Over the last five years, a pattern has appeared in the tabletop gaming space. You’ve probably seen it yourself and wondered what these titles could mean for your collection.
There is an abundance of options from stand-alone games to Duel and Duet version of popular titles. So, if you’re just started dipping your toe or if you have 7 two players only experiences, then this blog is for you!
In this blog, I intend to illustrate the reasons and benefits of two-player games. More than just looking at the two-player genre, we’re focusing on well-loved favourites polished and condensed into smaller, more manageable packages.
A History Lesson
Two-player games have existed since gaming became popular in the ’90s. Take a game like Lost Cities, for example: a Reiner Knizia classic of competitive solitaire for opposing rivals across the table. Or our well-worn version of Patchwork, a later but no less considerable influence for gamers across the globe.
But it was in 2015 when this phenomenon was truly introduced. 7 Wonders Duel entered at a time when things were really ramping up. Game releases were becoming more frequent. Alongside this, Kickstarter campaigns were bringing better and more popular games. So, it was into this world that Duel was accepted as the pinnacle of two-player experiences. Using an already popular IP, Duel has far surpassed the base game of 7 Wonders. More engaging gameplay, immersive artwork and fantastic expansions have all helped it remain a top 100 game for many players.
There are a few areas I believe make two-player games really sing. They are as follows: game length, easy set-up and engaging gameplay. For the rest of this blog, I want to unpack each of these in turn. There are of course many more areas I could cover, including cost or even the small box sizes. But as we will see, these three areas are like cornerstones which help build a solid foundation.
Length
Two-player games are kings and queens of the mid-week gaming experience.
Sometimes you want something quick and easy to play. Like a stir fry or pasta with stir in sauce, you know what you’re going to get at the end. This is not to say that two-player games are worse or less complex than other games, because that simply is not true. But it is more the time they take. Most have an advertised playing time of 30 minutes. That is almost the perfect time to be face to face with a friend, spouse or sibling and face off in a competitive space. These games feed the desire to play a board game but aren’t so intense you only bring them out when you have three hours spare at the weekend.
Even games that encourage teamwork, like Sky Team, where you work together, still have that satisfying push and pull of what your partner is going to do. It doesn’t matter the content or even the theme – what matters is a tasty experience in 30 to 45 minutes.
Easy Set-up
Alongside playing the game, there is another element: unboxing all the components and letting up for a playthrough. Some games take a little longer to get going than others depending on the components needed, but the main element I look for is the feeling of smoothness once the game is set up.
Take Jaipur, which by no means has a long set-up but does require the scoring discs to be arranged in order, highest to lowest, and three camels to be retrieved from the deck before a game starts. But once you’ve done the 3–5 minute set-up, you get three engaging and different rounds over the course of one game. Most games have an element of getting materials into place before you can start, but from box opening to game being played it should be less than five minutes.
Alongside the set-up you want just enough components to give the game depth and replayability, but not to the disadvantage of the format. If you look at the best versions of two-player games that exist in higher play counts, they usually feature less set-up and often work in a more confined area.
Engaging Gameplay
I have mentioned how theme is less of an issue for two-player board games. Of course, it is important to feel like you are contributing towards a goal within the design, but many great games could use any theme and still play just as well.
What matters is the mechanics used to propel the game through its various stages. Are there opportunities for different strategies? Is there blocking of certain resources that requires players to shift plans? Is there enough randomness that no one can achieve a runaway victory?
All these questions are considered by game designers and tested during play. With fewer people involved, it is key to create a balanced game which has risen and falls throughout its time on the table. When you finish a two-player game the prevailing feeling should be: that was well optimised. With that impression, it is only a brief time before players return.
Conclusion
Is there a game you really love? Chances are there will be a smaller version perfect for you and your playing partner to enjoy next Saturday night. It might seem as though the market is saturated but take a step back and think. For those new to gaming, two players make for a great start. They can pick up a refined game they can easily play whenever they want. For accessibility and ease of use, two-player games are hard to beat.
Alongside this, they make the perfect travel companion. From a campsite to a five-star hotel, no two-player game is out of place. They provide a wonderful experience even for the most dedicated Eurogame enthusiasts. Some of my favourite games are big and complex, but repeatedly the ones that reach the table aren’t day-long epics, but carefully considered, expertly crafted two-player masterpieces.
So, wherever you find yourself today, why not browse the options and consider adding a two-player game to your collection?
This blog is part of a trio series I’ve written on two-player games. You can read my ode to 7 Wonders Duel here. You can also find my suggestions for which two-player game (or all four of the games suggested) you should buy next here.
