compiled from rec.games.board The age old question of "What games work well for two players" seems to be a perennial posting in these here parts, and so (thanks to procrastination) I decided to make a "master" list, if you will, of what's been recommended - mostly so the people recommending (and if you look back, you'll see it's basically the same people recommending) don't have to keep typing in the same thing every three months or so. Unless, of course, they like doing it. In which case, more power to them. All recommendations are attributed (along with the year they were posted), and occasionally edited - mostly to remove 'thread-specific' references and asides. The games are in no particular order, and though games that had good-sized reviews (or more than a couple 'quickie' reviews) got their own heading and appear first in this document, that in no way implies that they are "better" than the games which only appear in lists at the bottom. It's just that they had more written about them (maybe because they were more recent games, or just the favorites of their posters). I've left off most "classic" two player games like Chess, Dominoes, Scrabble, anything played with a standard 52-card deck, etc. I've also not included any negatives views on a game that didn't also have at least one positive posting. Also my preference was for two player board games, as there are plenty of two player abstract strategy and war games (though many made it in anyway). If you'd like to add a game or two, or flesh out a few of your favorites relegated to just appearing in the lists - or simply want to voice your opinion on a game already listed here - please feel free to e-mail me. And now, on with the show! -Dave LOWENHERZ I can recommend Lowenherz playing with two people. It's nearly as good as playing it with 3 or 4 players. (Stephan Grashey, '98) I agree with other posts that Lowenherz is a good game, can be played by two, but is better with three or four. (Bob Scherer-Hook, '98) Whether or not you intend to play it with 2 people, Lowenherz is good game that I would recommend in any case. I don't think it is as good of game for 2 players. It works well for 3, excellent for 4. Less well for 2. (Richard Irving, '98) I can recommend Lowenherz specifically. It's high on strategy, although there are also luck elements. The box claims it's for 2-4 players, and the two player version seems to work well enough. The box also claims that it comes in around 90 minutes) -- well, maybe it does with experienced players. (Mary Susan, '98) WILDLIFE ADVENTURE My sister and I received this game as a gift when we were mere kids. It is the only Ravensburger game I have and I have played it more than any other game. We play using a variation of the rules that developed part by accident, part by design, and part by evolution. First of all, we always play a two player game because the luck factor is much less and the game is more exciting. Second, each player receives 24 cards. This makes for a very dense, intense game. We do not use the obstacles (and have removed these cards from the power deck) and, due to an original misreading of the rules which became traditional, only receive three travel vouchers at the beginning of the game. This makes for a more conservative power supply initially, but there are plenty of red dots, particularly in the "power alley" of the Indian Ocean. (Matt Macander, '96) Wildlife Adventure, et al, definitely works very well with two players. (Bob Scherer-Hook, '98) Wildlife Adventure -- far and away our favorite -- most excellent with 2 (and also excellent with more than 2) (Chuck Messenger, '97) SCOTLAND YARD I believe Scotland Yard only works well as a two-player game, despite the box saying it's for 3-6 players (Bob Scherer-Hook, '98) Another real good one is Scotland Yard -- I've heard it's similar to Fury of Dracula (actually, I think SY predates FoD). (Chuck Messenger, '97) I'd like to go on record as agreeing with Chuck about Scotland Yard. The 5 detectives must carefully coordinate their moves and work together in order to win. This is perfect for1 player controlling 5 pieces. I also note that the 'End of Game' section on page 10 of the rules states that the detectives win or lose as a team - there is simply no provision for 1 detective winning solo. (George Fagin, '97) ENTDECKER Entdecker is sometimes maligned as being too random, but with only two people each player tends to have more control over the construction of islands in spite of the random tile draw. (Bob Scherer-Hook, '98) I also would add Entdecker - in fact many suggest it is better as a two player game than it is for 3 or 4. (Cafe Jay, '97) Entdecker works well for 2 players. (Rich Shipley, '96) CATHERDAL Games are fairly quick (a few minutes each), and can be very entertaining. But unbalanced; play games in pairs and keep running scores. (Michael Urban, '97) TWIXT If you'd like something so old it's new again, try Twixt, invented by Alex Randolph, formerly marketed in the USA by 3M and then Avalon Hill, but now out of print in the States. The newsgroup rec.games.board.marketplace has been known to feature auctions or sales which include an old set. I refer you to the website http://www.gamerz.net/pbmserv for the CORRECT rules to Twixt (the rules in those old AH/3M sets are incomplete), as well as lots of other games, one of which you might actually like! (David Bush, '97) DUNGEON QUEST Neat, unpredictible fantasy boardgame. Most games last less than 45 minutes and it plays great with two players. (Kevin Gonzalez, '97) Yeah, I forgot about this one, though it is mostly a multi-player solitaire game. (David Kuznick, '97) TITAN: THE ARENA This is a non-collectible card game that has very simple rules and plays equally well, in my opinion, with two or more players. Multi player games require different strategies, but two player games are fun. Short and easy. (Kevin Gonzalez, '97) WARHAMMER QUEST This is a very nice fantasy dungeon adventure game in which the players cooperate against the evil of the dungeon. If your wife is tired of always being competitive and would like to try a little teamwork, it is a great game. (Kevin Gonzalez, '97) NAMESAKE One that I haven't seen anyone mention yet is Namesake. It's a party-type game, takes about 20 minutes to half an hour to play, lots of fun, very appealing to non-"gamers" (such as my wife, who won't play anything with me anymore except Namesake, Hanafuda and You Don't Know Jack). (Keith Ammann, '97) THE VERY CLEVER PIPE GAME The Very Clever Pipe Game (Cheapass): This is very east to learn, yet quite absorbing game with tiles that have black and white unconnected pipe paths. Your objective is to complete pipe circuits (with no openings), while playing complex pipes onto your opponent's pipe paths, preventing her from completing a circuit. The game then has three more circuit-completing variants, and (gasp) even has a variant that allow you to build 20-tile decks from the original 120-card set! Around $5. Contact www.cheapass.com if you can't find these games at your local game store. (Cedric, '97) SERENISSIMA <> Yes it is. The rules specify which powers you can have to keep it balanced. Obviously the board fills up faster with more players, but the rules fix that by setting a longer game length the fewer players you have. I won't swear that it plays the same as with more players, but we're certainly looking forward to playing it some more! (Mary Susan, '98) HARE AND TORTOISE My wife and I are avid gamers and we mostly play two player games (once you're past 30, it's tough finding friends that want to play games!). Hase und Igel (also released as Hare and Tortoise in the U.S. and U.K, but difficult to find). It's definitely worth tracking down. This is one of those rare games, like Settlers, that even non gamers fall in love with. (Frank Wimmer, '97) Hase & Igel (Hare & Tortoise) is pretty good for 2 players (use 2 pieces each). (Chuck Messenger, '97) SETTLERS KARTENSPIEL (Settlers of Catan Card Game) Settlers Kartenspiel is fun and involving (like the boardgame in tone but quite unique in play). Unfortunately, until Mayfair comes out with its English language version the German text on the cards may be off-putting. (Mary Susan, '97) CAESAR & CLEOPATRA Caesar & Cleopatra (from Kosmos) also has German cards, but since there's only a few such cards, it's not much of a problem. The game has some luck elements and a lot of subtle strategy - basically, it's a game of bluffing and out-guessing your opponent. (Mary Susan, '97) I can say that Caesar & Cleopatra is an excellent two player game. (Cafe Jay, '98) HANNIBAL I can't recommend Hannibal highly enough. It is a great 2 player game with a huge amount of variety, skill and luck in a great mix. The more you play it, the better you realize it is. Hannibal takes about 2.5 hours if you play it to the end but sometimes one player wins really early or the other player surrenders. I have seen a game over in under 30 minutes. If you play Hannibal, make sure to get all the errata from Web Grognards (probably also at AH's web site). The most important item is that the game does not end when Hannibal dies - instead he is just killed, never to return, and Carthage loses an extra 5 PC markers. (Aaron D. Fuegi, 97) WE THE PEOPLE We the People is also a good game but a much simpler one than Hannibal with not nearly as many hard/interesting decisions to make. We the People takes 1-1.5 hours or so. (Aaron D. Fuegi, 97) TITAN Titan (AH): fantasy wargame where the pieces move in stacks which are flipped over when they move on the Masterboard. When a battle happens, the pieces involved are places to a smaller board. One advantage, there's no way you have to wait hours after being knocked out for the game to end in the 2 player version. It mainly works because the Masterboard die driven movement system prevents teaming up in the multiplayer version. (Richard Irving, '97) David DesJardins believes that Titan is superb as both a two player and multi-player game. (I've never tried it two-player.) What makes Titan work well as a multiplayer game is the way the board places constraints on the actions of the players, minimizing the "dogpile on the leader" syndrome (a major danger in any multi player game). In a two-player game, you're making the same core decision you make in a multi-player game: can my stack A benefit the most from attacking stack B or from recruiting? (Kevin J. Maroney, '98) I've only played Titan two-player. It seems to me, from the multi- player games of it I've seen, that there's an awful lot of downtime for the uninvolved parties every time two players enter a battle. (Bob Rossney, '97) MERCHANT OF VENUS Merchant of Venus(AH): A space "railroad" where you explore the galaxy (which is randomly settled each game) to ship goods from one system to the others. The two player version emphasizes exploration and involves more exploring at the start than the multi player version, the multiplayer version emphasizes trading. (Richard Irving, '97) Mercant of Venus is OK -- similar in feel to the "real" multi-player game. (Chuck Messenger, '97) MAYFAIR RAILS (Empire Builder et al) When I play for two I use 2 train rules (basically you have two trains to move on your tracks--one moves in its entirety before the other. Most events apply to only the train that is affected.) or you can use the "honeymoon rules" limit small cities to1 player, etc. (Richard Irving, '97) I actually almost prefer the Mayfair railbuilding games (Empire Builder, Iron Dragon, Eurorails, etc.) with two players. When we play with a large group, it tends to get tedious, especially when you have some ... er ... ponderous people in your group (you know, the guy who counts out every possible route before drawing any track?). Of course you have to make some modifications, such as only one player can build to a small city, and taking out one of each commodity ... but it works well. (Julie Prince, '95) CONQUEST Imagine chess with 1/2 the rules, a larger board, and more pieces and combinations of moves. Very simple mechanics, yet very good and challenging. About 25 yrs old, so it has shown itself to be a good 2-player game. (Joseph Oberlander, '95) FORUM ROMANUM I don't know, if the game is available in Britain, but my choice is Forum Romanum (Franckh Kosmos), author: Wolfgang Kramer. The game is excellent for 2, as well as 3, 4, 5 or 6 players! (Bert Hess '97) FURY OF DRACULA If you want to include wives, my suggestion for a great family game for two but as good with 3 or 4 try Games Workshop's "Fury of Dracula". Up to 3 players hunt down a hidden drac (played on a separate screened off map) trying to get him before he creates an undead empire. Lots of fun. We play with only one house rule to help the vampire player in that he can choose day or night if he attacks but he cannot attack on the first turn. (Mike Hayman, '97) I'd have to argue this one. With two players you have one player moving Dracula once, You then have the other player moving Lord Godalming followed by moving Dr. Seward and then moving Van Helsing before Drac has another turn. I've played it two players and avoid it whenever possible. With 3-4 though it's quite a game. (Dana Richmond, '97) I'd have to argue with Dana - this is a fine 2 player game, in some ways better than with 3 or 4 players. A players turn only takes about 30 seconds and I've found that even though Dracula isn't moving, he's *very* interested in where the Hunters are moving, and thus involved in the turn. In addition, the draw card feature will bring Dracula into a Hunters turn when a bat card is drawn. I've played this game many times, possibly more than any other board game, and have never found the Drac. 'time drags' problem Dana indicates is there. This game is a MUST if you like Bram Stoker's book - this game treats the book with great respect. Not something that Hollywood seems to worry about. (Doug Adams, '97) I think it is best with four players, but it is workable with two and is a very elegant game. (Kevin Gonzalez, '97) Perhaps that's a meaning of the word "elegant" I was previously unfamiliar with. :-) In fact I'd say the opposite: it's a little inelegant/too complex. It's very clever, but I don't see the elegance. Fun game though. It's Scotland Yard with a TON of chrome added (which I feel is a good thing, as I find SY dull to the point of self-induced eye-gouging). (David Kuznick, '97) Another great game that works like Scotland Yard is Fury of Dracula. I have played this hundreds of times, 90% of them as a 2 player game where one player controls all 3 hunters. (Fury of Dracula DOES have 1 hunter designated as the individual victor, but the fact is Drac wins about 50% of the games over the long haul). (George Fagin, '97) ROBO RALLY Robo Rally also works pretty well with two players, as long as you put all six goals on one board. Otherwise it's just too spread out, and nothing happens. (Julie Prince, '95) ACES OF ACES I've found Aces-of-Aces to be a great one. It's head to head. It requires you to out wit your opponent. It's a good "ha ha, I got you" type game. I've played with men and women. You don't have to learn a lot of rules. I do not know if it is still in print, however. (Cris Whetstone, '97) RUSSIAN CAMPAIGN One of my favorites is the old AH game Russian Campaign. Allows both players to be on the offensive at some time or another, and has lots of re-playability (I'm still learning new strategies). Plus, it's a natural for PBM - the attacker specifies all the retreats, so there's only one mailing per turn (assuming no errors...). (Tom Leete, '95) UP FRONT If you like a more sophisticated military game, try Up Front by Avalon Hill. It is a card game based loosely on their Squad Leader series. It is the one game I would like to have if stranded on a deserted island.;-) Up Front is 10 out of 10 in my book!!! (Roger Eriksen, '97) DIPLOMACY My favorite is 2 player Diplomacy. In this variant it's Russia/England/France against Germany/Austria Hungary/Turkey with italy being neutral and it's armies/navies sitting put (i.e., a force of 2 will get you in). With this you lose an enjoyable part of regular Diplomacy, the act of Diplomacy. But you gain and equally enjoyable (to me) chess like game. I like the game in both these forms, but they are completely different games. (David. K. Lewis, '95) LISTS & QUICKIES ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ - Auf Heller und Pfennig - Billabong - Cafe International - Doctor Faust - Favoriten - Serenissima - Tutanchamun All work well with two players, and even better with more. (Dietmar Logoz, '98) - Backgammon - Cribbage - Crokinole - Cathedral - Halma (Chinese Checkers) - Morris - Fox & Geese (a favorite of Victoria & Albert) - Dominoes - Mancala - Gin Rummy (Glenn Kuntz, '97) In no particular order except how I see 'em in the closet :-) - Settlers card game - Fury of Dracula - Tutankhamun - Santa Fe - Master Labyrinth (but use a chess clock) - McMulti - En Garde - Palmyra - Chaos Marauders - Airlines - Spanish Main - Wildlife Adventure - Bazaar - Bridgette (David Kuznick, '97) - Dixie - * Eagles - Iron Dragon - Sorcerer's Cave - Talimsan - Space Hulk - Air Baron - Auf Heller Und Pfennig - Australia Rails - British Rails - Detroit/Cleveland Grand Prix - Die Ausreisser - Die Siedler Kartenspiel - * Dinosaurs Of The Lost World - Drunter Und Druber - * Elfenroads - Enchanted Forest - * Entdecker - * Euphat & Tigris - Formula De - * Fury of Dracula - Goldrausch - * Mississippi Queen - Mole Hill - New Games From Old Rome - Palmyra - Serenissima - * Scotland Yard - * Shark - * Sindbad - Spanish Main - * Take It Easy - Tutanchamun - * Twixt (* more likely to be played) (Doug Adams, '97) - Raj - Quoridor - Terrace - Pente - Quixo - Upthrust - Field Command (long game, but enjoyable) (mpetty26@tir.com, '97) - Igel Argen (made in Germany, but includes English rulebook). - Formula De - Wiz-War (Frank Wimmer, '97) Two-player only games: - Die Siedler von Catan Kartenspiel - En Garde - The Awful Green Things from Outer Space - Breakthru - We the People (OK, it's a bit wargamey, but not too bad at all) - Knightmare Chess - Netrunner - Pico - Mole Hill - New Games in Old Rome (2 or 3 of them) Multi-player games that work reasonably well or better with two: - Auf Achse - Auf Heller und Pfennig - Can't Stop - Drunter & Druber - Entdecker - Manitou - Mr. President - Santa Fe - Die Schlangen von Delhi - Sisimizi - Wildlife Adventure - Zug nach Westen/Rock Island (Joe Huber, '97) - Stratego still works well. - Conquest is a good game. - Axis & Allies is a good 2 player war game also. (Ralph Boerke, '97) In two letters: Go (Mike Hayman, '97) - Mille Bournes (Parker Bros.) It's a great little card game. - Enemy In Sight (Avalon Hill) is another great little card game. It's set in Napoleonic times and is a sea battle. Good for ages 8 +. (Roger Eriksen, '97) Euphrat & Tigris is different as a two player game, but still very good. More abstract in feel, but no less challenging. Worth trying. (Mike Siggins, '98) - En Garde ... fast 'n fun - Mississippi Queen works very well with 2, use 2 boats per person. Lots of fun. - Detroit/Cleveland Grad Prix is another good race game. - Backgammon is the only "classical" game we've liked much. (Chuck Messenger, '97) My favorite two player games at this time are: - Knightmare Chess (I'm one of the authors, so I can recommend it! Absolutely chaotic) - Geister (the best of Alex randolph's game, a very nice mix of strategy and bluff). One of my all times favorites. - Mole Hill (the only Knizia game that I like. I don't know why!) - Quarto (abstract strategy game, fast paced, very funny) - Dino Hunt (more luck than strategy, but very nice to play) - Badabum, Bausack, Jenga... and all the games about buildings which have not to fall down - Batik (strange "two player tangram') And when you want something heavy, try Axis and Allies. (Bruno Faidutti, '97) I recommend Go, Xiangqi (also known as Chinese Chess), and African stone games. (John Baker, '97) One of the best abstract strategy games to come along in recent years is a two-player gamed called Fibonacci. (Steve, '97) Also: Drunter & Druber and Tutanchamun (Bob Scherer-Hook) Knighmare Chess - simple (if you know Chess) and fun. (Magnus Lundgren, '97) Fast Food Franchise is similar to Monopoly without deals. It is a better game and works two player. (Bruno Wolff III, '97) My personal favorite is Games Workshop's Space Hulk. It plays quickly, is only of medium complexity, and a complete hoot! (Kirk Botula, '97) These are all games I enjoy playing with two players; none of them were designed strictly as two-player games: - Auf Heller & Pfennig (Reiner Knizia; Hans Im Gluck) - Drunter & Druber (Klaus Teuber; Hans Im Gluck) - Entdecker (Klaus Teuber; Goldsieber) - Wildlife Adventure (Wolfgang Kramer; Ravensburger) Favorite games designed for two players: - We the People (Mark Herman; Avalon Hill) - Abalone (Laurent Lavi & Michel Lalet; Abalone Games) - Kick-Off/Gazza (Unknown; Milton Bradley England)(A two-player - soccer card game) - Twixt (Alex Randolph; 3M) - and Chess isn't bad either, although I've never been particularly - good at it. (Bob Scherer-Hoock, '97) - Take It Easy is wonderful regardless of the number - Palabra is a superb, fast moving word card game - Bali is, too - The Settlers of Catan Card Game works very well - Colliding Circles is a great abstract game - Spectrangle, too See David Parlett's "Dictionary of Card Games" (penguin) for a terrific list of card games for two players. See Sid Sackson's "A Gamut of Games" (Dover) for an assortment of excellent two player games. And then there the following out of print games (if you can find them) - Marrakesh - Deal Me In (Mitchell Thomashow, '97) - Entdecker (Goldsieber) by Klaus Teuber .. works very well with just 2. - Settlers Card Game by Klaus Teuber - Caesar & Cleopatra (KOSMOS) by myself .. is also a nice 2-player card game (Wolfgang Ludtke, '98) - Global Pursuit (2-several players) - Dark Tower (1-4 players) her favourite - Talisman (2-8 players best with 4-6) - Family Business (2-6 best with more than 2, but playable with two) my mom also likes Family Business a lot - Wiz War is fine with two people, but the games tend to be short and you sometimes argue about the rules. (don't know why, maybe it's just me) (Jae 'Polar Bear', '97) My wife & I enjoy Spielkarten (the Settlers Card Game), Take 6, and Linie 1/Streetcar. Another recent addition is Freight Train, which my wife REALLY likes because I haven't been able to beat her at it (yet!). (Mark Jackson, '97) - Car Wars - The Russian Campaign - Squad Leader - The Awful Green Things From Outer Space - Western Desert. (Mark Pitcavage, '95) - Up Front - Turning Point: Stalingrad - Breakout: Normandy - SL/ASL (Bruce Mansfield, '95) - Advanced 3rd Reich - De Bellis Antiquatis - SPI's War in the Ice... out of print, but still good. (Tony Stapells, '95) - Field Command ... a new game just coming to market. More chesslike than most board games. The moves are simultaneous! One of the best games I have ever seen. - Axis and Allies ... I actually prefer playing this as a two player game as you can follow all of your own strategies rather than hoping your partner will support you. (Garland Coulson, '95) - Auf Heller und Pfennig (Hans im Gluck) - Drunter & Druber also by HiG. - Um Reifenbreite/Demmerage by Jumbo (if you like bicycle racing). - Cude/McMulti also is a decent 2 player game. - En Garde is the best 2 player game, and usually only takes about 15 minutes per game. (Peter Wotruba, '96) I must recommend En Garde as well. (Brian Bankler, '96) Ghosts (many publishers, mine is Schmidt, but I think it's another one now). (Bruno Faidutti, '96) - Athos (Kosmos) - another Knizia game - Billabong (Amigo) - Spiel der Turme (Schmidt) Basically, the more abstract games tend to have two-player options. (Paul Evans, '96) I'd actually say that Titan is a good two-player game and a great multi-player game. As a two-player game, it has a couple of flaws. One player can be way ahead, and yet the game can take quite a long time to finish. And the outcome is determined by luck to a larger extent than I prefer. (This can be compensated to some extent by playing more games, but it's still not a short game.) There are actually a couple of rules that I would like to change just for the two-player game. (For example, I'd like to limit tower teleportation a bit, because I think it increases the luck factor too much.) But most players seem to prefer leaving the rules as they are. David desJardins, '98 ----------------------------------------------------------------- [Click here for My Deja News.] Click here for My Deja News. ----------------------------------------------------------------- << >> /\ * Help * Post New Previous Next Current* Author Profile * Post Reply * Bookmark Article Article Results* View Thread * Email Reply* Text Only ----------------------------------------------------------------- IBM Technical Interchange '98 | Directories | Classifieds | Yellow Pages About Deja News · New Users · Ad Info · Our Advertisers · How are we doing? Home · Search · Post · My Deja News · Help ----------------------------------------- Copyright © 1995-98 Deja News, Inc. All rights reserved. Conditions of use.