I played several games from this list. My favourite is Sobek 2 players. I played the original Sobek. I think it is ok. Sobek 2 players is excellent! It adds a field. I want to take this tile, but then my opponent can take that tile. To prevent it I should take another tile. Some tiles are closed, some are opened. Good balance between strategy and randomness. Expansion adds more randomness for people who like to risk. In Sobek the person with bigger amount of corruption gets negative points. In Sobek 2 players the players with less amount of corruption gets positive points. Psychologically it is easier to get then to lose.
Nice list! Codenames doesn't scratch the same itch as the OG for me. Haven't played any Tokaido. I've played a ton of 2P Splendor and a healthy amount of Duel, and rather prefer the former with 2P but like both. Didn't realize Wingspan Asia *was* a duel/duet, will check that out. And agree with the top.
I've heard Sobek: The Duel is really good. It's on my to-play list. One point of discussion is why a "2-player version" of an existing title would need to be created. One reason is that the previous game simply was not really designed for two players- the primary mechanisms provide a different or suboptimal experience at two players. (This is certainly not the case with Wingspan nor any Stonemaier game, for that matter). Maybe the game doesn't even allow a player count of two, or maybe you have to run a "bot" player to accommodate said mechanisms. For a 2-player redesign, theme and basic mechanisms are identfied as things that can and should be retained, but the way players interact with each other and how frequently they interact are explored. The turn structure or order may need to be changed. The "space" in which players operate may need to be altered- restricted/constricted/reduced. To accomplish this, some games might need to make some minor changes, others have to make whole-cloth changes- the important thing is that it retains some semblance of the original, otherwise it might as well be given a different title. Agricola's optimal player count is subjective, as is how different the two-player experience is from that "optimal" player count. All Creatures Big and Small is a good example of a game that kind of reduces the space of the players (limiting the focus to animal husbandry). I'm not sure if its main design goal was to provide an optimal Agricola experience for two players or to create a lighter and smaller (and more affordable) game. Either way, a smaller game, a smaller board, with fewer spaces and fewer available actions provide solutions for both. One other reason for a two-player version is to modify the experience by adding components or mechanisms for two players. I think Wingspan Asia is a good example of this. It's not a "mode" or a "bot". It's essentially something new- an add-on. With Wingspan Asia, you have the same game as base Wingspan, but you're adding the side board which gives you the round bonuses and the spacial element with the tile location and path/adjacency goals (which might not work as well with higher player counts). Honestly, if I were adding a two-player mechanism to a game, I would be tempted to choose mechansims which are mostly exclusive to two-player games, like a tug-of-war mechanism-- and, that's probably not the proper way to think about design. Because, ultimately, it's about designing the EXPERIENCE you intend to provide for players.
This is really well-said! Two-player specific games open design space that rarely works at higher player counts (reducing life, player elimination, instant win conditions, tug-of-war, etc).
Hmm... It is interesting how I mentioned that Wingspan Asia's duet mode is not a "mode". Semantics, yes. I suppose I intuitively think of a "mode" as a version of a game with its primary mechanisms or end goal being modified in a substantial way. But, I suppose a mode is just a different ruleset of the same game. A "mode" can be anything the designer chooses it to be- a modification of rules, additional components (or exclusion of some), etc.
Anyone surprised at what got #1??? In all seriousness, I need to check out Splendor Duel! Two of my friends have gotten a bit bored of Splendor playing against each other, so the other mechanics in Duel might alleviate the monogamy of how they play
Glad to know you feeling better from your surgery! ❤️🩹 You got 2 of my favorites! Splendor Duel and 7 W duel. I also enjoy It’s a Wonderful Kingdom. Specially for solo as well. I have Imhotep Duel but have not try it. I also like DC confrontations Deckbuilding game because is a hero vs villain version which is cool.
Thanks! I'm feeling much better. :) I need to try It's a Wonderful Kingdom, and I appreciate you mentioning DC Confrontations as well--I haven't heard of it.
Also love 7 Wonders Duel! The different winning conditions make you really have to watch what your opponent is going for.
7 Wonders Duel is one of my top games of all time. So much strategy packed into a brilliant mid-sized game
I played several games from this list.
My favourite is Sobek 2 players. I played the original Sobek. I think it is ok.
Sobek 2 players is excellent! It adds a field. I want to take this tile, but then my opponent can take that tile. To prevent it I should take another tile.
Some tiles are closed, some are opened. Good balance between strategy and randomness.
Expansion adds more randomness for people who like to risk.
In Sobek the person with bigger amount of corruption gets negative points.
In Sobek 2 players the players with less amount of corruption gets positive points. Psychologically it is easier to get then to lose.
Imhotep the Duel, is a very impressive implementation.
The thing I like most about Splendor Dual is the three different ways to win.
Solid list. My other favorite is A Wonderful Kingdom.
I’m looking forward to to Everdell Duo too.
I think Catan - The Card Game was one of the first "duelfication" of an boardgame.
Nice list! Codenames doesn't scratch the same itch as the OG for me. Haven't played any Tokaido. I've played a ton of 2P Splendor and a healthy amount of Duel, and rather prefer the former with 2P but like both. Didn't realize Wingspan Asia *was* a duel/duet, will check that out. And agree with the top.
That's right, Wingspan Asia plays 2 players (with a special map) out of the box in Duet mode! :)
It's not as popular as the original, but I really like It's a Wonderful Kingdom.
I do as well. Specially for solo.
I'm trading for this one next week. Great to hear that it's well loved.
Hope you are recovering well from your operation. Best wishes from Bath, UK.
Thank you! I'm recovering well. :)
A couple of others are Blokus Duo and Carcassonne The Castle.
I love Blokus, but I need to try the Duo version.
We love Pyramid Poker, in addition to your top 5.
I'll have to look into that one!
The Rivals Networks is a good game in that genre too.
I'm glad you mentioned that! It's been a while, but I have played The Rival Networks, and I've added it to the honorable mentions list.
I've heard Sobek: The Duel is really good. It's on my to-play list.
One point of discussion is why a "2-player version" of an existing title would need to be created.
One reason is that the previous game simply was not really designed for two players- the primary mechanisms provide a different or suboptimal experience at two players. (This is certainly not the case with Wingspan nor any Stonemaier game, for that matter).
Maybe the game doesn't even allow a player count of two, or maybe you have to run a "bot" player to accommodate said mechanisms.
For a 2-player redesign, theme and basic mechanisms are identfied as things that can and should be retained, but the way players interact with each other and how frequently they interact are explored. The turn structure or order may need to be changed. The "space" in which players operate may need to be altered- restricted/constricted/reduced. To accomplish this, some games might need to make some minor changes, others have to make whole-cloth changes- the important thing is that it retains some semblance of the original, otherwise it might as well be given a different title.
Agricola's optimal player count is subjective, as is how different the two-player experience is from that "optimal" player count. All Creatures Big and Small is a good example of a game that kind of reduces the space of the players (limiting the focus to animal husbandry). I'm not sure if its main design goal was to provide an optimal Agricola experience for two players or to create a lighter and smaller (and more affordable) game. Either way, a smaller game, a smaller board, with fewer spaces and fewer available actions provide solutions for both.
One other reason for a two-player version is to modify the experience by adding components or mechanisms for two players. I think Wingspan Asia is a good example of this. It's not a "mode" or a "bot". It's essentially something new- an add-on. With Wingspan Asia, you have the same game as base Wingspan, but you're adding the side board which gives you the round bonuses and the spacial element with the tile location and path/adjacency goals (which might not work as well with higher player counts). Honestly, if I were adding a two-player mechanism to a game, I would be tempted to choose mechansims which are mostly exclusive to two-player games, like a tug-of-war mechanism-- and, that's probably not the proper way to think about design. Because, ultimately, it's about designing the EXPERIENCE you intend to provide for players.
This is really well-said! Two-player specific games open design space that rarely works at higher player counts (reducing life, player elimination, instant win conditions, tug-of-war, etc).
Hmm... It is interesting how I mentioned that Wingspan Asia's duet mode is not a "mode". Semantics, yes. I suppose I intuitively think of a "mode" as a version of a game with its primary mechanisms or end goal being modified in a substantial way. But, I suppose a mode is just a different ruleset of the same game. A "mode" can be anything the designer chooses it to be- a modification of rules, additional components (or exclusion of some), etc.
Anyone surprised at what got #1???
In all seriousness, I need to check out Splendor Duel! Two of my friends have gotten a bit bored of Splendor playing against each other, so the other mechanics in Duel might alleviate the monogamy of how they play
Glad to know you feeling better from your surgery! ❤️🩹
You got 2 of my favorites!
Splendor Duel and 7 W duel.
I also enjoy It’s a Wonderful Kingdom. Specially for solo as well.
I have Imhotep Duel but have not try it.
I also like DC confrontations Deckbuilding game because is a hero vs villain version which is cool.
Thanks! I'm feeling much better. :) I need to try It's a Wonderful Kingdom, and I appreciate you mentioning DC Confrontations as well--I haven't heard of it.