Board games for 2 players - me & ds(11)

[WeAllHaveWings]

ds and I like board games, dh not interested so any games have to be good for 2 players only.

We got Small World and Forbidden Island last year and tbh even with the rave reviews/recommendations we found they were a bit meh! Maybe its because there are only 2 players.

Any recommendations for this year?

Some games we have and he likes Cludeo, Monopoly, Survive Escape from Atlantis, Trival Pursit (family edition from 1980s!!), Game of Life.

I see Ticket to Ride recommended sometimes, is it still good for just 2 players?

Pass the pigs?

Have you looked at Carcassonne?

We only have the app, I'm hoping to get the board game for Xmas.
You can loads of extension packs to mix things up.

There are several 'table top' gaming blogs to scout too.
It appears that most of the 'best' games originate in Germany.

Balance Games?
Animal Upon Animal, there are a few variants. Me & OH play when little has gone to bed.

Monopoly empire is good, try card games, masterminds, othello, draughts, have you got rush hour?

Have looked at Carcassonne before and reviews always seem to say its not good with only 2 players.

We also have mastermind, Othello, draughts, labyrinth, ingenious, and rush hour, Yahtzee, rummikub, q-bitz,

Monopoly deal (the card game version) is really good, fairly quick, and portable! Also nothing wrong with a bit of connect 4!

Blokus is good with two

Tantrix (my 9yo and 13yo are have just got it out, it can be a really good game).
Sequence.

Labyrinth. My favourite. And perfect for two.

gloom :) its like happy families but unhappy

flashpad from QVC - Addcitive!

Ticket to Ride

Battleship
Rubiks race

SET. Very simple in theory and DD(11) beats me every time and has since she was about 7. It's cards rather than a board game per se but an excellent game for two.
Also Labyrinth: can be played with up to four but works well with only two.

Machi Coro dh plays with dd1

Qorridor
Abalone
2-player card-versions of settlers of Cattan (not the full version which only function properly with 4 or can just about scrape through with 3)

I bought the Sherlock Holmes detective game today and whilst looking at the reviews it said it was good for two people.

It's not really a 'board game', but we enjoy Bananagrams which can be played with two or more people and it doesn't matter how many; it also doesn't matter about age because you can play at your own level.

I really want to learn to play some card games. I used to love playing cards when I was growing up but I can't remember how to play any of them! Anyone know a good way it place to learn? I suppose I should look at YouTube

The game of life.

Just place marking as my nearly 12 year old loves board games!

Blink is a good simple card game for two players.

As is Dobble

Mahjong

I've just bought Jenga Quake for my sons 12 birthday

Lots of ideas and checking them all out.

I have also seen Carcassonne: The Castle. Not an expansion pack, but a stand alone 2 player game. Has anyone played it?

Qwirkle is very popular in this house.