2048

Pushing in a direction slides every tile that way, and any two tiles with the same number merge into one worth double when they collide.

Each tile can only merge once per move, so four 2s in a row don't become an 8 in one move — they become two 4s.

The game ends once there's no direction left that moves anything and no two adjacent tiles share a value.

Any move that actually shifts at least one tile drops a new tile into an empty cell afterward — a 2 90% of the time, a 4 the other 10%. Pushing toward a direction that changes nothing does nothing, and no new tile appears.

Score climbs by the value of the new tile every time two tiles merge. Reaching 2048 shows a win badge, but the game doesn't end there — keep going and chase a higher tile if you want.

Parking your biggest tile in one corner and pushing that way as your default keeps the board tidy and lets big tiles keep chaining together.

Instead of pushing in whatever direction looks open, alternating between just two directions (say, up and left) keeps your big tiles from scattering.

Arranging tiles along one row or column in increasing order (say, 2-4-8-16) makes it easy to keep merging along that same chain — a layout often called the 'snake' pattern.

Avoid pushing away from your anchor corner unless you really have to — even one push in that direction can knock your biggest tile loose and scramble the board.