# What's a good grown-up two person board game? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 31, 2006, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-grown-up-two-person-board-game/366751 "2006-07-31T18:36:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2006, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-grown-up-two-person-board-game/366751/41 "2006-08-02T04:07:43Z")
Another vote for Blokus, which is fine for two players (you can each play two colors, from opposite corners) but even better with four (one color per player). An intriguing game, with lots of strategizing and opportunities to good-naturedly mess with the other player. Our family loves it. I’ve been a fan of Stratego for a long time, although it might be more wargame-oriented than you’d like. We have the original version, as well as the “Star Wars” and “Lord of the Rings” editions, which have different features but are still basically the same game. I know you said “no card games,” but UNO is a lot of fun. In my experience, even people who don’t like card games like it. Give it a try! ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2006, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-grown-up-two-person-board-game/366751/42 "2006-08-02T04:23:54Z")
[QUOTE=Zsofia] My boyfriend and I have played and enjoyed Carcassone: The City and Settlers of Catan. The thing is, for Settlers of Catan you need more than two people, and it would be nice not to have to get a bunch of people together. ? [/QUOTE] You could try “Objective : Catan” (I’m just guessing at the english name of the game), which is intended for two players in a completely different setting (spaceships you need to improve and colonization of planets). I bought it some weeks ago, and it seems quite good. I bought at the same time two others boardgames for two players : “Dungeon twister” and “Kahuna”. Both have been praised, but I didn’t tried the first one yet, and played the other only once and a very long time ago, so I couldn’t recommand them. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2006, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-grown-up-two-person-board-game/366751/43 "2006-08-02T04:25:33Z")
For two player games I really, really like Othello/reversi, and [Mastermind](http://www.archimedes-lab.org/atelier.html?http://www.archimedes-lab.org/mastermind.html). I enjoy backgammon, chess, and checkers, too. Most of my other favorites fall under “war games” or “card games”, I’m afraid. ---
**Author:** ![Rubystreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Rubystreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rubystreak)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2006, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-grown-up-two-person-board-game/366751/44 "2006-08-02T04:38:29Z")
Ever play [Set](http://www.setgame.com/)? It’s very fast paced, challenging, and fun. I like it a lot. ---
**Author:** ![Fiddle\_Peghead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddle_peghead/32/3506_2.png) [@Fiddle\_Peghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiddle_Peghead)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2006, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-grown-up-two-person-board-game/366751/45 "2006-08-02T04:42:59Z")
I was going to suggest Shogi, a variant of chess from Japan, but as Zsofia doesn’t like chess, this would probably not be a good choice. It is similar to chess with pieces moving in generally the same fashion. However, once a piece is moved to a certain area of the board, it may be promoted, which adds new directions that it may move in addition to its orginal ones. Also, once a piece is captured by your opponent, it may be placed by him on the board on a subsequent move and it becomes part of his forces. For those who have gotten a bit bored with chess, it is definitely an interesting and fun game. Not suprisingly, Wikipedia has an excellent rundown. ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2006, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-grown-up-two-person-board-game/366751/46 "2006-08-02T12:46:09Z")
[QUOTE=Zsofia] Man, do I wish he liked Trivial Pursuit. He _hates_ it, won’t play. One of his friends loves it and would love to play, but it’s less fun with two people, and plus the BF would be sulking in a corner. [/QUOTE] My roommate is kind of like that, except she really likes the game - she just refuses to play me because she’s very competitive and she doesn’t think she’ll win. I find that very annoying because I couldn’t give a crap who wins the game, I just think it’s fun. ---
**Author:** ![t-mobileguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/65b543/32.png) [@t-mobileguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/t-mobileguy)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2006, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-grown-up-two-person-board-game/366751/47 "2006-08-02T13:47:04Z")
There are several games my wife and like, but we go for the slut down your brain kinda games so we can unwind after work. Mancala – and African game played on a flat piece of wood with small indents and marbles. Very very fast Rumy Q – Actually I don’t even know if that’s how you spell it. It’s a tile game where you make straights and runs Zombies! – a tile and card game, never the same board twice. Don’t go through the drive through, they always get you in the drive through! And when all else fails and we just want to have an hour of good fun we pull out my old Magic; the gathering card set and play. I know it’s not a board game but it’s not your usual card game either. ---
**Author:** ![t-mobileguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/65b543/32.png) [@t-mobileguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/t-mobileguy)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2006, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-grown-up-two-person-board-game/366751/48 "2006-08-02T13:49:12Z")
wow, ok just to clear this up. My wife and I like to SLUT down our brians. Man has it been a long day ---
**Author:** ![t-mobileguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/65b543/32.png) [@t-mobileguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/t-mobileguy)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2006, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-grown-up-two-person-board-game/366751/49 "2006-08-02T13:50:49Z")
:smack: :smack: :smack: I’m so sorry shut…brain I will leave this thread now… ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2006, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-grown-up-two-person-board-game/366751/50 "2006-08-02T14:31:04Z")
Damn. I was really hoping for tips on how to slut down in a two-player kinda way. 😉 Went to the gaming store and picked up Alhambra and Ticket to Ride: Europe. I used to play Uno all the time when I was a kid! Especially two player - “Skip you, comes back to me. Reverse you, comes back to me. Draw four, bitch, the color’s green.” There’s a really funny Something Awful Photoshop Phriday bit with realistic packaging for games - Uno was something like “Please let the power come back on!” ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2006, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-grown-up-two-person-board-game/366751/51 "2006-08-02T14:37:05Z")
Oh, actually it was a Comedy Goldmine, and it’s really funny and also has some bearing on this thread: [http://www.somethingawful.com/index.php?a=3818](http://www.somethingawful.com/index.php?a=3818) ---
**Author:** ![scotandrsn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a4c791/32.png) [@scotandrsn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scotandrsn)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2006, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-grown-up-two-person-board-game/366751/52 "2006-08-02T14:38:11Z")
[Abalone](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000066545/sr=8-1/qid=1154529021/ref=pd_bbs_1/102-3120058-6880132?ie=UTF8) ; [Here’s a fairly crappy online one-person version](http://www.clickhere.nl/abalone/). I hate the way it displays, but it gives you an idea of the strategy. The board version is highly addictive. Jenga’s another one that any small number can enjoy ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2006, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-grown-up-two-person-board-game/366751/53 "2006-08-02T14:43:21Z")
[QUOTE=Zsofia] No war games! The boyfriend would love them like my cat likes catnip (you know, he rolls around in them, gets all high, etc) and I’d have to gnaw my leg off. He and his friends are obnoxious enough about Heroscape, the last thing we need is to fight the Battle of the Bulge. Honestly, games with fighting are pretty boring to me - when I play the Civilization games, I spend all my time building things and avoiding war, because the war part just isn’t interesting to me. [/QUOTE] So, no **Risk** then? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2006, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-grown-up-two-person-board-game/366751/54 "2006-08-03T00:46:03Z")
[QUOTE=t-mobileguy] wow, ok just to clear this up. My wife and I like to SLUT down our brians. Man has it been a long day [/QUOTE] Best. Typo correction. Ever. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2006, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-grown-up-two-person-board-game/366751/55 "2006-08-03T00:49:45Z")
[Halma](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halma). It’s Chinese Checkers (although it predates that game) played on a 16x16 board; the moves are simple, but the play can be really delightfully subtle and engaging. ---
**Author:** ![Raza](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raza/32/213_2.png) [@Raza](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raza)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2006, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-grown-up-two-person-board-game/366751/56 "2006-08-03T00:54:44Z")
[Empire Builder](http://www.mayfairgames.com/shop/product/0450-0479/pages/0450.htm), somewhat like Monopoly with trains. Our house rules provide a more streamlined yet tactical game. Rewards planning without having to think 10+ moves ahead. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2006, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-grown-up-two-person-board-game/366751/57 "2006-08-03T12:33:49Z")
quarters? ---
**Author:** ![Bookkeeper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bookkeeper/32/281_2.png) [@Bookkeeper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bookkeeper)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2006, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-grown-up-two-person-board-game/366751/58 "2006-08-03T14:43:12Z")
Good two-player game: Starship Catan Multiplayer games playable by two: Ticket to Ride \*.Rail games (Empire Builder, North American Rail (improved Empire Builder), British Rail, EuroRail, Russia Rails, Lunar Rails, India Rails, Iron Dragon, etc.) Power Grid Mexica Metro Valley of the Mammoths Nautilus Industrial Waste Scattergories Other fun multiplayer games (Not sure how well they play with only two): Three Dragon Ante Clippers Meridian Atlantic Star Africa Puerto Rico (boardgame) & San Juan (card game version of Puerto Rico) Java Tikal Starfarers of Catan Union Pacific Air Baron Robo Rally History of the World Merchant of Venus Amnesia ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2006, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-grown-up-two-person-board-game/366751/59 "2006-08-03T17:49:19Z")
Well, we had a really good time with Ticket to Ride and Alhambra, although Aaron’s still mad at me 'cause I won Alhambra and wasn’t even sober enough to strategize. 😉 I’m definately going to check out some more of the games mentioned in this thread, though. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-grown-up-two-person-board-game/366751.md?page=2)