Aren't there conversion guidelines out there somewhere, like spouse = 3 bonus dice, buddy = 2, coworker = 1. Conversion by standard guidelines would help to simplify all our relationships.
Sagrada is a great one as well. Surprised more people aren’t talking about it. After I taught my friends they requested it for every game night after. It’s a great two player and with the expansion it can go up to 6 players. There are also rules to play solo!
- Air, Land & Sea. - Star Realms (or Ascension if you prefer a fantasy theme). - Battlelore. - Lord of the Rings Confrontation. - Guillotine. - Biblios - Castles of Mad King Ludwig - Space Base - Alien Frontiers - Star Wars; Rebellion - XWing Miniatures - KaChing While not all of these are necessarily marketed at just two player, they are games the gf and I love to play together.
Santorini recently dipped in price to around $15 and is one of the greatest 2 player games I've ever played. It's tremendously simple to learn, but blossoms into a rich tactical masterpiece after just a couple of times playing
A couple of great lightweight ones is throw in there are Patchwork - a Tetris-style pattern making game - and Odin's Ravens - a racing game with some light take that mechanics.
Boss Monster is another great one. Players are the titular boss monster at the end of a NES level, building your dungeon of traps to stop the heroes coming to conquer you.
You drive to the Tash-Kalar in your Tash-Kar, to play Tash-Kalar with your Tash-Kards, but don't be too Brash-Kalar or you might lose your bet of Cash-Kalar. I'll see myself out.
Wow! Nice content! I also want to share this Lagim Card game that my family and I are enjoying. It's amazing that they actually came up with the idea of Philippine Folklore since it's kind of dying down a bit. It will surely educate future generations.
Two games I'd like to recommend: 1) Tak. A Beautiful Game. It was first mentioned in one of the books by Patrick Rothfuss, The Wise Man's Fear. It's a more abstract strategy tile laying game. SImple to learn, hard to master. The other, The Duke, by Catalyst Game Labs, a bit more akin to summoner wars as in every token is a character in the army with its own moves, but also like chess as in: this piece does this and this, and if the other piece is in the way it's gone. The Duke has a couple of interesting expansions for varied gameplay, among those a Robert E. Howard pack with pieces reprensenting characters from his books, Conan, Solomon Kane, among others.
Fugitive looks like a lot of fun! Lately my partner and I have been really enjoying The Duke which is a 2 player that's kinda like chess? Except not quite? I've had games last anywhere from 5 minutes to 3 hours. There's a bit of luck, a bit of strategy, and lots of replayability which is always best of all :)
This was a great list, I think the one I'm most interested from this selection is Tash-Kalar. There's something great about wizard duels taking place in an ancient arena. A game I'd like to see you guys do a review of, although it seems to be an expensive one, is Paper Tales. The theme is a card drafting game over ''several generations'', in which cards drafted in previous rounds grow older in the next. I really do love this channel, keep at it.
I'd like to recommend Santorini. It's perfect for 2 people, with a really simple set of rules that anyone can learn in 5 minutes, but with a massive amount of chess-like depth that can make for some very tense games
Odin's Ravens is my go to two player game for new players, quick to explain and nice balance between luck and skill. Everyone I know that has played it, loves it.
My husband just picked up a game called Everdell for me for christmas, it has a theme of cute animals building a society and a really impressive looking tree to hold the cards and pieces. It's good with two players, but probably ideally works with three and can accommodate up to four. Bonus, there's a single player variant where you play against grumpy king Rugwort. Very cute and very fun. Takes a while to play at first, though. I think turns will get faster once we get a hang of things.
One of my faves for 2 players that I super recommend if you don't mind having a weird and hilariously awkward time is Fog Of Love. You basically each have a play through being in a relationship and and have secret asymmetric goals. It's a good, odd time.
It is often rated as one of the best boardgames ever too but I don't get it; not that ı ever played it but the biggest attraction of 7 WOnders and its extensions for me is how it allows up to 7 (8 with Cities) players to play a strategic nationbuilding game without long wsits and dragged out games. Not sure how the formula would fit 2 players well
7 wonders duel is ok but is not amazing plus there are so many icons etc to keep a track of. I dont mind that if the game is amazing but it doesnt keep me on my toes wanting more, it's just quite good.
@@anz10 I actually found the icons really helpful. I respect every game that makes the effort to have such good symbology that it becomes language independent. The new edition of 7 Wonders (the main game) is proof to that, since they replaced the text for building chains with icons, just like the 7W Duel.
I also recommend Flux. Only one rule: on your turn, draw one card, play one card. There's no need to explain pages of rules because the rest of the rules change almost every time a card is played, based on what the card says.
Theodore Friend for the same reason monopoly sucks: it’s long and boring. There are plenty more card games (literally, just pick any other one) that would do better than that.
I love fluxx. They have a few fandom versions as well. I find some people have to play it a few times before they start to really get into it because by then they'll have a better feel for the cards and possibilities to win
Chess is 1500 years old. And there are more possible outcomes in a single game of chess than, an estimated, total number of atomic particles in the material universe. Worth a look...
Two player recommendations: - Roma an interesting dice worker placement and card pooling game by Stefan Feld - Ubongo Duel a fast engaging tetris style puzzle game. Great for brain burning mental workouts - Ingenious Travel Edition - Stuff yer Face is the best two player dexterity game! Games that allow for more, but really are just 2 player games: Star Trek Fleet Captains Innovation
I would recommend Spirits of the Wild. Basically you collect stones to make a constellation and the person with the most points at the end wins. It can be strategic as you try to keep certain stones from your opponent. The art is also beautiful.
lost cities and balloon cup were my 1st 2 player games still remember fondly, since then patchwork and splendor and since kinda slipped in skirmish games with friends starwars legion current favorite
Thank you so much for including Brawl! I've been a huge fan of Cheapass games for years, they have several games that could go on this list. Butten Men comes immediately to mind.
It's probably better with more players, but I think Mysterium is pretty hard to beat when it comes to high banter with two players, especially if you play the optional rule where the ghost can only communicate by knocking on the table!
Jaipur could have been a great game, but that random VP chips soils it for. Merchants of Muziris is superior in every way, and Sobek is also more interesting, and plays more than 4. Check them out.
A bit of a miss is definately Patchwork. While I'm personally more into thematic games I cannot ignore how well made Patchwork is, it is quite possible the best 2 player game ever made
Guillotine by Avalon Hill is one of my favorite two player games. And it is really easy but unique game experience. The action cards allow some strategy and if you have sense of minor dark humor or passion for the French Revolution it’s great!
Hi johny and wheels I love this channel and have been here since you began u have really spiked my interest in board and card games I have yet to play anything but your videos have really got me inspired u have a great channel here and hope to be here as you grow and become a massive youtube channel. Also I have watched your video about best beginner games could u suggest ur favourite and the best way to convince my mates to play coz non of them are interested at the moment love you guys keep up the great work
The Great War is another command and colours with great production value, but it's a touch more complicated than Memoir 44 and much less heroic... ya know, like the war it's emulating. If you want my opinion of the best singular box of them though I'd go Napoleonic... it's pretty ugly, but it's the best mechanical use of the system; although the sheer scale of Memoir 44's expansion catalog to me makes it more pressing a purchase for most people. Also although it is two players you can make a pretty fun four player variant by each getting someone who doesn't know the rules to pick your cards and you having to figure out some sort of strategy from it... it's most thematically accurate for The Great War, but it's a fun thing to try out, and can be a good way of getting someone into war gaming too as it specifically relies on them not knowing the rule that scare most people away from the hobby.
Lots of great suggestions there! May I add two more? My wife and I really love the two player card game; "Fox in the Forest" and another fun game called "Duelosaur Island".
One Deck Dungeon (and its expansion ODD:Forrest of Shadows) is an awesome 2p co-op dungeon crawler board game, that for added bonus can be played single player as well.
I'm gonna keep recommending Lunch/Beer Money untill you guys do a video on it. It is a combination role-playing/fighting based card game that is really fun with 2-4 players (or 8 with the expansion or just a second deck). Plus, unlike Brawl; the deck is only about $15 USD as an added bonus. And Chez Geek and Apples-to-Apples of course, but those seem to be more well known and widely played already.
The River from Days of Wonder and Citrus from TMG are great at two players. They play up go 4 or 5 players, but have 2p sides of their boards that scale for two players well. I feel like they get overlooked as they're not solely advertised for two players
ive always like stratego. take chess, arrange the pieces however you want within your starting zone, and navigate around and through your opponents pieces that you dont know what are util you launch a deadly attack. each piece has its own rules about how it can move and what powers it has, making even low power pieces useful. for example, most players would think to hide their flag (the piece that cant move but must be attacked to win) behind bombs which destroy everything that attacks them except for bomb specialists which have a weak combat power of 3. with the game being around so long, there are also versions with different advanced rules. beginners can play it like checkers, moving pieces (that have the ability to move) 1 space at a time with no special rules, and more advanced players can start using the special powers of pieces from the theme, such as fantasy's 6 power enchanters which can force the opponent to reveal the targeted piece and take control of them if they have a smaller number. each player always has 1 flag, which must be protected, several traps, and numbers ranging from 2-10, with the single S(py) acting as a 1 that can only beat 10.
Might I reccomend 2 games I've come across that are incredibly fun. The first is Gubs. It looks cutesy but it is a savage, cutthroat, yet still fun strategy game that scratches the itch for games like M:tG. The other game is one of my favorites, Odin's Ravens. It's a great game where you play as 2 ravens racing around the world to see who gets around first. It's simple to learn, but the dirty play cards (called Loki cards) make the game a blast.
Great Job!!! Just subscribed. Have two of the six and now looking into the others. We also enjoy Ticket to Ride : Nordic (designed for 2-3 players) and just discovered Potion Explosion, can be played with more, but has been great with just the two of us.
Most co-op games play well with 2 players. Pandemic (lots to choose from in there), Forbidden Desert, Forbidden Island, Flash Point Fire Rescue, Harry Potter Hogwarts Battle, Escape: The Curse of the Temple, Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective, Fog of Love, EXIT/Unlock games (sort of like an escape room in a box). And for something heavier: Grizzled, Gloomhaven, Mice and Mystics, Spirit Island
One Deck Dungeon (and its expansion ODD:Forrest of Shadows) is another awesome 2p co-op board game, that for added bonus can be played single player as well.
Aeon's End! It is such an elegant full co-op deck builder. Tons of depth, but so simple to get started - especially if you've played Dominion or Legendary previously. I cannot praise it enough! Not strictly 2-player, but does play slightly better at 2 than any other count.
Regarding Brawl the free printable version is no longer available. The card decks PDF printouts were removed from Cheapass site in July 2015 when they kickstarted a reprint. Now the rulebook is the only PDF file available but it's useless without the cards.
Respect for not hitting us with Twilight Struggle, Patchwork, and 7 Wonders Duel, not cause these games aren't aces, but because they are the obvious choices for a list like this. Personal favorites of mine are Hanamikoji (fun fact: Jamie Stegmaier swears by this one) and Onitama. Games that aren't two only, but which I think are optimal at this player count include Neuroshima Hex, Dice Throne, and Santorini.
Hanamikoji, 7 Ronin, Rebellion, War if the Ring, in order of complexity and play time. All excellent mano y mano games that put you to difficult decisions.
Notes from a CLUEDO Enthusiast; I actually managed to try Frontier out recently and highly recommend it as well. The game ended really quick when i drew the 43 card(the plane escape card) as the Cop, however, so you might want to watch for that. Now if you'll escuse(?) me, i hear Professor Green calling my name.... May you never get snake eyes, "Mr.Body" Trevelyan
Wfftam they’re called “cooperative” games, and there are a ton, I suggest starting with pandemic, Hanabi, and forbidden desert. Should you be looking for a more complex or difficult experience, try gloomhaven or ghost stories. My personal favorite is actually “castle panic” which is a kid’s game, but it’s brutal. Mysterium, mansions of madness*, and The Mind should also be mentioned here. *this game has a betrayal element to it, one of you ends up being the monster and then you fight 1vall, but it’s got a great theme and is awesome for halloween.
Space explorers and design town are two great games that only need two players! Both my faves at the moment! Design town has been renamed and redesigned as flip city now... but design town is the better version and highly reccomend that if you can get your hands on it!!
I prefer Euchre or Spades if I am playing a card game. Too bad there is only 2 board games in this list. I would have put Fortress America is as a top 5 1v1 board game.
