5 Board Games That Are Secretly Better With Only Two Players

Some board games, like 7 Wonders: Duel, are designed for just two players. Others can handle four or more, but often play best with only two. In games where players take turns and don’t interact much, waiting between turns can be a problem. The more people playing, the longer each wait becomes.

While many enjoy competing for the highest score, head-to-head board games can be even more engaging because you can concentrate solely on defeating one opponent. Some board games simply work better with two players, and we’ll demonstrate this using Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective as an example.

Spirit Island

Work Together As Spirits To Defend An Island From Invaders

Playing Time: 90-120 mins
Players: 1-4
Age: 13+

Spirit Island is a highly-regarded board game where players take on the roles of powerful spirits protecting an island from invading colonists. Each spirit has distinct abilities, and combining these with randomly drawn power cards creates exciting and collaborative gameplay moments.

Although Spirit Island is playable with three or four people, adding more players can make the game feel overly long. It also becomes more challenging to develop a good strategy when everyone is choosing their actions simultaneously or in a flexible order, as each player already has a lot to manage. For these reasons, Spirit Island is often more fun and easier to learn with just two players, particularly when you’re first getting to grips with the game and trying out different spirits.

Wingpsan

Collect Different Birds To Create The Highest Scoring Aviary

Playing Time: 40-70 mins
Players: 1-5
Age: 10+

Wingspan is a competitive board game focused on achieving the highest score, but it’s known for being relaxing and friendly. Players generally don’t have ways to directly hinder each other, and some cards even benefit opponents. Because there’s limited downtime between turns, it’s often most enjoyable when played with only two people.

Wingspan is a game where you create a bird sanctuary with birds from three habitats: forests, grasslands, and wetlands. To add birds to your sanctuary, you’ll need to collect the right food, and eventually eggs as well, which some birds can store. Each bird is beautifully illustrated and has unique characteristics – like its scoring potential, nest type, and habitat – that help you earn bonus points by collecting birds with similar traits. It’s a perfect game for anyone who loves birds!

The Castles Of Burgundy

Build The Best Medieval Duchies

Playing Time: 30-90 mins
Players: 1-4
Age: 12+

The Castles of Burgundy is a satisfying game where every move feels meaningful as you try to create the most impressive duchy. While players primarily focus on their own development and selecting tiles, there isn’t a lot of direct interaction. Be aware that games often run longer than the box suggests, and playtime increases with more players.

When only two people are playing, it’s simpler to watch what your opponent is doing – like which tiles they’re aiming for or what trades they might make. If you enjoy this historical setting, you might also like to explore actual board games from medieval times.

Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective

An Immersive Detective Experience Based On Evidence

Playing Time: 60-120 mins
Players: 1-8
Age: 13+

In the game Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective, players solve mysteries by questioning witnesses, investigating leads, and examining clues like newspaper articles. Because the game relies heavily on reading, it works best with two players who can share and review documents together.

Adding more players means everyone will have to wait longer for their turn, making the game even slower. While two players can easily brainstorm and share ideas, a larger group could lead to lively discussions and a better chance of winning this challenging game.

Use small sticky notes on the map to highlight important places like where the crime happened, where suspects claim they were, and where witnesses live.

Carcassonne

Place Tiles To Complete Roads, Cities, & Monasteries To Score Points

Playing Time: 30-45 mins
Players: 2-5
Age: 7+

If you enjoy historical board games, Carcassonne is a fantastic choice, but it’s easy to learn and fun for everyone. Players work together to build a growing medieval world by placing tiles. While roads and cities need to connect to each other, you still have lots of options on your turn.

As a big fan of strategy games, I’ve found that placing your Meeples to finish cities, roads, or monasteries is a great way to score points – and really throw a wrench into your opponent’s plans! It plays really well with a group of up to five people, but it gets intense when it’s just two of us. It’s a bit like a faster-paced Connect Four, with everyone trying to block each other. Plus, games are noticeably quicker with only two players, which is perfect when you don’t have a ton of time.

2025-12-09 08:35