Our Favorite Games for Two People

It’s no secret that we are a GAME family.

We have a big game closet in our basement playroom, but our favorites almost never go downstairs and instead keep up a semi-permanent residence on our dining room bookshelf because they get used almost daily.

After my post about some of our favorite board games, I got a lot of requests for games for 2 people.

A chance to talk more about our favorite games? COUNT ME IN.

These games are perfect for 2 people and ones that Bart and I play on our own after the girls go to bed or that my girls can play together or that I play with just one of my girls.

Our Favorite Games for 2 People

Ticket to Ride
This was the game that really got Bart and me hooked on playing games with just the two of us. I remember lots of winter weekend mornings playing Ticket to Ride during our first year of marriage. Sometimes, just to switch things up, we each take two sets of trains and two main missions.

Dominion
I mentioned I was working on this post and listed this game and Bart said, “Have you ever played it with just two people?” Clearly he hasn’t, but Ella and I play this one together frequently.

Cover Your Assets
This was DEFINITELY our game of 2019 and it’s such a good one because even my 4 year old can play very well, and you can have a big group or play with just 2 people. And it’s fast (usually 10 minutes) and portable. We’ve played many a game of Cover Your Assets on vacation or waiting for our oil to get changed.

Sleeping Queens
This isn’t one I’d play with other adults, but for a kids game, it’s remarkably enjoyable and also quick to play.

Settlers of Catan
In Arizona, when Ella had half-days every Wednesday, we’d spend an hour or so together of special time and almost always, she chose Settlers. I actually prefer playing it with 2 people because the board doesn’t get so clogged up.

Dutch Blitz
This is one of our favorite games when we just want to play something quickly. It’s perfect for 2 people or bigger groups too, so it’s a go-to at our house. The expansion pack is cheaper and you don’t need the original to play.

Spot It
Spot It is a long-time family favorite that’s been getting a lot of play time in our family recently as Tally discovers the joy of this super simple game.

Phase 10
This game can take FOREVER, so we usually play either odds or evens or even just pick 3 phases.

Splendor
This was our game of 2020. We played it with Ella (and sometimes Ani) at least a few times a week and Bart and I often played 2-3 games of it in a row several nights a week after the girls went to bed (this is what happens when you don’t have any show you’re watching). I LOVE this game and if I had to choose a single favorite game, it would be this one!

Pandemic
This was Ella’s favorite game for a while and she asked to play it every single day after school. It’s a collaborative game, so you either all win together or lose together.

Yahtzee
I mean, not only is this a game for 2 people, it can also be a game for ONE person. Bart and I played this in the hospital after Ella was born and that’s probably why she loves games so much.

Wingspan
If you are looking for a game that will take up a bit more time, this is a great one to get! We checked this out from the library and Ella and I played it CONSTANTLY – it is so fun!

Planted
I love how easy this game is to learn. It’s all about using correct strategy to take care of your nursery…and if you’ve been around for awhile, you know how much I love my plants. I got this one for Christmas and we played it all through the holiday break.

7 Wonders
The rules are fairly intimidating – I think Ella spent an hour trying to figure out how to play, but once you figure it out, it’s super super fun and a game only takes about 15 minutes, so it’s perfect for playing over breakfast at our house. Everyone likes it and Tally was playing it well at 6 years old. If you don’t mind a little upfront investment of time learning how to play, it’s endlessly interesting and strategic and every single game is different. I’m a super fan.

Azul
We got hooked on it this game over Christmas break several years ago when some friends of ours brought it over and taught it to us. It’s kind of a pattern making game and it’s easy to learn but has enough strategy to keep it interesting game after game.

Bears & Bees
This is a simple but surprisingly fun game where you’re matching colors to make a giant beehive. It’s pretty quick and has a small deck, so it’s perfect for taking along with you or playing a quick game before dinner or bedtime. (Do I always accidentally call it “the birds and the bees”? Yes, I do). Also, it’s just so PRETTY.

Gnoming Around
This is a really beautifully illustrated card game version of Golf, where you’re going for the lowest possible score. Tally and I play this one together all the time, but you can have a whole bunch of people play too, which is great.

Tacocat
If you love Exploding Kittens, you will definitely love this one. There are a lot of things I love about this game – it’s fairly quick, the box turns into the game board and it’s great for all ages! Pretty sure I played this at least 3x a week when Tally was in preschool.

Do you have other favorite games for 2 people? I’d love to hear – we’re always up for another board or card game!

If you liked this post about games for two people, you might like these posts too:

• 10 games to play with young children that won’t bore you to tears
• 20+ activities for kids to do while they listen to audiobooks or read alouds
• The best audiobooks for family road trips

Photos by Heather Mildenstein