With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, we take this opportunity to present a selection of 4 board games for couples, or at least specially designed for two players. A way to offer your other half an original romantic one-on-one, far from the classic candlelit dinners.
Most games work from 2 up to 4 or 5 participants. But the configuration in duo is often neglected, less interesting than in several, with adjustments of rules or, worst of all, a kind of bot which simulates a third opponent.
We are therefore taking advantage of this commercial/love celebration (cross out the useless mention) to offer you some games specially designed for two players, which we particularly liked. It’s an opportunity to celebrate lovers’ day off the beaten track, or simply to have a good time with someone you love.
The 4 board games to play as a couple selected for Valentine’s Day
Note that the only Valentine’s Day is that these games are played by two people. The themes are not particularly romantic, but promise good moments of complicity to share as a couple.
- Critters at War ;
- Dice Throne ;
- Drones Vs Gulls ;
- Shards of Infinity.
But note above all that these are “real” board games, with real rules, real mechanics, not gritty ersatz that we will definitely put away in the back of a cupboard after a very first “game”. probably uninteresting. They are therefore not reserved for lovers, and you can play them perfectly with a friend, a child, a colleague, etc.
The news of this type of games being very rich lately, we have already presented you recently some excellent proposals: Fog of Love (THE game for Valentine’s Day, if you’re a fan of romantic comedies), Duel Splendor Or Black District. Here are four more.
Good parties, why not as a couple, but especially as a couple!
Critters in war, duel war with small animals
As its subtitle suggests, Critters at War is a confrontation game that is played in three theaters of operations at once: in the air, on land, and at sea. In turn, players play one of their units, characterized by strength and capacity, on one of these theaters.
To win a battle, you must control more theaters of operations than your opponent, or force him to retreat. And, to win the war, you have to win as many battles as possible.
Critters at War is a game with very simple rules, short games, which necessarily call for revenge, but very clever, with only a few cards. We bluff there, we try to guess the intentions of the other, we try to make combo our cards, and, in all bad faith, we invoke chance when we lose.
Admittedly, the theme could not be more bellicose, but since these are small animals that are at war, it goes much better. Especially since the illustrations are really successful.
Dice Throne, the boosted Yahtzee for playing as a duo
Dice Throne, it’s not just one box, but four (and four new ones to come). The principle and the rules are always the same, only the content changes: in each, two fighters with their own style and abilities. Barbarian vs. Elf, Monk vs. Paladin, etc. Obviously, we can mix the boxes and organize any meeting.
The game is based on the mechanics of Yahtzee, but in boosted mode. Each turn, you have three throws to form combinations of dice, activate an ability, most often to inflict damage on the opponent, to bring him to zero life points and thus win. But we can also improve our hero during the game.
This is the most relaxing game of this selection, the most straight forward. We throw shovelfuls of dice, we put ourselves on the face, and we curse when chance plays with us. Each hero brings his specificities, his way of playing, and, all the same, a little subtlety.
We advise to start with the first box, the easiest to approach, then to continue on the following ones to diversify your games. Finally, a big extension is planned, allowing to play as a team against the game.
Drones Vs Gulls, the minimalist combo game
In the center of the table, seven slots, with special powers. And, on each side, a camp: the drones or the gulls. In turn, one simply adds one of his cards, of varying strengths, in front of one of these spaces. If one takes or regains control of it, one applies its power.
To win, you must simultaneously control all seven spaces, or a majority of them when a player places his last card.
Drones Vs Gulls is the most minimalist game of this selection, but undoubtedly also the deepest. Its mechanics are both simple as anything, and particularly ingenious.
It is better to stay focused when playing it, at the risk of giving the opponent the opportunity to make a series of combos devastating. The learning curve is obvious, and it is advisable to play with an opponent of the same level to maintain all the interest.
Finally, despite appearances, this improbable opposition does exist!
Shards of Infinity, the quintessence of deck building
Let’s quickly go over the theme, we don’t understand anything. But, regardless, the interest here is purely mechanical. Both players start with the same deck of cards, and draw five each turn. With these five cards, you buy new ones, to improve your deckattack the opponent and their champions, or increase your level of mastery.
How to win? By destroying your opponent or raising your mastery up to 30 points.
We cheat a little, because Shards of Infinity can be played with up to four players. But, we found it long and laborious, whereas in two, the turns fuse, the games are fast, nervous, and above all very tense. We particularly appreciate the possibilities of combos within a faction or between them.
It’s kind of the quintessence of games of deck building. If we had to keep only one, it would be him. We feel that the authors are not at their first attempt. Three extensions are already available, including one that adds a cooperative mode, against the game.
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