Threes is a simple yet addictive sliding puzzle game developed by Sirvo LLC. It was originally released in 2014 for iOS and Android and has since been ported to other platforms like Windows and macOS.
The core gameplay involves sliding numbered tiles on a 4×4 grid. When two tiles with the same number touch, they merge into a tile with the sum of the numbers. The goal is to combine tiles to reach the number 2048, hence the game’s name.
What makes Threes so addictive is its minimalist yet charming visual design, the simplicity of the gameplay paired with increasing difficulty as the board fills up, and the satisfaction of combining tiles to reach a higher number. The game has a surprisingly high skill ceiling, requiring strategic planning and observation to maximize tile combinations.
Some criticisms of Threes include its simple gameplay that can become repetitive, the reliance on luck to spawn certain tiles, and the game’s tendency to become unfairly difficult at higher levels. However, these issues do not outweigh the overall enjoyment and “just one more turn” nature of Threes.