So this week I have not been well, so a few things were rushed on the video. mostly the audio, So apologies for that. Anyway, here is my list, hopefully you find some games on here you like the look of, or at least agree with my rationales. If not, let me know in the comments.
My man, I've fallen madly in reciprocated love in the last few weeks (for the first time in my 30 years) and have been scrambling to find good 2 player games. This could not have come at a better time. Thank you for the great videos as always!
I agree theres something a bit special with just two players. Race for the Galaxy was the first game that really made me think about player count and what count suits what game. I liked it at 3 and 4 but the first time I played it at 2 with the selecting two roles each rules was when I fell in love with it.
This channel profoundly influenced my taste in board games. Took a break from watching these videos because I’ve already bought enough games. I got lucky to find this channel early on. Thanks for all you do.
@@3MBG you’ve been advocating for This War of Mine for a long time. So you know that games aren’t always games and it isn’t always about enjoyment … which is why I love ya.
Really enjoyed the content here! One of my go to 2p games is Quarto. It's basically advanced tic tac toe, very thematic to 4s and is visually nice looking wood piece game. It's deceptively hard at first and yet every new player I show this to wants to go again and again
I believe that Unmatched is one of (if not the best) game for two players, great components (except for the board), great cards graphic design, but what’s more important great, thematic and fun gameplay for each fighter and their number keeps on growing. It’s pretty easy to explain the rules too and there is no need for long preparations before the game. As a disadvantage I’d say that some characters that you can play have 60% win rate over 40% win rate on some other characters, but it’s still pretty close and you can make a home rule on having a ban for let’s say 1 character from the one you can pick.
The majority of my gaming hobby is also in two player games. My wife & I enjoy multiple games on this list, especially Santorini for all the reasons you specified! Really great video~
Great list! I agree Santorini is definitely #1. A few that my wife and I like: Unmatched, MicroMacro, and Raptor, but my game group and I love Dice Throne as well.
I found that Santorini fell into the same gaming space as Hive aka a quick to start/easy to learn game that can be very deep and thinky. However, I enjoy Hive so much more. Another great video, keep up the good work!
Both are great. I found Santorini a much better match to also have fun with the kids. Also, there are some people put off by the "critters" in Hive :-)
Some nice suggestions I haven't tried. We used to not play games as 2 players because when we entered the hobby it seemed that either a game was for 2 players, or it usually was tacked on. Nowadays there are tons of good options.
Subastral / Akrotiri / Undaunted NA / Blitzkrieg! / Air Land and Sea / Trickshot / Battle Line / Trickerion Dueling Magicians - Then I personally like the 2p variant of Hansa, 5tribes, and Ankh
I can understand people playing the core set of Android: Netrunner, dealing with rules and card complexity, but with System Gateway, which is the best starter product for a card game, one's got to consider it as the best 2p game especially after discovering and building with FFG or NISEI cards
My favorite 2 player game is Roll for the Galaxy. It is fun with more than 2, but at 2 it is a head to head battle for who can get the best Developments first and win!
I mostly play coops 2 player these days - Spirit Island being a favourite or Arkham LCG. Another game would be A Feast for Odin which is very solitaire but it's nice to have someone else along for the ride. I played a fair bit of Sentinels of the Multiverse 2 player 2 characters each which does keep you more involved other games I tend to just play one character with 2.
I really love Summoner Wars for a 2p game. All factions have a unique playstyle. It is easy to learn, yet hard to master. The game feels well thought out and balanced. Of course it's for people who like card games and a bit of fantasy.
I played a lot of tabletop war games when I was younger. When I found X-Wing, I was hooked. I loved how critical movement and firing arcs are which were usually overlooked in older tabletop games. I'm a sucker for the IP, and the theme really shines. But it's a black hole for money.
*stares at his 120 x-wing fighters* Mistakes were made, but yes, great game. I ran an epic campaign for my friends around it. Didn't finish writing it up, but the bulk of it is here. vom-krieg.blogspot.com/p/talathen-sector-campaign.html
It's also the game that got me and my group back into the hobby, so even though I play it only a couple of times a year, it'll always be something special for that reason. I had small Christmas tree in my office one year decorated solely with TIEs and X-Wings with the Falcon on top as a star.
A two player game that really blew me away the first time I played, was Watergate. Mostly because it’s a tight/tense/experience and quite fast too. The theme didn’t initial grab me - but it’s done very well.
@@3MBG - if you have any knowledge around the events around Watergate itself, it will definitely scratch an itch. I have to be in the right mood to play it - because it’s tense.
Some say that Watergate is a game they table instead of Twilight Struggle, because it provides a similar tug-of-war experience but plays so much more quickly.
Kia Ora from Kirikiriroa! Was just googling for some good 2 player board games and this video was recommended. I happen to own a few of the games you listed, so thought ka pai - somebody else thought these games were good too 😁 When I get the opportunity, I'll definitely grab Santorini as it looks like a great fit for the types of people I play with, and I seem to like the kind of games you do. Thanks for the recommendations. Subbed.
Kia ora Joseph. I was born in Kirikiriroa, and view the Waikato as my awa as we had a house on River Road looking right out on it. Used to see the old paddle steamer go past my bedroom window.
@@3MBG I would have loved to have lived somewhere along River Road. Some of the houses I have seen must have some spectacular views. It sounds like you had a great time growing up 😀
How is BattleCON not mentioned in the comments? That's my personal favorite board game. It simulates a 2D fighting video game. I've played it hundreds of times, maybe even thousands (it's about 30 minutes long) and still haven't explored all of the game yet. I own all of the sets, so I have about a hundred fighters. Each fighter has their own gimmicks and strategies, and varying levels of complexity, so some are easier to learn than others, but each have a deep level of mastery. There are also tons of variations and modes of play (ranging from 1-5 players, co-op, team battles, bosses, dungeon crawling, various kinds of stages, equipment and items, etc.) but those are icing on the cake.
How is BattleCON not mentioned? One, BattleCON is not a game i consider the best at 2 players two, BattleCON is not a game i have played three, BattleCON is not a game i have seen played four, BattleCON is not a game I have see unboxed five, BattleCON is not a game i have in its box. Six, BattleCON is not a game i had heard of until today
@@3MBG I wasn't asking why it wasn't in the video, but rather why none of the viewers mentioned it when you asked them to list some 2 player games in the comments. I found that surprising. It's really good.
We do like Jaws, my son and I play head to head and he loves to play the shark! Thunderbirds, Pandemic Iberia and Robinson Crusoe are a lot of fun to play as co op 2 person. Just picked up Sleeping Gods, looking forward to playing it with my son so we can enjoy the story together.
Great list! I love Twilight Struggle too but have to be in the mood for a 4 hour tense-fest! Others that I think are fantastic are: Inis Cyclades +/- Hades Expansion Brass Lancashire Space Empires 4x A War of Whispers Castles of Burgundy Viticulture EE Tuscany Tigris & Euphrates Summoner Wars Race for the Galaxy Ra Battle Line
@@3MBG In the 2P game you place 3 action tokens at the start of each round instead of 2, allowing you to manipulate the board a bit more &/or go for cards. It feels more strategic with a lower player count (less chaotic/random) and your plans have slightly more weight. It still has plenty of tension but plays faster & you are doing more each round & feel like you have accomplished something. At 4 players the other players tend to do a lot of the hard work for you since quite often you'll have vested interests, it's just a matter of making sure you have a good read on what they're going for & that it aligns with what you're doing too. If you weren't impressed with 4 I would say definitely try it at 2, and even 3.
Amen, some very great stuff there. I’d throw out ‘Race for the Galaxy’ - that double action selection system leads to some very powerful effects, the game plays at a clip and it mitigates the worst part of the game (once you get past the teach) - having to shuffle that deck multiple times in an explore heavy game!
Santorini is a big hit in my house and whenever I hear someone say they are not a fan I ask if they are playing with the god powers. Often we draw them at random. Jaws comes out from time to time bit living on Long Island with a rash of shark "attacks" this summer, really nibbles, it has gotten more play recently. It helps to have the soundtrack playing in the background. The one undisputed king of two player games though has to go to... CROKINOLE!
Great list. I'll add Santorini to my wishlist, it sounds simple enough my son would enjoy it (either now or in a few years, he's only 5.5yo, but he does enjoy canvas and even enjoys about 3/4 of architects of the west kingdom for about 30 minutes ;-)
Santorini, in terms of complexity, is really in a step between draughts (checkers) and Chess. If he can handle the former, but might struggle with the latter, its the perfect level to learn.
Great to see you continue to introduce people around the world to Māori counting. I came for the games and left seeing a bit of someone else's culture. Thank you.
I fully agree with you on TWOM shining at multiplayer, very much for sharing the stories, the moral dilemmas, the dark humour, the experience etc. For me the narrative is the heart of the game, not the mechanics, and what makes it so special (to the point it's not a game I'd feel comfortable tabling in the current situation). I've played at 5, and did notice one of the players zoning out, so yes I'd agree that it's pretty much the upper limit... though I could imagine a larger classroom group of ~ 16 year olds going through some accelerated scenarios as being a more innovative form of learning.
My son (10) likes cooperative games, so we play forbidden desert, the Game, and fire of eidolon. I play outfoxed with my daughter (6) now, and sometimes my son will hop in. With the big boys and gals, we’ll play Marvel Champions, Hero Realms, pauper MtG, 7 Wonders Duel, Lost Cities, and I always love me a game of Terraforming Mars, either version. Very sorry for your loss, btw. I actually have Netrunner and have never played it. Been sitting in the shelf for around 5 years now. I’m sure I would enjoy it, but most of my buddies stick to MtG and Warhammer 🤦🏻♂️. What I wouldn’t give for them to branch out into different/board games!
Tainted Grail is also great at two players when it was a little slow and unwieldy at 4. Also, and I hate to disagree with the patrons, but sherlock Holmes consulting detective is hella messy. The first couple of mysteries were really fun but after those they get opaque and rely too much on moon logic. But yes, lovely to have this video. I play games with my wife and so I rely on them a load. We did clank legacy at the start of the pandemic, then gloomhaven Jaws of the lion, then some arkham horror tcg, then sherlock Holmes (urg) then aeons end and now tainted grail.
Some reviewers have said like 6-8 hours, but I just cant imagine what the heck they are doing to make the game take that long other than having a debate for every single action. We play it in 3ish. But it also has a save system that works
Current world events have made me look at Twilight Struggle, and indeed all my war games, quite differently. I almost feel like selling off a few of them now. We abstract suffering easily when it’s somewhere back in the murkiness of history. I wonder if in 20 years time some one will make something in the vein of TS to cover the past 30 years. It usually takes about that long for emotions to die down. That said, your review of “this war of mine” was probably the most compelling for me to get it. All of the other reviews have turned me off, and the computer/iPad versions are a solo experience which is a downer. But the whole idea of experiencing a narrative with so,done else is very appealing. Thanks for adding it in.
I think wargaming is one of those things where you should treat the game with some gravitas, which is what I like to do. I totally hear you about them though.
I had a gf who lived in Sarajevo in sniper alley during their civil war. Playing "This War of Mine" let me get a perspective of the war that she lived through that I hadn't contemplated. War games can be very good lessons, and not just about exploiting suffering.
That's heavy. The guy who directed "scream for me sarajevo" the movie about the heavy metal concert that took place during the siege wrote an amazing review of the game as well.
@@3MBG U2 also did a concert in Sarajevo during that time as that's where Bono's wife is from. The ex was a huge fan as a result. Most of her stories revolved around her hanging out in basements avoiding the snipers, and her family's hardships. Her toughest day was when her uncle grabbed her out of the bathroom after a grenade got tossed in, it blew up the entire room. War is definitely no joke.
I was unaware of the U2 concert, respect. I've read a lot of accounts from sieges, mostly Leningrad, they are pure hellscapes and definitely no laughing matter. I sometimes wonder how a city goes on after all that collective trauma. I guess unlike most traumas, you know everyone around you shared it, so that must create a sense of solidarity.
I’d be interested to know your thoughts on Narcos By Cmon games. I am brushing up on the rules so I can play a 2 player game of it soon. It’s a hidden movement game of sorts - the twist is Patrón hardly moves but is forced to give clues about the location of his secret hideout whenever he instructs his henchmen (Sicarios) to do his bidding. Looks very interesting…
I think my favorite two player games would have to be Hive (Pocket), Onitama, Santorini, Targi, Android: Netrunner, Gloomhaven, The Captain is Dead, and Spirit Island.
I'm just getting into the hobby and have only 1 person to play on the regular with. Hive has become the game we always pull out at least once per meet. It's fun to see what type of strategy will be created in that session and how the other will counter.
@@danielhowsley6561 Absolutely! Have you ever had a game where one player's options are completely locked down and they have to keep passing until the other player secures a win? That happened to me: I managed to eke out a win with a slowly plodding beetle! It was pretty great. I think my best advice for Hive is not to put out all of your pieces too early as it closes off your options. If you're ever stuck, getting that next ant out strategically might just save your hide.
Whirling Witchcraft is a very mean back-and-forth game at 2 players compared to the chaos when you go 3-5. Don’t think I’ve played a game that felt so different at different player counts.
Not gonna lie the moment you said Fire Fighting coop I instantly regretted not buying Flashpoint yesterday at a local shop. Then I was surprised you said Pandemic and Arkham which I already own so it worked out. Played Arkham instead haha.
Although flashpoint inspired me to coin that term, its really about co-ops where every turn " a fire" breaks out, whether its an actual fire, a virus, a gate pr whatever the bad thing is at the end of each player turn
We have played all the Pandemic legacies with two people and four characters. I think I will try your recommendation and do the same with Mansions of Madness-will probably add to the tension and we could get around faster. Thanks for the video.
2 character Mansions is hard mode, it really is. The times we have played with that we have given each character a bonus move action and it seems to fit the actual pacing of the game, making it still tight. But the first 2 times we played with only 2 characters, we struggled.
Ha, I think its good at all player counts, but prefer 4. But this list is about games that are best at 2 compared to other player counts. And SI is almost the perfect scaling game.
@@3MBG I do think that if you like playing a two-player game of Spirit Island better than any one of the games that made this list, then Spirit Island SHOULD be on this list. I thought that this list was meant to address the following hypothetical scenario: "We have two players. What game is most fun for us to play?"
@@ColonelKurtz I personally don't rate SI at 2 as highly as these other games. 2 is probably my least fav player count for Spirit Island. It's still good at that count, but give me 3 or 4 spirits for the interactions. And when i play solo its 3 or 4 spirits as well.
Oh wow, Toru and Ono are the same, and Whitu/hitu only a little different. Fascinating, clearly from the same route family, which shouldn't be too surprising i guess :)
I think Spirit Island takes my top two-player spot, one spirit each. Android Netrunner would be a close second though, or maybe Gloomhaven. Sorry for your loss. :(
I suggest these game instead: targi, 7 wonders duel, wir sind das volk (better than twilight struggle for me), Arkham horror LCG, race for the galaxy, everdell (cause otherwise becomes too long), wingspan
FWIW I'm not a fan of Santorini, but then I grew to dislike Chess from it becoming more like study than a game, so that's very much a personal thing. However I do agree that higher player counts are problematic, mostly for kingmaking issues. For 3+ players, The Estates handles that a little better, albeit doesn't eliminate the problem.
Fun fact. During the Kickstarter for this war of mine awaken realms held a character concept competition for a free copy of the game. Mine was the winning entry of a 'homeless person' 😁
I know that this will be very uninspiring, boring and repetitive but..... Gloomhaven. One of the best games ever, and truly shines with 2 players as a sweet spot between 3 players (possible, too long and messy) and Solo (please no!).
So this week I have not been well, so a few things were rushed on the video. mostly the audio, So apologies for that. Anyway, here is my list, hopefully you find some games on here you like the look of, or at least agree with my rationales. If not, let me know in the comments.
thanks for the great recommendations!
I just love you mate
Hope you're feeling better now, or at least very soon
Yeah, much better. Had a stomach bug for a few days. Nothing too bad, just felt miserable.
My man, I've fallen madly in reciprocated love in the last few weeks (for the first time in my 30 years) and have been scrambling to find good 2 player games. This could not have come at a better time. Thank you for the great videos as always!
Awesome !!
Love it, good for you!
Congrats dude! How much into games is this person?
Good luck
I’m weeks huh? Hope it works out!!
I agree theres something a bit special with just two players. Race for the Galaxy was the first game that really made me think about player count and what count suits what game. I liked it at 3 and 4 but the first time I played it at 2 with the selecting two roles each rules was when I fell in love with it.
My favorite 2p games are 7 Wonders: Duel with both expansions, Five Tribes (I think it’s best at 2p), Targi, Akrotiri, and Hanamikoji.
This channel profoundly influenced my taste in board games. Took a break from watching these videos because I’ve already bought enough games. I got lucky to find this channel early on. Thanks for all you do.
I hope you are enjoying the games you got though :)
@@3MBG you’ve been advocating for This War of Mine for a long time. So you know that games aren’t always games and it isn’t always about enjoyment … which is why I love ya.
@@3MBG sorry, I didn’t answer your question. Obviously yes - unequivocally so.
My wife and I are currently in love with Everdell. We haven't tried the coop variation yet because enjoy going against each other!
RIP Nigel
Really enjoyed the content here! One of my go to 2p games is Quarto. It's basically advanced tic tac toe, very thematic to 4s and is visually nice looking wood piece game. It's deceptively hard at first and yet every new player I show this to wants to go again and again
I believe that Unmatched is one of (if not the best) game for two players, great components (except for the board), great cards graphic design, but what’s more important great, thematic and fun gameplay for each fighter and their number keeps on growing. It’s pretty easy to explain the rules too and there is no need for long preparations before the game. As a disadvantage I’d say that some characters that you can play have 60% win rate over 40% win rate on some other characters, but it’s still pretty close and you can make a home rule on having a ban for let’s say 1 character from the one you can pick.
The majority of my gaming hobby is also in two player games. My wife & I enjoy multiple games on this list, especially Santorini for all the reasons you specified! Really great video~
Great list! I agree Santorini is definitely #1. A few that my wife and I like: Unmatched, MicroMacro, and Raptor, but my game group and I love Dice Throne as well.
I found that Santorini fell into the same gaming space as Hive aka a quick to start/easy to learn game that can be very deep and thinky. However, I enjoy Hive so much more.
Another great video, keep up the good work!
Both are great. I found Santorini a much better match to also have fun with the kids. Also, there are some people put off by the "critters" in Hive :-)
Some nice suggestions I haven't tried.
We used to not play games as 2 players because when we entered the hobby it seemed that either a game was for 2 players, or it usually was tacked on.
Nowadays there are tons of good options.
Sorry for your loss.
Delighted for this video, I keep buying two player games for my parents. This sorts out birthdays for a while!
New to board gaming and feel so stupid not thinking of playing multiple characters each. Thanks for your great review.
Another excellent list- would love to see your best 3p and 4p lists (my usual game group size) cheers!
Those are in the pipeline, i left them until last as they are the hardest. 3 because so few games work well there, and 4 because so many do!
Subastral / Akrotiri / Undaunted NA / Blitzkrieg! / Air Land and Sea / Trickshot / Battle Line / Trickerion Dueling Magicians - Then I personally like the 2p variant of Hansa, 5tribes, and Ankh
I can understand people playing the core set of Android: Netrunner, dealing with rules and card complexity, but with System Gateway, which is the best starter product for a card game, one's got to consider it as the best 2p game especially after discovering and building with FFG or NISEI cards
My favorite 2 player game is Roll for the Galaxy. It is fun with more than 2, but at 2 it is a head to head battle for who can get the best Developments first and win!
I mostly play coops 2 player these days - Spirit Island being a favourite or Arkham LCG. Another game would be A Feast for Odin which is very solitaire but it's nice to have someone else along for the ride. I played a fair bit of Sentinels of the Multiverse 2 player 2 characters each which does keep you more involved other games I tend to just play one character with 2.
Sentinels is tricky because of that 3 player minimum, 2 player 2 hand is such a good solution for it
I really love Summoner Wars for a 2p game. All factions have a unique playstyle. It is easy to learn, yet hard to master. The game feels well thought out and balanced. Of course it's for people who like card games and a bit of fantasy.
I played a lot of tabletop war games when I was younger. When I found X-Wing, I was hooked. I loved how critical movement and firing arcs are which were usually overlooked in older tabletop games. I'm a sucker for the IP, and the theme really shines. But it's a black hole for money.
*stares at his 120 x-wing fighters*
Mistakes were made, but yes, great game. I ran an epic campaign for my friends around it. Didn't finish writing it up, but the bulk of it is here. vom-krieg.blogspot.com/p/talathen-sector-campaign.html
It's also the game that got me and my group back into the hobby, so even though I play it only a couple of times a year, it'll always be something special for that reason.
I had small Christmas tree in my office one year decorated solely with TIEs and X-Wings with the Falcon on top as a star.
A two player game that really blew me away the first time I played, was Watergate. Mostly because it’s a tight/tense/experience and quite fast too.
The theme didn’t initial grab me - but it’s done very well.
I really need to play it as it sounds exactly like my cup of tea. Sam said he can lend me a copy too, so it might be soonish.
@@3MBG - if you have any knowledge around the events around Watergate itself, it will definitely scratch an itch. I have to be in the right mood to play it - because it’s tense.
Heh, did multiple papers around US history and foreign policy, so yep.
Some say that Watergate is a game they table instead of Twilight Struggle, because it provides a similar tug-of-war experience but plays so much more quickly.
Kia Ora from Kirikiriroa! Was just googling for some good 2 player board games and this video was recommended. I happen to own a few of the games you listed, so thought ka pai - somebody else thought these games were good too 😁
When I get the opportunity, I'll definitely grab Santorini as it looks like a great fit for the types of people I play with, and I seem to like the kind of games you do.
Thanks for the recommendations. Subbed.
Kia ora Joseph. I was born in Kirikiriroa, and view the Waikato as my awa as we had a house on River Road looking right out on it. Used to see the old paddle steamer go past my bedroom window.
@@3MBG I would have loved to have lived somewhere along River Road. Some of the houses I have seen must have some spectacular views. It sounds like you had a great time growing up 😀
Had its ups and downs, Saw some pretty dark stuff in the Tron at times. But overall it was ok. Nice house though
How is BattleCON not mentioned in the comments? That's my personal favorite board game. It simulates a 2D fighting video game. I've played it hundreds of times, maybe even thousands (it's about 30 minutes long) and still haven't explored all of the game yet. I own all of the sets, so I have about a hundred fighters. Each fighter has their own gimmicks and strategies, and varying levels of complexity, so some are easier to learn than others, but each have a deep level of mastery. There are also tons of variations and modes of play (ranging from 1-5 players, co-op, team battles, bosses, dungeon crawling, various kinds of stages, equipment and items, etc.) but those are icing on the cake.
How is BattleCON not mentioned?
One, BattleCON is not a game i consider the best at 2 players
two, BattleCON is not a game i have played
three, BattleCON is not a game i have seen played
four, BattleCON is not a game I have see unboxed
five, BattleCON is not a game i have in its box.
Six, BattleCON is not a game i had heard of until today
@@3MBG I wasn't asking why it wasn't in the video, but rather why none of the viewers mentioned it when you asked them to list some 2 player games in the comments. I found that surprising. It's really good.
Ah, so you did. Sorry, had a very poor nights sleep and just got up. Sick baby in the bed and me with a blocked nose. So im a little slow and grumpy.
I bought the all in Battlecon k.s. any chance you're in N.y?
@@eliasrosa2123 I'm in the Midwest
"Alone" from Horrible Guild is also a great two player game if you enjoy survival (Horror) SciFi theme.
We do like Jaws, my son and I play head to head and he loves to play the shark! Thunderbirds, Pandemic Iberia and Robinson Crusoe are a lot of fun to play as co op 2 person. Just picked up Sleeping Gods, looking forward to playing it with my son so we can enjoy the story together.
Great list! I love Twilight Struggle too but have to be in the mood for a 4 hour tense-fest! Others that I think are fantastic are:
Inis
Cyclades +/- Hades Expansion
Brass Lancashire
Space Empires 4x
A War of Whispers
Castles of Burgundy
Viticulture EE Tuscany
Tigris & Euphrates
Summoner Wars
Race for the Galaxy
Ra
Battle Line
Talk to me about war of whispers at 2. I played it with 4 and perhaps 5 and it did not impress.
@@3MBG In the 2P game you place 3 action tokens at the start of each round instead of 2, allowing you to manipulate the board a bit more &/or go for cards. It feels more strategic with a lower player count (less chaotic/random) and your plans have slightly more weight. It still has plenty of tension but plays faster & you are doing more each round & feel like you have accomplished something. At 4 players the other players tend to do a lot of the hard work for you since quite often you'll have vested interests, it's just a matter of making sure you have a good read on what they're going for & that it aligns with what you're doing too. If you weren't impressed with 4 I would say definitely try it at 2, and even 3.
Amen, some very great stuff there. I’d throw out ‘Race for the Galaxy’ - that double action selection system leads to some very powerful effects, the game plays at a clip and it mitigates the worst part of the game (once you get past the teach) - having to shuffle that deck multiple times in an explore heavy game!
Great list! I've always found Takenoko makes a fantasic two-player game (and at every other player count).
Santorini is a big hit in my house and whenever I hear someone say they are not a fan I ask if they are playing with the god powers. Often we draw them at random.
Jaws comes out from time to time bit living on Long Island with a rash of shark "attacks" this summer, really nibbles, it has gotten more play recently. It helps to have the soundtrack playing in the background.
The one undisputed king of two player games though has to go to... CROKINOLE!
Crokinole is a lot of fun, but i kinda consider it a pub game, like shove h'appeny, darts or pool. So its never on my radar as a board game option.
Naga Raja is also such an amazing 2 player game!
Great list. I'll add Santorini to my wishlist, it sounds simple enough my son would enjoy it (either now or in a few years, he's only 5.5yo, but he does enjoy canvas and even enjoys about 3/4 of architects of the west kingdom for about 30 minutes ;-)
Santorini, in terms of complexity, is really in a step between draughts (checkers) and Chess. If he can handle the former, but might struggle with the latter, its the perfect level to learn.
@@3MBG I must confess I haven't played either of those with him :-)
Ha, probably 2 of the 3 most played games in the world right there :)
@@3MBG I have played chess, but never played draughts. I'm awful at chess tho so I prefer to play other things.
Great to see you continue to introduce people around the world to Māori counting. I came for the games and left seeing a bit of someone else's culture. Thank you.
Awesome you feel this way. I like just adding a little bit here and there, mostly as a statement to say "hey, i'm from this place" :)
Wow, I did not expect your #1, but I heartily agree! Amazing game. I don't see myself ever tiring of it.
It's 100% the game that if any random person says "what 2 player game should I get" I recommend first. Got Stephs mum and her partner a copy even.
I fully agree with you on TWOM shining at multiplayer, very much for sharing the stories, the moral dilemmas, the dark humour, the experience etc. For me the narrative is the heart of the game, not the mechanics, and what makes it so special (to the point it's not a game I'd feel comfortable tabling in the current situation). I've played at 5, and did notice one of the players zoning out, so yes I'd agree that it's pretty much the upper limit... though I could imagine a larger classroom group of ~ 16 year olds going through some accelerated scenarios as being a more innovative form of learning.
I like the idea of it as a classroom thing, you'd have to streamline it a little perhaps
My son (10) likes cooperative games, so we play forbidden desert, the Game, and fire of eidolon. I play outfoxed with my daughter (6) now, and sometimes my son will hop in.
With the big boys and gals, we’ll play Marvel Champions, Hero Realms, pauper MtG, 7 Wonders Duel, Lost Cities, and I always love me a game of Terraforming Mars, either version.
Very sorry for your loss, btw. I actually have Netrunner and have never played it. Been sitting in the shelf for around 5 years now. I’m sure I would enjoy it, but most of my buddies stick to MtG and Warhammer 🤦🏻♂️. What I wouldn’t give for them to branch out into different/board games!
Cheers. And after netrunner, i couldn't go back to MTG. Same designer, no "didn't draw any land so i lost" in it
Battle Lore, Polis, Carpe Dium, Senet
Tainted Grail is also great at two players when it was a little slow and unwieldy at 4.
Also, and I hate to disagree with the patrons, but sherlock Holmes consulting detective is hella messy. The first couple of mysteries were really fun but after those they get opaque and rely too much on moon logic.
But yes, lovely to have this video. I play games with my wife and so I rely on them a load. We did clank legacy at the start of the pandemic, then gloomhaven Jaws of the lion, then some arkham horror tcg, then sherlock Holmes (urg) then aeons end and now tainted grail.
I can't imagine playing TG with 4. It would be so slow and clunky. 2 is what i enjoyed most as well, along with solo
I play a lot of Hive on BGA. Also, Race for the Galaxy is superb at 2 players, with the 2-player rules being used.
I got hive for my parents because they travel a lot and they love it
Hive is pretty much my go to 2 player game. Santorini is great, but I'd personally pick Hive
What two player rules? You mean roll one die for a additional phase opening?
@@greytoeimp The "advanced rule" where each player chooses two phases each turn. No dice in this game.
have you tried Capers:europe? Watergate is a good, plays fast and has a real tension. ( i love twilight struggle but only play it on the app now)
No sorry
Seven Wonders Duel and It's a Wonderful World are my favourite games for 2 players
Tanhks for the list :) I really love Targi. A great 2-player game
I been thinking in getting this war of mine, but I don't know what how long a session would take. My freetime got a little crowded lately 🙁
Some reviewers have said like 6-8 hours, but I just cant imagine what the heck they are doing to make the game take that long other than having a debate for every single action. We play it in 3ish. But it also has a save system that works
1. Twilight Struggle
2. Fields of Arle
3. Colonial Twilight
4. Blitz Bowl Season 2
5. X-Odus
6. Targi
7. Hive
8. Star Realms
9. Legendary Encounters
Aliens
10.1066 Tears to many mothers
5.
Good list. Love the COIN inclusion, which i can't really do on my lists right now, lol :)
@@3MBG lol, I am eagerly waiting for your contribution to the series 😉
As for the war games that you have on your list, they are truly great games!
Raptor is a great 2p game
Have you tried the Netrunner new base set, by NISEI, called System Gateway?
It's like the best time to actually get into the game, imho
No, haven't tried it yet. I own all the original game but just have no one else keen on playing locally.
Very interesting, thank you!
Current world events have made me look at Twilight Struggle, and indeed all my war games, quite differently. I almost feel like selling off a few of them now. We abstract suffering easily when it’s somewhere back in the murkiness of history. I wonder if in 20 years time some one will make something in the vein of TS to cover the past 30 years. It usually takes about that long for emotions to die down. That said, your review of “this war of mine” was probably the most compelling for me to get it. All of the other reviews have turned me off, and the computer/iPad versions are a solo experience which is a downer. But the whole idea of experiencing a narrative with so,done else is very appealing. Thanks for adding it in.
I think wargaming is one of those things where you should treat the game with some gravitas, which is what I like to do. I totally hear you about them though.
I had a gf who lived in Sarajevo in sniper alley during their civil war. Playing "This War of Mine" let me get a perspective of the war that she lived through that I hadn't contemplated.
War games can be very good lessons, and not just about exploiting suffering.
That's heavy. The guy who directed "scream for me sarajevo" the movie about the heavy metal concert that took place during the siege wrote an amazing review of the game as well.
@@3MBG U2 also did a concert in Sarajevo during that time as that's where Bono's wife is from. The ex was a huge fan as a result.
Most of her stories revolved around her hanging out in basements avoiding the snipers, and her family's hardships. Her toughest day was when her uncle grabbed her out of the bathroom after a grenade got tossed in, it blew up the entire room. War is definitely no joke.
I was unaware of the U2 concert, respect. I've read a lot of accounts from sieges, mostly Leningrad, they are pure hellscapes and definitely no laughing matter. I sometimes wonder how a city goes on after all that collective trauma. I guess unlike most traumas, you know everyone around you shared it, so that must create a sense of solidarity.
Sorry for your loss, hugs from here 😔
Gotta agree with some like Santorini and Rebellion! We have to play Santorini on BGA together one day =)
Cheers Vic. I may take you up on that. Just booking time for anything these days with baby is a challenge.
Thanks for all you do
Cheers other Jarrod with the best spelling. (I always go by J online, but am also a Jarrod)
Would definitely recommend Sekigahara! Have you tried it before? 😁
I picked it up 2nd hand cheap a little while back, but haven't gotten to it.
I’d be interested to know your thoughts on Narcos By Cmon games. I am brushing up on the rules so I can play a 2 player game of it soon. It’s a hidden movement game of sorts - the twist is Patrón hardly moves but is forced to give clues about the location of his secret hideout whenever he instructs his henchmen (Sicarios) to do his bidding. Looks very interesting…
I've seen it, but not played it unfortunately.
I think my favorite two player games would have to be Hive (Pocket), Onitama, Santorini, Targi, Android: Netrunner, Gloomhaven, The Captain is Dead, and Spirit Island.
I'm just getting into the hobby and have only 1 person to play on the regular with. Hive has become the game we always pull out at least once per meet. It's fun to see what type of strategy will be created in that session and how the other will counter.
@@danielhowsley6561 Absolutely! Have you ever had a game where one player's options are completely locked down and they have to keep passing until the other player secures a win? That happened to me: I managed to eke out a win with a slowly plodding beetle! It was pretty great.
I think my best advice for Hive is not to put out all of your pieces too early as it closes off your options. If you're ever stuck, getting that next ant out strategically might just save your hide.
Whirling Witchcraft is a very mean back-and-forth game at 2 players compared to the chaos when you go 3-5. Don’t think I’ve played a game that felt so different at different player counts.
See, that's what i like. Games that feel different at different counts. Its a cool experience.
Yay, Jaws. I wish I got to play it more. I like the first part of the game better.
The "Fury of Dracula" is in a category all its own.
How so? Its very much Scotland Yard with more bits added to it. Like the designer played Scotland yard and went "i can add RPG elements to this game"
great video!
Not gonna lie the moment you said Fire Fighting coop I instantly regretted not buying Flashpoint yesterday at a local shop. Then I was surprised you said Pandemic and Arkham which I already own so it worked out. Played Arkham instead haha.
Although flashpoint inspired me to coin that term, its really about co-ops where every turn " a fire" breaks out, whether its an actual fire, a virus, a gate pr whatever the bad thing is at the end of each player turn
We have played all the Pandemic legacies with two people and four characters. I think I will try your recommendation and do the same with Mansions of Madness-will probably add to the tension and we could get around faster. Thanks for the video.
2 character Mansions is hard mode, it really is. The times we have played with that we have given each character a bonus move action and it seems to fit the actual pacing of the game, making it still tight. But the first 2 times we played with only 2 characters, we struggled.
Great video! Kingdomino IMO is best with the 2P mode where all the tiles are used and players make a 7 × 7 grid.
Interesting, only played kingdomino at higher counts, and its a cracking good small game
Sorry to hear about your friend
Cheers
Sorry about Nigel’s passing
Cheers, he was a top shelf sort of bloke.
If Grand Austria Hotel isn't on this list I don't know what to say :)
You could say "well, this person has a different opinion to me and that's A-OK"
Flash Point: Fire Rescue is a nice firefighting game ☺️
Yep. The game i borrowed the idea of "fire fighting co-op" from. :)
Hello nate What is the video title where you're wife actually gave her list of top best board games?
Assume you mean Mate and not Nate? teffy top 25 is the vid.
Nigel was a co-worker. He will be missed. :(
That he will. Nigel and I used to play games up there many years ago, before Cerberus opened up and we started playing there instead.
@@3MBG I need to figure out how to get into a local gaming group. Life has felt too busy since I moved here almost a decade ago. :/
This will be slow use to covid atm, but here is a good start. Its the group Ceedee runs. www.meetup.com/WellingtonOnBoard
my family is affected by Cancer too 😢 the chemo either kills or take away mobility / quality of life 😢
That it does. It did for my sister thats for sure. Thank you and my sincere best wishes to your family.
No spirit island? But its the best 2 player game! And also the best 3,4 and 1 player game 😀😀
Ha, I think its good at all player counts, but prefer 4. But this list is about games that are best at 2 compared to other player counts. And SI is almost the perfect scaling game.
@@3MBG I do think that if you like playing a two-player game of Spirit Island better than any one of the games that made this list, then Spirit Island SHOULD be on this list.
I thought that this list was meant to address the following hypothetical scenario:
"We have two players. What game is most fun for us to play?"
@@ColonelKurtz I personally don't rate SI at 2 as highly as these other games. 2 is probably my least fav player count for Spirit Island. It's still good at that count, but give me 3 or 4 spirits for the interactions. And when i play solo its 3 or 4 spirits as well.
Can’t believe you called them “firefighting co-op” games and didn’t show Flashpoint, where you actually fight fires. :)
Yeah, fair, I mean it is the game that inspired the term for me.
Carcassonne didn’t even get an honorable mention? Dang.
No sorry. Only 10 games, and from my own peculiar tastes
I wondered what the words are above the numbers until I realized they are the Maori words for 10 to 1. (I speak Tahitian,)
Oh wow, Toru and Ono are the same, and Whitu/hitu only a little different. Fascinating, clearly from the same route family, which shouldn't be too surprising i guess :)
I'm sorry for your loss.
Cheers, he was a top bloke
Imperium classic / legends/ horizons should be on this list
Not played any of those, just been one of those franchises i've never liked the look of.
@@3MBG It is worth to take a look , different civ s , easy rules, complex to manage, you can play even cultists lovecaraft style
Shadowrift 2e.
Try Caper!
I think Spirit Island takes my top two-player spot, one spirit each. Android Netrunner would be a close second though, or maybe Gloomhaven.
Sorry for your loss. :(
Cheers. Spirit island for me, love it at higher counts where it gets crazy, but totally get the appeal of 2 spirits.
Santorini is the best game ever
Thx boss!!!
Oh man, use the proper sized sleeves for your Star Wars Rebellion :D
lol, im not buying special sleeves. those ones are from when i played the star wars lcg
I suggest these game instead: targi, 7 wonders duel, wir sind das volk (better than twilight struggle for me), Arkham horror LCG, race for the galaxy, everdell (cause otherwise becomes too long), wingspan
FWIW I'm not a fan of Santorini, but then I grew to dislike Chess from it becoming more like study than a game, so that's very much a personal thing. However I do agree that higher player counts are problematic, mostly for kingmaking issues. For 3+ players, The Estates handles that a little better, albeit doesn't eliminate the problem.
Brilliant!
Red rising is super
Fun fact.
During the Kickstarter for this war of mine awaken realms held a character concept competition for a free copy of the game.
Mine was the winning entry of a 'homeless person' 😁
That was the first KS i ever backed, so I remember it well. Congrats, it was by far the best option and I voted for it.
I know that this will be very uninspiring, boring and repetitive but..... Gloomhaven.
One of the best games ever, and truly shines with 2 players as a sweet spot between 3 players (possible, too long and messy) and Solo (please no!).
Yeah, Gloomhaven with 2 is pretty damned solid. No disagreement here.
Shama lama ding dong
and of course, chess
I mentioned Chess
Like, like, like!
Wait, where's Chess?!
Chess is mentioned in the video.
@@3MBG yeh I know, hah, but I still wanted to say it :P
I'm not a bad chess player, but I stopped when it started feeling like a job to get better at it :)
@@3MBG My experience exaclty