Top 7 Games Like 2048 You Need to Try

Guest Contributor: Tim K

Ah, 2048. How we love your seamless gameplay loop, which is somehow effortless and stimulating at the same time. Whether you’re a self-proclaimed math whiz or not, every 2048 player knows how easy it is to get sucked into this smooth, addicting number game.

But when it’s time to take a break, there’s no reason to step away from the number-crunching action altogether. In fact, Arkadium has an entire suite of games similar to 2048 to keep the gears turning, but in new and exciting ways.

Without further ado, let us roll out our top picks for 2048 alternatives that will have you just as hooked (fair warning) for just as long.

A charming yet by no means easy 2048 alternative that will have you cheering out loud for these melancholy morsels (you’ll get it when you play it), Suika Game is quickly becoming a crowd favorite.

Each turn requires you to drop a fruit from the top of the Tetris-like game board (a rectangular container) to the bottom. There are over 10 kinds of fruits, ranked both in size and number of points they provide. Combining two of the same fruit by dropping one on the other will rank that fruit up to the next size and type. Keep combining, rack up your points without overfilling the container, and aim for that watermelon at the top of this “fruit chain.”

There are two types of people when it comes to math, and MathDoku is aimed squarely at one of them. If arithmetic comes as second nature to you as breathing, then this game may be the challenge you’ve been looking for. In a nutshell, MathDoku is one of the best 2048 games for math whizzes, thanks to an extra layer that requires you to add, subtract, multiply, and divide your way to success.

In this game, you not only have to fill each segment, row, and column with non-repeating numbers, but they must also satisfy the conditions of each segment. For example, if a particular segment is labeled “24x,” then the three squares it contains must equal 24 when multiplied together.

Of course, if you’re a fan of the classics, then you simply cannot go wrong with Sudoku. Something about this number puzzle game feels so meditative and familiar, even when you’re stumped.

Never learned how to play Sudoku? Never fear; the rules are quite simple. The game is arranged into nine 3 x 3 squares that collectively form a 9 x 9 grid. The cells in each 3 x 3 square, 9-digit row, and 9-digit column need to contain the digits 1-9 with no repeats.

Don’t worry; you’ll start each game with some spaces already filled in. Our advice? Don’t assume your past guesses won’t need to be changed.

In terms of raw gameplay, Threes! is probably the closest of the 2048 type games out there that still provides a totally unique experience.

Like 2048, the gameplay area is a simple grid of cells (in this case, 4 x 4), and with each turn, you move all the cells in one space in the direction you choose. With each turn, a new block numbered 1, 2, or 3 enters the space. You can combine 1s and 2s to make 3s. Otherwise, you have to match your multiples of 3s to make larger blocks (two 3s creates a 6, two 6s creates a 12, etc.).

Keep matching, watch the clutter, climb to the highest number tile you can, and rack up those points.

Combining the puzzle-piece-pairing mechanic of 2048 with the physicality of a shooter, Arkadium’s Bubble Shooter captures the best of both worlds.

Each turn tasks you with aiming a ball of a certain color at rows upon rows of balls at the other end of the gameplay area. Pair up three or more balls of the same color, and they’ll pop, taking any other balls underneath them with them.

Aim for power-ups, pay attention to your colors, and make sure to clear the level before you run out of chances!

What if, instead of sliding those tiles around left and right all day, you could just pop them off the screen with a tap or a click? With Merge 10, it’s possible.

As a 2048 type game, Merge 10 is also played on a grid of numbers (in this case, 5 x 5). Your goal is to find sets of matching tiles (2 or more), tap or click to merge, and create a larger number. If you find several 3s next to each other, for example, tapping them will merge all of them into a single 4 tile.

Keep merging, pay attention to how each action will make the surrounding pieces fall, and try to work your way up to 10 to win.

If you were around for the Flappy Bird craze, then Flappy48 is the weirdly familiar and highly addictive crossover you didn’t know you needed. If not, it’s still a hilariously fun and entertaining 2048 alternative.

In this game, you fly between an endless procession of narrow gates as a 2048 number tile. As you encounter additional tiles, they will either be added to you like a snake (if they aren’t matching your original tile) or they will merge to create a larger number.

Fly as far as you can, match as many tiles as you can, and see how big of a number you can make before you wipe out in a truly hilarious fashion.

True number game mastery is defined not by one high score alone but rather by how many games you can conquer. And besides, switching up your options is a great way to keep the brain both sharp and constantly entertained.

Thankfully, we’ve already got you covered with a full library of number puzzle games (not just games similar to 2048) and much more, including word games, casual games, and retro games for the nostalgic among you.

Finally, our loyal game-loving community is always hungry for new tips and strategies, so make sure to drop your best advice in the comments as you master each game. See you inside!