Non-Gamer wife: Which 2 player game to introduce?
Doug Andrews
United States Pleasanton California
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Over the past little while, I have purchased many games. My wife enjoys games, however, her experience with games is with traditional card games, chess, and mainstream traditional board games (Monopoly, Life, Risk, Battleship). The game can't be longer than 45 minutes to play (we have 2 toddlers which impacts on our time), and I'm looking for simple play mechanics. I've tried to keep the list small. Any recommendations from the list I've provided?
Cheers
Methos
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Doug Andrews
United States Pleasanton California
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2.
Board Game: Diam
[Average Rating:6.30 Overall Rank:3783]

Doug Andrews
United States Pleasanton California
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Doug Andrews
United States Pleasanton California
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Doug Andrews
United States Pleasanton California
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Doug Andrews
United States Pleasanton California
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Doug Andrews
United States Pleasanton California
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7.
Board Game: GIPF
[Average Rating:7.16 Overall Rank:319]

Doug Andrews
United States Pleasanton California
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Sue Hemberger
Washington Dist of Columbia
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Nice-looking abstract. Fun and competitive but in an inoffensive way.
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9.
Board Game: Tsuro
[Average Rating:6.47 Overall Rank:818]

Paul Imboden
United States Chicago Illinois
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Good quick game to play between toddler's nap fits. Also, when the little ones get a little older they can play as well... sure beats Hi Ho Cherry-O, and teaches spatial recognition.
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Scott M
United States Lake Hiawatha New Jersey
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My wife and I enjoy this game. Supports up to 4 but I think it really only plays well with 2. Since you said her experience was with card games she may like the rummy element to it.
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United States Seattle Washington
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Can't go wrong with this one.
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John Crawford
United States Renton Washington
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My wife and I started playing this game, though any in the series would probably due. My wife likes it even though I usually win. Rules are simple enough (match like sides of the tiles), but the strategy can take time to develop.
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Scott M
United States Lake Hiawatha New Jersey
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My wife and I enjoy this game. Supports up to 4 but I think it really only plays well with 2. Since you said her experience was with card games she may like the rummy element to it.
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Robert .
United States Royal Oak Michigan
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Out of the Carcassonnes, introduce her to this one. It's the best graphically AND the most refined rules and gameplay. Easily the winner amoung the carcs.
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Robert .
United States Royal Oak Michigan
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Scales from 2-4 players perfectly. But for 2 players it is fast, tactical, and very very fun. The double game elements and light screwage factor really appeals to wives. Also, the stunning board and bits draws people into it in a big way.
For 2 players the games never last more than 30 minutes..
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Jeff Hobbs
United States Wylie Texas
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Try Lost Cities. It's an excellent, quick 2 player game.
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Sue Hemberger
Washington Dist of Columbia
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Set collection with a memory component. For two players, I much prefer it to Ticket to Ride. Fun game, nice graphics, interesting end-game, and room for growth (use recipe cards or add 3rd player).
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Preston Fuller
United States Ashland New Hampshire
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I am not sure exactly why but this game seems to be loved by many women players. I enjoy it as well but my wife would play this game every chance she got. Very enjoyable with two players and a little more deep then many other "couples" games.
You won't go wrong with this and it does expand to 6 players.
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Sonja Elen Kisa
Canada Toronto Ontario
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Can't go wrong with this beauty.
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Rick B
United States Sacramento Area California
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My wife and I play this a lot. Plays in less than 45 minutes, one can use a variety of strategies to win, and the games between my wife and I are often close. The caravan-building aspect reminds me a little of Ticket to Ride, and the area-capture aspect hints at a more complex game like Go.
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Board Game: Roma
[Average Rating:6.96 Overall Rank:374]

Dan Poole
United States Goldsboro North Carolina
Ph'nglui Mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn!!
We're charging our battery. And now we're full of energy. We are the robots. We're functioning automatik. And we are dancing mechanik. We are the robots
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This is my current favorite strictly 2 player non-wargame. My fiance loves this one, rating it a 10. This to me has a lot more depth than Lost Cities, Balloon Cup, Kupferkessel Co and some of the others mentioned here. St Petesburg, San Juan is a pretty cool game too.
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Flannel Golem
United States Brewer Maine
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Balloon Cup and Lost Cities are almost guaranteed to be on any list like this, but they are very light -- especially for the "gamer" in gamer/nongamer couples...
 I have found Reef Encounter to be an excellent two-player choice: meaty and strategic depth for the gamer, cute shrimples and engaging theme for the nongamer. There is a distinct possibility of player-screwage, so this choice may not be for some, but might make this game all the more worthwhile for others.
(Note: please realize before comments are posted that this is not the forum for OT 'which edition's art was better' discussions. Thank you )
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Board Game: Fjords
[Average Rating:6.70 Overall Rank:613]

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My wife and I like this one. Not too long or complex.
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24.
Board Game: Samurai
[Average Rating:7.49 Overall Rank:76]

pronoblem baalberith
United States Pleasantville Massachusetts
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Plays grat with two. Beautiful bits.
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David G.
United States Moorpark California
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Ok, it's outta print, but you can find it on EBay usually. One of the few games my wife will actually play. Easy to understand, but challenging enough to keep your interest.
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