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<div data-id="" data-cy="shortcodeListicle" data-location="LIST" data-position="4" edition="us" superlative="Best 2-player tile-laying games" imagegroup="{"alt":"image-from-ios-6","caption":"

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” overridecredit=”David Priest/CNET” techobjectinfo=”{"uuid":"6e5a2eaf-0868-4dcb-91df-ddae67cebef1","slug":"blue-orange-games-kingdomino-award-winning-family-strategy-board-game","name":"Blue Orange Games Kingdomino Award Winning Family Strategy Board Game","productType":"PRODUCT","updateType":"EZMONEY","mod":1693585921779,"displayDate":"Fri Sep 01 2023 12:32:01 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)"}” usepricing=”false” data-key=”cnetlisticle__af04b075-9df9-4275-ab94-804f0383b870″ position=”4″ contenttype=”Best List – Precap” pagelayout=”Best List – Precap” showdetails=”true” class=”c-shortcodeListicle g-border-thin-light-top g-inner-spacing-bottom-medium g-inner-spacing-left-large g-inner-spacing-right-large g-inner-spacing-bottom-xlarge g-outer-spacing-bottom-large g-border-thin-light-bottom g-border-thin-light-right g-border-thin-light-left”>

Kingdomino

David Priest/CNET

Tile-placement games are a mainstay for many board game enthusiasts, in part because of the fun of building a unique board each time you play. Many people have played Carcassonne, one of the most popular entries of the genre, but it’s actually not the best example of the game — and certainly not the best for two players. For me, it’s a toss-up between one of the best board games around in all categories, The Castles of Burgundy, and a solid game with killer two-player tile-laying action, Kingdomino.

In both games, players take tiles from a central space and add the tiles to their personal princedom or kingdom board (depending on the game). Both games perfectly balance the competition for tiles with the personal satisfaction of building your personal province without direct interference.

The two games seem similar but feel dramatically different. For the shorter, simpler game, go with Kingdomino. For playing a deeper, more complex game, opt for The Castles of Burgundy. Either way, you won’t be sorry.

  • Number of players: 2
  • Average game length (minutes): 15
  • Game style: Tile
  • Price: $

<div data-id="" data-cy="shortcodeListicle" data-location="LIST" data-position="5" edition="us" superlative="Best 2-player puzzle game" imagegroup="{"alt":"screen-shot-2020-03-20-at-3-39-31-pm.png","caption":"

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” overridecredit=”Lookout Games” techobjectinfo=”{"uuid":"bd3db645-a6ff-492b-9f4b-95da33f8daad","slug":"patchwork-board-game-strategy-game-puzzle-game-family-board-game-two-player-game-for-kids-and-adults-ages-8-and-up-2","name":"Patchwork Board Game | Strategy Game | Puzzle Game | Family Board Game | Two Player Game for Kids and Adults | Ages 8 and up | 2 Players | Average Playtime 30 Minutes | Made by Lookout Games , Brown","productType":"PRODUCT","updateType":"AUTOPID","mod":1667436644309,"displayDate":"Wed Nov 02 2022 20:50:44 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)"}” usepricing=”false” like=”~Quirky and fun ~Fast and fun” dislike=”~Maybe too simple for some” data-key=”cnetlisticle__d0379f81-63e5-40ab-ad3a-dad1385634ab” position=”5″ contenttype=”Best List – Precap” pagelayout=”Best List – Precap” showdetails=”true” class=”c-shortcodeListicle g-border-thin-light-top g-inner-spacing-bottom-medium g-inner-spacing-left-large g-inner-spacing-right-large g-inner-spacing-bottom-xlarge g-outer-spacing-bottom-large g-border-thin-light-bottom g-border-thin-light-right g-border-thin-light-left”>

patchwork

Lookout Games

Like

  • Quirky and fun
  • Fast and fun

Don’t like

  • Maybe too simple for some

If you’re in need of a simple puzzle game that’s easy to learn and soothes your anxieties, look no further than Patchwork, a game in which you “sew” your own quilt and race your competitor to collect buttons. The game is fast-paced, the racing and patch-buying elements satisfy competitive spirits, and the Tetris-like quilt-sewing mechanism is as gratifying as finishing a puzzle.

  • Number of players: 2
  • Average game length (minutes): 30
  • Game style: Board
  • Price: $$

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” overridecredit=”Repos Production” usepricing=”false” like=”~Easy setup ~Devious gameplay” dislike=”~Can cause arguments!” data-key=”cnetlisticle__72969856-57e7-4f88-9d37-e67bee91e4a4″ position=”6″ contenttype=”Best List – Precap” pagelayout=”Best List – Precap” showdetails=”true” class=”c-shortcodeListicle g-border-thin-light-top g-inner-spacing-bottom-medium g-inner-spacing-left-large g-inner-spacing-right-large g-inner-spacing-bottom-xlarge g-outer-spacing-bottom-large g-border-thin-light-bottom g-border-thin-light-right g-border-thin-light-left”>

7 Wonders: Duel

Repos Production

Like

  • Easy setup
  • Devious gameplay

Don’t like

  • Can cause arguments!

If you want a little more bite in your competition, try playing 7 Wonders: Duel, a devious little card-drafting game. Both players are attempting to build civilizations across three eras, drafting various cards that help players pursue military or scientific dominance, grow their resources and build various Wonders. The competitive game moves more quickly than bigger strategy games like Twilight Struggle, and the card-drafting mechanism introduces surprising opportunities to block or trap your opponent. If you’re looking for a well-balanced game with many game play sessions, this is one of the best out there.

  • Number of players: 2
  • Average game length (minutes): 30
  • Game style: Card
  • Price: $$

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” overridecredit=”David Priest/CNET” usepricing=”false” like=”~Cool story hooks ~Clever opposing mechanic” dislike=”~Not for young kids” data-key=”cnetlisticle__6825bba5-4249-4a51-ad36-c934b0ed1698″ position=”7″ contenttype=”Best List – Precap” pagelayout=”Best List – Precap” showdetails=”true” class=”c-shortcodeListicle g-border-thin-light-top g-inner-spacing-bottom-medium g-inner-spacing-left-large g-inner-spacing-right-large g-inner-spacing-bottom-xlarge g-outer-spacing-bottom-large g-border-thin-light-bottom g-border-thin-light-right g-border-thin-light-left”>

Mr. Jack board game

David Priest/CNET

Like

  • Cool story hooks
  • Clever opposing mechanic

Don’t like

  • Not for young kids

Deception games are popular for parties, but tough to find for small crowds. Luckily, Mr. Jack is here to save you! In this fun game, one player takes on the role of Jack the Ripper, a murderer on the loose, while the other person takes on the role of the detective responsible for investigating his heinous crimes. Eight unique townspeople from the Sherlock Holmes universe — any of whom could be the murderer — wander the streets. Each round, players move townspeople toward or away from street lamps and use their special abilities. Both players can control any character on the board, with opposite goals in mind to win the game: helping Jack leave town or catching the murderer before they can get away. 

  • Number of players: 2
  • Average game length (minutes): 30
  • Game style: Card
  • Price: $$

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” overridecredit=”Czech Games” usepricing=”false” like=”~Tests your brain ~Great for couples” dislike=”~Games can be a little short” data-key=”cnetlisticle__1a9b8d8c-8827-4e91-b423-dc2329eee903″ position=”8″ contenttype=”Best List – Precap” pagelayout=”Best List – Precap” showdetails=”true” class=”c-shortcodeListicle g-border-thin-light-top g-inner-spacing-bottom-medium g-inner-spacing-left-large g-inner-spacing-right-large g-inner-spacing-bottom-xlarge g-outer-spacing-bottom-large g-border-thin-light-bottom g-border-thin-light-right g-border-thin-light-left”>

Codenames: Duet

Czech Games

Like

  • Tests your brain
  • Great for couples

Don’t like

Codenames is a super-popular small party game, but there’s a two-player version of this great game that’s just as fun — if a little less satisfying, since you can’t rub your victories in as many of the vanquished players’ faces. The players set up a grid of cards, each with a single word on them. Then one player is tasked with using single-word clues to get the other player to guess a certain number of “correct” cards. It’s a game of word association, shared knowledge and trust. It’s fun, and as a bonus, it’s good for couples because it teaches you to communicate very efficiently with your partner.

  • Number of players: 2
  • Average game length (minutes): 15
  • Game style: Card
  • Price: $$

How we test 2-player games

As you can imagine, board game testing is a grueling and often stressful experience. I’m kidding; testing board games is awesome. It is, however, subjective in a lot of ways. I tend to look at certain criteria as to what makes a board game “good, however.”

Because board gaming is a team sport, my family’s opinions are used to help me average out testing. While I may like a 5-hour game with 1,000 pieces, my 17-year-old son may not. Getting a good spread of opinions helps me find the best overall games in each category.

2-player game FAQ

Are all board games 2-player?

While a lot of games are available for between two and five players, they don’t always work well just with two people. When looking for 2-player games, you should keep your eye out for those specifically designed for two people. That’s not to say there aren’t great games for lots of people that play well, just that they tend to alter the rules to make them work better.

What style of game is best for 2 players?

I’ve found that card games tend to work much better for two players than board or tile games. Cards are easier to set up and play, and games can normally be played in a smaller space than a large board game or sprawling tile game. There are exceptions to this rule; Magic: the Gathering, for example, can become a sprawling mess of cards as the game goes on.

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