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In honor of Valentine’s Day, here’s a list of some of our favorite two-player games. These are perfect for date night, but they aren’t only for your valentine. They’re also great for game night with a BFF, one on one time with your child, anytime you have just 2 to play. I included how-to-play videos for each of them so you can take a closer look at how they’re played. I love watching videos like this when deciding what new games to add to our collection and learning rules. So just in case, you’re like that too, I’ve gathered the links for you here.
The Fox in the Forest
The Fox in the Forest is a trick-taking card game (think Setback). The cards are ranked and suited, and there are also special characters on some cards that allow you to perform specific actions. You win points for each trick you take; however, win too many points, and you’ll lose, so you can’t be too greedy!
Hive
Have you ever had a game you never win and you want to keep playing it because you think eventually you’ll have to get better at it? That’s Hive for me. I think Mike has beaten me every single time we have played Hive but I still keep trying.
In Hive, you are trying to protect your Queen Bee by making sure she doesn’t get surrounded. Each insect tile has a specific way that it can move. In some ways, it reminds me of chess.
Jaipur
Jaipur is a fast-paced game where you are attempting to collect more riches than your competitor. You do this by collecting goods at the market and selling them for rupees.
The Fox in the Forest Duet
The only cooperative game on the list. In The Fox in the Forest Duet, you attempt to win tricks and lose tricks based on where you and your ally need to collect gems in the forest.
Patchwork
This is the most recent addition to our two-player games and it has quickly become a favorite. In Patchwork you are collecting patches to add to your quilt. Each patch you add to your 9×9 quilt board costs buttons and time by advancing you on the game board. At the end of the game, the player with the most buttons wins.
Lost Cities Card Game
We play Lost Cities SO much, but I still love it. Since Mike started working from home, we often play a game during his lunch break, and a round of Lost Cities is frequently played.
In Lost Cities “both players’ goal is to form expedition routes that —
after subtracting the expedition costs — earn them as
many discovery points as possible. You set up the
expeditions by forming a separate column of cards for
each color. The numeric values within a column of
cards must increase from card to card. You can place
wager cards at the beginning of each column to
multiply a column’s value. At the end of the game, the
cards in each player’s columns are scored.” (Lost Cities Card Game Rulebook)
7 Wonders Duel
Out of all the games on this list, 7 Wonders duel is probably the most complex to learn at first. However, I promise that once you know how to play it’s not confusing and it’s totally worth it because it’s a great game.
“In 7 Wonders Duel, each player is leading a civilization and will construct Buildings
and Wonders. All of the Buildings constructed by a player together with their
Wonders are called a “city”.
A game plays out over 3 Ages, each Age using one of the 3 decks of cards (first
the cards from Age I, then Age II, and finally Age III). Each Age card represents
a Building.
These Ages are played out in a similar fashion, with each player having the chance
to play approximately 10 cards per Age to earn coins, strengthen their armies,
make scientific discoveries, and develop their city.
In 7 Wonders Duel, there are 3 ways to claim victory: military supremacy, scientific supremacy, and civilian victory.
Military and scientific victories can happen at any time and end the game
immediately. If, by the end of the third Age, no one has yet won the game,
the players add up their victory points, and the player with the highest score is
declared the winner.” (7 Wonders Duel Rulebook)
These are our favorite 2 player games that are specifically designed for 2 players, but we have a lot of others that we enjoy playing with 2 players that are also great for more (and sometimes less) than 2 players. I’m linking a few of those below.
Do you have a favorite board game? Let me know in the comments!