An AI · Human puzzle duel · same event stream

Same board.
Different solutions.

Duel 2048 is a side-by-side 2048 where you and an AI Agent play the same spawned tiles — then watch how the choices diverge, move by move. No login. Runs in your browser.

Play Duel 2048 → See how it works
  • 0 sign-ups
  • 5 sync modes
  • 1 shared event stream
  • 100% in-browser

how it works

One stream. Two players. Zero coordination.

Tiles spawn from the same shared event log. Each side sees the same tiles in the same positions at the same time. After that, you and the Agent are on your own.

  1. 1

    Share an event stream

    Every tile value, position, and timing is determined by a seed at game start. Both boards draw from the same stream — never the other way around.

  2. 2

    Play your side

    You move the left column with arrow keys. Swipe, plan, second-guess — your usual 2048 muscle memory, now under observation.

  3. 3

    Watch the Agent play

    The right column is driven by a skill you choose — heuristic, search-based, or LLM-driven. The Agent thinks out loud in the event log.

  4. 4

    Compare the divergence

    Scroll the shared event table. Every row shows the same tile and two different moves. Patterns emerge within 30 seconds.

five sync modes

Pick how coupled you want the duel.

Duel 2048 isn't one game — it's five. Same event stream, different rules of comparison.

Strict Sync

values + grid

Every tile value, spawn position, and merge result is identical on both sides. Compare pure policy.

Value-Only Sync

values only

Same tile values appear, but positions and merges are independent. A loose, chaotic comparison.

Independent

classic 2048 × 2

Two unrelated 2048 boards. Use this to benchmark an Agent's raw strength without coupling.

Lockstep

recommended

The Agent waits for you. Every row of the event table gets a human move and an Agent move. The cleanest comparison.

Free

AI runs first

The Agent plays at its own pace while you decide yours. Great for benchmarking without waiting on the human.

why this matters

AI isn't a spectator sport. Make it a peer.

⟂

Decisions, not demos

"Watch AI play X" videos show capability. Duel 2048 shows judgment — what the Agent does when handed the same problem as you.

⌗

Same stream = fair comparison

No "the AI got easier tiles." Same seed, same draws, same RNG. Every divergence in the event table is a real choice.

⊕

Readable AI

The event log isn't hidden. You can scroll back, point at a moment, and say "by yourself, I would have gone left."

↻

Deterministic, shareable

Every game has an id in the URL. Send it to a friend and they'll replay the exact same duel, byte for byte.

"The point isn't who's better. The point is seeing where two reasonable players diverge on the same problem."

— design note, Duel 2048

faq

Quick answers

What is Duel 2048?

A free browser puzzle game based on 2048, played side-by-side by you and an AI Agent on a shared event stream. Both sides get the same tiles; each side chooses its own moves.

How is the AI Agent playing?

The right column is driven by a configurable skill — typically a heuristic, search-based policy, or an LLM agent. You can swap policies and watch how the strategy changes.

What are the five sync modes?

Strict Sync (values + grid identical), Value-Only Sync (only tile values match), Independent (classic 2048 × 2), Lockstep (Agent waits for you — recommended for direct comparison), and Free (Agent plays at its own pace).

Is Duel 2048 free?

Yes. It runs entirely in your browser. No login, no accounts, no tracking beyond what's needed to serve the page.

Why is this different from watching AI play 2048?

Spectacle videos show what a model can do. Duel 2048 shows how a model's choices diverge from yours on the same problem — the comparison is the experience.

Can I share a replay?

Every game has a deterministic seed and an id in the URL. Send the link to anyone and they'll see the exact same match.

Does it work on mobile?

Yes. Swipe to play. The dual-board layout collapses into a tabbed view below 768 px.

press kit

For bloggers, streamers, and indie-game curators.

Duel 2048 is free to write about and embed. Here's everything you need.

One-line description

Duel 2048 — a side-by-side 2048 where you and an AI Agent play the same event stream.

Long description

Duel 2048 reframes the classic 2048 puzzle as a comparison: a human and an AI Agent play on the same spawned event log, choosing moves independently. Five sync modes range from fully coupled (same values, same grid) to fully independent. Every game is deterministic — share the URL to replay the exact match.

Key facts

  • Browser-only, no install
  • No login, no accounts
  • Five sync modes
  • Deterministic, shareable replays
  • Open event log — every move visible
  • Built by Leo Chen Liu

Suggested tags

indie-gamepuzzleAIagent2048AI-vs-humandecision-making

Copy-paste social snippets

Tweet / X (≤ 280 chars) 
Same board. Different solutions.

Duel 2048 puts you and an AI Agent on the same event stream — same tiles, different moves. Five sync modes. Zero login. Browser only.

https://lp2048.767880.xyz/
Reddit r/indiegaming / r/AI_Games (longer, story-first) 
Title: I made a 2048 where you and an AI Agent play the same event stream

Most "watch AI play X" demos show what a model can do. Duel 2048 shows how its judgment differs from yours, on the same problem, move by move.

- Shared, deterministic event log (every tile you get, the Agent gets too)
- Five sync modes from "fully coupled" to "totally independent"
- Lockstep mode: Agent waits for you. The cleanest side-by-side
- Every game has a URL id — share the exact replay

It's free, runs in-browser, no signup. Would love feedback on:
- Which comparison feels most fun (strict sync vs lockstep vs free)
- What skills you want to see the Agent use
- Whether the event log UI helps or clutters

https://lp2048.767880.xyz/
Hacker News (terse, technical) 
Title: Duel 2048 — same event stream, different moves, you vs an AI Agent

I built a side-by-side 2048 where a human and an AI Agent play the same seeded event stream. The interesting part isn't "who wins" — it's the divergence pattern: same tiles, same time, two different policies.

Five sync modes: strict (values+grid), value-only, independent, AI-waits-for-you (lockstep), AI-runs-free. The event log is exposed, so every choice is auditable. Deterministic, shareable by URL id.

Free, browser-only, no signup. Looking for feedback on which sync mode feels like the right default, and what policies people want to see dropped in.

https://lp2048.767880.xyz/
Product Hunt (maker comment / tagline) 
Tagline: Same board. Different solutions.

Short: Duel 2048 puts you and an AI Agent on the same spawned event stream in a 2045-ish puzzle. Five sync modes. Deterministic, shareable replays.

Long: Most AI-game demos show capability. Duel 2048 is built around comparison: under the same event stream, how does an AI's policy diverge from yours? The event log is exposed, every move is auditable, replays share by URL id.
Streamer / YouTube short description 
Duel 2048 — a side-by-side 2048 where you and an AI Agent play the same event stream. Same tiles, two different players. Free, browser-only.

#indiegame #2048 #AI #puzzlegame #agent

Ready to see how the Agent thinks?

Arrow keys on desktop. Swipe on mobile. The duel starts in one click.

Play Duel 2048 →