15 Two-Player Board Games for Couples That'll Make Date Night Way More Fun
(And strengthen your 'ship in the process!)
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We’re usually anti-“playing games” when it comes to relationships, but board games? The exception of the century. Two-player board games for couples can be a really wonderful way to bond with your partner, enhance your teamwork skills, and spend quality time together. Playing games together can bring out your flirty competitive side, help you work on your communication, and serve as something new to try on your next date night in. If you haven’t already caught the gist, this is one couple's activity we wholeheartedly stand behind. But there is a caveat.
Only you and your partner know your true dynamic. If either of you is competitive in more of a “If I don’t win my whole day is ruined” kind of way (you know, instead of a “It’s just a game!” kind of way), maybe a board game date isn’t for you. And that's okay! The same applies if you have a history of getting into arguments over competitiveness or who "really" won. Avoid, pls! Or stick to games that feel more like the two of you are on the same team instead of opposing ones. (Options for you below, too!) Remember: Games are meant to be lighthearted and fun!
But if the above doesn’t apply to you, there’s tons you can do to make your board game date night more fun. (Read: Spicy.) Up the ante with sexy dares or bets (think: “If I win…you and I get to [*insert your favorite sexy activity here*] later”). Wanna keep it more PG? Maybe loser folds the laundry, or winner gets to pick tomorrow’s dinner spot. Ultimately, board games for couples should be just that—games. And while you’re playing and enjoying your time together, you might also be practicing teamwork and learning more about each other along the way. Unlike with most games, everyone wins. Below, the 15 games we love most.
Pros
- Cooperative style play makes it non-competitive.
- 2-4 players allowed.
Cons
- Quick duration—play time lasts 10-20 minutes which isn't ideal if you want a longer activity.
Codenames Duet is a cooperative board game, meaning you and your partner are working together. The overall idea is that you're both agents sent on a top-secret mission where you have to "contact" 15 other agents in a crowded city, while avoiding getting caught. You each know who the other can contact safely and have to give each other one-word clues using included word cards to figure it out.
Pros
- Addictive! It's over quick but you'll want to play time and time again.
Cons
- The game materials are just a bunch of little marbles, making it less than ideal for on-the-go play.
- Can get competitive.
Mancala is one of the oldest games in history, and its popular for a reason. This two-player game can get competitive quick. Each little pit gets four marbles, and the objective is have the most marbles in your mancala—the larger pits on opposite sides of the board. You take turns moving the marbles around the board until they've all been moved out of the smaller pits and one of you has the most in your mancala.
Pros
- Easy to learn.
- Travels well.
Cons
- Very simple concept, which could be a con if you're seeking something more strategic.
This game is easy to learn and so fun to play with a partner. Essentially, each team (or in this case, each player) gets three category cards. On your turn, you flip one over to reveal the category (for example, cheese) and then take turns shouting out different words that fall under that category (parmesan, gouda, muenster, etc.). The goal is to shout out your answer before the ball rolls out of your side and into your "winning zone," in which case the opposing team (your SO) wins the round and moves a "block" on their side closer to their own winning zone. This keeps going until one person wins a round with their block in the last slot.
Pros
- Simple to learn.
- About 30 minutes of play.
Cons
- This game has lots of tiny pieces and tiles—not great for traveling.
Carcassonne is a 2-5 player game where the objective is to complete a kingdom and win points. Each player takes turns placing tiles that form different parts of the kingdom—roads, monastaries, cities, and farmland—and completing these parts wins you points. Once all the tiles run out, the player with the most points wins.
Pros
- The whole game fits into a pocket-sized pouch.
Cons
- Only takes 10-15 minutes to play.
- Not as simple as it seems—there's lots to remember!
Flip Circus is a surprisingly strategic game that comes in a teeny tiny package—literally. All the pieces fit into one pouch, which makes it super portable. The goal is to line up a set of three matching "performer" tokens (tokens with the same performer's face on them) in order to win their performer "poster" (a larger piece with their face on it), but that's where the challenge lies. You can move the tokens around based on the performer's abilities and you need to remember where they all are. To win, you either need to collect three posters, or get all five "clown tokens" face up when there's one poster left.
Pros
- Easy to play.
- Doesn't take a ton of brain power.
- Perfect for two or more players.
Cons
- Game pieces are just marbles so it's not super easy to clean up or play discreetly.
Craving something easy and mindless? Enter: WobbleBall. You divide marbles and take turns placing them in little holes on a wobbly half-ball that can tumble over with one wrong move. It's a balancing act! The entire game is just marbles, so it's not the best fit for days where you're not trying to make a mess. But keep it contained and you've got a great way to pass the time.
Pros
- Easy to learn.
- Will make you want to play over and over again.
- Competitive in a good way—this isn't a game that's easy to cheat on.
Cons
- Lots of tiny "ship" pieces that make it less portable than ideal.
Few board games are as iconic as Battleship. In this classic game of naval combat, the objective is to guess where your opponent's ships are on their board and "sink" them before they can sink yours. Very easy, very fun, and will 10/10 make you feel nostalgic for your middle school era.
Pros
- 30-minute play time.
- This edition comes with a reversible board that features a sixth expedition.
Cons
- Some reviewers complained about missing items or warped packaging.
This two-player board game is giving Indiana Jones in the best way possible. The basic idea is that each player maps out an "expedition" and places bets on their success. They earn points as their expedition evolves but can lose points if the expedition is unsuccessful. The player with the highest score after three expeditions wins.
Pros
- Lots of strategic thinking involved here—great for players who love a challenge.
- 30-60 minute play time makes this a great game for a longer date night activity.
Cons
- Tons of tiny pieces makes this an unsuitable game for travel.
If magic, wizards, and potions are your vibe, Res Arcana is for you. Each player is a "mage" whose goal is to claim monuments and places of power before their competitor, using the "essences" that fuel magic—life, death, elan, calm, and gold. It's for ages 14+ so it's a little trickier than a lot of the other games on this list, making it perfect for gamers who love a challenge.
Pros
- Once you learn the rules, this game is full of opportunities for critical thinking and strategy.
- It's competitive but shouldn't be super conflict-inducing.
Cons
- Some reviewers say it takes a second to really understand how to play.
- Only takes 15-20 minutes to play.
7 Wonders: Duel is a competitive, civilization-building board game where players take turn picking cards in an effort to develop their civilizations and construct "wonders." There are three ways to win and lots of steps to learn, but once you get the hang of it, it can quickly become a fave.
Pros
- Easy to play.
- Can be played with 2-4 players.
Cons
- Not very portable.
- Might get tricky for folks who aren't super wordy.
If you love Wordle, it's time to re-visit Scrabble. And if you've never played Scrabble, well, welcome to your new fave. This classic game of wordsmithing sees players create words from a batch of seven tiles they refresh throughout. Letters are worth varying points (some are worth more than others) and the player with the most points at the end wins.
Pros
- The game comes with two pre-designed characters, but also blank sheets to create your own character.
Cons
- The game has several cards so isn't compact enough to travel with.
The two players in this game are fighters vying to overcome their opponent and win a duel. You can pick where the duel takes place based on the nine available board options and decide with your partner why the duel is taking place, what each character's motivations are, and more. Great for creative storytellers and competitive gamers alike!
Pros
- Designed for 2-4 players.
- Not too challenging to learn.
- Co-operative instead of competitive.
Cons
- Race-against-the-clock style, so if you don't like tension, skip this one.
Want to pretend you're on a relaxing tropical island? Then Forbidden Island is...probably not for you tbh! It's a race against the clock to collect all four "artifacts" (basically special treasures) on the island before it sinks—which it does, progressively, after every turn. Eeek! This is cooperative game that doesn't require any competitive elements, so great for team-building and open communication.
Pros
- The game is compatible with an app where you can take a pic of the song you created and actually listen to it.
- The game pieces are just cards and they're compact enough to take anywhere.
Cons
- The concept is simple—almost *too* simple. If you're craving a more complex experience, skip this one.
This game is giving "Wanna play mermaids?!" energy with a "lure sailors to their death" twist. No, seriously. The idea is that you and a partner create a song that can lure sailors based on where you place and move the cards. Different elements of the cards give you points, and whoever has the most at the end wins. This game also offers an app you can download that lets you scan your card order and actually listen to the song you created. So fun!
Pros
- Reviewers say they love the aesthetic style of the game, and that the pieces are beautifully crafted and well-made.
- Strategic and challenging but easy to get the hang of after playing it a few times.
Cons
- This game works for up to four players, which is fine, but means that with two players, it's over quicker—in about 15-20 minutes.
Azul is an award-winning tile-laying game where players get points for creating mosaics on their boards. Each strategic move wins you a certain number of points depending on where on the board you lay your tile, how many you have in a row, how many colors you have on your board, and more. Whoever has most points at the end, wins!
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