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Games that Are Worth Purchasing Solely for Playing Two-Player, but Are Capable of Supporting More Players
B. Udral
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I'm in the common situation of liking board games, not having the time and energy to join a game group, and playing mostly with my wife. There are a large number of great games made for two players, but usually they are smaller in scope than games that can accommodate more players.

This list is of games that are playable by 2 or more, but are worth purchasing solely to play as a two player game. If it does not "officially" support 2, but has a two player variant that makes it a worthwhile purchase, that is just fine. I don't want any games that only support two on the list, as those are obviously worth purchasing just for two players.

To be clear, for purposes of this list, it does not matter how the game plays with more than two players. It does not matter how many players it is "best" with. What matters is whether the game is worth purchasing only to be played with two players.

Other geeklists that are similar are here, but none are as comprehensive as this aims to be:

http://boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/2816
http://boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/984
http://www.boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/14971

A particularly good list is here, with much more in depth commentary:

http://www.boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/14040

A geeklist with 2-player variants is here, which includes some of the variants discussed below:

http://www.boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/15749

Feel free to comment or add more games. I've added games that I think are worth purchasing just for two, and games that I haven't played, but appear from forum comments and other geeklists to be worthwhile.

May 2009: Edits made. I rearranged to put some of my favorite two player games on top. (dragging is annoying for large geeklists!)



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Posted Wed Feb 14, 2007 2:13 am
Edited Tue May 5, 2009 9:40 am
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1. Board Game: Carcassonne [Average Rating:7.52 Overall Rank:58]
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B. Udral
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 The Best Two Player game. We play with all expansions except River II and Catapult. We've heavily customized rules (especially for dragon and princess, and cults).

I get ambition, will sometime post my Ultimate Carcassonne Rules.
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Edited Tue May 5, 2009 8:49 am
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B. Udral
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This is my favorite two player game. Its worth purchasing this and all the expansions especially for two.
Mike Dartt
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My girlfriend and I play this a lot together, and we're coming to the conclusion that it plays better faster. For example, pick up your tile on the other's turn so you can spend that time figuring out what you're going to do. This simple tactile change keeps us more engaged, since we're each thinking of what we'll do with a specific tile rather than some "tile in general."
Jon
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For just two players, I wouldn't buy this. Carc: The Castle is much better for 2 players.
William Hostman
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0506070809
For me, only base set, Discovery, or Castle are worthy.

I prefer 3-4 players, but have played with as many as 8.
Joel Roberts
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Three is the sweet spot for me. Two and four are okay though.
2. Board Game: Goa [Average Rating:7.84 Overall Rank:20]
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B. Udral
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A good big meaty game for two. If we want that, our first two choices are usually this or T&E. This one gets better each time we play.
Dave Eisen
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06070809
Not me. Plays entirely differently with 2 vs. more than 2. It is one of the great 2-player games ever designed, with more, the money is weird and I don't find it nearly as interesting.
Simon Robinson
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Our top 2player.
We vary it by giving an extra action Card to the first player to advance any one of the 5 tracks rather than having to get all 5 to the next line. It brings 5x as many actions into play. We drop to the normal rule with 3/4 players.
Renato Tavares
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05060708
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This game seams to play the almost the same with 2, 3 or 4 players


I like GOA with two. However, the auction phase seems to be less interesting when you play it with only two players… :shake:
Pierce Ostrander
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A Goa variant to spice up the auction:

http://www.boardgamegeek.com/thread/118666
3. Board Game: Tigris & Euphrates [Average Rating:8.04 Overall Rank:7]
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 Great with 2. Requires Heavy Thinking though, so we don't pull it out as much as we should.
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Edited Tue May 5, 2009 8:58 am
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I've read complaints that there isn't enough confrontation in this when played with two, but I don't see it. It has always been a great play for us. Perhaps if you have two very nonconfrontational people going out of their way to avoid any conflicts, you could do it, but I don't buy the criticism of two player T&E.
David Turner
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0506070809
Great with 2 thumbsup
Gunnar Braaten
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05060708
With the exact same rules, I think the German version of the game says 2-4.

And I love this game with two players by the way! A lot of tension, and tough decisions with any number of players.
ronaldinho @boardspace.net
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budral8 wrote:
But its definitely worth purchasing even if you will only play it with two players.


Really? I played one game with two, maybe it was just that one game, but conflicts were tough to seek and didn't seem very viable. It degenerated to leaders sitting on monuments and generating cubes turn after turn after turn.
M C
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There is a two player map variant for the online version here on BGG now.
4. Board Game: Puerto Rico [Average Rating:8.34 Overall Rank:2]
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 They should have included the 2P rules and marketed it as 2-5.

I have no problem owning this and never playing it with more than 2. It's really good. (Not quite as good as Goa for 2 though).
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Edited Tue May 5, 2009 9:10 am
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The official two player variant seems popular, but many use other variants that seem to work as well.
Iain K
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0405
I disagree, PR with the official variant is an excellent 2 player game. San Juan pales in comparison, but this may be because we'd played so much 2 player PR by the time SJ was released.

2 player PR is also an excellent way to leanr the game as you are able better able to plan a sequence of roles and actions.
J Flo
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This is our second favorite 2-player game (behind TTR: Marklin). The official variant is great fun. It has a very different feel than a 5 player game, but is definitely enjoyable.
Ask Me About the Global Geek Photo Album Project (Erik Warnes)
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06070809
I recently started playing this again. It's a very decent 2-player game. I'd say it's worth it.
Bartosz Sawicki
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It's a great game. No matter how many players are there. But with two it really shines, in my opinion. It's a bit less heavy as compared to games with 3-5 players. I have a feeling of a player getting more control over the actions and strategies.
5. Board Game: Torres [Average Rating:7.34 Overall Rank:109]
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B. Udral
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Great game for two. It really feels light for me, though I know my wife doesn't see it this way. Lots of variants included for varying gameplay when the main game gets stale (which will be a long while for us yet).
Michiel Hillenius
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06070809
Agreed. Jump to the master version straight away. With all action cards in hand at the start you exclude any form of luck at all. The joint mission card to accomplish for bonuspoints adds a nice extra way of scoring points to the game.
Alan Kaiser
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04050708
Great with two and always use the master rules no matter how many players you have.
Alain Renaud
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A lot more strategic with only two player!
m d
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0607
Awesome with two.
Pete Lane
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I disagree. I found it really dry and too easy to have mimicking turns. "Oh you're doing this, I should do it too just so I don't have to catch up as much." It's just way too easy to sit on either side of the board and do this.
6. Board Game: San Juan [Average Rating:7.46 Overall Rank:66]
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 Great game. It could use an expansion though.

Race for the Galaxy eclipses this, but RftG is a step up in complexity. Start with San Juan if you are just getting into games.
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Edited Tue May 5, 2009 9:12 am
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Awesome with two players. I never get sick of this game, even though it is rather like two-player solitaire. "Two player solitaire" is a frequent criticism of many games listed for two players, but on occasion, two player solitaire is still fun. It helps that the game is fast, and the interaction level is the same as it is for three or four players.
Dick Hunt
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If you take the Library cards out of the deck (recommended even by the game's designer in 2-player mode), San Juan is an excellent 2-player game. If you play it with 2 while using the Library cards, however, the whole game is a race to build the first Library.

If both players get one built within a turn or two of each other, the game is once again a good toss-up and fun to play. But if either player can build a Library significantly earlier than his opponent, the Librarian is going to win every time. Having a few extra turns with the use of a Library is an insurmountable advantage.

So dump the Library cards from the deck, and San Juan is a great 2-player game.
John Burt
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040506070809
My wife refuses to play this two player anymore. She finds there is not enough time to do any sort of strategy.
I thought I'd like this with 2 but didn't. Too dry with obvious choices and too much luck.
Bartosz Sawicki
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Great with two, great with three, great with four, a great game, admit it! ;)
7. Board Game: Ticket to Ride [Average Rating:7.55 Overall Rank:52]
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B. Udral
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 Ticket to Ride and all spinoffs.

Get the Switzerland map!

And, I think the dice expansion is pretty fun. With dice, we don't score links, just route cards! A lot more suspense and a lot faster. (we recycle route cards, but you could play until the route care pile is gone).
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Edited Tue May 5, 2009 9:03 am
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I hate this for two, but I've read about enough others who like it that I included it for comment. The board is too big, and there is little chance of having your route blocked, taking a lot of tension out of the game. Maybe if each person played two colors it would work.

I've heard the Europe map works better for two. This could really use a two player expansion map.
B D
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070809
IMHO, T2R plays very well with 2 players. I play this all the time with my wife or my son (USA & Marklin)

We also play together, i.e. 3-player games, and for our style of family play, I really don't see much difference. We all like this game a lot.
Ricky Purnomo
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T2R for two is only "fun" if you are into cut-throat mode and play accordingly. Played "socially", there is too much space that you won't go into accidental blocking (the fun of playing 5-player version - navigating cramped spaces) if you play for 2.

But played very competitively, intentional blocking is the name of the game. I have lost 110 - 2 (!) when first playing 2P on line, against an experience person who predicted my lines and set out to block them (and incurring many negatives for me). Yes, this means you have to be competitive enough to know all the possible route cards and deduce what your opponent has. But those who do this can really tear the opponent apart. Hence an earlier comment about "no blocking" request for online play. A game between 2 experienced player would be a strategic cat-and-mouse game. And this works better for T2R USA since for Europe, the train station can work around blocks.

Played in that vicious mode, I give T2R two-thumbs-up for 2P. Otherwise, stick to 4 and above.
William Hostman
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The only way I play with 2 is the swiss map. 3p I like the swiss map, but will play the Europe map. I find US map too confrontational, period.
Mike Walsh
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These days there is also the Nordic Countries set which is just as good for two as the Swiss one.

That said I still enjoy playing all the standard boxed versions (US, Europe and Märklin/Germany) even with two people.

Some of the variants - especially the ones with tight maps like Belgium and Portugal (I've not tried Italy which might be similar) are also pretty good with two players although to be fair my favourite variant is the French map which I suspect would be even better with 4 players.
Edited Fri May 22, 2009 11:36 am
8. Board Game: Citadels [Average Rating:7.33 Overall Rank:93]
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 One of the best games out there. It's great with 2, and the expansion gives good variety.
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Edited Tue May 5, 2009 9:06 am
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I really like this with two. It results in really getting into the head of one's opponent.
Ask Me About the Global Geek Photo Album Project (Erik Warnes)
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06070809
2-player with this game is a mixed bag. I don't particularly like it but i can see it being a good 2-player game.

I haven't tried it with the witch and tax collector yet.
Michal Vit
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08
I also think it plays best with 2 or 3 players because it adds a lot of psychological aspects. With more players it's getting just more chaotic.
Edited Mon Apr 23, 2007 12:42 pm
Joshua OConnor
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0708
Played some games in two and decided it would be sufficiently more fun in four to not want to play it in two again.
Pierce Ostrander
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A two player variant can be found here:

http://www.boardgamegeek.com/thread/112866
9. Board Game: Tikal [Average Rating:7.44 Overall Rank:74]
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K Bent
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Not quite. A little stale with just 2 people I am afraid. It really needs more people.
B. Udral
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Due to the fact Java is out of print, I'm getting this soon even if it isn't as good of a game as Java is with two.

UPDATE: Got it and like it a lot. Auction variant is very good. I really want Java now.
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Edited Tue May 5, 2009 9:45 am
Renato Tavares
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05060708
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It really needs more people

I think it needs more workers... It plays very well with only two players, but at the end of the game you can't do anything else, because you don't have markers anymore...
Maarten D. de Jong
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Perfectly fine with 2, when it isn't quite so simple as it looks. (Any region---save for those with a guard---can score as long as you place sufficient men in it, and this balance is tricky.)
Susan L.
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2-player Tikal is easily my favourite form of the game. Placement becomes more crucial and I find you're less likely to win/lose simply based on luck of the draw. (I would have expressed this on the "best # players" list, but I haven't yet found the thumbs up and thumbs down icons for within a post.)
10. Board Game: Attika [Average Rating:7.19 Overall Rank:160]
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B. Udral
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 Great with 2. A nice, solid game.
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Edited Tue May 5, 2009 9:04 am
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Mike Adams
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05
This is great with two, likely at its best.
Uba Rose
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0608
This is currently my favorite two player game.
Dan Poole
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040506070809
a pretty boring game overall, but I agree it plays very well with 2
Lyman Moquin
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070809
It is ONLY run as a 2 player contest at WBC.
11. Board Game: Maharaja: Palace Building in India [Average Rating:7.41 Overall Rank:97]
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 Very unique mechanics, a great addition to any collection. It reminds me of Hansa, and it is a lot more fun.
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Edited Tue May 5, 2009 9:34 am
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Another good Kramer game. Of all the games I have, I miss a rule on this one more than any other. The gameplay is unlike any other game we have, and it works great for two players.
Ed
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06070809
I've only played this once with two, but as I recall it was still pretty good. Remember with two only one player is allowed to build per village, which makes for some fun "move the house" opportunities.
J Martin
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0508
GREAT game for 2- one of my favourites (obviously). Need to play with the author's advanced variants though (multiple characters, etc.).
Ivan Watling
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0406070809
Really didn't like this with two players.
Kevin Beckey
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07
Fantastic 2-player game if using multiple character variant.
Edited Wed Feb 27, 2008 9:30 pm
12. Board Game: Samurai [Average Rating:7.57 Overall Rank:46]
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 Great with 2p, and one of the best Knizias but it's been eclipsed by the new. I think about pulling it out, but usually go with something less abstract.
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Edited Tue May 5, 2009 8:59 am
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Luke Morris
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05060708
There of course are the worries that only playing half the boards may take away from the experience, but I still love this just as much with 2 players.
Kristian
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0708
It's pretty easy to count who has majorities in what commodities with two. That would be my only gripe about it. Otherwise excellent game.
Guy Riessen
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050708
Excellent for 2! The game scales perfeectly from 2 to 4.
Mike Summers
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Eryops wrote:
It's pretty easy to count who has majorities in what commodities with two. That would be my only gripe about it. Otherwise excellent game.


Agreed. No need to even hide your captured pieces. Whenever you want to know what your opponent has you can see your own + what's on the map + what was removed from the map because of ties. Subtract that number from 7 and that's what your opponent has. :p
Russ Williams
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0708
Eryops wrote:
It's pretty easy to count who has majorities in what commodities with two. That would be my only gripe about it. Otherwise excellent game.

Which is probably why the rules state that the points are public in the 2-player game. (At least the rules I've seen say that.)
13. Board Game: O Zoo le Mio [Average Rating:6.80 Overall Rank:391]
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 Severely underrated game. Use a steady money stream and pretend its a grant. That evens out the runaway leader problem. It feels very thematic.

I don't know how this compares to Zoolaretto, but I like this enough that I don't feel any desire for another zoo game.
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Edited Tue May 5, 2009 9:08 am
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This is also very good with two, even though it has an auction element, blind bidding. It is really frustrating to make a bid far above one's opponent. Some don't like that in a game, but I enjoy it.
B. Udral
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Here is a good thread on income variants to lessen the runaway leader problem. http://boardgamegeek.com/thread/32552
Dan Poole
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040506070809
Great with 3 or 4. Decent with 2
Don Mills
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We play this as 2 all the time and think it's great.
Pete Hornburg
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really good with 2
14. Board Game: Caylus [Average Rating:8.02 Overall Rank:10]
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 Seems to be worth it, but I have lots of other games I'm more interested in at the moment.
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Edited Tue May 5, 2009 8:53 am
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Christian Fechner
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Can be played with more players, but the long duration with more makes it a good gmae for two.
Eva Crespo
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2p Caylus is disappointing in my opinion. You may win (or lose) by your second action! Everything is crucial and a bad move will kill the rest of your actions. Impossible to catch the leader!
David Turner
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0506070809
I prefer it with 2.
Tom Fisher
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Good with 2 players, but when one goes in the castle first the other has to select the royal favor action or you never catch up. So purple becomes the dominant cube to get.
T. Nomad
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070809
Couldn't disagree more with the inclusion. I find 2pl Caylus to be a recipe for a blowout (sometimes even without the castle). Haven't played it yet without a huge score gap. 3p, by contrast, is invariably close.
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