22 best 2-player board games

Climb aboard for a cross-country train adventure across the USA. Players collect cards for train cars, claiming railway routes to connect from city to city. The longer the route, the more points you earn!See who can travel by rail to the most cities in North America, in just 7 days.Players: 2 to 5Playing time: 30 to 60 minutesReview: "I wish we'd bought it sooner! The whole family loves it. It's a very very simple idea involving very simple game play. My 9 year old picked it up very quickly and, after eventually coaxing a screen obsessed teen away from her tablet/phone she also got into playing. A highly recommended hit for the whole family."

You and your partner are on a secret mission to a crowded city. Your objective: to contact all 15 agents without revealing too many innocent bystanders or the enemy assassins in the process.In this co-operative game, you and your partner give each other one-word clues to identify your agents among those on the table. Reveal them all before the time runs out in order to win the game and complete your mission.Players: 2 to 4Playing time: 15 to 30 minutesReview: "A perfect thinking game for couples and it may show how much your other half is on your wavelength or knows how you think by the clues they give. It's pretty quick to set up, doesn't take up too much space and is a lot of fun!"

This is a fun co-operative game, even if the title hits us a bit close to home!In this game, 4 deadly diseases are spreading across the world and it's up to you. as skilled members of a disease-fighting team, to keep the epidemics at bay while researching vital cures. Work with the other players against the game itself to save the world!We like that you can adjust this game to a difficulty level to suit you, whether you're playing with with your partner, a friend or grandchild.Players: 2 to 4Playing time: 45 minutesReview: "I really love this game! It is so easy to learn Pandemic, few rules to remember, but it still delivers many variations and difficulty levels for different player types. People who are new to gaming can start with easy level just with 4 Epidemic cards, but experts can use 6 Epidemic cards. Also, with all the expansions available this game will never get boring."

This award winning game is deeply addictive and perfect for two players. Using your creature tiles, each with a unique way of moving, try to totally surround your opponent's queen while protecting your own.This game is crawling with possibilities and is sure to cause a buzz with competitive strategy and wit.Players: 2Playing time: 20 minutesReview: "A great two player game with no set-up required. Quick and easy to learn but doesn't get boring when you've mastered it and its abstract nature means you can play hundreds of times without getting bored of it!"

Test your language skills with this smart and quirky word game. With speed, "SPLIT!" the letter tiles and start flipping and forming your own grid of words in front of you using your allocation. Run out of tiles? Shout "PEEL!" and everyone can collect another letter tile from the bunch. Finish your grid first to win without any mistakes. Hopefully it won't drive you bananas!We like the portable banana case which makes this game an easy one to pack and play on the go.Players: 2 to 6Playing time: 5 minutes +Review: "After a friend introduced me to Bananagrams, I was completely hooked. I went home and ordered a game for myself. I've played it with friends and relatives, made up my own modifications to the rules, and really love this game."

In this game of speed and observation, test your reflexes by matching images across cards. Each of the game's 55 cards has eight different symbols on it, and between any two cards there is always exactly one matching symbol. It's up to you to spot it fast!Coming in a compact metal tin, this is another great game to carry on the go and we particularly like that each game sold makes a contribution to Great Ormond Street Children's Charity.Players: 2 to 8Playing time: 15 minutesReview: "Such an amazing game! So addictive to play. Great game for all the family, very competitive. Really easy and lots of fun, if a bit frustrating when you can't see a match! Children and adults can play together and there are a few different versions of the game. This looks like a children's game, and I suppose it is. But play this with a load of adults and its even better!"

Always a classic, Scrabble is a fun game to test your vocabulary and your competitive side, trying to create words with the highest point count. Work to use the most difficult letters and cover the premium squares on the board to rack up points in no time.Want to become a pro? Follow our tips on how to win at Scrabble and astonish your loved ones.Players: 2 to 4Playing time: 30 minutes +Review: "Since buying this product, my family have really enjoyed playing with it on several occasions already! Good quality, great game!"

Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective at Carton House and Queen's Park offers you an immersive crime-solving game of investigation in Victorian era London.Work co-operatively with your team to solve the 10 all new mysteries and try to surpass Sherlock Holmes himself. Follow the leads through the city and piece together the clues.Players: 1 to 8Playing time: 90 minutesReview: "This is a really enjoyable game (I have only played two-player). It's full of atmosphere and you really feel like you're following a proper Sherlock Holmes story."

A fabulous option for Disney fans and families, enjoy playing the villain and use strategy to fulfill your evil plans. In this asymmetric board game, choose from 6 iconic Disney Villains, each with their own sinister objectives & goals. Play as Captain Hook, Maleficent, Jafar, Ursula, Queen of Hearts or Prince John, each on a mission to take down our beloved protagonists.Who will be the evilest of them all?Players: 2 to 6Playing time: 50 minutesReview: "I enjoy this as a 2 player game. It's always really close and doesn't play too slow either. Like the base its an aesthetically pleasing game. It's easy to learn (my 10yr old picked it up during one play) but if you're unsure there's an excellent tutorial on YouTube."

In this 2 player game, you play the roles of Nefertiti and Akhenaten, one of the most popular royal couples of ancient Egypt. In a competition between master builders, strategically and tactfully unload valuable tokens from the six boats on the shores and seek glory by building monuments to outshine your opponent. You'll each build to achieve as many fame points as possible and win the duel.Players: 2Playing time: 30 minutesReview: "Great couple game if you want something that involves a bit of strategy without being too technical. Worth looking online for video explainer the first time you play but really easy to pick up and very addictive. Looks good as well. We're really happy with it - 2 thumbs up."

In Patchwork, two players compete to build the most aesthetic (and high-scoring) patchwork quilt on a personal game board. Players must navigate to get to the centre of their board first, all whilst considering the time it takes, the aesthetic of their quilt and the cost of different fabric pieces.With the strategic piecing together of fabrics, this game is great if you love a game or Tetris or can visualise how pieces can fit together easily.Players: 2Playing time: 15 minutesReview: "This is an interesting and different sort of board game and to me seems fairer than the usual game of chance that depends on the throw of a dice. It's also great that it's a two-player game (so many board games work better with more players)."

In this fast-paced, pick-and-pass card game, the goal is to grab the best combination of sushi dishes as they whizz by. Score points for making full sets, the most Maki Rolls and of course, make sure to leave room for desert!With cute and fun illustrations, this game will be a hit with kids and adults alike. Players: 2 to 5Playing time: 15 minutesReview: "Brilliant game! The family love to play this game. It is easy to learn and the games last about 20-30min. The deluxe version gives the game a lot of replay value. The kids have fun just deciding the menu for the game."

The Fox in the Forest is a trick-taking game made just for 2 players. Utilise the special abilities of the fairytale character cards to change the trump suit and win tricks over your opponent. However try not to be too greedy and win too many tricks or you'll fall like the classic villains in the fairytale stories. The beautiful illustrations of the unique characters will help you quickly analyse your options too.Players: 2Playing time: 30 minsReview: "My husband and I love card and board games, bit is difficult to find simple card games we can carry and that are perfect for two. This game has everything we asked for: small Box, game is easy to learn, fun and competitive. I bought it for his birthday and we both can enjoy it!"

In this fast-paced game, cleverly plan and construct a thriving tiny town as the Mayor, making the most of the building materials and without wasting the scarce resources. Each building scores victory points in unique ways and whoever builds the most prosperous tiny town with the most victory points wins.Players: 1 to 6Playing time: 30 minutesReview: "This is a fantastic family game. Simultaneous play, simple rules but an absolute beast to master. Have lost to my 11 year old and 9 year old. My wife loves it too. Loads of replayability. If you know games, think Karuba crossed with Tetris with a smattering of Sushi Go Party. Our most replayed game - and we have a lot!"

Designed for 2 players, Shobu is an elegant abstract strategy game that is won when won when one player manages to push all of their opponent's stones off of one of the four boards.SHOBU evokes the feeling of Chess in its strategy and movement tactics but provides its own unique challenge that is distinct and intriguing.Players: 2Playing time: 15 minutesReview: "This is a beautiful, fun game - easy to pick up yet challenging to master, which makes it very moreish. Highly recommended!"

You may already be bored of the at-home quizzes, but this simple game provides hundreds of eccentric questions that are perfect for playing with friends and family. It's the ultimate quiz leveller – nobody is likely to know the answers so you'll have to take an educated guess or take a shot in dark. Good fun, a laugh and you're guaranteed to learn so barmy facts along the way!Players: 2 +Playing time: 30 minutes +Review: "Shot in the Dark is a great quiz game. The questions are all pretty obscure which gives everyone playing a decent chance of getting some questions right. It's a great leveller and the game got us laughing when some of the more surprising answers were revealed. We played for a good hour and only went through a tenth of the questions so there is plenty of fun to be had. Looking forward to playing it again."

A favourite in our house, Exploding Kittens is a fun card game in which you can play with hilarious and cruel strategy cards in an attempt to get your opponents out with an exploding kitten. Picking a card off the pile is a game of Russian Roulette with options including bombs, skips, bomb defuses, attacks and the chance to peak at other players cards.Players: 2-5Playing time: 15 minutesReview: "I bought this just over a year ago now and it is still a firm favourite for my friends weekly board games meet ups. With the easy of learning the rules and then the instant competitiveness you can be up and playing within a couple of minutes for the next few hours. Each game only takes about 10-25 minutes to play so is usually played as a starting game or if we finish a longer board game but don't want to go home quite yet."

Carcassonne is a clever tile-laying game in which players attempt to build a new medieval landscape surrounding this impressive city. Place tiles, send knights, monks, farmers and more to claims areas and score points in a head-to-head challenge for land. With each tile placed, strategies will be tested and the skill of the players will determine who stands victorious.Players: 2 to 5Playing time: 35 minutesReview: "I have quite a few board games and this is my most recent addition. I suffer slightly as most members of my household are not really that bothered about playing any of them that often. Collared my youngest the other day and he played this and afterwards he announced "This is the best one you've got so far dad." He's right - it's just perfect."

Dun dun, dun dun! If you're a fan of the Jaws films, you'll be snapped up in this strategy board game. With great replay value, this asymmetric style of game allows you to play as the Shark or cooperatively/ alone as a member of the crew. A full game is played over two Acts, in which the actions in Act 1 will provide advantages (or disadvantages!) going into Act 2. Each game will be different and can provide an hour packed with fun in which you can play the epic film finale.Players: 2 to 4Playing time: 60 minutesReview: "I wasn't disappointed, it's an awesome game, perfect for 4 players. It keeps you thinking and the 2 act structure is excellent (it's 2 games in one). Anyone who loves games will love it, and anyone who loves Jaws will love it."

One murder, eight suspects: can you solve the case before the train reaches its destination? This escape room game for the home provides a perfect unique gaming experience in which you need to work as a team to solve the puzzles and case as fast as you can. This game can only be played once (to solve the riddles you'll need to write on, cut up and fold game materials) but if you enjoy this, there are plenty of others available too including The Pharoah's Tomb, The Abandoned Cabin and The Forbidden Castle.Players: 1 to 4Playing time: 1 to 2 hoursReview: "The puzzles are non-trivial and so satisfying when solved. We will definitely be ordering another one… With the advantage of 5 rather different minds working on this we didn't need to consult the Help cards but it still took us an hour and 20 minutes to complete. Would highly recommend."

Build a mosaic fit for a monarch! Azul invites you to embellish the walls of the Royal Palace of Evora as you compete with other tile-laying artisans to claim and arrange tiles for the highest scoring points. Extra points are on offer for collecting sets of the same colour of tile, or for creating particular patterns, while there are penalties for wasting tile supplies the process. Plan ahead for to maximise your design, and your points!Players: 2 to 4Playing time: 30 to 40 minutesReview: "This is such a simple game, beautifully presented that its simplicity betrays its depth. You can play devious, you can look ahead and try and punish players or you can lock in to your own strategy - all are viable options. It is like a cross between Tetris, Ticket to Ride and Scrabble...if that doesn't sound too insane."

What 2 player board game list wouldn't include Chess? Chess is an absolute classic and this board doubles as a draughts board too. With two games in one, develop your problem solving skills, strategic planning and concentration whilst having hours of fun.If you're looking a Chess board of its own, why not pick one of the favourites from our list of Chess board sets – great for experienced players and beginners alike.Players: 2Playing time: 15 minutes +Review: "I wanted to purchase a chess set due to being inspired by the new series 'The Queen's Gambit' on Netflix. As with many other retailers, many chess sets were sold out but not Argos. This particular chess set was the only one I could find in a 100-mile radius. Safe to say, I made the purchase but I was a little hesitant due to the very reasonable price, it made me question, what kind of quality is this? For such a great price the quality of the pieces and the board, all made of wood, are amazing!"