Patchwork
Players compete to collect fabric tiles to fill up their board. Every tile has both a cost in buttons AND in time so plan carefully otherwise your opponent might get back-to-back turns. At the end of the game any squares that remain unfilled in your ‘quilt’ grid are counted as -2 minus points. Once you lay a tile its position is permanent, Tetris style, so plan ahead before you run out of pieces that fit! Careful button management and generation is also key as these too are worth points!
Codenames Duet
In this 2 player twist on the popular party game, Codenames, you and your team mate will be helping one another to guess which words are secret codes while avoiding any enemy spies in the form of wrong words. Just like the original game players will give one word as their clue, and then a number which refers to how many words the clue is about. But be quick, you may not be racing against another team anymore, but there are a finite number of turns as the new time tokens tick down. Quick thinking and efficient clues are key to success.
Lost Cities
This classic game for two is a wonderful mix of predicting, bluffing, and plain old luck. In lost cities players compete to excavate 5 ‘dig sites’ portrayed by 5 sets of coloured cards numbered 1-10. To score points players must commit cards in ascending order (so starting with 1’s and working up) and try to get a total of 20 or higher in the colour or suit. Careful though, if you don’t pass that thresh hold then you’ll get slapped with negatives. Get only 12 total for instance in the red cards? Well that’d be -8 points. Which colours is your opponent in? Should you just play the next card you have, or wait for the perfect one? You can only stall for so long and maybe that discard was just a bluff.
Fox in the Forest
An elegant twist to typical trump taking games, this card game has major fairy tale vibes. Fox in the Forest is unique in that it only has 3 suits and that every uneven card had a special ability. Change trump, make yourself lead the next trick even if you lose this round, force your opponent to play their best card in a suit. Moons, bells, and keys are the three unique suits and boy is this game gorgeous. Compete to win the most tricks, but don’t get greedy, just like all the classic fairy tale villians if you reach too far you’ll ultimately score nothing at all. A healthy balance is best!
7 Wonders Duel
Everyone who has played 7 wonders will appreciate just how great this 2player version is! All the best parts of the original, collecting resources, racing to build up a military, and competing over scientific advancements. Now streamlined for just 2 players. You’ll pick cards from a pyramid style formation where cards are revealed turn by turn. Pick up what you need in the moment to upgrade your four unique wonders, but be ever mindful of what you might turn up for your opponent!
Jaipur
Camels camels camels. These critters are the name of the game in Jaipur. Over the course of three rounds you and your opponent will duke it out, collecting the most of certain valuable commodities. Silver, gold, gems, silks, leather, and spices. Turning in sets first is key, but only with a health hand of camels can you snag more than a single good. Trade now, or trade later? That’s the question because when you turn in all your camels you know your opponent is going to scoop them up.