The 2048 fever has taken over the devices of puzzle lovers, and once you start playing it, you’ll know why that’s the case. This strategy-based, decision-making-based, and luck-based game sure has people hooked. But the real question here is: is this game really just luck-based, or is it skill-based as well? In this article, we’ll be discussing the factors that require luck and how people can even use skill to influence the game.

2048 is definitely a skill-based game

2048 game is primarily considered a skill-based game rather than a luck-based game. While there is an element of randomness involved due to the appearance of new tiles, skilled players can strategically plan their moves and make calculated decisions to achieve high scores consistently. The goal of the game is to combine numbered tiles on a 4x4 grid to reach the tile with the number 2048. Each turn, the player can swipe the tiles in four directions—up, down, left, or right—and all the tiles on the board move in that direction until they reach the edge or collide with another tile. When two tiles with the same number collide, they merge into a single tile with a value equal to the sum of the two tiles.

Luck plays a role, but strategy is a tad more important

While luck plays a role in the initial tile placement and the appearance of new tiles, skilled players focus on specific strategies to optimize their chances of achieving higher scores, and we’ll now talk about the strategies that people use to score higher. The most common 2048 strategy is to keep the highest valued tile in one of the corners, typically the bottom-right corner. By doing this, players can minimize the chances of blocking valuable tiles and create more opportunities for merging. This strategy helps maintain a larger open space on the board.

Alongside this, skilled players often choose a single direction to build their tiles. For example, they may decide to focus on building vertically or horizontally, consistently swiping in that direction to stack tiles and create opportunities for merging. This strategy allows for more control and reduces the chances of creating a gridlock. Maintaining balance across the board is crucial. Skilled players try to distribute the values of tiles evenly, rather than concentrating them in specific areas. This approach prevents the formation of clusters that can lead to restricted movement and limited merging possibilities. So, this is another skill.

Anticipating moves and creating patterns are also skills, and you surely need these aspects in order to influence the game. When we talk about luck, it plays a role in the 2048 game primarily in two ways: initial tile placement and the appearance of new tiles. When starting a new game, the initial placement of the numbered tiles on the grid is random. This means that luck influences the distribution of tiles at the beginning. A favorable placement with higher-valued tiles closer together can give the player an initial advantage, while an unfavorable placement can make it more challenging to create merges and progress.

Strategic decision-making trumps luck

The appearance of new tiles is also something that’s luck-based. After each move, a new tile (usually with a value of 2) appears on the grid in an empty spot. The location of the new tile is determined randomly. Sometimes the new tile appears adjacent to tiles with matching values, allowing for immediate merges and progress. Other times, the new tile may appear in an inconvenient location, blocking potential merges or making it difficult to create desired combinations. The randomness of new tile placement can significantly impact the player's ability to strategize and achieve higher scores.

All in all, while luck influences these aspects of the game, skilled players can mitigate its impact through strategic decision-making and planning. And if you’re on the hunt to get familiar with this game, 2048 Games is the place for you.