35 of the Best Two-Player Games for Couples or Friends

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The ultimate list of in-person and online games to play with two people
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Games can be a great way to spend quality time with a friend or romantic partner, but so many of them seem designed for at least 4 players. Even when the game can be played with just 2 players, the gameplay is often lacking. Not here, though! Keep reading to discover the best two-player board, card, and co-op games—most of which you can even play online—along with recommendations and playing tips from our board game expert, Ashton Wu.

Fun Games for 2 Players

  • Best card games: The Fox in the Forest, Jaipur, Rivals for Catan
  • Best board games: Patchwork, Lost Cities, Royal Visit
  • Best competitive games: Radlands, Marabunta, Santorini
  • Best cooperative games: Sky Team, Pandemic, Sail
  • Best strategy games: Azul, Chess, Hive
Section 1 of 6:

Two-Player Card Games

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  1. 1
    The Fox in the Forest The Fox in the Forest is a trick-taking game, similar to Hearts , with one player winning tricks over the course of multiple rounds. Different cards give you different abilities that add to the strategy and make the game more interesting. [1]
  2. 2
    Jaipur This fast-paced game blends luck and tactics to create a fun, light-hearted game, and comes recommended by Wu. Jaipur is one of those games that's easy to pick up and difficult to master—and it doesn't require a lot of space! [2]
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  3. 3
    Schotten Totten Use strategy and luck to defend your territory and clan by collecting 3-card poker-like hands. Schotten Totten has just enough luck to make every game exciting and is portable enough to take along on road trips or social outings. [3]
    • Level of difficulty: easy
    • Playing time: 20 minutes
    • Online: not available
  4. 4
    Sushi Go! Portability might be the best thing about Sushi Go! This isn't a game you'd necessarily play when you're relaxing at home—it's more a game you could play while you were passing your time waiting for your table at a restaurant. While it's a perfectly fun game with 2 players, up to 5 can play. [4]
  5. 5
    Rivals for Catan If you're a fan of the Catan series of games, Rivals for Catan is a great card-based alternative when you only have 2 players. This game can be a little more complex, so it might take you a little longer to get the hang of it. But once you get comfortable with it, you'll be glad you've got it—people talk about how replayable this game is. [5]
    • Level of difficulty: intermediate, might be easier to pick up if you regularly play Settlers of Catan
    • Playing time: 45-60 minutes
    • Online: not available
    • In any Catan game, Wu advises that, "Initial placement is extremely important, so that is where you want to invest a lot of your strategy."
    • Wu also notes, "Trading as often as you can is really good. But you typically don't want to do trades that are misaligned."
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Section 2 of 6:

Two-Player Board Games

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  1. 1
    Patchwork If you're looking for a relaxing game that you can play against someone without turning them into your enemy, Patchwork is a great choice that Wu recommends. It's one of those games that only grows more beloved with each play, like your favorite song or a comfort food. [6]
  2. 2
    Undaunted: Normandy Wu recommends this game for a fun two-player option. If you're into campaign-style war games, Undaunted: Normandy gives you the opportunity to play one with just one other person and still have fun. You'll want to make sure you've both read through the rules ahead of time, though—this is a game designed for more serious tabletop gamers looking for a more portable 2-player option. [7]
    • Level of difficulty: advanced
    • Playing time: 45-60 minutes
    • Online: not available
  3. 3
    Lost Cities Wu notes that this is a great game for two players. Lost Cities is a game that seems to have something for everyone, so it's a great choice if one of you is a serious gamer and the other hasn't played a board game since Candyland. Different skill levels and expeditions also give it a high replay value. [8]
  4. 4
    Royal Visit At first blush, this game might seem too simple to be interesting for more than a few plays, but the depths of strategy make Royal Visit a game you'll keep coming back to. It's competitive, but not cutthroat, making it the perfect fun game for a lazy afternoon. [9]
    • Level of difficulty: easy
    • Playing time: 20 minutes
    • Online: not available
  5. 5
    Summoner Wars This is another recommendation from Wu. If you like your dueling games with a little Dungeons & Dragons style art, Summoner Wars is the two-player game for you. The best thing about this game might be its replayability, since there are also plenty of expansions available. Gameplay is really varied, with some games being relatively fast-paced while others are more of a slow build. [10]
  6. 6
    Star Realms Fight epic space battles in Star Realms , a strategic deck-building game. The game itself is a lot more fun than its rather basic graphics might let on. It's pretty easy to pick up as well as teach someone else, and it has a high replay value as well. Expansion packs increase the playability, making this a solid two-player game to have at home. [11]
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Section 3 of 6:

Two-Player Legacy Games

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  1. 1
    Kingdomino If you like to play dominoes , you'll probably enjoy Kingdomino , which adds a territory-building element to the basic gameplay of dominoes. While the game itself isn't designed for 2 players, it features a 2-player variant that's just as fun and allows you to build a larger territory. [12]
  2. 2
    Paris: La Cité de la Lumiere Allow yourself to get swept away in the romance of 19th-century Paris with this beautifully illustrated game. In Paris: La Cité de la Lumiere , you race against your opponent to light the streets of Paris. It's quick to learn and fun to play for casual and serious gamers alike. [13]
    • Level of difficulty: easy
    • Playing time: 30 minutes
    • Online: not available
  3. 3
    Agricola: All Creatures Big and Small If you're a fan of the original Agricola game, you'll love the two-player version, Agricola: All Creatures Big and Small . This game repeatedly wins awards and tops lists as one of the best two-player games out there, so even if you're not familiar with the series, it's definitely worth giving this one a go. [14]
  4. 4
    7 Wonders Duel If you're looking for an intense two-player battle with themes of the ancient world, look no further than 7 Wonders Duel . Wu notes that this is a fun option for just two players. It might take you a little while to get the hang of the rules, but once everyone's comfortable it's a pretty fast-paced game. [15]
  5. 5
    Fields of Green This game puts you in the position of a farmer building up your farm and resources over the course of 4 rounds (years). While gameplay can start off a bit slow as you build in the beginning, good strategy allows for massive plays at a breakneck pace in the final rounds. [16]
    • Level of difficulty: intermediate
    • Playing time: 30-45 minutes
    • Online: not available
  6. 6
    Everdell Everdell is actually a pretty sophisticated strategy and territory-building game disguised as a cute fantasy game with woodland creatures. It might take a little while for beginning gamers to get the hang of this one, but the overall gameplay experience is worth the effort. While this game isn't designed to be a two-player game, the two-player rules keep the game fun and even make it a little more fast-paced. [17]
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Section 4 of 6:

Competitive Two-Player Games

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  1. 1
    Radlands With Radlands , you have a deceptively simple game that's really easy to pick up and quickly reveals a strategic depth that keeps the game fun and interesting, even after you've played it dozens of times. If you're into steampunk or the Fallout series, you'll dig the graphics and post-apocalyptic theme on this one. [18]
    • Level of difficulty: easy
    • Playing time: 20-40 minutes
    • Online: not available
  2. 2
    Marabunta Build up your ant colony empire with Marabunta. This game includes an interesting "I divide, you choose" mechanic that can make for some really difficult decisions and a lot of frustration, but it's all in good fun (and revenge can be so sweet). [19]
    • Level of difficulty: easy
    • Playing time: 30 minutes
    • Online: not available
  3. 3
    Watergate If you're a politics and history buff, Watergate will be right up your alley. This 2-player strategy game lets you play as either a journalist or as the Nixon administration to uncover the truth or keep it hidden forever. The strategic depth and intrigue will keep you coming back to this game again and again. [20]
    • Level of difficulty: intermediate
    • Playing time: 30-69 minutes
    • Online: not available
  4. 4
    Santorini This beautiful and fun game has something for players of all experience levels, which makes Santorini a great addition to any home game shelf. Simple, two-step turns keep the game moving at an exciting and interesting pace.
  5. 5
    Targi Travel to the Sahara and lead a nomadic tribe to victory in Targi . Gameplay itself is relatively simple and easy to pick up, but the tactical options you have with every move will keep you interested. This is a two-player game you'll return to over and over again. [21]
    • Level of difficulty: easy-intermediate
    • Playing time: 60 minutes
    • Online: Board Game Arena
  6. 6
    Klask If you've ever found yourself wishing you had enough space for a foosball or air hockey table in your living room, Klask just might be the two-player game for you. This quick, exciting game is great for a short break to get your energy up. [22]
    • Level of difficulty: easy
    • Playing time: 10 minutes
    • Online: not available
  7. 7
    Odin's Ravens Race against your opponent in this two-player game steeped in Norse mythology. Odin's Ravens is a beautiful game that will force you to make lots of difficult choices. If you're itching for a strategy game that doesn't take too long to set up, this is a great choice. [23]
    • Level of difficulty: easy
    • Playing time: 30 minutes
    • Online: iOS App Store
  8. 8
    Kero In a post-apocalyptic world, lead your clan to victory with a roll of the dice to collect resources and control territory. This is the basic premise of Kero , a thrilling, tense game that can get your adrenaline pumping. [24]
    • Level of difficulty: easy-intermediate
    • Playing time: 30 minutes
    • Online: not available
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Section 5 of 6:

Cooperative Games for Two Players

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  1. 1
    Sky Team Wu recommends trying this fun co-op game for two people. Work with your partner to land the plane safely in Sky Team , an award-winning cooperative game with immersive details and new rules you can introduce to up the difficulty. With 20 different scenarios, this is a game you'll want to play again and again. [25]
  2. 2
    Codenames: Duet If you've ever played any of the popular Codenames titles, you'll love Codenames: Duet , the co-op version of the game designed for 2 players. Games are short but still interesting and entertaining, so this is a great one to slip in when you don't have the time or energy to play something more extended.
    • Level of difficulty: easy
    • Playing time: 15-20 minutes
    • Online: not available
    • Wu advises that "it's better to play safe than sorry," aiming for "three to four different hints."
    • He further recommends sticking to "a word that's not too crazy… no inside joke[s]."
  3. 3
    Sail Sail is an innovative game that combines a trick-taking game with a co-op game in which you combine forces to captain a ship and escape the Kraken. This quick, exciting game is easy to pick up and fun to play—you won't regret adding this one to your game shelf. [26]
  4. 4
    Paleo Looking for a cooperative strategy game that offers something for everybody, from beginners to experienced gamers? Try Paleo and embark on a thrilling Stone Age quest to complete your cave painting and secure your legacy for humanity. While this game can be played with up to 4 people, it's a lot of fun with 2. [27]
    • Level of difficulty: easy-intermediate
    • Playing time: 45-60 minutes
    • Online: not available
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Section 6 of 6:

Two-Player Strategy Games

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  1. 1
    Azul To play Azul , you simply select tiles to create patterns and score the most points. But this beautiful game packs quite a strategic punch that will have you making some tough decisions. The layout and setup means it's never the same game twice—combined with the quick playing time, Azul can be quite addictive.
  2. 2
    Go If you've tried to play Go and found yourself confused or frustrated, you're not alone. The ancient game of Go has been frustrating and exciting people for thousands of years! It might take you a little while to get into, but once you're hooked, you'll want to play it every chance you get.
  3. 3
    Chess No list of two-player strategy games would be complete without Chess , which many people consider the gold standard of two-player games. At the same time, though, it's usually more fun to play Chess with someone at about the same skill level as you.
  4. 4
    Checkers If you're looking for something a little more light and casual than Chess, Checkers might just be the game for you (and often, you can even play them on the same board ). Most people already know how to play Checkers —it's such a classic game, it's always a great option to have available.
  5. 5
    Hive Wu notes that this is a great game for just two people. If you're only going to have one abstract strategy game, make it Hive . All you do is place your insects to capture your opponent's queen before they capture yours. Sounds simple—but in practice you can find yourself in some tough tactical positions. The pieces are beautiful and feel nice in your hands and the lack of a board makes the game highly portable. [28]
  6. 6
    Stratego The classic game of Stratego combines memory and strategy in a challenging way. To win Stratego , you simply capture your opponent's flag—it's finding it that poses a challenge. [29]
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      References

      1. ↑ https://cdn.1j1ju.com/medias/b9/b0/80-the-fox-in-the-forest-rulebook.pdf
      2. ↑ https://cdn.1j1ju.com/medias/04/3f/df-jaipur-rulebook.pdf
      3. ↑ https://cdn.1j1ju.com/medias/d5/72/2f-schotten-totten-rulebook.pdf
      4. ↑ https://cdn.1j1ju.com/medias/e5/92/74-sushi-go-rulebook.pdf
      5. ↑ https://cdn.1j1ju.com/medias/60/52/ed-rivals-for-catan-rulebook.pdf
      6. ↑ https://cdn.1j1ju.com/medias/74/af/f2-patchwork-rulebook.pdf
      7. ↑ https://cdn.1j1ju.com/medias/c4/59/26-undaunted-normandy-rulebook.pdf
      8. ↑ https://cdn.1j1ju.com/medias/c8/66/47-lost-cities-rulebook.pdf
      9. ↑ https://cdn.1j1ju.com/medias/7b/24/50-royal-visit-rulebook.pdf
      1. ↑ https://media.plaidhatgames.com/filer_public/2d/34/2d34c8c8-bd3f-4ce3-a7fb-00490aa32de0/ph3600-rulebook-web.pdf
      2. ↑ https://cdn.1j1ju.com/medias/27/e1/a6-star-realms-rulebook.pdf
      3. ↑ https://blueorangegames.com/webroot/img/games/rules/cfa0f38157341a002eab1100aab478ea-Kingdomino-Rules-US-2nd-Edition.pdf
      4. ↑ https://cdn.1j1ju.com/medias/84/a2/b4-paris-la-cite-de-la-lumiere-rulebook.pdf
      5. ↑ https://cdn.1j1ju.com/medias/ff/74/2b-agricola-all-creatures-big-and-small-rulebook.pdf
      6. ↑ https://cdn.svc.asmodee.net/production-rprod/storage/downloads/games/7wonders-duel/en/7du-rules-us-15990558193s5I6.pdf
      7. ↑ https://cdn.1j1ju.com/medias/45/37/92-fields-of-green-rulebook.pdf
      8. ↑ https://cdn.1j1ju.com/medias/c6/cd/89-everdell-rulebook.pdf
      9. ↑ https://cdn.1j1ju.com/medias/e9/5f/a2-radlands-rulebook.pdf
      10. ↑ https://cdn.svc.asmodee.net/production-asmodeeca/uploads/2024/01/SCRD01EN_Rules_HD-PRINT_20230823.pdf
      11. ↑ https://capstone-games.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Wategate-EN-rules-lr.pdf?srsltid=AfmBOopgKiFuWW4Scn0jkMU6hKi28P_5HO5mkYGhmAvjZ3FM73RH8MSc
      12. ↑ https://thamesandkosmos.com/manuals/full/691479_Targi+Manual.pdf
      13. ↑ https://klask.no/pdf/klask_rules_visual.pdf
      14. ↑ https://www.ospreypublishing.com/media/ge0p43l3/or_rulebook.pdf
      15. ↑ https://tesera.ru/images/items/1291423/Kero+rules+(eng).pdf
      16. ↑ https://www.scorpionmasque.com/sites/scorpionmasque.com/files/st_rules01_en_06jun2023.pdf
      17. ↑ https://gamers-hq.de/media/pdf/1d/ec/4e/Sail_Rulebook_v10.pdf
      18. ↑ https://cdn.1j1ju.com/medias/f7/1c/d2-paleo-rulebook.pdf
      19. ↑ https://www.gen42.com/download/rules/hive/Hive_English_Rules.pdf
      20. ↑ https://www.hasbro.com/common/instruct/Stratego.PDF

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