Need an easy date night after the kids are in bed? Try out one of our favorite board games! Mike and I love playing board games, and pulling out one of our favorites after Vivian is in bed makes for an enjoyable evening. There are tons of fun games out there but sometimes it’s a struggle finding a game for only two players. With Mike’s help, I’ve compiled a list of our favorite games to grab when it’s just the two of us!
Exploding Kittens
What is it?
“Exploding Kittens is a highly-strategic, kitty-powered version of Russian roulette. It features cards illustrated by The Oatmeal.”
Why do we like it?
This game is great for super competitive couples. As the description says, the exploding kittens popping up is similar to Russian roulette, but while that is left up to chance, there are plenty of other opportunities to take your partner down along the way. There are several expansion packs (Imploding, Streaking, & Barking Kittens) that add to the fun with new and interesting situations to add to the complications in the game. Very fun and usually a pretty quick game!
Villainous
What is it?
“Villainous is a popular board game and the first in the Villainous line, which also includes the expansions Wicked to the Core, Evil Comes Prepared and Perfectly Wretched, along with the Marvel Villainous title. Disney fans and game board lovers of all kinds will love the asymmetric gameplay and chance to play as a villain from one of Disney’s classic films.”
Why do we like it?
This game involves a lot of strategy and deeper thinking than most games. I will admit that every time we play, it takes my brain a little bit to wrap my head around how to play again. Because each player is playing as a different villain, everyone is sort of playing their own game with their own end goal but at the same time going up against each other to be the first one to accomplish their character-specific objective and claim victory! This game is enjoyable for everyone but especially fun for lovers of Disney villains.
Flash!
What is it?
“Players race to complete eight challenges and try to rack up the most points. With three play variations, Flash is the go-to dice game for electrifying fun. Straightforward and quick, you can go at it again and again. Every one of all ages gets bit by the competition bug and has a fair shot to victory.”
Why do we like it?
This is a great game for when you’re feeling competitive but also don’t want to think too hard! Since its all about the roll of the dice, there’s no skill involved, other than quick rolling! A super fun and very quick game for 2-6 players!
Ticket to Ride
What is it?
“Ticket to Ride is an award winning, cross-country train adventure game. Players collect train cards that enable them to claim railway routes connecting cities throughout North America. The longer the routes, the more points they earn. Additional points come to those who can fulfill their Destination Tickets by connecting two distant cities, and to the player who builds the longest continuous railway.”
Why do we like it?
This is one of our absolute favorite games! It does take a decent amount of strategy to claim the right routes and work toward the other goals of the game but once you get the hang of it, it’s the best! Plus there are tons of versions so there’s always a new game to try out! The original Ticket to Ride is a great place to start, New York is a much quicker experience for shorter game time, and Rails and Sails offers two maps on the same board with both trains and boats plus other added elements for ultimate strategy and longer game sessions. NOTE: the original game comes with incredibly small game cards, so I’d suggest purchasing the 1910 expansion for a full-size deck (plus a few extras).
Unstable Unicorns
What is it?
“Unstable Unicorns is a strategic card game about everyone’s two favorite things: Destruction & Unicorns. The goal of Unstable Unicorns is to be the first person to collect seven Unicorns in your play area, also known as your Stable. Use Magic, Instant, Upgrade, and Downgrade cards to hinder your opponents’ progress and destroy their Unicorns. But beware — each player has all of these tools at their disposal as well, and you may just find your plans foiled by a well-played “Neigh!” card. Get ready to destroy your friendships…but in a good way.”
Why do we like it?
This game’s art style is similar to Exploding Kittens, and things can get competitive quickly as you try to fill your stable with 7 unicorns before your opponents. The card effects are balanced and lead to occasional massive sways in the lead over the course of the game. For example, on our most recent playthrough, all of the four of us playing had 6 unicorns multiple times before being knocked back down to near-nothing. It got heated quickly, and we all had a lot of fun (and because I know you’re wondering, I won that game I just described, much to my husband’s dismay).
Risk
What is it?
“Take over the world in this game of strategy conquest, now with updated figures and improved Mission cards. In the Risk game, the goal is simple: players aim to conquer their enemies’ territories by building an army, moving their troops in, and engaging in battle. Depending on the roll of the dice, a player will either defeat the enemy or be defeated. This exciting game is filled with betrayal, alliances, and surprise attacks. On the battlefield, anything goes!”
Why Mike likes it?
I have actually never played Risk but Mike loves playing it with his friends and said I should include it in the list.
Mike’s opinions:
I also love all the other games on this list, but Risk is far and away my favorite if you’re looking for an evening of strategy, tactics, and global domination. Standard Risk has a few different modes of gameplay to keep you coming back and attempting new strategies to destroy your opponents. My buddy is a huge Game of Thrones fan, and the GoT Risk has all sorts of different elements added in to modify traditional gameplay. My favorite is Risk Europe, which is an expanded version of Castle Risk, which was one of the first spin-offs of the original game. Europe introduces a brand new, card-based turn system and mercenary armies for ultimate strategy. For a hardcore evening of whiskey and gaming, this is my go-to every time.
Labyrinth
What is it?
“Search for treasure deep within the twisting maze! The playing board constantly changes so no two games are ever the same! The cards will determine your quest. Looking for the Dragon? How many routes can you take and also foil your opponents? Try to gain the advantage by inserting the extra tile to move walls and open passages of the labyrinth. Block and advance is the strategy! The first play to reach all of their treasure wins!”
Why we like it?
Labyrinth is also a strategy and thinking game so definitely play this before your drinks start kicking in! The best part of this game is not ever knowing where your opponent is going so you aren’t necessarily able to mess up their strategy but sometimes accidentally do! There are several versions of this game as well and all of them have unique elements to keep gameplay familiar yet fresh.
Set
What is it?
“SET is one of the most awarded games of all time! Race to find as many SETs as you can—the player with the most SETs at the end of the game wins! Play SET solo or with as many people as you can fit around the table! It’s perfect for travel, parties or as a quick after-dinner game. Fast-moving and fun, SET is a perfect for any get-together with family and friends! SET is a perfect game to help keep your brain active and healthy. Exercise your brain while playing a game!”
Why we like it?
This game involves a lot of focused thinking to try to find the best sets and also a bit of quickness to get those sets before your opponent. This is a game that can get frustrating as you get to the end of all of the cards but that just gives you more of a challenge! There is a daily online version of SETs if you want to check it out!
Gold Fever
What is it?
“Experience the excitement of gold fever in a highly portable press-your-luck game in which you don’t need a table to play. Whoever first draws five gold nuggets out of their bag in Gold Fever wins the game — but if you keep digging gold for too long, you risk drawing so much gravel that you may lose it all! Gold Fever offers fun decision-making with an immediate payoff in a short playing time.”
Why we like it?
This game is all about being lucky and quick! We like that this game keeps you on your toes and goes really fast. The perfect game for a quick game night when the baby might wake up at any moment!
Pandemic
What is it?
“Four diseases have broken out in the world and it is up to a team of specialists in various fields to find cures for these diseases before mankind is wiped out. Players must work together playing to their characters’ strengths and planning their strategy of eradication before the diseases overwhelm the world with ever-increasing outbreaks. For example the operation specialist can build research stations which are needed to find cures for the diseases. The Scientist needs only 4 cards of a particular disease to cure it instead of the normal 5. But the diseases are out breaking fast and time is running out: The team must try to stem the tide of infection in diseased areas while also towards cures. A truly cooperative game where you all win or you all lose.”
Why we like it?
What’s different about this game is the cooperative aspect, you’re working together to win by curing 4 different viruses causing a global pandemic. 2-4 players are randomly assigned a character with unique abilities our a pool of 7 total. This game is truly all about cooperation and thoughtful execution of your allotted actions. Though it’s always fun to try to take down your opponent, it’s nice on occasion to work together to save the world!
What awesome games would you add to our list? We are always up to try new games!
The Redhead Review 