Threes!

Threes! is one of those rare mobile games with proven staying power. It’s been on the App Store for over a decade, yet even many gamers who first played it in 2014 still love it.

The objective is to get the highest possible score by sliding numbered tiles on a 4×4 grid, combining 1s and 2s to make 3s, then merging matching multiples of three to build bigger and bigger numbers. The rules click in seconds, but the strategy goes surprisingly deep, which is why it’s still widely praised — and endlessly copied — eleven years after its launch.

Unlike many modern puzzles, Threes! is a buy-once, play-forever game. You won’t have to deal with any ads or constant prompts to buy boosters. You can easily play with one thumb, swiping in any direction to move the entire board, and games typically last just a few minutes.