The Merge-and-Slide Game Mechanic

Believe it or not, but 2048 is not the only game of its kind. 2048 despite its viral success belongs to a subgenre of games that use a certain game mechanic called "Merge-and-Slide". In fact, every single game (casual, online, web, etc.) that uses or follows 2048 themes, use Merge-and-Slide for their gameplay. The idea of reinventing 2048 as a game goes much deeper than the game itself, as 2048 is actually the required maximum numeric value to achieve a win in the game.

Basing on the game mechanic, the value however, may be other than 2048, like 1024 which is actually a predecessor game. It may also be an image like the maximum image that one can get by combining sliding tiles of different images to get to the final one. To this, the point of reinvention would be the Merge-and-Slide game mechanic itself. Since its release, the modification to 2048's game’s appearance has already been done courtesy of the many clones of the game, but the game mechanic remains the same.

With Merge and Slide, the game can be thought of as playing on a flat board where you have to slide tiles on it. When 2 tiles of the same number, value, or image hit each other, they merge to become a next level tile. (If you’re thinking of merge games, yes, only, its tiles that are being merged and there is a limit). The Slide mechanic happens when the board is tilted and all the tiles are thrown to the corner of the wall. The sliding (rather than tilting) happens when you merge 2 similar tiles, and this sliding goes on until the board gets full and you can no longer maneuver any tile to merge. Merging to a final tile or in this case, 2048, will win you the game.

Why the Gameplay is So Addictive

We all know that "Merge Games" are really addictive, hypnotic, if one wants to go that far. In the case of 2048, casual gamers love it because of its balance between extreme simplicity and a satisfying deep cognitive reward. 2048 and other well-made games like it trigger an addictive psychological Dopamine loop called the "Zeigarnik effect" which causes the brain to have the intense need to complete a given task.

It’s like when you’re calling your companion and he keeps saying “give me a minute” while focused on his phone and the merge game running on it. He just has to finish it first. To this, here are some reasons why 2048 is like a spider web that snares an unsuspecting gamer in a near unbreakable immersion.

Every swipe that successfully combines 2 tiles provide instant gratification. What’s more, watching the tiles collapsing and arranging as more are combined satisfies the human desire for tidiness and organization. The game has practically a “Zero” learning curve since one just slides the tiles up, down, left, or right to combine like tiles.

Losing the round is not a hassle as one can easily restart the game again, and with the option to play with or without a timer, one can take as much time in a relaxed gameplay while solving the puzzle at one’s own pace. The game also provides a strong illusion of control as continually playing it will enable the player to discover and develop strategies and ways to survive longer in the game. Losing at a point near the 2048 achievement will normally hook many players into going at it again (next time lucky), thus getting addicted to the game.

The Need for New Possibilities

2048 and its current variants, no doubt, have a robust tried and tested gameplay. This gameplay will always be around but games and gaming continue to evolve over the years. Variants and advances on the Merge and Slide game mechanic is likely to happen (if it hasn’t already) in one form or another. The positive outlook will be more interesting games brought to the table as well as extending the life and reach of the game mechanic as it evolves for the current modern times.

While the current slew of 2048 games are currently near perfect in the delivery of the gameplay, it will reach the point of becoming repetitive and obsolete to the younger generation of players who tend to crave for progression, narrative, and social competition. With the core 2048 Merge-and-Slide mechanic, once the player masters a robust strategy, the game losses its challenge.

Another point of concern is the 2014 casual gameplay of 2048 that hasn’t changed, which once at least mastered, has a very low retention rate in keeping the player playing due to the lack of a progression system and long term rewards. If the 2048 core game mechanic has to be reinvented, some changes in concept and gameplay may be needed to accomplish the task.

The New Dynamic

With the majority of today’s casual games, progression is the key. A game that combines many of the features of today’s Merge-Type games with the Merge-and-Slide process of 2048 games could result in a new gaming experience when themed among the different game genres today. An RPG like Merge-and-Slide would require the tiles to generate characteristics for attack, defense, and health to defeat bosses in a dungeon crawler-like game.

Adding Physics to the Merge-and-Slide can provide interesting if not hilarious results when trying to get 2 like tiles to match with the whole board turning into one big obstacle course. These may include procedural hazards as well like moving obstacles that block the merge, or tiles that freeze and have to be hit twice or thrice to move. With everything moving around, extra challenges are created while retaining the original core gameplay.

Finally, going 2 steps further by adding Narration and deck-building to the merge challenge and combining with resource-gathering game mechanics can be used in other gameplays like building, unlocking chapters in a narrative adventure, or solving a mystery via Merge-and-Slide are a few other ideas that can re-invent and evolve the gameplay into games that really do not replace but add and give variation to its 2048 legacy game mechanic.