Merge Blocks

The rules in one breath

Every tile on the 4×4 grid slides as far as it can in your chosen direction. When two tiles with the same number collide, they merge into one tile of double the value — two 2s become a 4, two 128s become the mighty 256. After every move, a new tile (usually a 2, occasionally a 4) appears. The game ends when the board fills with no possible merges. Reaching the 2048 tile is the classic win — but the board keeps going for score chasers.

Strategy that actually works

• Pick a corner and marry it. Keep your biggest tile pinned in one corner (most players choose bottom-left or bottom-right) and use mainly the two directions that feed toward it. Every move toward the other axes risks unpinning it.
• Build monotone rows. The strongest boards have each row strictly increasing toward your corner tile — like 4-8-16-32. This makes every slide productive.
• Never press the third direction casually. Pressing "up" when your big tile sits at the bottom is the classic beginner blunder that breaks a 20-minute run in one keystroke.
• Think in pairs. Before you move, check that the tile you're about to create has a partner to merge into next. Creating orphan odd-numbered tiles is how boards clog.

Scoring

Each merge adds the new tile's value to your score — merging into 2048 earns roughly 20,000 points en route. Our best score is saved in your browser, shown beside the board, so your only rival is yesterday's you.