We researched more than a dozen two-player card, dice, and board games, considering factors like intensity, price, and age range. After narrowing down our top picks, we deemed the Sequence Board Game as our best overall two-player game, thanks to its high entertainment value, versatility across multiple ages, and high replay value. Here, our favorite two-player games on the market. If you think a little healthy competition is good for game night, then you can’t go wrong with Sequence, a versatile strategy game you can play with two people or a large group. The versatility and excitement of this game makes it our top pick in this category. “This game offers an alluring combination of luck, variables, stealth, and strategy that had my kids and me hooked,” says our at-home product tester. The concept of the game is relatively straightforward: you put down playing cards from your hand and place a chip on the corresponding space on the game board. The object is to get five chips in a row, but your opponent may very well see your strategy and work to block your progress. Even though the game is relatively simple, people say it’s both entertaining and challenging for players of all ages. Each game felt unique, making for high replay value, says our tester. There are different techniques and strategies to play every time, making every round exciting and memorable. The game also teaches valuable skills to younger players like sequencing, strategizing, and decision-making, according to our tester. The only downside is the game can get less fun and competitive the more players you add. Price at time of publish: $18 The object of the game is to race your marker around the board while answering challenge cards that make you hum, dance, or act out iconic pop culture moments across generations. Your team only has a certain amount of time to guess the correct cultural reference. The rules of this game are easy enough for any age to grasp, but it may be better, and more fun, with several players of all ages. It also may be challenging for players facing off who have multiple generations separating them. Price at time of publish: $30 Young players can race each other to fill up their Zingo board first—all while developing picture and word associations. Two different board levels are included so that young players can also “level up” their game play as they grow and learn. We also love that this game can be played among a variety of ages, whether a parent and child, siblings, or grandparents are playing against each other. If you’re allowing younger children to play between themselves, be sure to keep an eye on them as the game pieces are small and may be a choking hazard. Price at time of publish: $22 During gameplay, you take turns giving one-word clues to your partner, striving to identify your team of “secret agents” from a grid of 25 cards. If you reveal the assassin or too many innocent bystanders along the way, you lose! This game does a great job blending the basics of the original Codenames with cooperative play, making it a great two-player game that you’ll want to play over and over. Plus, the rules are easy to learn and gameplay is quick! Price at time of publish: $30 During the game, two players go head-to-head, competing to build a civilization to crush your competition, striving to build architectural “wonders” along the way. You can win by achieving military, scientific, or civilian supremacy, so you can play a different strategy every time you play. Reviewers call this game one of the best two-player games they’ve ever owned. Many love the variability and mechanics of 7 Wonders: Dual, writing that the numerous ways to win make it an engaging game with lots of replay value. Price at time of publish: $22 The object of this cooperative game is to save the world from an outbreak of disease by working together to contain and cure the various strains. This game is especially challenging, as epidemics and outbreaks can spread diseases across the board faster than you can contain them, and there are several ways you might lose. “There is something unique and appealing about the way teams feel like they are fighting against the game, ultimately spurring great camaraderie,” says our at-home tester. Online reviewers write that this game is particularly addicting, as you’ll want to keep playing until you can best it. Pandemic has ample replay value, as no two games will ever be alike, making it in essential for your collection of board games. Price at time of publish: $20 Ticket to Ride is recommended for players eight and older, and each game will take between 30 minutes in an hour. To play, each person races to build train routes across a map of North America, connecting various cities and earning points along the way. You can earn bonus points by having the longest continuous path or by completing routes given on your “destination tickets.” People describe this as a “light” strategy game, because you do need a game plan to win, but it’s not too thought-intensive. Overall, many people say this is one of their favorite board games, and it gets especially competitive when you’re playing with all adults. Price at time of publish: $34 This cooperative game is recommended for players 10 and up, and each round takes about 30 minutes. The award-winning game takes you on an adventure to capture four sacred treasures from ruins on the island, and it requires strategic thinking and cooperation to win. What’s cool about Forbidden Island is there are multiple levels of difficulty, so it can be as challenging as you choose. One of the highlights of this game is that it’s easy enough for children to play, yet still challenging for adults. Reviewers call it clever and lots of fun. Price at time of publish: $20 Some games test your knowledge and strategy skills while others are based solely on luck. Certain games involve teamwork, while others are about outwitting each other. Consider who’ll be playing and what their abilities are. Generally, having a good mix of games on hand is always a good idea. Often, more strategy based games have a longer duration, which is good to keep in mind when playing with kids. Consider your child’s attention span and if you prefer quick and engaging gameplay for longer and more intense games that can last for hours.
Portability
Consider where you will play your game the most. If you are playing on road trips or bringing on vacations, opt for a card game for something lightweight that is easy to take on-the-go. For staying at home, you can go for a pick with more pieces that requires more space.
Age Range
Each game comes with a suggested age range for players, which can help you hone your choices depending on who’ll be playing. Remember, however, that those are just suggestions, and the compatibility will also be based on players’ individual strengths and maturity levels. Some of the best games are those that are challenging enough for all ages but are still simple enough for the youngest players and offer varying levels of difficulty.
Why Trust the Spruce?
This article was written by Camryn Rabideau, a freelance writer and product tester for The Spruce. Emma Phelps, an updates writer for The Spruce, also assisted in adding new games to this roundup. Emma has over two years of experience on writing about all things home decor, home improvement, culture, and lifestyle.
