is easy to pick up for a short break and leave again.

Who it's for

People who like to think rather than react, anyone killing time on a commute, and players who want something quiet to do with one hand on a phone. Younger children may need help with the trickier stages.

FAQs

Does Chinese 2048 save my progress?: The game may store progress in your browser, so returning on the same device and browser usually picks up where you left off. There is no account, so progress does not carry across devices.
Is there a time limit?: Puzzle games on this site vary. Many let you think as long as you like, while some add a timer for extra score. Nothing stops you from replaying a stage.
Can I play on my phone?: Yes. Most puzzles here are built with touch in mind, and tapping a piece works the same as clicking it. Rotate to landscape if the board looks cramped.