2048

ArraysHTML UILogic

The 2048 game. You've probably played it. If not, here's one place to play it on the web. Basically you have a 4x4 grid of cells that start with two cells randomly filled each with tiles containing either a 2 or a 4. Then the player moves by sliding all the tiles up, down, left, or right, with cells sliding until they hit the side or another tile with the exception that if two tiles with the same number collide they are replaced with a new tile containing the sum of the two tiles. So two 2s become one 4, etc. After each move an empty cell is populated with a new tile, again either a 2 or a 4.

The goal of the game is to get to the 2048 tile (thus the name) but it is possible to go beyond that.

Building this game is mostly a matter of building a UI in HTML and then programming the bit of logic to control how the tiles combine. That logic is not completely trivial but not rocket science either.

To make a really nice version you'd figure out how to animate the tiles actually sliding but it's also fine if they just pop into their new positions, at least to start.

Another interesting question is how of frequently the new tiles are 2s and how often 4s. Probably the easiest way to answer it is to Google; people have definitely discussed it online. Or you could find the original game and play it a lot and count for yourself. Or you could just tune it to whatever you think makes for the best game play.

There are many variations such as this one with cupcakes rather than numbers. You can make your own unique 2048 style game with your own images if you want.