Parents' Guide to 2048

App iPhone , iPod Touch , iPad , Android Free Puzzle Games
2048 Poster Image

Common Sense Media Review

Chris Morris By Chris Morris , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 8+

Addictive math-based puzzle game with a focus on strategy.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 8+?

Any Positive Content?

  • 2048 App: Screenshot #1
  • 2048 App: Screenshot #2
  • 2048 App: Screenshot #3

Parent and Kid Reviews

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age 4+

Based on 1 parent review

 

 

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age 6+

Based on 6 kid reviews

 

 

See all 6 kid reviews

Privacy Rating Warning

  • Unclear whether personal information is sold or rented to third parties.
  • Unclear whether personal information are shared for third-party marketing.
  • Personalised advertising is displayed.
  • Data are collected by third-parties for their own purposes.
  • User's information is used to track and target advertisements on other third-party websites or services.
  • Unclear whether this product creates and uses data profiles for personalised advertisements.
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What's It About?

Users slide numbered tiles around a 4x4 grid, matching up similar numbers in an effort to get a cube that adds up to 2048. When users can no longer combine numbers, they'll see their score.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say ( 1 ):
Kids say ( 6 ):

Like Threes! before it, 2048 is a math exercise hidden in a terrifically addictive matching game. Rather than simply trying to post as high a score as possible, though, this one sets a task, users must combine numbers to the point that they add up to 2048 in a single box. That means initially matching 2s, then 4s, then 8s, etc., until a pair of 1024s are next to each other. It's a small, but wonderful twist that makes the gameplay seem new. And having a task to aim for keeps people playing (as well as trying to better the scores of their friends). Like any of the best games, you'll quickly understand the point and do fairly well -- but it will be a long, long time before you truly master the game.

Keep in mind, though, that the app versions of the game are not made by the creator of the original game -- which was a playable in a browser. There are several 2048 clones flooding both app stores now, so parents should be aware that developers of some of these may not make them as family friendly as the one we tested.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how math is used in everyday activities.

  • Families can also talk about why it's important to think ahead.

App Details

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