Hi All,
I wanted to take a break from some of my regular content to chat about a different topic that comes up frequently in my house. What are some good board games that work well for two people or a small group? Mt wife enjoys board games a lot (so much so I have tried a couple times to get her into 40K or Sigmar or anything really). While she hasn’t really latched on to GW’s IP, we have discovered a few games that we both enjoy. While this list is largely my opinion, I wanted to lay out some criteria as to how I made these choices. Specifically, I look for games that:
- Required a minimum of 2 people to play, but could also be scaled up to 4-5 (for family gatherings)
- Should be a game that is engaging and fun. But….
- Had a solo mode, always good if you enjoy the game but your partner does not
- Should cause as little domestic strife and drama as possible (context: 3/4 of the Settlers of Catan games I have played with my wife’s family have ended prematurely due to arguments)
- Should have a lot of replayability
- Needs to provide a level of depth beyond simple games like Clue, Risk etc.
- Should have high quality materials, be nice to look at etc. With what games cost these days it’s worth investing in a quality product
With these criteria in mind let’s dive into some of my recommendations:
- Wingspan
Pros: Deep, strategic game play, Lots of replayability, Solid as a solo or group game, High quality materials, Game is competitive without being antagonistic.
Cons: Takes a while to Play, Can be complex to learn
I adore this game! As a couple this is the one game that we have played more than any other. While I do love birds, and am thus biased, it still is a really solid game. Wingspan is an engine-builder where you add birds to your nature preserve in an effort to score points. Each of the different species have a different feeding or habitat requirements while also providing different abilities (Many of these abilities are based on their behaviors in the wild which can be humorous if you know anything about birds). There is also a clever mechanic to add an NPC that follows certain behaviors based on drawn cards. It works either as an opponent in solo mode or to add a third player if going against your partner. One of the best things about this game is that while you compete with each other, there are very few ways to antagonize other players and so it is unlikely to cause any hurt feelings. There are two expansions already and a third coming out shortly. They add a lot of new birds, and while there are some controversial aspects of the Australia expansion, they are all worth getting.
2. Agricola
Pros: Strategic game play, fun theme, forces you to make challenging decisions.
Cons: Can be antagonistic, can be challenging to learn the first time through, game can get repetitive.
I got this game on a whim, after vaguely remembering hearing about it. My best description of it is: Settlers of Catan on steroids. You take on the role of a 17th century farmer just trying to feed your family….oh and show up everyone else. Like Wingspan your biggest enemy is the clock as the rounds speed up each year. While the actions you can take are largely static, they do shift each game. This along with the Improvements and Occupation mechanics provide a good amount of replayability. I would recommend using a drafting mechanism like 7 Wonders for those cards as it allows you to strategize more. You can antagonize people a bit by trying to preempt their moves in this game, but such actions are risks as you have to consider if that move will harm you more than your opponent. It’s a good way to ease someone into engine-building games as it stretches many of the same muscles. There is also a pretty strong solo mode. If you do get this game, I highly recommend an organizer for all the tokens. If you have ever played Vitaculture this game is quite similar if more complex.
3. Harry Potter Hogwarts Battle
Pros: Collaborative game which is good for domestic bliss, can be surprisingly difficult, levels are well structured to keep you engaged while remaining flexible.
Cons: Can be very addicting (Every time my wife’s family play this game they get sucked in and stick with it for hours, literally one Thanksgiving I just went upstairs to play video games for 4 hours as they were utterly engrossed), RNG is king, Tiding up is a chore.
Some friends of ours introduced us to this game a few years ago and it has one of the strongest rule sets for teaching you how to learn the game as you play it. The game is a deck-building game where you and your friends work together to stop Voldemort. There are seven levels each with their own cards and villains that combine to increase the challenge as the game goes on. One issue is that as you get to later rounds certain combinations of villains can just wreck you out of the gate. More annoyingly it is rarely a quick loss but one that takes an hour and a half to resolve before you lose forcing you to re-rack and take up more time (I mean you can’t end a session like that can you?). As you are all on the same team it won’t cause too much drama unless your group cannot agree on a strategy.
4. Calico
Pros: Fun theme: if you or your partner likes cats and/or quilts they will enjoy this game, you can play a round in 20 minutes, surprisingly intense, has a solo mode.
Cons: Can be antagonistic, requires intense focus, can get repetitive.
My wife loves cats and this game looked pretty chill (you are trying to get buttons and lure cats to sit on your quilt, how intense can it be?) so I decided to grab it as a gift for her. This game is very pretty and, like Wingspan, has some high-quality pieces. The awkward thing about this game is that the best way to win is to hide your true strategy while trying to foil your opponent’s. The board is pretty small and soon you will be forced into a corner trying to set up a play 2-3 rounds in advance. While the topic is chill it is difficult to talk or socialize during the game as you need to be aware of what everyone is doing and what they might be up to. The games also are subject to a bit of RNG. The only downside to this game is that, while there are a few different types of boards, the games feel a bit same-y after a few runs through.
Editor’s Note: Just realized I have been playing this game all wrong. We have been competing on one board rather than assigning each player their own board haha. > _ <
Honorable Mentions:
- 7 Wonders – great for groups of people
- Betrayal at House on the Hill – might cause drama, you need 4+ players to really enjoy it
- Vitaculture – a really solid game but needs a few expansions to bloom
- TIME Stories – Great coop game, no replayability unless you have a constant stream, of new players.
Conclusion:
So what do you all think? Am I leaving anything out? Do you agree or disagree? Let me know in the comments!
And remember, Frontline Gaming sells gaming products at a discount, every day in their webcart!
