Best Board Games for Couples

If you’ve ever tried to find board games to play with your partner or a friend, you may have noticed that some of the most interesting games require at least three players. Don’t worry–there are plenty of interesting games out there designed specifically for two players.

We’ve compiled a list of great two-player board games that will suit all budgets and all tastes. The list is in no particular order and includes the game difficulty level to help you choose a simpler or more complex challenge depending on your preference.

Let’s get started!

Patchwork

Did you enjoy playing Tetris on your console when you were a kid? If so, you’ll love playing Patchwork! You get to sew your own patchwork quilt. This may not sound very exciting, but you’ll soon find that there’s much more to this game than meets the eye. You’ll face a tense dilemma between rushing to get the best pieces or waiting to get the buttons that will help you win.

• Difficulty: Easy
• Playtime: 20 minutes

Holmes: Sherlock & Mycroft

In this game, you’ll help the two cleverest brothers of Victorian England to find the 9 clues that will solve the case of the Great Fire of London. Assisted by the characters from Conan Doyle’s novels, you’ll have 7 days (turns) to find the clues.

Although it’s not a deduction game, a medium difficulty level, beautiful illustrations, and the fun and excitement of the game make it the perfect entertainment for couples.

• Difficulty: Medium
• Playtime: 20 minutes

Jaipur

This game seems to be quite popular among Germans who love games with trading in India as a theme. Jaipur involves buying and selling goods with speed and accuracy to gain maximum profits. You must not reveal your intentions to your opponent and should try to avoid leaving large amounts of money on the table. The game has a simple, solid card system and high-speed rounds, but it’s also addictive–you won’t be able to stop playing.

• Difficulty: Easy
• Playtime: 20 minutes

Morels

Morels is a card game that revolves around mushroom picking, where players search for the most exclusive and delicious varieties of mushrooms to cook and eat. The game requires players to compete with each other to pick the best mushrooms and avoid getting bitten by poisonous amanitas.

The game rewards players for picking the best mushrooms and preparing them in a butter and cider recipe. It’s a fun game for true mycophagists.

• Difficulty: Easy
• Playtime: 20 minutes

Twilight Struggle

This is an exclusive two-player board game set during the Cold War. Players take on the roles of either the U.S. (capitalism) or the USSR (communism). The game is historically accurate, with real events affecting gameplay, as players try to gain allies in major powers around the globe while also competing in the Space Race.

This unique game will keep you entertained for almost 3 hours, and once you finish, you'll be eager to play again. It’s no surprise that it’s considered one of the best games by the international community.

• Difficulty: Hard
• Playtime: 120-180 minutes

7 Wonders Duel

This is yet another great game set in the Ancient World, but it has different mechanics. In this game, players take on the role of the creators of the great monuments and jewels in history.

There are three different ways to win or lose, making it a subtle balance between construction, war, and science. Players must try not to let their opponents gain an advantage in any of the three fronts, always fighting to match but not be defeated. At the end of the game, the best civilization wins. This game is a worthy successor to the franchise.

• Difficulty: Medium
• Playtime: 25-30 minutes

Hive Pocket

Often referred to as “bug chess”, this game doesn’t require a board but rather an imaginary hexagonal grid, which is called a beehive and where players place the game pieces. The rules are simple and easy to learn, and once you understand the moves of each piece, you’ll be able to play the game with ease. Plus, it’s a portable game that can fit in any bag, making it perfect to take with you anywhere you go.

The bakelite tiles of this game make it perfect for playing in various settings such as the pool, coffee shops, airplanes, or even your favorite pub. This game is suitable for anyone who enjoys abstract games and can be played anywhere as long as it has a flat surface.

• Difficulty: Easy
• Playtime: 15 minutes

Star Realms

This “deck-building” game allows you to create your deck during play. Your goal is to create a powerful army of ships to defeat your opponent. The game offers various ways to build your deck, including fast and strong, protective and defensive, agile and efficient, slow but safe, and more. If you’re new to this type of game, Star Realms is a great place to start.

• Difficulty: Easy
• Playtime: 20 minutes

Fastrack

Fastrack is an easy-to-play game but takes longer to explain. In this game, you need to sneak a handful of red discs through a small slit in the center of a wooden board divided in two.

The game is played simultaneously, resulting in an all-out battle where discs fly, bounce, and collide. It’s a fantastic game for beginners who want to spend the whole afternoon until you’re exhausted.

• Difficulty: Very easy
• Playtime: 5 minutes

Ingenious

Ingenious is an abstract game where players aim to get large colored areas to score points. These areas can also be used to earn even more points by taking advantage of the opponent’s moves. Players can try to overcome their opponent’s moves and stay ahead forever.

The fun in this game lies in the limitations of the board and the fact that a player’s score is equal to the color that goes further back on the scoreboard. Therefore, it’s important to push all the colors equally. This game is simple to play, and the travel version for two players makes it ideal to take on vacation.

• Difficulty: Easy
• Playtime: 20 minutes

Lost Cities

This is a classic game for two players. It involves making explorations or ladders of different colors to score points at the end of the game.

However, both players want to make the same ladders of the same colors, and dropping or leaving cards on the table can favor the opponent. Drawing a single card can be extremely tense as the game progresses. Additionally, players decide when the game ends, which makes the disputes for “that card” memorable.

• Difficulty: Easy
• Playtime: 20 minutes

Mr. Jack: Pocket Edition

Find out which of the 9 suspects is the murderer of Whitechapel. You will be investigating with Holmes, Watson, and Toby, Holmes’ adorable dog, through the ever-changing alleys of the streets of East London.

The game consists of 9 tiles with alleys and suspects to discard. One player takes the role of the investigator while the other disguises themselves as an innocent bystander, trying to avoid the inquisitive gaze of the three sleuths. It’s small and compact, difficult to win for both sides and always leaves you wanting to change sides.

• Difficulty: Easy
• Playtime: 20 minutes

Star Wars Rebellion

Star Wars Rebellion is a game designed for fans of the original movie trilogy. If you've ever picked up a broomstick and pretended it was a laser sword or named your dog Chewie, this game is for you. It recreates the story of the original trilogy with thousands of elements, characters, figures, and winks to let your imagination fly.

The game is a cat-and-mouse game between the empire and the rebels. You can either try to end the “Death Star” or try to end the damned rebels and consolidate the biggest galactic empire ever seen. The game even allows you to modify some events from the movies, so you can get the Darth Vader Jr. you’ve always wanted.

• Difficulty: Hard
• Playtime: 120-150 minutes

Krosmaster Arena

This is a turn-based combat game in which players fight with their group of battle-hardened warriors in a duel arena. The game features cute pre-painted figures and a wide range of dolls to choose from. Choosing the right combos between different characters is essential to winning the battle. If you enjoy video games like Heroclix or Advance Wars, you’ll love Krosmaster Arena.

• Difficulty: Hard
• Playtime: 25 minutes

Android Netrunner

Android Netrunner is an asymmetric game created by the same creator of Magic of Gathering. Each player plays a different role with unique rules and decks. The game is set in a technological future where large companies control the world and hacker rebels try to destroy them or at least gain some benefit along the way.

The basic set offers lots of games even before players start buying cards to experiment and create their own decks. The game has closed expansions, which means that cards are always the same, and there are no rare or super-rare cards. Android Netrunner can keep you entertained for a long time and become your go-to game to play for a whole evening.

• Difficulty: Hard
• Playtime: 20 minutes

Image | Aksel Fristrup via Unsplash