While there are plenty of two-player board games that are excellent, board games for couples to play together deserve their own special sub-category. Many two-player games fall into the categories of hardcore war board games or abstract games, which can be challenging for couples to enjoy together. Even if you steer clear of these niche picks, two-player games often lean towards fierce competition, which might not be ideal unless both partners are highly forgiving. Here, we've selected the best games that strike a balance between competition and cooperation, blending luck with strategy, to help you find the perfect game to enjoy together. If you're still searching for a Valentine's Day date idea, these board games for couples are a great place to start.
TL;DR: These are the best board games for couples
### Race to the Raft
1See it at Amazon
### Sky Team: Prepare for Landing
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### The Search for Lost Species
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### Fog of Love
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### Patchwork
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### Codenames: Duet
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### The Adventures of Robin Hood
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### Hive
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### Onitama
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### Five Tribes
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### The Fox in the Forest
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### 7 Wonders: Duel
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### Schotten Totten 2
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### Splendor: Duel
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### Sea Salt & Paper
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### Dorfromantik: The Board Game
0See it at AmazonEditor's Note: Although all of the games listed below are great for two players, some can accommodate up to 4 players. If you're looking for a game to enjoy both on board game night and as a couple, make sure to check the player count listed below each entry.
Race to the Raft
### Race to the Raft
1See it at AmazonAge Range: 8+Players: 1-4Playtime: 40-60 minsIf you remember the movement puzzle games popular in the early days of the internet, you'll appreciate this vibrant and engaging board game. In Race to the Raft, you guide finicky cats to safety, each traveling over a specific color of terrain. Your challenge is to build a path for them to reach a raft before a fire cuts them off. The game's difficulty is heightened by the random nature of terrain cards, the risk of blocking other cats' routes, and limited communication rules that might have you meowing to convey your strategy. With over 80 scenarios of increasing difficulty, this game is both challenging and hilariously fun.
Sky Team: Prepare for Landing
### Sky Team: Prepare for Landing
1See it at AmazonAge Range: 14+Players: 2Playtime: 20 minsImagine saying "I love you" by taking a flight to an exotic destination together. In Sky Team, you and your partner play as the pilot and co-pilot, working together to land the plane. It's more challenging than it sounds: each player manages their own dice pool and set of instruments, and some tasks require balancing values from both players. Communication is restricted during the placement phase, which can prevent arguments but adds to the tension when the dice run low, the plane tilts dangerously, and there's a queue for the runway.
The Search for Lost Species
### The Search for Lost Species
1See it at AmazonAge Range: 13+Players: 1-4Playtime: 60-75 minsThis app-driven game combines an appealing theme with a dynamic puzzle. Players race to map an island's ecology and discover a long-lost animal. Beneath its engaging surface lies a complex logic puzzle. Each animal has specific rules about where it lives, some fixed and some revealed by the app as you research. Use these rules and clues from your exploration to pinpoint the location of the mysterious beast. The game is complex but quick to play once mastered, and each game offers a fresh puzzle thanks to the app. You can even collaborate against the app, sharing a single playing piece.
For a more in-depth look at gameplay, check out my hands-on review of The Search for the Lost Species.
Fog of Love
### Fog of Love
1See it at AmazonAge Range: 17+Players: 2Playtime: 1-2 hrsThis game is designed specifically to explore the story of a couple in a relationship. You create and navigate the nuances and ups and downs of a fictional couple's journey. While the visuals may lean towards traditional gender roles, the game is inclusive of same-sex relationships. Each player has secret traits and destinies that influence choices made during scenes, affecting the outcome. As an experimental game, there's no strict winner, but the journey through an imagined relationship is the true reward.
Patchwork
### Patchwork
1See it at Amazon
Age Range: 8+Players: 2Playtime: 30 minsPatchwork is a simple yet clever game where players buy geometric pieces with buttons to create a quilt with minimal holes. Each purchase advances you on a time track, earning extra buttons or useful patches, but the player last on the track takes the next turn. This mechanic allows for strategic plays like planning double turns or leapfrogging your opponent. It's gently addictive and has won numerous awards and nominations.
Codenames Duet
### Codenames: Duet
1See it at Amazon
Age Range: 15+Players: 2+Playtime: 15 minsThe original Codenames was a breakout hit in the party game genre. In Codenames: Duet, the game is refined for two players into a cooperative experience. You work together to find fifteen clues before time runs out, taking turns giving clues to minimize downtime. This version brings the fun of a party game to a two-player setting.
Duet is just one of many Codenames spin-offs available, offering variety if you enjoy this game.
The Adventures of Robin Hood
### The Adventures of Robin Hood
1See it at Amazon
Age Range: 10+Players: 2-4Playtime: 60 minsUnlike other games on this list, The Adventures of Robin Hood is narrative-driven, retelling the legend of the famous outlaw across nine scenarios. It introduces innovative mechanics, such as measuring progress with a long base on your wooden piece to stay in shadows and avoid guards. The board functions like an advent calendar, with numbered pieces you flip to create a dynamic world. Can you and your partner save Nottingham from the Sheriff before Guy of Gisborne catches you?
Hive
### Hive
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Age Range: 9+Players: 2Playtime: 20 minsPlayed with chunky plastic hexes, Hive can be unsettling due to its insect theme, but it's also intellectually stimulating. Each player has a Queen hex, and the goal is to surround your opponent's Queen. Four other insect types have unique movement rules you must use strategically. With only eleven tiles per side, the game is easy to transport and set up, but the complex movement rules make it challenging to win.
Onitama
### Onitama
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Age Range: 10+Players: 2Playtime: 10 minsOnitama is a simple yet engaging game played on a grid with a master pawn and five students. You win by knocking out the enemy master or moving your master to the opposite end. The twist is that legal moves depend on randomly dealt cards, with two choices each turn. This creates a dynamic interplay of cause and effect, making it challenging to plan ahead.
If you enjoy Onitama's mechanics, explore more from our list of the best dueling board games.
Five Tribes
### Five Tribes
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Age Range: 14+Players: 2-4Playtime: 40-80 minsInspired by Mancala, Five Tribes involves picking up multiple color pieces and dropping them on tiles to determine actions. The changed board state affects the next player's options, making each turn a strategic puzzle. An auction determines the first player, adding another layer of strategy. With two players, you get double turns, allowing for combo plays.
The Fox in the Forest
### The Fox in the Forest
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Age Range: 10+Players: 2Playtime: 30 minsThis trick-taking game uses a three-suit deck where even-numbered cards function traditionally, but odd-numbered cards have special powers. The Fox card changes the trump suit, while the Witch is always a trump. The scoring system rewards winning either the majority or minority of tricks, making it challenging to maintain a lead. The Fox in the Forest is fast, fun, and innovative.
7 Wonders: Duel
### 7 Wonders: Duel
0See it at AmazonAge Range: 10+Players: 2Playtime: 30 minsWhile the original 7 Wonders was a hit, 7 Wonders: Duel is considered even better for two players. You draft cards to build point-scoring sets representing aspects of an ancient civilization. Instead of the standard drafting, you select from a pyramid of overlapping cards, adding a timing element as you balance your picks against your opponent's options.
Schotten Totten
### Schotten Totten 2
0See it at AmazonAge Range: 8+Players: 2Playtime: 20 minsA classic from 1999, Schotten Totten involves battling across nine stones by creating Poker-style three-card combos. The tension arises as you and your opponent try to guess each other's strategies. There's also a deck of special power tactics cards to add variety. The amusing cartoon art can also be used to play a different game called Lost Cities.
Splendor: Duel
### Splendor: Duel
0See it at AmazonAge Range: 10+Players: 2Playtime: 30 minsWhile the original Splendor was great for two players, Splendor: Duel refines the gameplay for couples. You're master jewellers creating masterpieces for noble clients, picking gems off a board with placement rules and vying for three victory conditions. The special effects add variety to your strategies, making it a delightful two-player experience.
Sea Salt & Paper
### Sea Salt & Paper
0See it at AmazonAge Range: 8+Players: 2-4Playtime: 30-45 minsThis abstract card game by Bruno Cathala combines classic gameplay elements. You build sets to score points, with pairs of cards offering special effects like taking extra cards or stealing from opponents. The game ends when players decide, adding a gambling element. It's best with two players, and the unique origami artwork adds to the experience.
Dorfromantik: The Board Game
### Dorfromantik: The Board Game
0See it at AmazonAge Range: 8+Players: 1-6Playtime: 30-60 minsInspired by the relaxing video game, Dorfromantik lets you build a rural utopia hex by hex. The board game adaptation offers a cooperative experience, with a campaign mode that adds new content through reveals. Sharing these discoveries with a partner enhances the experience, making it perfect for couples.
For a more in-depth look at this game, you can check out my review of Dorfromantik: The Board Game for additional details.
