Merge Drop
Tap a column to drop
What is Merge Drop?
Merge Drop is a free number puzzle that crosses 2048 with a falling-block game. A numbered tile waits at the top and you choose which of five columns to drop it into. When it lands next to a tile of the same value the two merge into their double, and if that new tile matches its neighbour it merges again, cascading down the board. Fill a column to the top and the run ends.
How to play Merge Drop
Controls: Tap a column to drop
- 1A numbered tile is shown above the well.
- 2Tap a column to drop the tile into it - it lands on top of whatever is already there.
- 3Tiles of equal value that end up touching merge into a tile of double the value.
- 4Merges cascade: a newly merged tile that matches its neighbour merges again.
- 5The run ends when a column fills to the top.
Merge Drop tips and strategy
- Keep your biggest tiles at the bottom. A large number stranded on top of small ones blocks every merge underneath it.
- Drop small tiles next to matching small tiles rather than hunting for the perfect column. Clearing the clutter is what keeps the well low.
- Watch for triple matches. Landing a tile between two of its own value merges all three at once and jumps you two doublings instead of one.
- Keep one column shallow as an escape hatch for a tile that fits nowhere else. A full board with no dump column is how runs end.
Merge Drop FAQ
How is Merge Drop different from 2048?
In 2048 you slide the whole board and merges happen along the direction of travel. In Merge Drop you choose a column and the tile falls, so tiles merge with whatever they land beside - above, left or right as well as below - and merges cascade down the stack rather than resolving in one pass.
What is the highest tile you can make?
There is no cap. 2048 is the traditional milestone and is very achievable, and skilled runs go several doublings beyond it before the well fills.
How do I stop the board filling up?
Merge low and merge often. Keeping the largest tiles at the bottom means every new tile has a chance of chaining into them, while a big tile stuck near the top permanently blocks the column underneath it.
Can I play Merge Drop with a keyboard?
Yes. The number keys 1 to 5 drop the tile into the matching column, and tapping works on touch screens.
