My 2009 Essen list for two players..
Mey-ying
Netherlands
Groningen
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So last year it was my first trip to Essen with my boyfriend. It was great. This year we will go again, but a bit better prepared. Therefore I decided to make this list of games which have caught my eye.
This list is based on games that will suit two players, since we play most games with just the two of us. In general we like games with a nice and well implemented theme with nice components. We also like some variation in how tough a game is, so we have something for every mood 
This list is mainly for private use, but if you have some comments on it or suggestions for other two player games (might be new ones, or oldies), feel free to leave them behind.
Update 22sept: Essen comes closer  More and more information comes available, so I thought it was time for a little update. I appreciate the suggestions and comments that some of you made.
21 okt: Last update before I head out to Essen tomorrow. I have added information on the stands and prices. Also some extra information if it was available on some games. I also changed the order of this list. Starting with new games I put on, following by old games I'm interested in. Then games that you lot put on, and some games I put on, but are not available at Essen.
I'm really thankfull for all the people making suggestions on other games, or commenting the games on this list.
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Mey-ying
Netherlands
Groningen
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We love Agricola, so we are looking forward to this expansion. Since we have the Dutch 999Games version, I'm wondering whether it will be compatible.
Update 22sept: As 999games is going to publish this game this fall, I can wait until that..and put it on my wishlist for secret santa
Lookout Games
Stand/Booth: 9-40,6-825
Price: 29,95
Besides this, I'm also interested in the designer playerboards.
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Mey-ying
Netherlands
Groningen
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Ooh this one looks very nice. It's about creating the best dungeon. We like the fantasy theme, maybe it will help to get our friends to play with us. Hopefully it is good for 2 players too.
Czech Games Edition: Stand/Booth: 4-310
Z-Man Games: Stand/Booth: 9-28+68
Price: 35,-
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Mey-ying
Netherlands
Groningen
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Another Uwe Rosenberg. Liked all his previous games especially Agricola. I Regretted that I didn't buy Le Havre last year (as I wanted to wait on the Dutch version). So this year I won't make the same mistake twice. This one is about planting, harvesting and selling goods. With the money you earn you can invest on the scoringtrack, the one withthe highest score wins.
Hall Games: Stand/Booth: 9-64
Price: 37,-
Also they sell special chinese coins for the game for 2,-.
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Mey-ying
Netherlands
Groningen
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Another dice game. This one seems to have a bit more depth. I have seen a videoreview and it looked really interesting and different from the dice games we have. Looking forward to playing this at Essen.
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Mey-ying
Netherlands
Groningen
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Developing a civilization in a ancient greek setting. Sounds interesting. Too bad there isn't more information on this game. Definitely will have a look at it.
edit: A preview and rules are now available. After reading it, and seeying some of the components I'm interested even more.
Irongames: Stand/Booth: 5-92
Price: 28,-
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6.
Board Game: Sultan
[Average Rating:6.04 Overall Rank:3340]
Mey-ying
Netherlands
Groningen
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A game involving auctioning. I know my boyfriend likes auctioning, and he is really good at it. That is one reason why I still want Ra and also because of the Egyptian theme. My only worries are that this one won't be so good with two players. So that's what we have to find out.
Queen Games: Stand/Booth: 10-16+17
Price 19,-
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Mey-ying
Netherlands
Groningen
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Like stated above we still want the normal Ra boardgame. But we also like dice games a lot. A light spread on Egyptian theme is also nice, so I hope we can try this dice version at Essen.
Abacusspiele: Stand/Booth: 10-40
Maybe also at Rio Grande Games: Stand/Booth: 10-33
Price: 29,95
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Mey-ying
Netherlands
Groningen
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An expansion to Ghost Stories. Sounds interesting. Yet I'm not sure whether to buy it. My sister and I have played this game a lot of times now, and never have we won on the easiest level (please don't laugh). So maybe this expansion isn't a good idea for us.
Update 22sept: Ok finally we have won, and we are still eager for more games. So this expansion might be worth it after all.
Repos Production: Stand/Booth: 12-07
Price: 25,- (actually this is the pre-order price)
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Mey-ying
Netherlands
Groningen
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A bit of a western themed game. The description of the game sounds really interesting, especially the combination of having special characters, building but also the duelling aspect. Wondering how it is with two players.
QWG Games: Stand/Booth: 5-41
HUCH! & friends: Stand/Booth: 12-89
Prices: Regular edition 28,-,
Master Print edition: 30,-
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10.
Board Game: Opera
[Average Rating:6.72 Overall Rank:1025]
Mey-ying
Netherlands
Groningen
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Ok I wasn't so sure if I should put this on the list, because of the theme. It made my boyfriend and I go: eh hmnz..(and raise one eye brow). But after reading a review the gameplay sounds fun. It involves bidding, also character picking so u can perform actions. So worth checking out I guess.
The Game Master: Stand/Booth: 12-42
HUCH! & friends: Stand/Booth: 12-89
Price: 36,95?
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11.
Board Game: Tobago
[Average Rating:7.21 Overall Rank:207]
Mey-ying
Netherlands
Groningen
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An adventure game to seek out a treasure. There's not so much information about it. But it looks very nice, and sounds quite interesting. Although I'm not sure if my boyfriend likes it, because of the deduction element it has. Anyhow, I think we should just give it a try.
Update 22 sept: Saw a videopreview about it, since my french isn't very well, I've only got the global idea of the game. And I'm not very excited about it. It only has a limited amount of scenarios to play, and it doesn't seem to have much depth to me.
Zoch: Stand/Booth: 11-15
Price: 34,50
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Mey-ying
Netherlands
Groningen
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A civilization building game with a space theme. I like the space theme very much. Playtime might be a bit long for the full game. I also like the combat element. So this one will be worth of checking out.
JKLM Games: Stand/Booth: 5-76
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Mey-ying
Netherlands
Groningen
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We like Reef Encounter. On its own it is complicated enough. Im wondering if this expansion will be worth it. I'm afraid that it will make it unnecessary more complicated. We will have to look into that. Sometimes a game is just better without expansions. Another problem might be, that we have the QWG version, and I don't know if this will be compatible.
What's Your Game?: Stand/Booth: 12-56
Price: 19,00
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Mey-ying
Netherlands
Groningen
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The box art looks very nice. The description is also interesting. But I need more information. So will keep an eye out for this one.
Update 22 sept: I've had a look at the rules, and it still sounds interesting to me.
Stand/Booth: 12-07 Ystari
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Mey-ying
Netherlands
Groningen
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Looks like a nice light card game about robots. Also with an auctioning element.
Surprised Stare Games Ltd.: Stand/Booth: 4-116
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Mey-ying
Netherlands
Groningen
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A strictly two player game, with a pirate theme. Don't know if this will be something my boyfriend likes, because of the deduction element. But maybe we should just give it a try.
QWG Games: Stand/Booth: 5-41
HUCH! & friends: Stand/Booth: 12-89
Price: 28,95?
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Mey-ying
Netherlands
Groningen
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After last year's trip to Essen I kinda decided not to buy (many) games during the year, unless I prefer to have a Dutch version, because of the language. Overall I managed to refrain myself from buying stuff. But got a little weak during the summer. I was in my local gamestore searching for Through the Ages, which they had just recently sold. While browsing through the other games I saw Small World, and my boyfriend was immediately sold to it. So finally we left the store buying it.
Even with two is is great fun. I love the fantasy theme, and the confrontational part. I can see that it can be more fun with more players, but with 2 it is fun and fast. So I'll be looking forward to this expansion adding 3 female! races: Priestesses, White Ladies and Gypsies and some more powers. This expansion was created as part of a design contest.
Days of Wonder: Stand/Booth: 12-68
Price: 8,-
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Mey-ying
Netherlands
Groningen
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And another expansion with more races: kobalds and goblins and powers.
Days of Wonder: Stand/Booth: 12-68
Price: 8,-
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Mey-ying
Netherlands
Groningen
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Another game with ships involved. Not much information on it. Though the little description sounds nice. Have had a glance at the rules, and the games appears to be about building great ships.
Czech Games Edition: Stand/Booth: 4-310
Price: 30,-
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Mey-ying
Netherlands
Groningen
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The original boardgame still appeals to me for some reason. Yet my boyfriend thinks it looks to childish. Maybe we can enjoy this dice game.Too bad there isn't more information on it.
Stand/Booth: 4-219 Wolfgang
Price: ca. 19,90
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21.
Board Game: Jaipur
[Average Rating:7.51 Overall Rank:133]
Mey-ying
Netherlands
Groningen
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This is from the designer of Yspahan, a game we bought last year at Essen. We like that game a lot. So we are very curious to see how this cardgame, about trading and selling goods will be.
GameWorks: Stand/Booth: 12-7
Maybe also at: Asmodee Stand/Booth: 12-07+12-09
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Mey-ying
Netherlands
Groningen
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Another game for only two persons, one plays day and one plays night. Each player has his own set of cards. With the use of them u play tiles on a board and form two temples in order to win. The artwork looks really great, and I'm very interested in this game.
Mystics.nl Stand/Booth: 9-10
Price: 25,-
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23.
Board Game: Macao
[Average Rating:7.47 Overall Rank:132]
Mey-ying
Netherlands
Groningen
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Hmmn came across this game. I've had a quick look at the videopreview of the game, and it sounds like a very nice game. I like the fact that it has dice in it. I will definitely have a look at this. This game also has some text in the game. Rio grande is publishing an english version, but I'm not sure if it will be out on Essen.
Alea: Stand/Booth: 9-11
Price: 40,-
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Mey-ying
Netherlands
Groningen
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There is not so much information on this game. Although the short description sounds nice. Hope there will be some more info on this soon.
The game is a bit language dependent. There is some text on the card, so we definitely need an english version.
Kosmos: Stand/Booth: 12-17+20
Maybe also at: Mayfair Games Stand/Booth: 9-118
Price: 31,99
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Mey-ying
Netherlands
Groningen
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One thing I've learned from last year is that there were lots of really cheap games. This was one of them, but I wasn't sure if this was good for two players. I've done some research on BGG and it suppose to be quite good with only two. So if we see this cheap again, it will go into our bag.
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Posted Sun Aug 9, 2009 8:20 pm
Frankfurt
Hessen