Remember Flappy Bird? Neither do we. Because now we have 2048 and all else is a meaningless blur of non-slidey card viral gaming fun.
Fact is, '2048' is taking over the world, one satisfying card-merge at a time.
Actually in its purest form, the game is very simple. You have a gird or cards, and you can slide your cards in all four directions, as a group. If a card meets another of its type it merges and doubles - so two '4's become '8', and so on. You keep going to get the highest card number, and as such score, as you can.
Easy. Well... No. That's the problem. 2048 is easy to learn, but difficult to master, but fortunately is incredibly relaxing and entertaining to play either way.
Still, if you want to get better here are some tips to make sure you get the highest 2048 score possible.
1. Take It Slow
2048 is so easy to play, you might get into the habit of tearing through games without even really paying attention to what you're doing. That's a bad idea. You want to go slow - there's no penalty for thinking your moves through after all. Think about where the blocks are going to come in and how you'll deploy it.
2: Set Up Lines
So '2048' is a game about chains, and so the more pairs you have in a line the better. Try to set up whole lines of matches so that you can wait to deploy them - and build up big combos. It won't affect your score - but it will affect how much space you have and how you're able to combine to really big cards.
3. Work the corners.
If you constantly move your tiles into one corner, the smaller tiles will naturally fall into place next to each other - and your big card won't be so troublesome.
In fact, you might want to try not pressing up at all unless you absolutely need to. Extreme, but it works.
4. Stack up columns to move your big pieces into position
Eventually you'll end up with 64s or 128s in opposite corners - and there's nothing more frustrating. So try to set up columns above those numbers that can rapidly combine, so you can move them back together.
5. Breathe.
Seriously, relax, it's just a game.
6. It's not always a '2'…
Usually your new tiles are '2's - but not always. Sometimes they're '4's - so stay alert.
7. When in doubt, clear.
If you're blocked off and your strategies aren't working, just start clearing. Make space, give yourself some room, and regroup. You'll be surprised how much better things look with a few clear blocks around.
8. Make your own.
It's fun! At least, it's more fun than getting stuck, again, with two '128's in opposite corners with no hope of rescue. Gagh.