Board games that are actually fun for just 2

[Borris]

I'd like to get a board game for dd 12

On Christmas Day there will be a bunch of us, but usually it's just me and her. Lots of games say suitable for 2+ players but often aren't much fun as a 2.

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MNHQ Update
This thread is a little out of date now, but if you've come across it while on the hunt for board game recommendations, our guide to the best family board games has been recently updated. It includes a wide range of options - many of which are suitable for 2+ players - and all come tried, tested and recommended by Mumsnet users. We hope it's helpful!

Not so much a board game but connect 4 shots, is a great game, it’s for 2 and a whole lot of fun. We had so much fun playing it last Christmas as a family aswell.

Robinson Cruseo. It is one of the best games ice ever played. It's collaborative; you're trying to beat the board. Great for 2 players. You can even play it alone with some tweaks.

Santorini. Brilliant strategy game. it's a 2 player.

Above and Below. Strategy and legacy game. We play it 2 player and it is fun. Bit complicated at first; don't bother learning it from the rulebook. watch the board game guys play through it on YouTube.

Backgammon

Agricola, Ticket to Ride, Carcassonne, 7 Wonders Duel are all good for two players.

Dobble

my husband and I play alot of 2 player games

Jaipur
7 wonders duel (changing get various expansion packs too)
hey that’s my fish
pandemic
catan card game
monopoly deal
dobble
shushi go
age of war

Kingdomino and Azul both good for two here.

thrashed my husband soundly at Carcassonne last night. Would recommend.

I keep looking at Azul for my husband and I, we have a tradition of buying ourselves a new game for Christmas... would you say it's good?

Blokus - it comes as a 2 player version and a 4 player version. It is a bit like tetris where you have to try fit as many of your pieces on the board, but also try and block your opponent from placing theirs.

Not a board game but Exploding Kittens is really fun (card game)

Jenga
Connect 4
chess
guess who

Othello
Yahtzee
Mastermind

Ticket to ride!

Patchwork
Splendor
Shotten Totten

All 3 great 2-player!

Topiary or patchwork. Smaller boardgames and quite quick.

Passing Pigs is brilliant for two!

Sequence and scrabble

Azul - play this as a two all the time, it's my fav

Oh thanks. Loads of ideas. Off to research ...

Mancala is great and is a game for 2

Genius square
yatzee
Quirkle

Jaipur
Hive
Azul
Scrabble

Labyrinth, we've played it with 2 and it works well

Codenames duet and Carcassonne are our faves, and p for pizza is really fun and quick to play.

Rummikub
qwirkle