2048 GUI

The AP Classroom 2048 is Text based, so here is an example of a GUI that you can use with your 2048 Lab solution.

public int getScore() returns the score. public int[][] getBoard() returns the gameBoard. public int max() returns the maximum element of the gameBoard.

For the score to function the usual way, you need to modify each of the four merge methods in the Game2048 class. Whenever two cells combine, add this number to the score. For example, if two 8's are combined, 16 should be added to the score.

Here is an example that implements the KeyListener class so the user can simply use the arrow keys to make a move.

Modify the paintComponent method to change the fonts, colors, size, and appearance of the game.

import java.awt.Color;
import java.awt.Font;
import java.awt.Graphics;
import java.awt.event.KeyEvent;
import java.awt.event.KeyListener;
import javax.swing.JFrame;
import javax.swing.JPanel;
/**
 *  A GUI runner for your solution to the 2025 Lab
 *  Unit 4: 2048
 *  
 *  @author Chris Thiel, OFMCap
 *  @version July 15, 2025
 *  
 *  Make sure to write a getScore() method in your Game2048 class
 *  as well as a getGameBoard() method.  Alternatively,
 *  you can write your own draw(Graphics g) method, and call it
 *  from this class's paintComponent method.
 */
 
public class GUI2048 extends JPanel implements KeyListener
{
 
	private static int WIDTH = 800, HEIGHT = 800;
	private static int LEFT_ARROW = 37, UP_ARROW = 38, 
			           RIGHT_ARROW = 39, DOWN_ARROW = 40;
	private Font titleFont, regularFont;
	private int keyCode, boardSize;
	private int[][] board;
	private char c;
	String message;
	private Game2048 myGame;
 
 
	public GUI2048()
	{
 
		myGame = new Game2048();
		board = myGame.getBoard();
		boardSize = board.length;
		message = "Use arrow keys (or l, r, u, d for left, right, up, down)";
		titleFont = new Font("Roman", Font.BOLD, 18);
		regularFont = new Font("Helvetica", Font.PLAIN, 12);
		keyCode=0;
		c='-';
	}
	public static void main(String[] args) {
		GUI2048 app= new GUI2048();
		JFrame window = new JFrame("2048 Game");
		window.setSize(WIDTH, HEIGHT);
		window.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
		window.getContentPane().add(app);
		window.addKeyListener(app);
		window.setVisible(true);
 
	}
	public void paintComponent(Graphics g){
		super.paintComponent(g);
		g.setColor(Color.WHITE);
		g.fillRect(0, 0, getWidth(),getHeight());
		g.setColor(Color.BLUE);
 
		g.setFont(new Font("Arial", Font.PLAIN, 48));
		g.drawString("2048 Game", WIDTH/3, 40);
		g.setFont(titleFont);
		g.setColor(Color.BLACK);
		g.drawString("Score: " + myGame.getScore(), 4*WIDTH/5, 40);
		g.drawString( message , 20, WIDTH - 50);
 
		g.setFont(regularFont);
		g.drawString("Version 1.0", 20, 50);
		g.setFont(new Font("Arial", Font.PLAIN, 48));
		g.setColor(Color.red);
		drawBoard(g);
 
 
	}
 
	public void drawBoard(Graphics g) {
		int size = HEIGHT/(boardSize +1);
		int top = 60;
		int left = WIDTH/2 - 2 * size;
		g.setFont(new Font("Arial", Font.BOLD, 48));
		for(int r = 0; r < boardSize; r++)
			for(int c = 0; c < boardSize; c++)
			{
				if (board[r][c] != 0)
					g.drawString (""+board[r][c], left+c*size + size/3, 
							                      top + r*size + 3*size/4);
			}
		g.setColor(Color.BLACK);
		for(int r = 0; r <= boardSize; r++) {
			g.drawLine(left, top + size*r, left + boardSize*size, top +size*r);
		}
 
		for(int c = 0; c <= boardSize; c++){
			g.drawLine(left+c*size, top ,left+c*size, top + boardSize* size);
		}
	}
 
	// These 3 methods need to be declared to implement the KeyListener Interface
	@Override
	public void keyTyped(KeyEvent e) {}
 
	@Override
	public void keyPressed(KeyEvent e) 
	{
		keyCode=e.getKeyCode();
		c=e.getKeyChar();
		if (keyCode == LEFT_ARROW || c == 'l')
		{
			myGame.moveLeft();
			myGame.mergeLeft();
			myGame.moveLeft();
			message = "left";
		} 
		else if (keyCode == RIGHT_ARROW || c == 'r')
		{
			myGame.moveRight();
			myGame.mergeRight();
			myGame.moveRight();
			message = "right";
		} 
		else if (keyCode == UP_ARROW || c == 'u')
		{
			myGame.moveUp();
			myGame.mergeUp();
			myGame.moveUp();
			message = "up";
		} 
		else if (keyCode == DOWN_ARROW || c == 'd' ) 
		{
			myGame.moveDown();
			myGame.mergeDown();
			myGame.moveDown();
			message = "down";
		} 
		else 
		{
			message = c+ " is an invalid choice!";
 
		}
		if (message.length() < 6 && !myGame.gameOver())
			myGame.add2ToBoard();
		if (myGame.gameOver())
			message = "Game Over - You reached "+ myGame.max();
		repaint();
	}
 
	@Override
	public void keyReleased(KeyEvent e) {}
 
}

Any computer with the Java runtime installed can play your version of the 2048 Game.

1. From the File menu, select Export
2. In the Java folder, select Runnable JAR file
3. Press the Next Button
4. Under the Launch Configuration your project that runs the GUI2048's main method
5. Under Library handling select Extract required libraries into JAR
6. Select the Export destination (so you file the java executable later!)
7. Press Finish button (even if you're American)