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Are you looking for something exciting and challenging to do with your game-loving friend? Look no further! We’ve rounded up a list of the absolute best 2 player board games that are sure to provide hours of fun, intense competition, and opportunities to pick up unique strategic skills. There are many great options available depending on your budget and interests. Ready for an awesome gaming experience? Keep reading–we can’t wait to show you our top picks!
Quick Peeks
In a hurry? Here are a few of my top picks!
Most Like Chess
Best Spy
Top War
Best 2 Player Board Games of All Time
Here are some of my top picks and in my opinion are the best 2 player board games available right now.
7 Wonders Duel
| 2 Players |
| Play Time: 30 minutes |
| Age: 10+ |
Are you ready to explore the wonders of the ancient world with a friend? 7 Wonders Duel is the perfect strategy game to add to your next game night. Compete against your opponent and engage in an intense two-player struggle for supremacy as you each strive to make your civilization victorious. With three paths available, your journey to becoming the ruler of the seven wonders will be an unpredictable adventure.
Your chance of conquering victory lies in either commanding a military empire using military supremacy, creating a hub of technical knowledge with scientific supremacy, or building prestigious constructions to obtain points through impressive buildings.
The timeless charm of 7 Wonders Duel makes it a great choice for weekend fun with family and friends who are aged 10+. With only a 30-minute gameplay time, this delightfully fast-paced game allows you the pleasure of quickly returning for another battle!
Plus with all the exciting expansions and new editions, you can be sure there is plenty of fun and new gameplay waiting to be explored. Grab this game today and experience history while enhancing your strategic capacities with 7 Wonders Duel!
Hive
| 2 Players |
| Play Time: 20 minutes |
| Age: 9+ |
Are you prepared to be stimulated and engaged by the intense competition of Hive? This two-player board game is crawling with possibilities, testing your strategy skills delightfully and uniquely. Your mission is to surround your opponent’s queen bee while blocking them from doing the same; however, it ain’t no stroll through the park!
Each player has eleven tiles that present five different insects; each depicting the way they move similar to chess. With simple rules yet challenging depth, Hive guarantees hours of entertainment. To get started with this stimulating game, make sure to keep an eye on both the hive and your opponent’s reserve pieces. For all board gamers out there – dig into this 2-player adventure and get ready for an exciting time!
Patchwork
| 2 Players |
| Play Time: 15-30 minutes |
| Age: 8+ |
Patchwork is the perfect board game for families to enjoy together! This engaging, two-player strategy game challenges players to create beautiful patchwork quilts on their 9×9 boards. Players must be tactical to finish their quilts quicker than their opponents with the resources they have. With a wide variety of patches to choose from and a healthy supply of buttons, Patchwork provides an exciting and fun challenge for anyone over the age of 8.
Parents and kids will have a blast competing to build the most aesthetically pleasing quilt out of all available pieces. While it takes time, effort, and meticulous planning, Patchwork offers a wonderful opportunity for families to share quality time filled with laughter and strategy.
Fall in love with creating something as beautiful as your family bond while competing in this popular board game. By playing Patchwork, you’ll be sure to have an enriching gaming experience every time!
Cascadia
| 1-4 Players |
| Play Time: 30-45 minutes |
| Age: 10+ |
Cascadia is a vibrant and engaging board game that will transport you to the majestic Pacific Northwest. With simple rules, a variety of token sets, and variable scoring conditions each game provides a unique and rewarding experience.
Gather around the board with your friends or family as you attempt to build the most harmonious ecosystem and garner the highest score. Each turn requires you to select a tile/token set, then place them into your expanding ecosystem. Reap even greater rewards by fulfilling wildlife goals and making sure the maximum number of animals are securely connected in a habitat corridor.
Cascadia is fun for groups of one to four players with an easy setup time capsulated at five minutes so you can get right to playing! With a playtime of thirty-five to forty-five minutes, it’s just enough time to sink into its world without overextending your free time! So come explore this puzzle-packed adventure – we’re sure you won’t be disappointed!
Best Budget 2 Player Board Games Under $20
If your money is a bit short and you only have around $20, then you’re in luck! Here are some of the best budget board games for 2 players that are fun to play!
The Fox in the Forest
| 2 Players |
| Play Time: 30 minutes |
| Age: 10+ |
The Fox in the Forest is a delightful and engaging trick-taking game for two players! Perfect for days when you’re staying in to game, this board game features beautifully illustrated cards of Fairy Tale characters straight from the magical forests. Compete with your opponent and score points by winning more tricks than them, but be careful — don’t get too greedy or you may fall like a villain in so many classic tales!
But it doesn’t have to end that way — utilizing the special abilities each unique character provides could be the difference between victory or defeat. Change the trump suit, lead even after you lose a trick, and quickly analyze your options with help from these beautiful illustrations.
Step into a world of fanciful figures as you contemplate your strategy for besting your opponent. Who will come out on top? Get ready to find out when you play The Fox in the Forest!
Targi
| 2 Players |
| Play Time: 60 minutes |
| Age: 12+ |
Welcome to the desert and a world of adventure in Targi, an exciting competitive game for board game lovers. In Targi you take on the role of a leader of the Tuareg people who is trading dates, salt, and pepper to obtain gold coins and advantages.
Position your Targi figures on the card grid that represents a five-by-five grid of the desert landscape. Each card contains actions that offer players goods or victory points depending on their decisions. Trading shrewdly and wisely will be crucial to winning as each round presents a completely different offering of goods and services.
The player with the most victory points at the end is deemed the ultimate victor! With its immersive storyline set amongst two nomadic tribes vying for superiority along desert trade routes, Targi is sure to provide hours upon hours of enjoyable play with family and friends! Get ready to dive into this world of fun today!
Best Runner Ups
These 2 player board games didn’t quite make it to the top of the list, but are still some of the best available to play!
Codenames: Duet
| 2 Players |
| Play Time: 15-30 minutes |
| Age: 11+ |
Codenames: Duet is the perfect board game for two to play, no matter your expertise. If you’re an experienced gamer, or new to the genre, this game will provide you with a mission-driven challenge as you and your partner attempt to contact 15 agents in a crowded city without coming in contact with an enemy assassin.
Each player knows which agents their partner can contact safely, and must offer one-word clues that can refer to multiple words on the board and find all the agents before time runs out. Working together as partners is key; it’ll take strategic communication and teamwork to prevent getting knocked out of the mission!
Whether you’re playing it with a spouse, friend, or family member, Codenames: Duet is sure to be an exciting game night choice – give it a try today!
Yinsh
| 2 Players |
| Play Time: 30-60 minutes |
| Age: 9+ |
Yinsh is the perfect challenge for board gamers who want to test their strategies, wit, and problem-solving techniques. This abstract strategy game requires players to move their rings around the board, leaving markers behind as they go. As soon as a ring jumps over an opponent’s marker, the color of that marker is flipped.
The goal is to create rows of five markers with your color face up. If completed successfully, you will be rewarded with a ring removal – bringing you one step closer to victory! With Yinsh, every move counts; even your smallest tactical decisions can make all the difference between winning and losing. Bring excitement to your next family game night and delight everyone’s competitive side with Yinsh!
Jaipur
| 2 Players |
| Play time: 30 minutes |
| Age: 12+ |
Jaipur is a great two-player strategy game for everyone to enjoy, no matter your experience level. Simple enough for beginners, yet deep enough for seasoned board gamers, Jaipur is the perfect game to spend quality time with a friend or family member.
The premise is simple: you and an opponent take on the roles of two powerful traders in the city of Jaipur, competing to become the Maharaja’s personal trader. Collect and exchange goods at the market, then sell them for rupees and arrange bigger sales to receive rewards. Use your camels wisely as they hold no sale value but are key trading pieces – especially when you want a lot of goods from the market!
As you gain more riches than your competitor, the first player to collect two Seals of Excellence wins the game! This new edition also features an exclusive metallic collectible coin. With an average playtime of 30 minutes, Jaipur can be enjoyed by children 10 years old and above for hours on end.
Have fun with Jaipur today – unleash your inner trader and prove yourself worthy of becoming the Maharaja’s personal trader!
Best 2 Player Board Games For Adults
Here are a few of the best 2 player board games that adults will love playing.
Summoner Wars
| 2 Players |
| Play Time: 40-60 minutes |
| Age: 9+ |
Are you ready for an epic adventure and ultimate battle? Summoner Wars is the perfect way to fulfill your tactical dueling card game fantasies.
Experience all the action on the war-torn planet of Itharia, as you take control of a unique army devoted to dominating the battlefield. Deploy your units strategically and outsmart your opponents using spells and abilities to survive and emerge victorious! You can build your decks with countless customization options, allowing for endless gameplay possibilities.
Recreate epic battles during each round as you position your units according to their abilities. Leverage strategy while also honing your skills, gaining valuable experience that will be invaluable in more advanced battles. So if you’re looking for a great tactical challenge and an incredible journey through Itharia, Summoner Wars is here at last.
Air, Land & Sea
| 2 Players |
| Play Time: 15-30 minutes |
| Age: 14+ |
Air, Land & Sea puts you in the shoes of a Supreme Commander tasked with leading your forces to victory. You must strategically lay out your cards over the three theaters of war – Air, Land, and Sea – to claim victory points and ultimately win the war!
Every turn you’ll have six cards in hand from which you must make all-important decisions. Play each card face-up or face-down — if face-up, it will trigger its Tactical Ability – but make sure it’s in its corresponding theater. Face-down cards are wild and can be played to any theater but come with a strength of 2 and no Tactical Abilities. Ultimately, earning victory points at the end of each battle is key; the first player to twelve wins!
Don’t forget that withdrawing from a battle may sometimes be beneficial for your overall strategy. Who knows? A strategic retreat could cost you one battle and lead you to win the war! Try out Air, Land & Sea for yourself and see what careful plotting can do for you!
Best 2 Player Board Games for Couples
I’ve listed a few of the best 2 player board games designed to be played by couples. You’ll love playing these with your significant other and may even bring you closer together!
Fog of Love
| 2 Players |
| Play Time: 60-120 minutes |
| Age: 17+ |
Welcome to Fog of Love – the board game of love and heartbreak! Designed for two players, this exciting game allows you to create your own unique love story as you work together to make an unconventional relationship successful. It captures the roller-coaster ride of a romantic comedy in a fun and interactive way that will have you laughing out loud.
From awkward situations to difficult compromises to make, Fog of Love throws a variety of challenges at you. Your characters may have different goals that they cannot necessarily achieve, and it’s up to you how each person responds and tries to progress their relationship. Your attempts to make it work could result in you finally finding the happiness you’ve been searching for – or your romance might take an unexpected turn or even lead to a dramatic heartbreak! Either way, the outcome is always full of surprises.
The ultimate goal? Try your best to get yours and your partner’s character out of this tricky romantic situation happy – no matter how hard it may be sometimes. Bring home Fog of Love board game today for the chance at some serious fun with friends or family!
The Couples Game
| 2+ Players |
| Age: 14+ |
Introducing The Couples Game – an exciting and interactive party game for real couples who are ready to have fun together! Whether you’re looking to take your relationship to the next level, just moved in together, or have been married for decades, this game offers 150 questions across three categories: MATCH, BEST, and ME OR YOU.
Get ready to create a deeper connection with your significant other by asking and answering funny yet meaningful questions such as “Who could go longer without using their cell phone?” or “Which celebrities would we cast to play us in a movie?” This board game is perfect for board gamers who want to bring some extra spark into their relationships. Feel your bond strengthen as you dive into the entertaining world of The Couples Game!
Best 2 Player Board Games Over $40
If you have some extra cash to get some better games that are over $40, then I would suggest these fantastic 2 player board games that I know you will love!
Spirit Island
| 1-4 Players |
| 90-120 minutes |
| Age: 13+ |
Expertly designed to challenge even the most experienced board gamers, Spirit Island provides an immersive and thematic cooperative experience. With its complex play and dynamic nature, this game tests your reflexes and reaction as much as your strategy.
You are cast in the role of elemental spirits defending their home island from colonizing Invaders. Every turn you use preselected power cards to pay energy and bestow powerful effects. Combining cards of energies with matching spirit affinities gives free bonus effects too! Move up gradually in the Spirit phase by reclaiming used power cards, gaining new strength, or spreading presence – all to protect your homeland.
Never a dull moment with Spirit Island! Prevent settlers from ravaging areas by exploring ports across the land map and building settlements ahead of invaders who threaten to blight native isle-dwellers. The game escalates with every move as each player’s presence increases into being only more powerful. Step up the challenge and hone your battle strategies for victory over colonization!
Arkham Horror: The Card Game
| 1-2 Players |
| Play Time: 60-120 minutes |
| Age: 14+ |
Welcome to Arkham Horror: The Card Game, an immersive and captivating Living Card Game of Lovecraftian mystery, monsters, and madness! Expand your knowledge of the mythos and explore with fellow board gamers as you play cooperatively to unravel chilling mysteries throughout this enthralling small New England town.
All your strengths and weaknesses will be represented in a custom deck of cards providing each player with resources that are needed to complete their investigations. Far from being confined to just one game, Arkham Horror lets you carry on playing through its campaigns, making for separate but intricately linked stories full of narrative depth with plenty of puzzles and challenges along the way.
Strengthen your courage and face off against horrifying creatures from beyond our world! Support your friends as they try to keep Ancient Ones at bay – together you can prevent them from invading our place of existence. What awaits when the boundaries become blurred? Play Arkham Horror today and find out!
Parks
| 1-5 Players |
| Play Time: 30-60 minutes |
| Age: 10+ |
PARKS is the award-winning board game that puts you on a hike through the most iconic US National Parks. Experience the beauty of these natural wonders in a completely new way and bring your next game night to the great outdoors!
Featuring unique illustrations from the Fifty-Nine Parks Print Series, you’ll take in stunning sights as you embark on this immersive journey. Navigate through a wide variety of scenic trails, collecting resources and points along the way while trying to stay ahead of the competition. The paths change with each season, presenting new challenges and opportunities for exciting gameplay every time. With mountains, forests, sunshine, water, and wildlife depicted both graphically and using wooden tokens included with each set – it is sure to be an unforgettable adventure!
PARKS allows up to 5 players so gather your friends and family around to enjoy all that nature has to offer. Enjoy an authentic experience packed full of fun with no fuss since there are no complex rules or tedious setups – just sit down, relax, and embrace the national parks! So don’t wait any longer if you want to discover our country’s most beautiful places in an easy yet playful way; get your set of PARKS today!
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are a few answers the some of the most common questions.
What are fun games to play with only 2 people?
All of the games on my list are great fun for two players, but some of my favorites are Hive, Targi, 7 Wonders Duel, and Summoner Wars.
Should couples play board games?
Of course! My spouse and I enjoy playing board games together all the time! I would even say it helped us form stronger bonds since we are sharing a common interest that we both enjoy together.
Can you play Catan with 2 people?
No, Catan needs 3 players to be able to play. However, there is a Rivals for Catan game that is pretty fun for 2 players.
Conclusion
If you’re searching for the best two-player board games available to up your game night, then this list has you covered. With options for players of all budgets and interests, there’s something for everyone! You’ll be sure to be engaged in the hours of fun, intense competition, and opportunities to pick up unique strategic skills that these top picks will provide. So pick out a few favorites from the list, gather your friends (or significant other!), prepare some snacks if needed – and let the gaming begin! Be sure to share lots of Board Game Smiles along the way! Have fun getting to know each other more as you puzzle over rules and strategies and create unforgettable memories together through tabletop play!
Check out my other posts!
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