Playing board games or card games is one of my favorite ways to pass the time, but as a newlywed couple, it’s just the two of us most nights. We were stuck for a while because we didn’t have many two player games that we enjoyed and would reach for!
Lucky for us we got a few card and board games for couples (or any other group of two) for wedding and Christmas gifts and we’ve really enjoyed them! We regularly play all of these games, and many accomodate bigger groups as well so they’re versatile.
Ready to add some new two player games to your board game cabinet? Let’s dive into a few of our favorites!
Our Favorite Two Player Games
Hanabi
Ready for a firework-filled card game? Try Hanabi!
The concept of Hanabi is simple, but the execution can be tricky.
To play each of you is given a small deck of cards, each with a color and number 1-5. There are 6 colors (or 5 without the rainbows), and each color has 3 of the #1 cards, 2 of each #2, #3, and #4, and 1 of each #5 card.
Your goal is to play down each color column in order from 1 to 5. Sounds easy, right?
The catch is you have to do so without looking at your cards! On your turn you have three choices: you can play a card, discard, or give a clue.
Clues are limited, but you earn them by discarding or completing a column. The gameplay continues in rounds until all the columns are complete, or you make too many mistakes and blow all of your fuses.
It’s a fun and challenging game that will leave you thinking hard to find clues that will get the right cards down in a specific order.
Plus, not only is Hanabi a great game for two, but you can also play with up to five players.
Qwixx
If a fast-paced dice game sounds like a fun date night, give Qwixx a try!
It’s a simple, fun, and obviously quick game that’ll liven up any evening.
To play each of you will need a pencil and a scorecard that comes with the game. The scorecard has a corresponding row for each colored die (red, yellow, green, and blue) with numbers 2-12. Two of the rows go from 2-12 and the others are descending from 12-2.
You will each take turns rolling six dice, four colored and two white ones.
When the dice are rolled you first call out the combined total of the two white dice. This number can be taken by anyone and crossed off on their scorecard on any color row.
Once you cross off a number, however, you can only keep moving to the right on the card. On your turn, you can also choose to take a colored die combined with a white one in the row of that die’s color.
You must take a number each turn or you take a -5 instead, but you can choose to take the white dice combo or the white + colored, whatever works for your scorecard.
When you have at least 5 X’s in any row you unlock the rightmost 12 or 2 box. At that point any time you can put a 12 or 2 in that row you get to lock out the row, claiming an extra X and preventing anyone else from getting additional points from that color row.
Once you get going all you have to do is find the right strategy that gets you the most X’s in each row!
Qwixx is a great option for a flexible two player game that can also work for up to 5 people.
Lost Cities
If you’re looking for a true two-player game that’s full of luck, strategy, and a little adventure, Lost Cities is the perfect game for you!
The object of the game is to go on expeditions that will earn points depending on how many cards you collect in that category.
On your turn you have two choices: play a card to one of your ongoing expeditions (or start a new one) or put a card on the center board where your partner can choose to take it. After that, you can draw from the centerboard or the draw pile.
Cards range from #2-10, with point values directly corresponding with the card number.
In order to begin an expedition you are assuming a 20-point cost. The more cards you play the more points you’ll keep after the expedition cost.
Cards must be played down from smallest to largest, so if you already played a three and then a six but draw the five, you can’t add it to the expedition.
In order to earn even more points you can play 1, 2, or 3 wager cards before playing any number/point cards on your expedition of choice. These cards will double, triple, or quadruple your final score in that category depending on how many wagers you’ve stacked up.
Keep in mind that these wagers will multiply your score even if it’s negative, so before you decide to go exploring make sure that’s a risk you’re willing to take! If you put two wager cards on an expedition with 12 card points, your final score would be -24!
Give Lost Cities a shot for your next at-home date night!
Jaipur
Are you up for a quick-paced game for two that you’ve never heard of before? Try Jaipur!
This two-player game is quite simple! You simply collect cards in matching groups, ideally sets of 3, 4, or 5 to sell for point tokens of the same type.
You have to move quickly, though, as the first few tokens taken are worth the most. However, if you wait until you can sell a set of 3, 4, or 5 you will receive a random bonus token to boost your score even more.
You’ll also find camel cards in the deck. As far as point values go they aren’t useful during the actual gameplay, but at the end, the player with the most camel cards gets a bonus.
On your turn you can choose to pick up a single card from the market (the face-up cards in the center), trade goods with the market at a 1-to-1 rate, or pick up all of the camel cards.
Choose when to pick up the camel cards wisely. Too many in the center will give your opponent first choice at the new cards and could give them an unintended advantage.
Interested? Add Jaipur into your date night games collection.
Nintendo Switch Games
Looking for some two player games online? Give Nintendo Switch—or any other gaming console—games a try!
They might not be the most unique choice, but they’re popular for a reason!
Our personal favorites are:
Overcooked
Challenging, competitive, and collaborative, Overcooked is an action-packed cooking game that’s guaranteed to bring out the competitive side in you!
The game can be played with 1-4 players, but solo play is difficult as you’re controlling two people and have to toggle between them.
I highly recommend playing Overcooked, it’s one of my top 3 switch games, so give it a try!
Mario
Keep it classic with a fun Mario game! Whether you play traditional Super Mario, versatile Super Mario Party, classic Mario Kart, or any other Mario game, a fun date night is just around the corner!
We love playing Mario Party together, especially the mini-games! We both have our favorites and appreciate having multiple chances to win games since they’re so short.
All of these games are great for two players, but you can always play 4-player for a fun double date or family night too!
Donkey Kong
Another classic, Donkey Kong is a fun two-player game with plenty of hidden puzzle pieces to find and tricky levels to beat!
Work together as a team to finish each world and defeat the bosses, plus the ever-so-challenging ‘K’ levels that’ll have you switching to single-player mode and taking turns to save lives.
Just Dance
While I don’t own a Just Dance game on the Switch yet, I grew up loving it on the Wii and think it’d be the perfect two player game for date!
Get moving together in a fun competitive dance night that’ll have you smiling, sweating, and looking silly.
If you need something new for your quality time together, give one of these great unique two-player games a try! UNO can wait another night, give it a rest and play something new.
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