2048 — The Original

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2048 by Gabriele Cirulli · MIT License · hosted unmodified · credits

How to play 2048 — The Original

The game that launched a genre

In March 2014, nineteen-year-old Gabriele Cirulli built 2048 over a weekend to practice programming — using concepts from earlier sliding-merge games. It exploded into one of the most-played browser games ever, spawned endless variants, and was released under the MIT license: free for anyone to use, modify, or host.

How to play

Use your arrow keys (or swipe on touch) to slide all tiles. Equal tiles merge into their sum; after every move a new tile appears. Reach the 2048 tile to "win" — then keep going for score. The corner strategy rules: pin your biggest tile in one corner and feed toward it. Our full strategy guide lives on our own Merge Blocks page — the mechanics are identical.

Why we host the original

Because MIT licensing is a gift, and the best way to say thanks is keeping the authentic version playable. This copy is unmodified from Cirulli's release, license file included — play it exactly as it was written.

Frequently asked questions

Is this the real 2048?

Yes — an unmodified copy of Gabriele Cirulli's original release, hosted under its MIT license with attribution. The source code is included in the same folder, as the license intends.

How is it different from Merge Blocks?

Mechanically identical (slide, merge, double). The original has its classic beige styling and exact spawn behavior; our Merge Blocks is our own implementation with local high scores. Play both — they feel subtly different.

Can I play on my phone?

Yes — the original supports swipe controls natively. The iframe is sized responsively for smaller screens.