Top 10 "Casual" 2 Player Games - Not Just For Couples!!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 4 ก.ค. 2024
- Top 10 "Casual" 2 Player Games - Not Just For Couples!!
FINALLY! Yes sorry this has taken so long but it's time to start the 2 player game series of Top 10's!! 3 lists, one for casual/new player friendly games, one for next step/middle of the road games and one for advanced players.
Also I'm fully aware I duplicated a transition where I accidentally put the No 7 transition for my No 8 pick. . . . . ah well these things happen, you're smart enough to follow!
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Who Am I?
One single batchelor from the UK talking about his passion for board games and the people who play them! I support small content creators, board game cafes and go against the status quo when it comes to the board game industry. I give my honest opinions without bias towards any publishers or designers and will not hold back if I don't like a game.
The Broken Meeple is a variety channel that hosts all kinds of board game content from reviews to Top 10 lists to playthroughs to live stream collaborations with special guests (predominantly small channels who deserve more exposure).
I look forward to engaging with you, the community on my live streams or in the comments on my videos!
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Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction and KIENDA Promo
01:06 - Background
02:30 - Number 10
04:58 - Number 9
07:34 - Number 8
09:36 - Number 7
12:28 - Number 6
15:53 - Number 5
18:22 - Number 4
21:07 - Number 3
24:02 - Number 2
26:43 - Number 1
30:24 - Honorable Mentions
35:00 - Please Share and Support The Show
#brokenmeeple #top10 #top100 #topten #2playergames #boardgames #boardgame #lukehector #supportsmallcreators #tabletop #tabletopgames #bgg
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Excellent start. Looking forward to the other 2 videos in the installment.
Great idea for a 2 player list of casual, medium and crunchy. I really enjoy 2 player games with my wife. The more games I have introduced to her the more she loves them. It’s nice to have a variety depending on the time and complexity were in the mood for.
A few we enjoy at the pub are love letter, and the mind.
Splendor duel has been a huge hit with us as well.
Arrgghhh THE MIND!!!!
I got both Hanamikoji and Geisha's road on the latest KS including the mini expansions (on your recommendations). I honestly expected to get a little bored of just the base game and would want to move to Geisha's Road or the mini expansions. I am happy to say that I love it even with just the base game, and there is plenty of replayability in the base box. I'm looking forward to exploring the rest :)
Some great games there, Luke - I enjoy many on your list. Some 21 others that I recommend are:
Battle Line (without Tactics cards)
7 Wonders Duel
Enchanted Plumes
Targi
Subastral
Ohanami
Goblin Vaults
Capital Lux II
Dead Man's Draw (or Circus Flohcati)
Nokosu Dice
Parade
Incan Gold
Trendy
Samurai Card Game (or in 2023, get Pollen)
Coloretto (or in 2023, get Triqueta)
Schadenfreude
Claim (mix with Claim 2)
Hey That's My Fish!
Tides of Time
Spirits of the Forest (or Richelieu)
Mate! (old 1915 design)
Most of my gaming is between two players (when can convince wife to sit down a relax for a few), and your recommendations, as normal, are great. We same to have a similar, Eurocentric, taste in games so you are always one of first pages I check for info on any future purchase ideas. And you're funny too. Thanks for your work.
Thank you so much!!
This was a fun list. Always on the lookout for a good 2 player game. I found Canopy recently at FLGS and decided to pick it up after watching your review. Looking forward to tabling it soon. I'd also recommend Land vs. Sea. I found that to be really enjoyable. Wasn't bad as a 2 vs. 2 game either..
Hope you like it! Yeah I got Land Air and Sea, or is that something else.
@@TheBrokenMeeple it is actually something else (lol might as well throw "x" terrain type in with the "imperium" lot). It is actually a tile placement map builder. One player is building land while the other is building the sea. In order to score points you must enclose your terrain type. There are some modules players can include as well to vary up scoring parameters.
@@Original_Maverick Oh I didn't see you also already asked about Land vs Sea. I love this game specifically for 2 players.
Loved your selection of Hanamikoji and Splendor Duel. We are considering Azul Chocolateir
Great list thanks Luke. A lot of those are already on my list. A couple of others that are really good are Sobek 2 Player and the absolutely fantastic Caper: Europe. Caper is outstanding. Probably my no 1.
Caper is on my shelf of shame I STILL haven't played it. I want to get it out eventually!
@@TheBrokenMeeple You need to rectify that! It's a fantastic 2p game, although I wouldn't call it casual. I'd put in in that "mid-weighty" area.
Such an interesting list. A lot of new games here for me, and i appreciate the listing for games which just 'play good' in 2p even if they can go up to 4.
Cascadia deserves all of the awards though, it does so many good things very well on so many levels... It works as a 2p crunchy game, it works as a 4p pretzel game, it works as a Christmas family game with the basic family rules, it even has intermediate rules if the folks get a bit too good at it and want a bit more meat. And that's not even counting the supremely tight and satisfying solo mode and the replayability self-challenge campaign mode which, surprise surprise, integrates phenomenally with 2p games as those will be the ones you'd be hashing out more often.
And across it all the fact that i can teach it as basically "take a set, make the map look nice and contigeous, go" with a clarification here and there on nature tokens/duplicates shuffle.. is amazing. I am shocked at how "Cascadia" ends up as the answer to a lot of queries.
It just ticks all the boxes for a casual family game - and when a game does that, it works.
Great video! You've made me want to give Canopy a second look. I would have had Targi in the mix somewhere. 😊
Canopy is definitely worth a look, as for Targi..........next video ;-)
Interesting - i was expecting to have a lot of these "casual" 2 player games as I mostly play 2 player count with my husband, but I only have Fox in the forest (which I love and is new to my collection). Hanimakoji has been on my radar but havent bought it yet. Looking forwards to the next 2 videos.
Thanks for sharing! Certainly try to give Hanamikoji a try!
Interesting list, looking forward to the others. Jaipur and Lost Cities never really grabbed myself or my family. Must play Canopy again it is good, I like it solo too. Kamisado and Hamanikoji sound interesting I'll have to take a look at them.
Most certainly try to get Hanamikoji
Good list! Here are some casual games that I play 2 players that were not mentioned :
- Crokinole
- Codenames Duet
- Unlock! or Exit games
- Santorini
Codenames Duet is fine, Santorini is OK.
My new favorite for this genre is District Noir... give it a try if you haven't, it's also available on BGA for free, but getting a physical copy might be difficult because it's mostly sold in France only.
Totally new on me!
I would include "Battleline" and "Kahuna" as great casual 2-player games. Certainly less thinky than "Onitama" and "Hanamikoji" (which I would put on your next list). It will be interesting to see what IS on the next list!
Kahuna is good and I did think about it. Hate Battleline though. I'd argue against them being less thinky though. Battleline you have to look at multiple arenas and consider the best play (and luck of the draw because it's mostly that) and Kahuna is a pretty thinky affair as well as a wrong move will land you in hot water. Very tense games for "casual".
I love Hanamikoji but even after years I still have no idea how to play it
Really enjoyed this list, Luke, and am so looking forward to the next two. Having watched your channel for some time I think I could make a couple correct predictions. BTW, do you prefer Lost Cities over Battle Line (or BL: Medieval)? I know they're quite similar. Some like them slightly better.
Oh I dislike Battle Line, much prefer Lost Cities.
I think I prefer Schotten-Totten in that series, but you're correct.. they're all so close that you certainly don't need all three in a collection. Battle line and Schotten-Totten are basically the same game, I just prefer the art and small box of Schotten-Totten.
@@TheAmazingYeti Thanks, Yeti. Strange to me that Luke "dislikes" BL, and then put LC in his top ten (for this category).
@@pnutbutrncrackers They are different enough I feel. But for me personally they just scratch the same itch.
@@pnutbutrncrackersyeah, I’m definitely the opposite. I don’t want to have to constantly do the math in Lost Cities so I prefer Schotten Totten with the poker hands.
I’d also put in a strong case for codenames Duet here, and Iro!
A lot of good choices here. I'd add Unmatched for sure.
Never played and likely never will just because of circumstances but is it casual?
@@TheBrokenMeeple Oh, absolutely. It's really easy to just pick up and play. It's got a very elegant rule set with unique and interesting decks and GREAT artwork. Definitely give it a go at the cafe if you can find someone who wants to play it. I don't like a lot of head-to-head dueling games (my wife and I usually prefer to play cooperatively or just play a euro game), but this one is the most streamlined and quickest one of the genre (it plays in 20 minutes), so it's the only one that has stayed in our collection.
Great video and list. I have many of those and want most of the others! Totally off topic (sorry) Lords of Vegas reprint and expansions is on kickstarter. I'm wondering if you've played it, and what you think of it?
Thanks and I might have played it once and being like "meh". Already forgotten it.
@@TheBrokenMeeple ok, thanks for the reply 🙂
While it is't a causal game per say, since it takes a couple of games to understand how the icons work with each other. Race for the Galaxy is my favorite game for two players.
The base for Race for the Galaxy can be played with up to four, it really shines at two. Usually me and a friend whip it out and play best out of three.
Race would be a cross between next step and advanced. There's plenty of luck of the draw, but all that iconography and how to do shipping etc is a bit complex.
Great list. Onitama is my Chess-game, Star Realms I love my Big Box with everything. Cascadia I only played so far 2-player. Interesting your take on more players. Sintra is my best version; so, I disagree here. Hanamikoji -- I completely thought I ordered the expansions with Geisha's Road but didn't - and now they are not available. Luke, what about San Torini and/or Ragnarocks? Are they coming at "medium/midweight"? How about Parks or Land vs Sea?
Ragna what? Never heard of that. I don't like Parks, Air Land & Sea is fine but not Top 20 material. Santorini is OK, but really needs the god powers to be interesting and at that point it risks balance issues.
@@TheBrokenMeeple Ragnrocks is the follow-up of San Torini. More an erea control, or area encircling game. It has its own Gos powers like San Torini
HIVE!! 🐝... where is it?! 😆 otherwise, a pretty good list! keep it up and looking forward to the next lists!
Hive isn’t quite a casual game. There a different rules for each piece which push it beyond the scope of casual and make it very chess like. It would take a non game a longer time to learn.
I don’t think it too difficult but it’s definitely not one I would try to get grandma or my dad to play. Too many things going on.
Hive is decent but just not Top 20 for me.
Games my wife and I enjoy at two players include Calico, Schotten Totten, The Game Face to Face, Qarto, Downtown Farmers Market, and Hey That’s My Fish.
Excellent list, did not see Canopy incoming I admit, need to look into this one. How come there were no mention of 7 Wonders Duel, I know you consider 7 Wonders next step, and not casual, but I think both of them could be played on more casual note depending on mood. Are drafting/set collection games really that lacking of casual, two player options?
I don't think any of them work as casual. Tom Vasel is very wrong on that!
I don’t like abstract battle games or anything that just looks or feels like chess, so our lists will be different I’m sure. Of those in your top 10 that I have played, yes I do enjoy the fox game and Jaipur. For light games my top picks would have been patchwork and then Splendor/duel (though Duel needs large print desperately), then Codenames Duet, then Jaipur. Love love love ticket to ride, and my favorite two player version of that is India, but prefer teaching a single new player on the Switzerland flip side. I originally learned TTR in a 6-player Team Asia… with very patient gamers!
Why does Duel need large print, I don't have any issue with the cards. There's no text and the icons are distinct. As long as you're not colour blind it's nice and portable as it should be.
@@TheBrokenMeeple I just played it again last night, and am not color blind, and had trouble distinguishing diamonds from pearls on the cards. *you* may not have any issue with the cards, but *I* do
Some of my favourite 2p casual games you didn't mention are: Carcassonne, Hive, Ohanami, Quarto, Crokinole, and Air Land & Sea (Critters at War)
I've burned out on Carcassonne and Small Islands i think is better. Hive is decent, just not Top 20, Ohanami I can play with all player counts fine, wouldn't be Top 10.
I actually thought you were going to say Santorini or Hive at number 10 or 7 :) My personal favourite is the Unmatched series
Not played those but 2 player only won't suit me.
Lost Seas, Mandala, Botanik and Miyabi are all nice couple games.
Spirits of the Wild is the best one I have, but out of print. Butterfly is great. For card games, Archeology The New Expedition is good. But I will always recommend Cascadia if asked for a 2-player game for newbies.
In the same way you find Hanamikoji meh, I felt the same way with archaeology the card game. D didn't feel that interesting or worthy of its high acclaim.
Surprised Santorini is not on the list. It's simply amazing and amazingly simple, with a lot of depth. If it makes sense.
It's not one I own and I like it fine, though adding in the God powers might take it above casual and I'd rather play it with the powers then without. It's certainly decent though.
Tides of time, schottentotten, fungi I would recommend as well
Never got really hooked by hanamikoji. It's ok but for me a 6 out of ten
I for whatever reason bounced off of Fox in the Forest hard. My buddy and I played three games and quit in the middle of the third game. I gifted it to another friend that was interested. We both love Cat in the Box and The Crew, so it was weird that we just simply didn't like it.
The Crew is fantastic, I'm so far ho hum on Cat in the Box - I still have it but the whole area control feels like a tacked on thing.
@@TheBrokenMeeple I could see that. I tend like gimmicks for whatever reason.
What about Mandala from Lookout games? You'll probably like it if you like Hanamikoji
Not tried it, not a fan of the aesthetics but I'd give it a go.
Royal Visit should be in this list, a really good casual game from Knizia for only 2 players
Not one I've heard of, but I'll look it up!
Jaipur is not in the middle east btw
Hanamikoji was meh to us. It’s such a specific experience and some people are just way better than others. We sold it after 2 plays.
No Mandala or or Ohanami or Sobek 2 on the list? Mandala is super casual, simple great game
Not played Mandala, ohanami is fine just not top ten and honestly Ive only really played that with 3-4 players. Sobek I wouldn't consider casual enough.
@The Broken Meeple - please check Mandala. I am sure after you play it will be in the top 3 of your list.
luke
when is the review of obsession coming
😀😀😀😀
😜😜 So much to do, but I intend to record it soon
Question where can i download your intro music ? i always like your inro music im gona use it as my meditaion music thanks in advance
It's a happy go lucky upbeat song how can it possibly be meditation worthy?
@@TheBrokenMeeple i find it calming thanks for the reply
@@infinitelee6256 it came from motion array, its a licensed song.
No one ever mentions Glasgow. Its a totally overlooked gem
I liked it OK, it's not a bad game, wouldn't call it casual at all though and had a pretty hefty setup and horrible art.
@@TheBrokenMeeple Yes, granted...not the best art. But the setup is about as hefty as the setup of Patchwork I thought.
Blokus Duo
Is 7 Wonders Duel not a casual game?
Not in the slightest. Tom Vasel thought it was alongside the People when they did it and they are so wrong it's unreal.
Neither is Undaunted, though.
Where is your accent from? I can't place it.
Somerset UK