The Best Two-Player Board Games

One of the best things about board games is being able to quickly play whenever you want, without needing to adapt the rules of the game to the number of players or the free time you have. This is why having board games specifically designed for two players is such a great idea. So, whether you’re with your significant other, a friend, or sibling, you will surely find many games created to fit the situation. Here, we’re going to be showing you a few of the best games that are made to be played with two players.

7 Wonders Duel

Pros:

✓ A complete development game with plenty of twists
✓ There are many ways to win the game
✓ A game doesn’t last too long

Cons:

✕ The setup is complicated and time consuming
✕ You have to know all the details of the game to be able to truly appreciate it

Characteristics:

● Brand: 7 Wonders
● Number of players: 2 people
● Age: 10+
● Duration of a game: 20 to 30 minutes
● Type of game: Construction, development, trade, combat, science, strategy

The players will be serving as the lords of their Cities. Through 3 ages, every player will develop their city, by building structures and creating a powerful army. Scientific discoveries are obviously also very important for establishing a strong civilization. A superiority in a single domain is enough to determine the winner of the game. Each player receives 7 coins and 4 wonders at the beginning of the game.

The game takes place over 3 ages, but can end before that if a player manages to win before the end of the 3 ages. During their turn, a player takes a card corresponding to the current age. They can build a structure by paying the indicated price, or discard the card in exchange for 2 coins, or even construct a wonder, by paying the amount of the wonder to the bank. When 20 cards have been used, one age ends, and another begins.

A player may move the Conflict Token across the board. As soon as it reaches the capital of the opposing city, the player wins the game. It is possible to accumulate scientific symbols, through discoveries. When a player has 6 symbols, they are declared the winner of the game. At the end of Age III, if no player achieves superiority in any field, victory points are counted, and whoever has the most points is the winner of the game.

Our advice: The player must concentrate their forces, using a single strategy. Indeed, by doing the opposite, they will waste their time, and their opponent will easily beat them.

Nicodemus

Pros:

✓ A game with an innovative and original concept and mechanisms
✓ Immersion in the world of DIY and machinery
✓ An exciting duel where only one can get the job

Cons:

✕ The theme might not appeal to those who do not like DIY
✕ It’s hard to remember the effects of all the cards

Characteristics:

● Brand: Bombyx
● Number of players: 2
● Age: 14+
● Duration of a game: 45 minutes
● Type of game: DIY, strategy

Each player is an assistant stagehand, a candidate to take the place of Nicodemus. The latter is a noted machinist, with 352 years of experience. Players will repair machines and validate projects, to obtain victory points. The first to reach 20 points wins the game. Each player has 5 machines and 2 charcoaliums at the start.

During their turn, whoever starts may play a Machine card. They have the choice between taking charcoalium according to the number indicated on the card, or producing a resource or charcoalium themselves, or they benefit from the effect of the card. If they do not want to play a card, the assistant can take a machine from the junkyard and repair it. For this they must pay the necessary price. In the same turn, they can validate a project.

A validated project is worth the points indicated on the card. A repaired machine earns a player 3 points. When an apprentice machinist has 20 points or more to their account, they win the game. If both players have the same number of points, the victory is granted to the one with the most charcoaliums.

Our advice: The player must think about their actions, taking into account the types of machines they have. The validation of a project depends on it, as well as the resources it can draw from it. At the same time, they can deprive their opponent of the cards necessary for their projects.

Schotten Totten

Pros:

✓ A fun game for 2 people of all generations
✓ The basic rules are simple
✓ Variations allow to spice up the game

Cons:

✕ A player’s victory depends, in part, on chance because of the cards drawn
✕ Point counting can be confusing in some variations

Characteristics:

● Brand: Iello
● Number of players: 2 people
● Age: 8+
● Duration of a game: 30 minutes
● Type of game: Strategy, chance, cards

Each player is a tribal leader, who will fight to gain more land, by taking control of some Stones. The 2 players will have to place Clan cards, to claim a Stone. The cards, numbered from 1 to 9, must form a combination. To claim a Stone, on both sides of the border, 3 cards must be aligned.

The player with the strongest combination can claim a Stone, before their opponent completes the cards on their side. At the start, everyone takes 6 Clan cards. The 9 Stones are arranged in the middle, to separate the borders. During their turn, the player places a card next to a Stone. They then take a card from the draw pile, if there are any left. Gradually, they form combinations with their cards.

A claimed Stone is to be placed under its combination of 3 cards. The player who takes control of 3 contiguous Stones wins the game. There is also another way to win: Set 5 Milestones. Players can determine a number of rounds. At the end of the last round, whoever has the most Stones wins the game.

Our advice: Considering the fact that the cards are randomly drawn, a player must use strategy to form a strong combination, in order to claim as many Stones as possible. Surmising the opponent’s cards will also be greatly beneficial, if done correctly.

Jaipur

Pros:

✓ An entertaining game with an innovative mechanism
✓ Players familiarize themselves with the world of trades and negotiations
✓ Setup is easy

Cons:

✕ When trading, players must consider various restrictions
✕ Tokens must be stored away after each use

Characteristics:

● Brand: Asmodee
● Number of players: 2 people
● Age: 10+
● Duration of a game: 30 minutes
● Type of game: Strategy, trade

Players step into the shoes of market traders in Jaipur. Everyone strives to become the richest at the end of a round, to obtain a Seal of Excellence. The player who earns 2 Seals of Excellence wins the game. They are the Maharaja’s favorite. Each player starts with 5 cards. At the beginning of the game, the market consists of 3 Camel cards and 2 other cards.

Each player separates their Camel cards, to form their herd. During a player’s turn, they have the choice between taking cards or selling them. If they decide to take cards, they can choose to take goods cards and trade them in the market, or just take them and keep them, or take all the Camel cards.

To sell goods, the player discards the cards and, in exchange, takes the tokens with the corresponding value. Depending on the number of goods sold, the player earns Bonus tokens. A round comes to an end when there are no more cards in the draw pile, or when 3 kinds of goods tokens are missing. The player with the most Camels wins a Camel token, which is worth 5 rupees. The richest player wins a Seal of Excellence.

Our advice: Before starting, players should be aware of the value of the cards, as well as all of the rules. That way they can perfect their strategy, to get the best sales and negotiations.

Agricola, The Farmers of La Lande-The Big Box

Pros:

✓ A game with a rural concept, to the delight of farm lovers
✓ There are several ways to earn points
✓ Players learn how to run a farm

Cons:

✕ The rules are a bit complicated
✕ It takes several games for the players get used to the mechanisms

Characteristics:

● Brand: Asmodee
● Number of players: 2
● Age: 10+
● Duration of a game: 30 minutes
● Type of game: Strategy, development

Each player represents a Farmer, having 3 Workers at their disposal to help them administer their farm. The objective is to earn the most points, through breeding and expanding Buildings and the Farm. The player with the highest score wins the game. A player is entitled to a farmyard. Each starts with 9 barriers.

The game is divided into 8 rounds. Each turn is made up of 4 types of actions. During Resupply, the player fills squares with an arrow, putting animals and resources into them. Then, they place their Workers on the squares. At the same time, they apply the action mentioned in each square. The 3 Workers are placed during a Work Day.

After each Day, the Workers are removed from the squares and returned home. The player ends their turn with Animal Breeding. 2 animals of the same species produce a new animal of the same type. At the end of the eighth round, the players count their points. An animal is worth 1 point. The number of animals, depending on the type, earns bonus points. A farm extension is worth 4 points. A Building displays its own value.

Our opinion: Extensions earn points, but each has its cost. The player learns to invest, taking into account expenses and profits.

Lost Cities

Pros:

✓ It is possible to earn more points through betting
✓ Players have the choice between a short version and a long version
✓ The rules are within everyone’s reach

Cons:

✕ Scoring points is not so easy
✕ An Expedition pays off, but is also expensive

Characteristics:

● Brand: Iello
● Number of players: 2
● Age: 10+
● Duration of a game: 30 minutes
● Type of game: Strategy, expedition, risk

The players go on an expedition, aligning the cards, so as to get the most points. However, an Expedition costs 20 points, which will be deducted upon completion. The objective is to obtain the most points, at the end of the 3 rounds which make up the game. Each player starts with 8 cards in hand. The base game board has 5 Expedition card slots.

During a turn, a player places a card, and draws one. To place a card, they can place it on a space, according to its color. By doing this, they initiate an Expedition, or they advance through another one they’ve initiated in a previous turn. If they cannot place a card, they have to discard one. If they choose to discard a card, they are not allowed to draw the same card they discarded.

The Expedition cards are to be aligned in ascending order. The player has the right to place a Bet card, before placing an Expedition card. After 3 rounds, the game is over. Each player deducts the cost of the Expedition from the total points earned through placed cards. The score is to be multiplied with the number of Bet cards. An Expedition with at least 8 cards is worth 20 more points.

Our advice: Betting involves risk since the corresponding cards must be placed before the Expedition cards. In addition, an Expedition is not free. The player must take into account investments and winnings, before placing down a card.

Jarnac

Pros:

✓ An instructive letter game, to test your vocabulary level
✓ Durable wooden material
✓ A timeless game, suitable for young and old

Cons:

✕ A game can be long, especially if players take too long to think
✕ One player can steal a word the other hasn’t found

Characteristics:

● Brand: Blackrock
● Number of players: 2
● Age: 8+
● Duration of a game: 40 minutes
● Type of game: Letters, imagination, strategy

Players must find the longest words with the letters they have in hand. The objective is to earn the most points, out of the 8 words placed on the 8 lines. The longer a word is, the more points it is worth. The score of each word equals the number of letters in the word x 2. The player who earns the most points wins the game.

Everyone places their board in front of them. The first player draws 6 letters from the bag. They have the right to replace the last letter, if they drew only consonants. To play, they place a word of at least 3 letters on the first line of their board. They draw a new letter, and can continue to play, adding letters to the word already placed, or creating a new one on the second line. When they can no longer place any letters, their turn ends.

The opponent performs the same actions. When a player does not know what to do with their letters, while the other finds a word in their place, the latter can then steal that word. In this case, they shout “Jarnac.” Whoever wants to steal a dead word must do so as soon as the opponent passes their turn. The game comes to an end, when a player has used their eighth and last line, without being able to continue.

Our advice: If players want more letters, they should play short words, using a few letters. Thus, they have the opportunity, each time, to draw one more letter. However, they risk being the victims of a steal, if they economize their letters too much.

Onitama

Pros:

✓ An alternative to chess, with shorter games
✓ The rules are easily grasped
✓ There are 2 variations to play

Cons:

✕ The strategy of a player comes down to the move card they choose
✕ The Master pawn can be captured quickly, if the player does not protect it

Characteristics:

● Brand: Igiari
● Number of players: 2
● Age: 14+
● Duration of a game: 15 to 30 minutes
● Type of game: Strategy, thinking

The game takes place on a 5 x 5 square chessboard. The objective is to capture the opponent’s Master pawn or reach the Arch of the Temple square. The possible moves are dictated by the cards. Before starting, each player places their pawns on the last line of their respective side of the board.

At the start, a player receives 2 move cards. Another card is left next to the board. During their turn, the player considers one of their cards, and performs one of the indicated moves. The black square represents the square where the pawn is. The gray or red squares show the possible moves. When a pawn lands on a square where there is an opposing pawn, the latter is eliminated from the game.

After moving a pawn, the player takes the move card next to the board and discards the one they have just used. The other player does the same actions. The game goes on in this fashion, until a player captures the opponent’s Master pawn, or arrives at the Arch of the Temple square. The player who manages to do either of those things is declared the winner.

Our advice: The player must be careful not to corner their Master pawn, and not to expose it either. If a player wants to win, it will be necessary for them to think of clever strategies that conform with the move cards they choose.