Suika Game has the same core mechanic (and many clones) but still represents a fundamentally different game. The gameplay is not even in the same category, as it involves some kind of physical simulation.
... or did you mean that Suika Game itself wasn't the original game with the falling-circles mechanic?
More like the latter, but not exactly (and that's my fault, sorry). As I said, 2048 is primarily distinguished from Threes by its title which implies the clear milestone. While the author of 2048 probably didn't intend this---after all, it is a clone of another clone 1024---, it seems that the Threes team also overlooked this to me. The title Suika Game also seems to share this quality probably by accident, which was what I originally meant to say.
... As effective as those titles are, I suddenly find myself imagining an alternate timeline with games and franchises like Bowser Bash, Quest for the Triforce, 25 Lines, Megalopolis, The Space Race, Shadaloo Smackdown....
... or did you mean that Suika Game itself wasn't the original game with the falling-circles mechanic?