2048 review

2048 is the simplest puzzle here and one of the easiest to play online. Swipe the board and every tile slides; when two tiles with the same number touch, they merge, and the goal is to build a 2048 tile and then keep going. The original game by Gabriele Cirulli is free in a browser at play2048.co, and the official iPhone and iPad app is published by Solebon, the team behind Letterpress and Solebon Solitaire. The app adds a Time trial mode, undo, detailed statistics, personal bests and a large, easy to read board, and at 75.7 MB it is the smallest download on this list. It ranks last because it has the fewest features: two modes and no daily content. The app also contains advertising, and removing ads costs $9.99 on the US App Store, which is steep for such a small game. Play the web version first. We compared documented features and published prices.

Who it is for

Adults who want a simple number puzzle they can play online in a browser or in a small mobile app.

Price

Free to play online and in the app; Remove ads costs $9.99 one time on the US App Store.

Remove ads $9.99
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 10, 2026.

Key features

• Swipe to merge matching number tiles
• Classic play or Time trial
• Undo to reverse a swipe
• Detailed statistics and personal best scores
• Large, easy to read board

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: Free to play online in a browser
• Strength: Smallest app on this list at 75.7 MB
• Strength: Undo makes it forgiving
• Weakness: The app contains advertising
• Weakness: Removing ads costs $9.99
• Weakness: Only two modes

Key facts

• App publisher: Solebon LLC, official version of the original game
• Modes: Classic and Time trial
• App size: 75.7 MB
• Requires: iOS 15 or later

Where it ranks

2048 is No. 10 in our Best Free Puzzle Games verdict.