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Category Logic Games

Join the numbers and get to the 2048 tile!

HOW TO PLAY: Use your arrow keys or swipe to move the tiles. When two tiles with the same number touch, they merge into one!

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About

This is an expanded variation of the classic sliding tile puzzle, played on a 5×5 grid instead of the standard 4×4. The additional space significantly alters the probability dynamics and strategic depth. In the standard version, the risk of gridlock (running out of empty spaces) increases exponentially as the value of the maximum tile (T_max) increases. With 25 cells available versus 16, the 5×5 variant allows for longer merge chains and theoretically much higher scores, often exceeding the titular 2048 tile to reach 65536 or beyond.

However, the larger grid introduces a false sense of security. While it is harder to lose early, organizing the board requires stricter discipline. The Snake Strategy - keeping the highest value tile in a corner and building a monotonic chain - becomes more difficult to maintain over longer distances. One mistake in the chain can isolate high-value tiles in the center, creating immovable blocks.

Formulas

The game operates on a merging principle where two tiles of value v combine to form a tile of value 2v. The score increase S for a single move is the sum of the values of all created tiles:

S_move = k∑i=1 v_{new, i}

Where k is the number of merges in that turn. The theoretical maximum value of a tile on a 5×5 grid is calculated based on perfect spawn generation (all 4s) and optimal space usage:

T_max ≈ 2²⁶ = 67,108,864

This assumes a perfect game where the last tile spawned fills the final slot to complete the merge chain. In practice, randomness makes this nearly impossible.

Reference Data

Tile Value	Color Hex (Approx)	Points per Merge	Min Merges to Reach
2	#EEE4DA	0	0 (Spawn)
4	#EDE0C8	4	1
8	#F2B179	16	2
16	#F59563	48	3
32	#F67C5F	96	4
64	#F65E3B	192	5
128	#EDCF72	384	6
256	#EDCC61	768	7
512	#EDC850	1536	8
1024	#EDC53F	3072	9
2048	#EDC22E	6144	10
4096	#3E3933	12288	11

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes and no. It is easier to survive longer because there are 9 extra spaces (25 total vs 16) to absorb spawn tiles. However, achieving a fully organized board is harder because the "snake" chain of numbers must travel a longer path, increasing the risk of getting a low number trapped between high numbers.

Standard 2048 rules apply: there is typically a 10% chance of a 4 spawning and a 90% chance of a 2 spawning. This randomness is crucial; without it, the game would be entirely deterministic and potentially solvable by a simple algorithm.

Calculating the exact maximum score is complex due to spawn randomness (2 vs 4). However, the maximum tile on a 5x5 board is theoretically 2^26. The score associated with creating that tile plus all subtiles is in the range of roughly 3.9 billion points.

The game state is saved automatically to your browser's LocalStorage after every move. You can close the tab or refresh the page, and your 5x5 grid will remain exactly as you left it.