Best Board Games For Two Players: 15 That Work Properly
Plenty of games technically support two players. Far fewer are any good with two, because half the tension comes from the other four people.
These are either designed for two or genuinely better with two.
Cards for the people you play with
Funny cards, blank inside, drawn and printed by us in the UK. Order on a working day and it usually goes out the same day.
Happy Valentines Day, Bab (Valentines Day Card)
£3.87
"Woof Woof" Sausage Dog Valentines Day Card
£3.87
Happy Valentines Day Card From The Cats
£3.87
Happy Valentines Day, My Love (Valentines Day Card)
£3.87
You're Purr-fect To Me (Cat Valentines Day Card)
£3.87
Happy Birthday Papa (Happy Birthday Card) (Multiple designs)
£3.87
Designed for two
- 7 Wonders Duel - thirty minutes, properly strategic, one of the best two-player games there is.
- Patchwork - quiet, quick, and more ruthless than a quilting game has any right to be.
- Jaipur - trading, fast, brilliant on a kitchen table.
- Hive - no board, tiles only, chess-like without the chess.
- Targi and Lost Cities, if you want more of the same.
Great with two even though they're not two-player games
- Azul, Splendor, Carcassonne and Kingdomino all work well with two.
- Ticket to Ride with two is slower and more tactical. Some people prefer it.
Cheap classics
- Backgammon, cribbage, chess, draughts and gin rummy.
- All cost almost nothing, all last a lifetime, all still better than most new releases.
For couples who want something calm
- Patchwork, Kingdomino and Lost Cities are all short enough for a weeknight.
- Cooperative option: Pandemic or The Crew, so you're on the same side.
How to write it so it lands
- Two-player variants of big games are usually the worst version. Buy games built for two.
- Keep one in a drawer that sets up in under a minute. You'll play it far more often.
Where to shop next
- Board games hub
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Frequently asked questions
What is the best two-player board game?
7 Wonders Duel for strategy in half an hour, Patchwork for something lighter and quicker. Both are designed for exactly two players rather than adapted for them.
What board games are good for couples?
Patchwork, Jaipur, Kingdomino and Lost Cities all finish inside thirty minutes. If competitive games cause friction, The Crew or Pandemic put you on the same team.
Do you sell board games?
No. We make greeting cards, art prints and pin badges in the UK, so these picks are simply what we'd recommend to a friend. The cards on this page are ours.