Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and whilst there are a few stories and folk traditions about the origins of the event - the main narrative is that it is a festival of love & romance celebrated all around the world. Many people will be rushing out to buy token gifts of chocolates and flowers and maybe thinking about planning a magical night out for their nearest and dearest. However, here at the Meeple Rooms we challenge you to step away from the overpriced mayhem, light the Games Table candles and prepare for a perfect night in.
We often talk about the benefits of board gaming and this rings true for couple gamers too. Whether it is through healthy competition or cooperative play, there are many opportunities to bond with your other half from across the table. Improved connection & communication, managing conflict, shared experiences, warm memories and lovable, laughable moments are right at the top of the list.
The Meeple Rooms Team have shared their favourite ‘Perfect for Two’ board games so you can get ready for Date Night:
7 Wonders Duel: Valentine’s Day just isn’t the same without cards and this award-winning card-drafting game will certainly fill that gap! Challenge your partner and bring your civilisation to victory with prestigious buildings, military strength, or scientific supremacy. All in only 30 minutes! Once you have played this 2-player card drafting game from Repos Production, and see it light up your gaming table in all its glory, you will want to go head-to-head again and again!
Dice Throne: What is better that a game of Valentine’s Yahtzee!? Err…that would be Valentine’s Battle Yahtzee! Select your Hero, roll your dice, play your cards, buy your upgrades and steal your partner’s hearts by taking them all and being the last player standing! This game is a match made in heaven for 2; you will soon have the Dice Throne love bug and want to add more heroes and seasons to your collection! Ready to roll?
Targi: Take on the role of a noble leader of a Taureg tribe and trade your way across the Sahara Desert in order to build up your clan’s wealth. This fantastic 2-player worker-placement game from Kosmos Games challenges you to out-wit, out-manoeuvre and out-trade your opponent for victory. Targi has so much gameplay in the small box (easy to learn, strategy, competitiveness, interaction & replay-ability) that you just have to saddle up your camel and join the caravan of love for this game!
Memoir 44: Healthy conflict fuels the best relationships so why not give yours a boost with this classic from Days of Wonder. Memoir 44 is a historical 2-player game where players face-off in stylised battles of some of the most famous historic conflicts of World War II. Play a card, activate and move your units and then prepare to battle. With great components, easy to learn and plenty of scenarios to keep you going until next Valentine’s Day, what are you waiting for?
Patchwork: After all that challenging and battles galore, it’s time to slow it down and get under the duvet…well actually you have to make it first! In this 2-player polyomino drafting game by Uwe Rosenberg, you will have to compete against your partner to build the most exquisite (and high-scoring) patchwork quilt on a personal 9x9 game board. Acquire patches for your quilt and gain buttons in order to win the most victory points. A simple, relaxing game to wind down at the end of the evening. With a random set-up - no 2 quilts are the same! There is even a Valentine’s version of this game to get you in the mood!
EXIT Games: If you would rather spend the day hand-in-hand than across the table, then you cannot go wrong with this cooperative series of table-top escape rooms from Kosmos Games. Whether is it a night in The Abandoned Cabin, or The Enchanted Forest, or you want to spice it up with a Murder Mystery in Dead Man on the Orient Express, these games allow you to bring the excitement and intensity of an escape room to your living room. Together you must use your ‘team spirit, creativity, and powers of deduction to crack codes, solve puzzles, collect objects, and earn your freedom bit by bit.’
There are so many more 2-player games out there, including some great child-friendly ones. We asked our very own Mini Meeple what their favourite game for two was; their face lit up and there was no hesitation in sharing their game affection with us:
Funkoverse Strategy Game: Get ready to go on a heroic adventure with some of your favourite characters…Each base game comes with 4 exclusive Funko Pop! figures where you can combine your characters and go head-to-head in four exciting game scenarios. Use your characters' unique abilities to gain points and achieve victory! You can’t help but fall in love with this series. There are so many sets and characters to choose from that there is literally a Funkoverse for everyone!
Whether you are on a date night, hanging out with a friend, a single parent or in another duo, 2-player games can be such delight and bring you so much closer to the one you are with.
But wait, there are 4 of you? Then how about a 2-player round robin tournament for your next Games Night?
Happy Gaming!
The Motivation Meeple