Number Merge: Free Daily Number Puzzle
Number MergeTap a column to drop the tile you are holding. Matching numbers that touch merge: two make double, three make four times, and so on. Merges can chain. Each chain step scores more. Stuck? Blast removes a column’s top tile. On a keyboard: left and right arrows to choose a column, then Space or Enter to drop, or press 1 to 5.
How to play
How to play Number Merge
- Look at the tile you are holding. It sits above the board. The two tiles after it are shown as Next, so you can plan ahead.
- Tap a column to drop it. The tile falls and lands on top of that column. On a keyboard, use the arrow keys and Space, or press 1 to 5.
- Matching tiles that touch merge. Tiles join up, down, left and right. Two matching tiles make one tile of double the number. Three make four times the number, four make eight times, and so on.
- Chain reactions score more. A merged tile can land next to another match and merge again. Each step in a chain is worth more than the one before.
- Use Blast when you are stuck. You start each game with one Blast, and you earn another the first time you build a 128. Tap Blast, then a column, and its top tile is removed. It costs no tile and no points. If the board fills up, Blast is offered automatically before the game ends.
- Keep room to drop. A column that is full can only take a tile that matches the top one. When no column can take your tile, the game is over, so tidy up as you go.
Ways to play
- Daily. 60 tiles, and the tiles and their order are the same for everyone, new at midnight UK time. Share your score and a picture of your finished board with friends.
- Free play. 60 tiles, with a new set every game. After you finish, send a link and a friend gets exactly the same tiles.
- Endless. No limit on tiles: keep going until the board is full and see how high you can get.
- Sound and effects. Merges burst, chains get a call-out (Combo, Triple, Mega, Unreal) and every new tile from 64 up gets a celebration. Sound is off until you press Sound off above the board, and your choice is remembered.
- Come back later. A game in progress is saved on your device, so you can close the page and carry on.
At a glance
Altto Number Merge: quick facts
A free online number merging puzzle for adults and children, on a computer, tablet or phone.
Updated
- Price
- Free, with no sign-up, no email and nothing to download.
- Board
- Five columns, seven squares high. You drop one numbered tile at a time: 2, 4, 8, 16 or 32.
- Modes
- Daily (60 tiles, the same for everyone), Free play (60 tiles, new each game) and Endless (until the board is full).
- Same tiles for everyone
- The order of tiles comes from a seed, not from how you play. Everyone on the Daily, or on a friend’s link, gets the same tiles in the same order.
- Your result
- Score, best tile, biggest chain and up to three stars, plus a shareable picture of your finished board and your personal best in each mode.
- Accessibility
- Play with a mouse, touchscreen or keyboard. Each column is read out to screen readers with its tile count, and animations are turned off if your device asks for less motion.
- Privacy
- Runs in your browser. Your bests, settings and a game in progress are saved only on your device. Nothing is uploaded.
Scoring
How is Number Merge scored?
Every merge scores the value of the new tile. If the merge is the second, third or later step in a chain started by one drop, that value is multiplied by the step number. So a lone merge into a 16 scores 16, but if it sets off another merge into a 32, that second step scores 32 × 2 = 64. Dropping a tile that merges nothing scores nothing.
Stars depend on the biggest tile on the board when your game ends, so they reward building rather than just scoring.
| Stars | Best tile |
|---|---|
| ★★★ | 256 or higher |
| ★★ | 128 |
| ★ | Anything lower |
Tips for Number Merge
- Use Next. The two tiles after the one you are holding are shown for a reason. If the next tile matches the top of a column, you can leave that column for it.
- Build your biggest tile in one column. Keep your largest number at the bottom and stack smaller numbers on top in a rough order, so merges run downwards into it.
- Keep one column for small tiles. A place to park 2s and 4s stops them scattering across the board.
- Look for threes and fours. Three matching tiles make four times the number, which is worth more than two merges of a pair. Set up an L or a line of matching tiles, then drop the last one in the middle.
- Don’t fill the top rows. A tile dropped on a full column needs a match to land. Leave at least one column with room.
Where do number merging puzzles come from?
Number merging puzzles became very popular in 2014, when the sliding-tile game Threes was followed by a free browser game called 2048, made by Gabriele Cirulli and released on 9 March 2014. Number Merge keeps the idea of joining matching numbers, but you drop tiles into columns instead of sliding the whole board, and everyone can play the same daily set of tiles.
Sources
- 2048 (video game) (Wikipedia): who made 2048, its 9 March 2014 release and the games that came before it.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Is Number Merge free?
Yes. Daily, Free play, Endless and friend challenges are all free, with no sign-up, no email and nothing to download. You see your full result the moment you finish.
How do you play Number Merge?
You are given one numbered tile at a time and drop it into one of five columns. When tiles with the same number touch, they merge into one bigger tile. Keep merging to build high numbers, and keep the board from filling up.
How do merges work?
Tiles that match and touch, up, down, left or right, merge into one. Two make a tile of double the number, three make four times the number, four make eight times, and so on. The new tile lands on the lowest square of the group.
What is a chain?
When a merge puts a new tile next to another matching tile, that merges too, and so on, all from one drop. Each step in a chain scores its tile value multiplied by the step number, so chains are the quickest way to a high score.
How is the score worked out?
Every merge scores the value of the tile it makes. The second step of a chain scores double that, the third step triple, and so on. Dropping a tile that merges nothing scores nothing.
What is the Daily game?
One game a day with 60 tiles. The tiles and their order are the same for everyone, new at midnight UK time, so you can compare scores with friends. Play it once a day, and use Free play or Endless for as many games as you like.
Is the Daily fair?
Yes. The order of tiles is made from the date, not from your moves, so everyone is handed exactly the same tiles. How well you place them is up to you.
What is Free play?
A 60-tile game with a new set of tiles each time. After you finish, share the link and a friend gets exactly the same tiles, so you can see who scores more.
What is Endless mode?
There is no tile limit. You keep dropping tiles until the board is full and no column can take the next one. It is a good way to practise building very large numbers.
What numbers do the tiles have?
Tiles come in 2, 4, 8, 16 and 32, with the small ones most common. Merging makes 64, 128, 256 and higher.
How do stars work?
Stars depend on your biggest tile when the game ends: three stars for 256 or higher, two stars for 128, and one star for anything lower. Your score is shown on every result and your personal best is saved for each mode.
When is the game over?
In Daily and Free play, when you have dropped all 60 tiles or when no column can take the tile you are holding. In Endless, when no column can take it. A full column can only take a tile that matches the one on top of it.
What is Blast?
Blast is a one-off rescue. You start each game with one, and you earn another the first time you build a 128. Press Blast (or B on a keyboard), then tap a column to remove its top tile. It does not use up a tile from the list and it scores nothing. If the board is full and you still have a Blast, the game offers it to you instead of ending. Everyone gets the same Blasts, so the Daily stays fair.
Does Number Merge have sound?
Yes, if you want it. Sound is off by default. Press Sound off above the board to turn it on; the tones are made in your browser and your choice is remembered on your device. On phones, merges also give a short vibration.
Can I leave and come back later?
Yes. Your game in progress is saved on your device, so you can close the page and carry on where you left off. A Daily game saved from a previous day is not carried over.
How do I challenge a friend?
After you finish, tap WhatsApp, Messages or Copy link under Challenge a friend. Your friend gets exactly the same tiles and sees whether they beat your score. You can also share your Daily result with a picture of your finished board.
Can I play with a keyboard or a screen reader?
Yes. Use the left and right arrow keys to choose a column and Space or Enter to drop the tile, or press 1 to 5 to drop straight into a column. Each column is announced with how many tiles it holds, and animations are off if your device asks for less motion.
Can I play on my phone or tablet?
Yes. It works on any phone, tablet or computer, and the board fits your screen. Nothing needs installing, and you can add Altto Tests to your home screen if you like.
Is anything stored or uploaded?
Number Merge runs in your browser. Your settings, best scores, history and a game in progress are saved only on your device. Nothing is sent anywhere.
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