Playing 2048 has lately been my favorite pastime, perhaps because of its challenge and abnegation aesthetic, as referred on the “Aesthetics of Play” video.
The set of mechanics that create a dynamic of calmness and intrigue between the player and the game, 2048, are mainly the sliding motions and the merging of blocks, adding to the number the resulting square represents. Every round, a new block gets created, representing the number 2 or 4. Only blocks with the same numbers can merge, and with every merge, the resulting square’s value grows by 2n (addition of the same number- the number gets multiplied by two). After a while of playing, the swipes become almost rhythmical, which I find soothing and stimulating for my senses. The smart use of color, starting with the faint/nude tones of yellows and oranges/reds, and building up in intensity and brightness as the numbers (and round played) go up, add to the visual and tactile calming dynamic the game creates.
