Atomic Merge 2048
Merge atoms up the periodic table instead of doubling numbers. The same puzzle with a more legible progression.
Merge rules with a chemistry skin: identical elements combine into the next one up. Mechanically it is 2048, but naming the tiers after elements makes the progression easier to track than powers of two.
The presentation does real work here. Recognising that two carbons make nitrogen is faster than parsing 128 and 128, and on a crowded board that reading speed is worth actual moves.
Everything from standard 2048 transfers directly — anchor a corner, keep one row ordered, avoid the swipe that moves your heaviest tile.
Recommended over the classic version if you find the numbers blur together late in a run.
