Best Games for 2 People
We’ve gathered up the top 20 best 2 player games, and you’re going to love this list! Get ready for a classic date night at home playing games with your sweetie!
We’ve divided this epic list into three categories:
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Best 2 Player Card Games
When it comes to games for two people, we hope you’ll find something in here you like and give it a try together for your next at-home date night!
1. Set: If you are into mind games, then this game is for you. Set is a game where you look at 12 cards and try to find a set of three cards where all are the same or all completely different in color and shape. This 2 player game is fast-paced and challenging and will keep you on your feet on game night! Check out the rules here.
3. Phase 10: Phase 10 is one of our favorite two-person games. The object of the game is to be the first player to complete all 10 Phases. In the case of a tie, the player with the lowest score is the winner. Each player tries to complete the phase by combining the 10 cards they are dealt from the deck to make each of the 10 different phases. For example: if the phase says to get 2 sets of 3, you can get 3 two’s and 3 fours. You start each hand by picking up 1 card from the deck or the discard pile. To end your turn, you must discard one card. Click here for more directions on how to play this super fun game.
4. Skip-Bo: What’s great about this game is it takes very little skill, so if you want to have a super chill game night – this game is perfect! The object of the game is to be the first player to play every card in your pile by playing all of your cards in numerical order. The cards are numbered 1 to 12. For more directions, click here.
5. Monopoly Deal: If you like Monopoly but might have a few reservations about the game (like the length, for example), then this is the game for you! Monopoly Deal combines the best parts of Monopoly with your own strategies of how to ‘out smart’ your opponent. Check out more of the rules here.
6. Five Crowns: Five Crowns is a fast-paced card game that has a deck with 5 suits instead of 4. Changing up the deck allows many more options for arranging hands of sets or sequences. If you make the right combinations, you will be the first to go out, and you win. To learn more, go here.
7. Golf: What’s great about golf is that you can play with you and your loved one for date night or make it a big group game night on different occasions. The object of the game is to get the best (lowest) score over the course of 9 rounds. If you do that, you win. For more instructions, click here.
6 Two Player Board Games
If card games are just a little too simple for you, then any of these 2 player board games might do the trick!
8. Stratego: This is one of those two-person games that even the kids can get into! Each player has an army of pieces, and each one has a different numerical value to it. You move your men around and try to find the flag on your opponent’s side without losing your own flag in the process. Here are more directions to read.
9. Ticket To Ride: In this game, you go on a cross-country train adventure where each player collects and plays matching train cards to win railway routes that connect cities throughout North America. The longer the routes, the more points you win. As a bonus, the longest continuous train gets added points at the end. Click here for more directions.
10. Ticket To Ride – Europe: In this game, you go on a train adventure through turn of the century Europe. In the European version, there are so many extra elements that make the game more exciting. For example, you have to navigate tunnels, ferries, and stations. For more in-depth instructions, click here.
11. Scrabble: When it comes to games for two people, my list wouldn’t be complete without a few classic games like Scrabble. Scrabble is a fun word game that tests your spelling, vocabulary, and spatial skills all at once! The object of the game is to get as many points as possible. You achieve that by spelling words using word tiles, but you have to watch out because the person you are playing with just might block you. Click here for more instructions.
12. Blokus: In Blokus, your visual and spatial skills are tested. The object of the game is to place as many of your 21 different shaped tiles onto the board. It sounds easy enough, but not when you are playing another person and realize your shapes can only touch each other by their corners. Here are more directions for you to read.
13. Othello: In Othello, you use the board and your own colored piece to ‘capture’ your opponent’s pieces and make them yours. Don’t get too comfortable though because they can capture them back (and more) on their turn. To learn more, go here.
Best Specialty Games for 2 People
Here are a few of my favorite specialty games for 2 people!
14. Rummikub: Here, you use numbered tiles to make sets and matches. The object of the game is to place down all of your tiles before your opponent. You win once you have accomplished this, and no more extra tiles remain. Click here to learn more.
- Rummikub Game
15. Chess: Put your skills to the test by trying to out move your opponent and capture his/her queen. Get more details here.
16. Yahtzee: Use five dice to roll different combinations. Each combination is worth different points. The object of the game is to get the most points. Learn more here.
17. Boggle: Use this specialized game and letter cubes to see how many words you can find within the letter tiles. After a set amount of time, you will read your list of words to your opponent. If you have the same word, you both cross it off. The player with the most amount of points wins. Here are more directions for you to read.
18. Farkle: Farkle is another fun dice game. Use six dice to come up with different combinations. The first player to 10,000 points wins. Click here to read more about this fun game.
19. Bananagrams: This fun game is very similar to Scrabble and Boggle, except you build your own board right in front of you. Use the tiles to make your own interlocking crossword. The object of the game is to get as many points as possible by spelling words out with the tiles. Click here to learn more.
20. Qwirkle: Qwirkle is a super fun game where you use your thinking skills to add blocks to the grid to score the most points. You have to keep your wits about you so your opponent doesn’t outsmart you and block your moves. Learn more here.
As you can see, this list of the best 2 player board games and card games is perfect for you and your sweetie to enjoy for endless game night date nights.
For even more fun game nights, check out:
OUR FAVORITE GAME ROUND-UPS:
- Single Player Card Games
- 50 Two-Player Card Games
- 75 Sexy Bedroom Games for Couples
- Fun Four-Player Card Games
- 50 Crazy Fun Family Games
- 101 Fun Family Games
- Best Backyard Games
- 65 Outdoor Party Games
- Indoor Games for Kids
- 33 Halloween Party Games
- 66 Halloween Family Games
- Thanksgiving Family Games
- 50 Christmas Party Games
- 50 New Year’s Eve Games
Other awesome 2 player games: dominion, hive, jaipur, race for the galaxy, and my favorite backgammon
Ooohhh! Those all sounds like fun ones and I haven’t heard of half of them!
ya, my husband is WAY into games so when I married him I got introduced to a ton! But they are all fun two player games. The most recent is Jaipur. It’s my favorite right now. 🙂
My husband and I play “Pandemic” all the time. When we were first married we asked at the game store for a good 2 player game and that was the recommendation. It’s so fun!
Also similar is Forbidden Island, which is somewhat less intimidating as far as learning to play 🙂
Oooo! Jessica! Thanks for the suggestions! I can’t wait to look those up!
i won’t play the american ticket to ride either. europe is a bazillion times better. thanks for the list!
Bree- I’m glad to know that my sister in law isn’t the only European fan! I personally LOVE the American version. To each their own {WINK}. Glad you like the list!
Any suggestions for collaborative two-player games for competitive spouses who shouldn’t play against each other?
Peter- What about games that you and your spouse have to use your brain skills with? You could fill out a Sudoku together, crosswords, or even word searches. My husband and I have done all these. I was not a fan of any of them until doing them with him. It really made a difference for sure. Plus, the accomplishment of finishing them was awesome. I will keep thinking too….Thanks for your comment.
i would recommend a cooperative game. The two I mentioned before are Pandemic and Forbidden Island. If you and your spouse are really competitive, i would definitely try Pandemic. My husband and Ihave difficult time playing competitive games too because he tends to get way more into the competition than me and destroys me by a wide margin. With pandemic we can put that competitive spirit to work against an opponent that won’t mind being destroyed every time (not that we do, the board is a formidable opponent). There are several expansions too that increase the difficulty of play. We’ve been playing for 4 years and it’s still a challenge!
Thanks so much Jessica for your input. I love these ideas!
One of our favorite 2 player games is called Carcassonne. It is a European style game. We have introduced a lot of families and friends to it. It has several expansions that go with it as well to change up the game play. We started playing it while we were dating and still enjoy it 10 years later!
Susie- Thanks so much for the new game! I am LOVING all the suggestions coming in. Yay! More to add to our list. Can’t wait to check it out! Thanks again!
Word on the street is a great one! Or sacttergories, sorry, or even twister 😉 this is a great list!
Kelsey- thanks for those awesome suggestions. They are great additions. Thanks again!
Iam happy to see this post, Thanks for sharing keep it up 🙂 Great job…
Thank you so much for your comment! I am so glad you are enjoying the posts. Hope you have some fun playing some great games!
Morels is our favorite 2 player game. Hunt for mushrooms and cook for points.
I will have to check that game out! Thanks for sharing. 🙂
My boyfriend and I Love Risk! It’s a really intense game even with only 2 players, and it’s a bit quicker that way too. It’s fun with more players as well! We also like to play trivia games! And the classics: Connect Four, battleship, and Labyrinth (kids game about making paths to certain blocks).
We’ve been looking for some that are a little more active, like indoor basketball or hockey, and ideas?
I have never played Risk 2 players but that is a great idea! What about Twister for a more active game? Or one of the dance off games? 🙂
My man also hates five crowns because he calls it a “luck game” because I can win. 🙂
Haha! You are just really skilled at it! 🙂