Games for Two

Chess, checkers and piece games

The most classic games exclusively for two players include chess, checkers, backgammon, mill and go. But if we focus on modern board games, we find that the range is much more diverse.

Contemporary games for two

The absolute pinnacle of contemporary doubles games is 7 Wonders of the World: Duel, which is itself relatively complex. If you add the Pantheon and Agora expansions to it, you get a full-fledged big game. Not to be outdone when the authors are gamedesign greats Antoine Bauza and Bruno Cathala.

Among the current pure-blooded doubles games, however, we can also find other gems such as Hive, an abstract game aspiring to be a modern representative of chess. The pieces are made up of hexagonal stones with iconography of beetles and arthropods with various effects. These stones are added together to form a gradually expanding game plan. The game was released in 2000 and still hosts championships and worldwide tournaments. In addition, its smaller version, Hive Pocket, with its foldable packaging and durable components (game stones and pouch), makes it one of the most sought-after games for two on the go. Hive has also seen three expansions adding three new pieces (stones).

Card games for two

Of the purely card games for two, we must mention Claim, a game created by Scott Almes, known for his Tiny Epic... series of pocket games. The crazy illustrations by an artist called Mico (Mihajlo Dimitrievski) give a hint that this is a lighter title, albeit with strategic elements. That makes it suitable for travel or for a beer in the pub. The Game of Thrones has also received a number of expansions, but so far only in English.

Another interesting game for two is It's a Wonderful Kingdom, which introduces a new divide-and-conquer mechanic. In this game, you will fight for the throne of a declining kingdom, which can only be restored to its former glory and fame by the rightful heir to the throne. The game lasts 4 rounds. In each round you offer and select cards with which to develop your duchy. Using the divide-and-conquer system, try to trick your opponent into giving you unwanted cards. The game also includes modules to increase variability.   

Strategic games for two players

An opulent strategy game for two, Twilight Struggle simulates 45 years of intrigue and casual warfare between the Soviet Union and the United States. The game begins with the struggle of the two new superpowers on the ruins of post-war Europe and ends in 1989. It is a challenging strategy game in which the cards of each historical event play an important role. The game plan represents a map of the world at that time. Cold War has long been considered one of the best games in history, due to its position in the BGG game rankings.