Euros that are great with 2 and great with more
Murray Grelis
Australia
Sydney
NSW
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I have several Ameritrash style games in my collection that I'm fond of but they can sometimes take too long to play. I have only a few Euros and am looking to expand that part of my collection. Specifically I'm looking for games that I can play with my wife but will also suit a small group (3-5). I'm not after games that allow 2-5 players but rather games that play well with 2 as well as playing well with more. My definition of 'more' is intentionally loose. Small World plays well with many and can play with 2 but I don't think it does the latter very well and so I wouldn't add it to this list.
I'm looking for something that runs up to about 90 minutes, and is not too heavy in the rules dept. I'm not really looking for anything too light either, Ticket to Ride suits all the above parameters fairly well but is a bit too basic for my tastes.
I'm aware that all some of these parameters are quite subjective, opinions will differ, this is why I have put this in the form of a geeklist. I hope to see varying opinions on a diverse range of games here and have each discussion linked to the game in question.
I've searched for existing geeklists that already address these requests but haven't found any. Although Plays Great with 2, 3, 4 and More !! came close, it is old and a little dated now. Apologies if I'm doubling up here.
I'm going to seed the list with some games I already own, or am thinking of purchasing, that I think may fit the mold.
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1.
Board Game: Thebes
[Average Rating:7.26 Overall Rank:166]
Murray Grelis
Australia
Sydney
NSW
I'm raising funds for Cancer research, visit my profile page for details.
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This is our first choice for a short, light game. My wife loves playing this and is currently undefeated. I'm looking for something of a similar playlength and complexity to this. Thebes has more luck involved than many euros but that doesn't bother me at all.
Thebes is the perfect fit for what I'm aiming this geeklist at.
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Murray Grelis
Australia
Sydney
NSW
I'm raising funds for Cancer research, visit my profile page for details.
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This is another game I already own but not an ideal fit for this list. I think it meets most of my listed requirements but is a little too simple in the gameplay, as is. I list it here because maybe one or more of the expansions will add a bit of depth.
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Murray Grelis
Australia
Sydney
NSW
I'm raising funds for Cancer research, visit my profile page for details.
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I'm considering purchasing this one. I've played it with 4 and enjoyed it very much. The game length and complexity seem just about right. It's bags of fun and an attractive piece of kit as well. I haven't played it with 2 players though and would love to hear some feedback from those that have.
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Murray Grelis
Australia
Sydney
NSW
I'm raising funds for Cancer research, visit my profile page for details.
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Another game I've played with several (5 if memory serves) but not with 2. It was a blast with the group but I suspect that it would not work quite so well with only 2 players, although I see that it does support this.
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5.
Board Game: Dominion
[Average Rating:7.96 Overall Rank:10]
Murray Chu
Canada
Vancouver
British Colombia
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I'm sure this will come up eventually
I recently tried playing it with six people (despite the box claiming to host only 2-4) and it worked ok. Next time around I'll have a better idea on how to balance things.
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6.
Board Game: Taluva
[Average Rating:7.14 Overall Rank:242]
Luc VC
Belgium
Brugge
West-vlaanderen
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I really like this game, simple rules and yet so satisfying.
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Larkin
Denmark
København N
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Me and my girlfriend played the crap out of this game when we first got. It works very well with both two and three players (I think the expansion supports more players).
After having a Sankt-petersburg-break for about 1 year, I'm currently rediscovering it - and still I think it's great little game, that combines depth and strategy with short playtime.
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United States
Ithaca
New York
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We enjoy this with 2. We played it this weekend, while we were in a lighter-games mood (as opposed to a 3 hour game of Antiquity). I like the quick and painless setup. For more details, I explained it a bit to someone here. I think it's the length and complexity you're looking for.
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25mrt wargaming EOD-IX, Eindhoven, NL
Netherlands
NOT
Holland
25/3 NL Eindhoven Wargaming day. Click my 'game group organizer' microbadge for details
25/3 NL Eindhoven Wargaming day. Click my 'game group organizer' microbadge for details
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The game I play most with my wife is this one.
And now and then it hits the table when we have compagny, but not too often.
We do play the variant where the governor get 3 roles, the other player 2, so turns keep alternating. That simple change makes this game a great two player game with depth, and we now play it in 1-1½hr.
Highly recommended within the limits of your Geeklist!
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Philip Poulton
United Kingdom
Upminster
Essex
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Whenever I buy or trade a game now I usually use the same reasoning as you; a game that must play well with 2 players but scales up well to handle more.
This was the first game I bought using this criterea, and it fits the bill well.
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Philip Poulton
United Kingdom
Upminster
Essex
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This was the next game I bought. Works very well with 2. Havent played with more but understand that it scales well.
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Philip Poulton
United Kingdom
Upminster
Essex
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This one came next. Currently my wife's favourite game, probably because she keeps beating me at it.
This plays well with more than 2.
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Philip Poulton
United Kingdom
Upminster
Essex
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I've now bought this using the same criteria. It plays well with 2, but I personally think it plays better with 3 or 4 players.
I have also traded for these; using the same basis, but not tried as yet:
Attika
San Juan
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14.
Board Game: Agricola
[Average Rating:8.25 Overall Rank:2]
Clive Lovett
Canada
Kamloops
British Columbia
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I am surprised no one has added this game! This is an excellent two player game and it can be played in 30 to 45 mins max.
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15.
Board Game: Caylus
[Average Rating:7.97 Overall Rank:11]
Lo Ma
United States
Oakland
California
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Caylus is one of my favorite 2-player games, and is also a fine 3-player game. I don;t think it works that well with 4 players though - too much Analysis Paralysis goin on, and I just don;t think it scales that well to 4.
As a 2-player this game with perfect information, except for what's in your opponent's head, offers opportunities for both strategy and fun tactics as well. It also has a soild sens of progression as you go down that meandering road...
This is a more complex game with complex looking rules - but once you play it through, the rules are really simple to follow. It takes about 40-60 minutes to play for 2 experienced players.
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Lo Ma
United States
Oakland
California
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Yspahan has special rules for a 2-player game, but we just use the regular rules which work very well indeed. Still probably my family's favorite 2-player. Also a total blast with more people too, but we actually prefer it as a 2-player - less chaos.
It's got a boatload of dice, a bunch of good-looking camels, wooden gold coins, bunches of little colored wood cubes, action cards, souks, and caravans - what's not to like! The game uses its theme well and the game components are fun with a lot of visual and tactile appeal. It's a fun tactical game that's accessible for all, and the gameplay is fast with little downtime. You have to herd and deploy your resources to get those victory points, and face the problem of choosing which of the many options to take during your turn. As long as players don't agonize and take forever to make their choice of what to do, this is a totally fun game. The game does involve luck, but not as much as you'd think. This game also has the most interesting use of dice that I've seen - others have copied it somewhat since, but Yspahan's unique use of the dice rocks.
My family totally loves this game, so it gets played a lot.
If you move up a day everytime the dice changes hands, the games plays in about a half hour.
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Lo Ma
United States
Oakland
California
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With just 2 players, we use the middle board only which makes for a very tight game with good amounts of conflicting interests. We put the regular amount of cubes in each city (rather than the reduced amount called for 2 players using the whole board), and we also use the edge cities and spaces where most of the city and hexes are on the board. We don;t do the auction thing with 2 players either, but alternate the first player, giving the 2nd player $1000 bonus to start, since the first player will presumeably always make the first cube delivery and get the point bonus. It helps balance the game when you're not doing auctions.
We always use the Operations cards, but the major line cards don;t work with just the middle board - you could always create new major lines and make them all available to all players at the beginning of the game, as in Railways of the World, Rails of Europe, and Railways of England and Wales.
The rest of the game plays as usual, until there are 10 empty cities (or 8 empty ones for a shorter game).
The no auctions makes the game very approachable for newer or more casual players, but the games still offers enough complexity and tautness to keep it immersive - I imagine you could also use the new Mexico map in Railways of the World - RRT's successor - you could still use the operations cards that don;t have specific destinations, or put different appropriate destinations on the existing cards.
However, you can also streamline the game even further by not using the Tycoon, the Operations, or the major line cards. Porbably makes the game run a little faster. But I would still play with the start bonus cards.
This is also a fantastic 3 or 4 player game when using the entire giant board - better with 4 than 3 actually. I've never played it with 5 or 6.
Ah yes, a fine game indeed, however you play it. I love this game.
If you play with only 8 empty cities, the game will play for 2 in 30-45 minutes if people do not suffer from Analysis Paralysis.
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Lo Ma
United States
Oakland
California
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A fast and furious version of Yahtzee that's a lot more intereting to play. Works fine with 2 to 4 players. While the feel is similar to Yahtzee, you have many more varieties of more interesting decision points, and the game has much greater sense of progression than Yahtzee.
If you just want something fast and brainless, this is a great game. And it is a godsend if the only games your in-laws will play are UNO and Yahtzee - they will play this one too - honest!
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Lo Ma
United States
Oakland
California
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Another family fave that works as well with 2 people as it does with up to 4 people.
San Juan is often referred to as Puerto Rico-lite game, and that's fairly apt. It is a card game with a small footprint that forgoes the shipping and colonization aspects of PR, but retains the central mecahnic - vairable player role selection.
We think San Juan is a better 2-player game than Race for the Galaxy because sequential role selection seems to work better than simultaneous role selection.
Anyway, very cool hand management game which uses it components for several purposes - money, buildings, and resources.
Takes about 30 or so minutes for 2 to play. And it takes 45 or so minutes when playing with 4.
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Lo Ma
United States
Oakland
California
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This is my favorite 2-player game, and I like it best played with 2 (i have played with 3, but have never played with 4).I like it with 3 players too, but as in Caylus, I like it with 2 better - less ganging up on a particualr player, less chaos, etc.
This is a card game with a large footprint, lots of housekeeping, and not the best quality components (why all those hundreds of tiny rolly disks, why I ask... We've replaced the disks with small 1/4" cubes and they work much better), It has fantastic opportunities for stragy and tactics. There is intentional chaos in the game since you don;t know what cards will come up, what disasters will hit, and of course you have to guess what your opponent is after...
Uh oh... my bad. I didn;t see you wanted a shorter game with less complexity.. this is a real heavy game that takes 2 to 3 hours to finish!!!!
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Lo Ma
United States
Oakland
California
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Another great 2-player game that also plays well with more players.
For whatever reason, simultaneous role selection works well in this game as a 2-player, and gives it a greater tactical feel. Another game with great sens of progression that plays fast and interestingly. Many have mentioned that the game does not offer new or unique mechanics, but it does offer them in an interesting package that gives the game a lot of breadth. Several paths ot victory, etc.
The double sided board also yields 2 versions of the game that ahve quite a different feel to them - the unknowns that arise through the winter cards give it quite a twist... We mostly play it with the regualr board though.
Takes about 45 minutes for 2 to play.
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Lo Ma
United States
Oakland
California
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We find Ticket to Ride fun to play with any number of players, including 2. The large board could mean much less interaction between the players unless you are aggressive. Either way, there's enough going on in this game to keep it intersting, it's nice to see the board develop as the game progresses. The tunnel mechanic and such are a nice added touch that give more depth to your decision points.
Light family fare for sure, but a solid selection for 2 or more players.
Takes about 30-45 minutes for 2 to play.
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T A
Hungary
Budapest
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Meets your criteria:
- euro
- 60 minutes
- best with 3, 4 players, recommended with 2, 3, 4 players
- not too heavy, not too light - avg. game weight: 2.3
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T A
Hungary
Budapest
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Meets all of your criteria:
- euro
- great with 2 and more
- 90 minutes
- not too heavy, not too light rules
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T A
Hungary
Budapest
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Meets all of your criteria:
- euro
- 75 minutes
- best with 4, 5 players, recommended with 2, 3, 4, 5 players
- not too heavy, not too light rules - avg. game weight 3.2
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I'm raising funds for Cancer research, visit my profile page for details.
Winnipeg/Auckland/Cheonan
Games that Are Worth Purchasing Solely for Playing Two-Player, but Are Capable of Supporting More Players
Sydney
NSW