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A list of board games that are just as much fun with two players as they are with a larger group. Beautiful artwork and quick to learn!
Since becoming empty nesters, my game-loving husband has been on a little bit of a buying spree. He’s picked up several games that are just as fun with two players as they are with a larger group.
These are not the type of games that I affectionately call ‘dork games’. Those are the ones he plays with the fellas. The ones that have lots of mythical creatures, frequently involve an intricate storyline, and the occasional use of their best accent.
No thank you.
But I am happy to accept his invitation for a game night when it involves one of these winners.
5 games to check out for two players
1. Wingspan
The first game that we’ve been playing a lot of is Wingspan. While I’m not old enough to be as interested in the birds at the feeders as my parents, I will say that this is a pretty game.
Game play involves gathering food tokens, placing birds in the three environments on your board, and collecting eggs. Bird cards give you different abilities, like getting extra food or stashing cards in a ‘flock’.
One tip: Don’t have Cadbury mini eggs out on the table while playing this game…you might mistake these adorable little eggs for your snack.
2. Unfair
Unfair is the game of building and running your very own amusement park. Build attractions from a variety of themes, add upgrades, and hire staff.
Now, I must admit that when we play this game two-player, my husband is kind enough to bend the rules for my benefit. I’ve written before about my rules for which games I will play. There is a feature of Unfair that violates Rule #3: The ‘Will I Cry’ Rule. Any game in which players target other players as a large component is out for me.
This game includes the opportunity to undermine other players’ parks… a feature that can be fun when played with more players, spreading out who is targeted with the negative cards. As opposed to playing with two players, where everything lands on your opponent. That’s not fun for me, and it kind of stresses me out.
3. Space Base
If you’ve ever played Machi Koro, this game is similar…but better. Instead of just getting to do stuff on your turn, in Space Base you get to activate things on your board with every players’ roll.
Draft ships into your fleet that can increase your baseline income, credits for the next turn, or victory points all depending on which numbers show up in the die rolls.
Games can play out quite differently depending on which ships you acquire and how the die rolls go.
Find links to loads of our favorite board games here
4. Three Sisters
I wasn’t sure about this one when my husband told me about it. To be honest, it sounded kind of like work. Checking things off a list… woo-hoo.
And while I wouldn’t call Three Sisters an especially exciting game, it is oddly satisfying to grow a prosperous garden. (That may be in part due to my gross lack of gardening skills IRL)
Each player has their own garden to cultivate, as well as fruit trees, perennials, and an apiary. You also have a shed with tools that you can choose to utilize, and visits to the farmers markets to sell the goods you produce.
Like I said…it’s not edge of your seat stuff. It’s a quiet little game of making choices to get the most from the options you’re given.
5. Cascadia
Select a tile, select a token. Easy peasy.
This beautiful game is pretty quick to play, and has variations of the goals you’re trying to meet so each game is different. Cascadia features the landscapes and wildlife of the Pacific Northwest: mountains, rivers, bears, salmon, elk and more.
Two players or more, you choose
All of these games are a lot of fun with two players, but they’re also perfect with more people. We’ve pulled all of these out when the kids come over or brought them to the cabin to play with the family.
I’ve also found these to meet an unwritten rule of mine for which games I will continue to play… I have to win sometimes. 🙂
What are some of your favorite two player games?
More game reviews: Here – Here – Here – Here – Here – and Here
Thanks for these suggestions! I was just talking last weekend that so many games that are 2-6 for example really aren’t as fun with just 2 players, so it is good to have a list of some that are. The only one of these I have played is Wingspan, and that one is fun!
Yay– I hope you find something else you like! One I didn’t put in here (because I forgot about it, or I totally would have!) is called Taverns of Tiefenthal. It’s like you’re running your own little pub.
We love games! But like you, we only have 2 of us to play them. I haven’t heard of any of these! Thanks for the tips!
I hope you find one you like! A couple of others that we like are: Sagrada, and Quacks of Quedlinburg (games have weird names, don’t they?!) One looks like you’re making a stained glass window, but it’s choosing dice to fit patterns on your card, and the other is drawing tokens to brew a ‘potion’.
Another one to add to this list that was loaned to us – Morels. 2 player, fairly quick once you have the rules down, and not a targeting game. We have played a couple times and enjoyed it!
Yes! That would be a good one to add to this list. It’s been awhile since we’ve played it, but it is a good one for 2 players. Thank you!