2248 vs 2048: what's actually different between the two number games

The short answer

Both games are about merging numbers into powers of two, and both feel calm and tactile. The difference is the move. 2048 has a single move, slide everything up, down, left or right, and every tile travels as far as it can. Equal tiles that collide merge into one worth their sum.

2248 replaces the slide with a drag. You press on a tile, move across touching tiles, sideways or diagonally, and let go. The first two tiles must match, and every next tile must be the same as the one before or its double. The whole chain then merges into its last tile, which becomes the sum rounded up to the next power of two.

2048Merge the numbersPlay now

How 2048 works

2048 is the sliding puzzle that took over the internet in 2014. You push the board with the arrow keys, WASD or a swipe, and after every slide a new tile, usually a 2 and sometimes a 4, appears in a random empty cell. The board has only sixteen cells, so space is the real currency.

The classic strategy is to park your biggest tile in a corner, build a descending chain along one edge and avoid the one direction that would pull the big tile out. The game ends when the board is full and no neighbouring tiles match. Reaching the 2048 tile wins, and you can keep going after that. You can play it free on crokocat as 2048.

How 2248 works

The 2248 style, also known from Numbers Match 2448, lets you move through tiles instead of pushing the board. A chain can turn corners and run diagonally, so the shape of the board is part of the puzzle. Long chains that climb through doubles, such as 2, 2, 4, 8, turn small numbers into a big one in a single move.

After a merge, the tiles above fall and new ones drop in from the top. As your biggest tile grows, the smallest numbers retire from the board, so the game keeps climbing. In Double Link, crokocat's version, you can also drag back over the last tile to undo a link, use one of two shuffles when no match is left, and the board is saved between visits.

Double LinkLink the numbers, double them upPlay now

Side by side

Control: 2048 is a swipe. 2248 is a drag. Planning: in 2048 you think about the whole board shifting in one direction. In 2248 you pick the exact tiles to join, so you can plan a long chain several steps ahead.

Merging: 2048 merges pairs. 2248 merges any number of tiles in one move, so a single good chain can matter more than ten small merges. Pressure: 2048 fills up the more you slide. In 2248, tiles fall to fill the gaps, and the ending comes when no two touching tiles match and both shuffles are used.

One idea carries over from one game to the other: keeping your big tiles together in a corner still helps in the chain game, because big tiles need neighbours of the same size to grow.

Which one is easier to start with?

2048 is the easier one to explain. One gesture, one rule, one goal, and a run lasts a few minutes. 2248 takes a little longer to learn because of the chain rule, but the first chain you draw usually makes it click, and the hint bulb in Double Link shows you a good chain if you are stuck.

If you want a tight, tense puzzle where every swipe has a cost, start with 2048. If you prefer to be in charge of every merge and enjoy the feeling of one long chain, start with the chain game. Many players end up enjoying both.

Where to play each one

2048 is free on crokocat with no download and no sign-up, and it runs on desktop, phone and tablet. Double Link, our take on the 2248 chain format, is free as well and plays the same way on every device.

Because the two share a number ladder, switching between them is easy. Play 2048 when you want a short, sharp run, and Double Link when you want a calm session of building chains.

Frequently asked questions

Guides & tips

• The history of 2048: how a weekend project became the internet's puzzle
• How to win at 2048: strategy that actually works
• Quick browser games to play when you're bored

Play it here

• Double Link — Link the numbers, double them up
• 2048 — Merge the numbers