While some board games can only be played with two players, such as 7 Wonders: Duel, others can be played with four or more players, but are often better with just two. In turn-based tabletop games with few player interactions, players have to wait between turns with nothing to do but plan or watch, and the more players you add, the longer these waits become.
10 Best Board Games On Steam
Board game night enters the digital age thanks to these fantastic games available on Steam.
In competitive games where players are trying to achieve the highest score on their own board, the competition can also feel better in a one vs one scenario where players can fully focus on beating a single opponent. There are also other reasons why some board games are better with just two players, as will be highlighted with Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective.
Spirit Island
Work Together As Spirits To Defend An Island From Invaders
- Playing Time: 90-120 mins
- Players: 1-4
- Age: 13+
Spirit Island is one of the most respected board games, with players controlling vastly different spirits in order to defend an island from colonial invaders. The spirits all play in unique ways, and combining their innate powers and randomly selected power cards with other spirits can make for epic moments in this co-op experience.
While Spirit Island can be great with three or four players, their addition will make the already long game arguably too long. As players make their moves at the same time or in an order of their choosing, trying to come up with the best strategy also becomes increasingly more complex as more players are added. Each player already has a ton of their own actions to consider. For these reasons, Spirit Island is often more enjoyable and easier with just two players, especially while learning the game and different spirits.
Wingpsan
Collect Different Birds To Create The Highest Scoring Aviary
- Playing Time: 40-70 mins
- Players: 1-5
- Age: 10+
While technically a competitive game where players aim for the highest score, Wingspan is a cozy game in which players rarely have any opportunities to screw over their opponents. In fact, some cards even help opponents. There also isn't much to do in between turns, other than watch, so the game can be much more enjoyable with just two players.
From Console To Tabletop: 7 New Board Games Based On Video Games, Including The Witcher and Dark Souls
Experience your favorite video game worlds with these seven new board games inspired by top video game franchises.
For those who don't know, Wingspan is all about building an aviary of birds across three different biomes: forest, grasslands, and water. To place birds, players must exchange the correct food, and later on, it will also cost eggs, which can be stored on certain birds. Each beautifully recreated bird has different scores, nest type, biome type, and attributes that help players score bonus points for collecting birds that follow the same trends. Naturally, it is the ideal game for bird watchers and lovers.
The Castles Of Burgundy
Build The Best Medieval Duchies
- Playing Time: 30-90 mins
- Players: 1-4
- Age: 12+
The Castles of Burgundy has some of the most rewarding mechanics, with each action feeling important as players attempt to build the best duchies. However, outside of taking key tiles from the board, there aren't too many interactions between players, with each focused mainly on their own game. It is also a game that usually takes much longer than is stated on the box, and adding additional players increases the game time.
With just two players, it's also easier to keep an eye on your opponent's duchy, noting which tiles they would like to take next or which trade deals they might complete soon. If players are interested in this period of history, they may also want to check out some real board games from the Middle Ages.
Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective
An Immersive Detective Experience Based On Evidence
- Playing Time: 60-120 mins
- Players: 1-8
- Age: 13+
Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective tasks players with solving crimes by interrogating witnesses, making correct inquiries, and analyzing evidence such as the recent newspapers. However, as all of this is done by reading, it's actually best for just two players who can read one document at the same time.
Traverse The Upside Down In These 6 Fantabulous Stranger Things Board Games Before Season 5 Drops
Stranger Things fans can ease the wait for Season 5 with the help of these amazing Stranger Things board games on Amazon.
With additional players, everyone will have to take turns reading, slowing down the already long gameplay. Two players are also sufficient to come up with and discuss different theories, although this could certainly be fun with a bigger group, potentially leading to fun debates and victory in this difficult board game.
Use small sticky notes to mark key locations on the map, such as murder and alibi locations, as well as the residences of witnesses.
Carcassonne
Place Tiles To Complete Roads, Cities, & Monasteries To Score Points
- Playing Time: 30-45 mins
- Players: 2-5
- Age: 7+
Carcassonne is a great option for those who love historical-themed board games, but it is still enjoyable for all, as it's not too complicated. Together, players will place tiles to make an ever-expanding medieval landscape. While roads must connect to other roads or cities and cities must connect to other cities, each player still has plenty of choice when it comes to their turn.
By placing Meeple, points can be scored once a city, road, or monastery is complete, which will hopefully mess up an opponent's plan. This works well with up to five players, but in a one-versus-one game, players get more actions, and the competitiveness only increases, similar in some ways to games like Connect Four. Additionally, games should be quicker with just two players.
Board Games That Are Guaranteed to Ruin Friendships
Sore losers should avoid these games that encourage backstabbing and betrayal, sometimes leading to heated exchanges.