Great games for 2 players that are also great with more.

Geoffrey Steenberge

(Sailsa)

United States
Corning
New York

Recommend

My girlfriend is gradually becoming as big a fan of board games as I am. We play lots of 2 player games together and she enjoys most of them. However, she doesn't like the fact that she has to learn a new game when there are more than just the 2 of us. I am looking for games which work well for 2 players so that she and I can play them together, but that will also work with more players so we can play the same games with other people. I'll start the list with a few I currently feel fit this role and am lookinf for any other suggestions you all may have.

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Posted Tue Jun 14, 2005 8:47 pm

1. Board Game: Goa [Average Rating:7.75 Overall Rank:28]

Geoffrey Steenberge

(Sailsa)

United States
Corning
New York

This is her favorite game and I love it as well. We both feel it works great with any number although it is a very different game with 2 than with 4.

2 comments [Hide]

Posted Tue Jun 14, 2005 8:47 pm

(Kimball Bent)

United States
Seattle
Washington

How does this compare to Jambo or Hansa (if I could choose only one)? I imagine the games are quite different, but the trade theme is similar.

I tried Puerto Rico (trade theme) with the 2-player variant and it it fell completely flat.

Posted Tue Jun 14, 2005 11:18 pm
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Geoffrey Steenberge

(Sailsa)

United States
Corning
New York

I think this game is very different from either Hansa or Jambo. With 2 players it is actually 2 games. The first is money management as if you have too little, your opponent can win all the auctions too easily and gain a large advantage from all the items. You have to be much more concerned with this in a 2 player game as you don't have other people bidding to keep things balanced. Then you have the meat of the game which is using the items you win with your limited actions to most efficiently generate victory points in the various categories. There is a lot more going on in Goa than Hansa or Jambo and it takes longer. Not that the other games are bad, they are actually quite good but are lighter and quicker games.

Posted Wed Jun 15, 2005 1:15 pm
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2. Board Game: Hansa [Average Rating:6.98 Overall Rank:314]

Geoffrey Steenberge

(Sailsa)

United States
Corning
New York

This is another game which works well with 2, 3, or 4.

1 comment [Hide]

Posted Tue Jun 14, 2005 8:47 pm

Steffan O'Sullivan

(sos1)

United States
Plymouth
NH

"There is one really important thing I must write which I have forgotten." (The final sentence in Henry Darger's Autobiograpy.)

To my tastes this is an excellent two-player game, a mediocre three-player game, and a poor four-player game.

Posted Tue Jun 14, 2005 9:29 pm
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3. Board Game: Saint Petersburg [Average Rating:7.36 Overall Rank:119]

Geoffrey Steenberge

(Sailsa)

United States
Corning
New York

The first game of her new collection and another favorite with any number of players.

5 comments [Hide]

Posted Tue Jun 14, 2005 8:47 pm

Werner Stangl

(Wernazuma)

Austria
Graz
Styria

Really? I think it's pretty useless for 2 players only.

Posted Tue Jun 14, 2005 9:36 pm
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Robert Birks

(Kanga)

Australia
Newborough
Victoria

I'm quite the opposite. I think it's an entertaining 2 player game, but as a 4 player game it totally sucks, pure randomness. 3 players is only ok, there are many others better.

Posted Tue Jun 14, 2005 10:59 pm
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Frederick Kruger

(freddykZA)

South Africa
Polokwane City
Limpopo

Very good with 2. Very random with 4. 3 is sort of in between.

Posted Wed Jun 15, 2005 7:11 am
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Werner Stangl

(Wernazuma)

Austria
Graz
Styria

Hm, maybe I'll revisit this with 2.

Posted Wed Jun 15, 2005 11:43 am
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Michael Kandrac

(Gamegrunt)

United States
Grand Prairie
Texas

Saint Petersburg is an excellent two player game. It's been said elsewhere, but play balance is improved if the worker

and the

are not paired together, either in the 2 or 3 player game.

Gg

worker

Posted Wed Jun 15, 2005 12:25 pm
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4. Board Game: Through the Desert [Average Rating:7.16 Overall Rank:191]

Geoffrey Steenberge

(Sailsa)

United States
Corning
New York

The pretty pastel camel game. A great abstract game which scales very well.

These are the 4 I can think of right now. Thanks for any suggestions.

0 comments

Posted Tue Jun 14, 2005 8:47 pm

5. Board Game: Citadels [Average Rating:7.28 Overall Rank:139]

Colin Parker

(Colin Parker)

Canada
Cowichan Bay
BC

I've actually been impressed at how nicely Citadels works with 2 (and 3). For the longest time, I didn't even realize that you could play it with only two.

7 comments [Hide]

Posted Tue Jun 14, 2005 8:50 pm

Ken

(artfuldodge2)

United States
The People's Republic of Portland
Oregon

One of my wife's favorite games.

Posted Tue Jun 14, 2005 8:57 pm
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Steve Blanding

(SteveBl)

United States
Redmond
Washington

I prefer two players with this game. And no, it does not make it easy to know what the other player has chosen. Since you each choose two roles, half the roles are discarded and while you know which ones your opponent MIGHT have chosen, you never know for sure.

Having two roles each round means that you have a better chance of getting a role you want and it means that you can often play two roles off each other.

Posted Tue Jun 14, 2005 10:33 pm
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Sandy G.

(puella)

United States

This game works awesome with two players, in my opinion. And i still can never seem to guess who the other player's character's are! I have never played with more than three, but I keep thinking that I wouldn't like it if I had to only take one role.

Posted Wed Jun 15, 2005 1:47 am
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Damian O'Brien

(hoju_81)

Australia
Perth
Western Australia

Only played this game with 3,4 and 8 players. Worked really well with 3 and 4, but poor for 8. Haven't tried it with 2.

Posted Wed Jun 15, 2005 9:48 am
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Ann De Haes

(7ofAnn)

Netherlands
Doorwerth

I sold this game recently, we somehow never got the hang of it, playing it with 2 persons (too simple, too easy to tell which role was chosen, and still too much luck too), and since we disliked it with 2 persons, we never even got round to playing it with 4 people. There are so many good games.

Posted Fri Jun 17, 2005 8:18 am
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6. Board Game: Atlantic Star [Average Rating:6.96 Overall Rank:451]

Charles A. Smith

(Greybear)

United States
Manhattan
Kansas

Atlantic Star is a great four-player game that plays surprisingly well with two. My wife loves it.

1 comment [Hide]

Posted Tue Jun 14, 2005 8:55 pm

William Paris

(Blitzhund)

United Kingdom
Straiton
Midlothian

Agreed, my wife and I both love to play this game as a 2 player and its a lot of fun. A great game to play on holiday during the quiet times.

Posted Tue Jul 26, 2005 10:42 am
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7. Board Game: Carcassonne [Average Rating:7.46 Overall Rank:87]

klausbh

(klausbh)

Germany
Kronshagen

This game scales very well from two to five players. Strategies and tactics change completely, however. With two players each one tends to build a seperate little empire. With five you can only compete by participating in conglomerataions.

1 comment [Hide]

Posted Tue Jun 14, 2005 9:03 pm

Mike Sherwood

(msherwoo)

United States
Arundel
Maine

Much agreed. Great 2 player game. Fiance's favorite. It also travels very well (without scoreboard). We throw all the pieces into a small business card box to travel and camp.

Posted Wed Jun 15, 2005 3:37 am
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8. Board Game: San Juan [Average Rating:7.34 Overall Rank:114]

klausbh

(klausbh)

Germany
Kronshagen

San Juan is great fun to play one-on-one and equally enjoyable with three or four players.

4 comments [Hide]

Posted Tue Jun 14, 2005 9:07 pm

Robert Birks

(Kanga)

Australia
Newborough
Victoria

I'd agree, of all the games I own, this would best fit your requirements. Works well with 2, 3 or 4 players, and has some skill involved as well (unlike the next best option, Carcassonne).

Posted Tue Jun 14, 2005 11:02 pm
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Amy O'Neal

(janiera)

United States
Mechanicsville
Virginia

I've played this with both 2 and 4 players... Quite enjoyable both times, although I tend to play 2 players more often...

Posted Wed Jun 15, 2005 3:13 am
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Dan Rosewater

(Goodsound)

Switzerland
Zürich

I played this with 2 player and it was boring and dull. yuk

Choosing a role and 'interaction' start making sense only at least with three players.

Posted Wed Jun 15, 2005 9:31 am
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Michael Kandrac

(Gamegrunt)

United States
Grand Prairie
Texas

I give a

for San Juan as a two-player game. Some remove the Libraries from the deck, but if you use them, remember that the Governor may only use the Library Privilege in one of his/her two roles.

Gg

Posted Wed Jun 15, 2005 12:30 pm
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9. Board Game: Cartagena [Average Rating:6.75 Overall Rank:464]

Jon

(quozl)

United States
Vancouver
WA

Excellent with 2-5 but with 2, I prefer to play with face-up cards.

1 comment [Hide]

Posted Tue Jun 14, 2005 9:13 pm

D S

(dgstone)

United States
Mundelein
Illinois

I would add the following Colovini games: Alexandros, Carolus Magnus, Clans, Magna Grecia, and Meridian. In my experience, it's a hallmark of his games to play well throughout the stated player range.

Posted Tue Jun 14, 2005 10:39 pm
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10. Board Game: Ticket to Ride [Average Rating:7.48 Overall Rank:74]

Jon

(quozl)

United States
Vancouver
WA

Another that's excellent from 2-5.

1 comment [Hide]

Posted Tue Jun 14, 2005 9:14 pm

C C

(CherryPie)

United Kingdom
Unspecified
Unspecified

You can also add Ticket to Ride Europe, this is great fun with two as well

Posted Tue Jun 14, 2005 9:26 pm
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11. Board Game: The Settlers of Catan [Average Rating:7.51 Overall Rank:79]

C C

(CherryPie)

United Kingdom
Unspecified
Unspecified

How about a two player variant of the Settlers of Catan? I enjoy playing the variant posted by 'NickB' http://nick.borko.org/games/Catan2Players.pdf .
Further ideas on this variant are discussed in this thread http://www.boardgamegeek.com/geekforum.php3?action=viewthrea...

1 comment [Hide]

Posted Tue Jun 14, 2005 9:24 pm

David Southworth

(Rabid)

United Kingdom
Nuneaton
Warwickshire

I second this!

IMO, NickB's 2 player variant is excellent.

Posted Wed Jun 15, 2005 1:20 am
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12. Board Game: Maharaja: The Game of Palace Building in India [Average Rating:7.27 Overall Rank:185]

C C

(CherryPie)

United Kingdom
Unspecified
Unspecified

This is my favourite game to play with two at the moment. It needs to be played more than once to get the subtleties of the game. I find it great fun and tense towards the end with no run away leader. You have to focus carefully on the winning criteria for the game.

0 comments

Posted Tue Jun 14, 2005 9:41 pm

13. Board Game: Ingenious [Average Rating:7.33 Overall Rank:128]

William Bekking

(Aiken Drum)

Canada
Kanata
Ontario

Einfach Genial (or Ingenious) play very well with 2,3 or 4 players

1 comment [Hide]

Posted Tue Jun 14, 2005 9:46 pm

Ryan Olson

(Yollege)

United States
Topeka
Kansas

The solitare version isn't too bad either.

Posted Tue Jun 14, 2005 10:30 pm
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14. Board Game: Samurai [Average Rating:7.49 Overall Rank:76]

Vinay Chandrasekhar

(vinay1276)

United States
Irvine
California

Excellent for two players. Scales well from 2-4,though a bit more chaotic for 4 players

1 comment [Hide]

Posted Tue Jun 14, 2005 10:23 pm

Ryan Walter

(soundinvestor)

Canada
Regina
SK

I think that this is the best of the recommendations. It was designed to play well 2-4: the puzzle-like board is evidence of this. As a 2-player game it has a nice mixture of strategic and tactical decisions. Game becomes more tactical as you add more players but still very enjoyable. My wife really likes it and I'll play it over lunch with friends. Plays quite quickly with two. If you don't have it---get it!

Posted Tue Jun 14, 2005 11:04 pm
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15. Board Game: Tigris & Euphrates [Average Rating:7.89 Overall Rank:15]

(Kimball Bent)

United States
Seattle
Washington

Number #2 ranking on the BGG. Plays great with just two and goes up to four players. I love this game!

0 comments

Posted Tue Jun 14, 2005 11:15 pm

16. Board Game: Puerto Rico [Average Rating:8.26 Overall Rank:3]

David Southworth

(Rabid)

United Kingdom
Nuneaton
Warwickshire

The Official Alea 2 player variant is really very good. Good enough for my wife to ask to play this game!

Plus, of course, it plays well with 3 - 5 players.

0 comments

Posted Wed Jun 15, 2005 1:26 am

17. Board Game: Attika [Average Rating:7.08 Overall Rank:252]

Derek H

(gamesbook)

South Africa
Durban

Arguably best with 2 players ... so you will enjoy it - but certainly playable with 4 ... 3 might be more difficult because of the potential "kingmaker" problem.

0 comments

Posted Wed Jun 15, 2005 7:27 am

18. Board Game: La Città [Average Rating:7.26 Overall Rank:190]

Sure.

(BaSL)

Netherlands
Rijen
Noord Brabant

I was surprised how well this plays with 2. I knew it was good with 4, but didn't expect this to be good with 2. I'm loosing all my 2-player games, but still enjoy it!

0 comments

Posted Wed Jun 15, 2005 8:59 am

19. Board Game: Union Pacific [Average Rating:7.36 Overall Rank:151]

Joe Childers

(MainiacJoe)

United States
Dayton
Ohio

The Track 20 variant for UP is GREAT. My wife prefers it to multi-player.

0 comments

Posted Thu Jun 16, 2005 5:38 pm

20. Board Game: Antiquity [Average Rating:7.89 Overall Rank:98]

marc magner

(easterly1)

United States
webster
New York

Plays well with 2,3, or 4. Two player clocks in at about 2 hours with a little experience.

0 comments

Posted Sat Aug 19, 2006 5:33 pm

7 comments [Hide]

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Charles A. Smith

(Greybear)

United States
Manhattan
Kansas

Yes, it's true this list has been done before. But I appreciate a new version that updates the topic with newer games while including some of the older gems as well.

Posted Tue Jun 14, 2005 8:57 pm
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Show 2 more comments...

Werner Stangl

(Wernazuma)

Austria
Graz
Styria

Fashions shift, opinions shift, games shift - it's stupid to think such a theme would be done with one list only.
It's OK that such lists occasionally come again and thus be on the main page. I surely would not have digged now for an old list on the topic but clicked this one and left a commentary. Now that only a certain number of lists are being shown per game entry, there's no need for such police actions. Rate it a 1 if you like but don't feel compelled to articulate it... That's a serious illness here.

Posted Tue Jun 14, 2005 9:55 pm
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Ben .

(Snooze_uk)

United Kingdom
Unspecified
Surrey

Nice avatar, btw, Geoff

Saw Garbage in Brixton last week and I get to see them again at Glastonbury in a couple of weeks' time! Hurrah!

Posted Tue Jun 14, 2005 10:22 pm
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Hector Irizarry

(Ponce1944)

United States
Unspecified
Alabama

Werner,

Ok, OK...good games in this list.

Posted Tue Jun 14, 2005 11:15 pm
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Jon Aquino

(jaquino)

Canada
Victoria
BC

Geoffrey - I have added your GeekList as item 181 in "75 GeekLists About Number Of Players: 2,3,4,5,6,7,8" http://www.boardgamegeek.com/geeklist.php3?action=view&listi...

Posted Wed Jun 15, 2005 5:51 am
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