The Best Board Games for Couples to Play Together in 2025

While there are plenty of two-player board games that are excellent, board games for couples to play together deserve their own special sub-category. Many two-player games fall into categories like war board games or abstract strategy games, which can be challenging for couples to enjoy together. These games often lean towards intense competition, which might not be ideal unless both partners are highly forgiving. To help you find the perfect game, we've selected the best board games that strike a balance between competition and cooperation, blending luck with strategy. These games are perfect for couples looking to enjoy quality time together, and they could even serve as a great Valentine's Day date idea.

TL;DR: These are the best board games for couples

### Race to the Raft

1See it at Amazon### Sky Team: Prepare for Landing

1See it at Amazon### The Search for Lost Species

1See it at Amazon### Fog of Love

1See it at Amazon### Patchwork

1See it at Amazon### Codenames: Duet

1See it at Amazon### The Adventures of Robin Hood

1See it at Amazon### Hive

1See it at Amazon### Onitama

0See it at Amazon### Five Tribes

0See it at Amazon### The Fox in the Forest

0See it at Amazon### 7 Wonders: Duel

0See it at Amazon### Schotten Totten 2

0See it at Amazon### Splendor: Duel

0See it at Amazon### Sea Salt & Paper

0See it at Amazon### Dorfromantik: The Board Game

0See it at AmazonEditor's Note: Although all of the games listed below are great for two players, some can accommodate up to 4 players. If you're looking for a game to enjoy both on board game night and as a couple, make sure to check the player count listed below each game.

Race to the Raft

### Race to the Raft

1See it at AmazonAge Range: 8+Players: 1-4Playtime: 40-60 minsIf you remember the early internet's movement puzzle games, you'll appreciate this vibrant and engaging board game where you guide finicky cats to safety. Each cat can only travel over one color of terrain, so you must work together to build a path to a raft before a fire cuts them off. The challenge is heightened by the random terrain cards you draw, the risk of blocking another cat's route, and limited communication rules that might lead to some amusing meows. With over 80 scenarios of increasing difficulty, this game is both challenging and hilarious.

Sky Team: Prepare for Landing

### Sky Team: Prepare for Landing

1See it at AmazonAge Range: 14+Players: 2Playtime: 20 minsImagine saying "I love you" by taking a flight to an exotic destination together. In Sky Team, you play as the pilot and co-pilot, working together to land the plane. It's more challenging than it sounds: each player has their own dice pool and instruments to manage. Some actions require balancing values from both players, and you can't discuss strategy during the placement phase. This can prevent arguments when the dice run low, the plane tilts dangerously, and there's a queue for the runway.

The Search for Lost Species

### The Search for Lost Species

1See it at AmazonAge Range: 13+Players: 1-4Playtime: 60-75 minsThis app-driven game combines an appealing theme with a dynamic puzzle. Players race to map an island's ecology and discover a long-lost animal. Beneath its engaging surface lies a complex logic puzzle. Each animal has specific rules about where it lives, some fixed and some changing, revealed by the app as you research. Use these rules and clues from your exploration to pinpoint the location of the mysterious beast. It's complex but quick to play once mastered, and every game offers a fresh puzzle thanks to the app. You can even team up against the app, sharing one playing piece.

For a more in-depth look at gameplay, check out my hands-on review of The Search for the Lost Species.

Fog of Love

### Fog of Love

1See it at AmazonAge Range: 17+Players: 2Playtime: 1-2 hrsThis game is designed to explore the story of a couple's relationship, but not yours. You create and navigate the nuances and ups and downs of a fictional couple. While the visuals have some blue and pink, it's also open to same-sex relationships. Each character has secret traits and destinies, and you play through scenes, making choices that affect the outcome. As an experimental game, there's no strict winner, but you'll win by enjoying a fascinating journey through an imagined relationship.

Patchwork

### Patchwork

1See it at AmazonAge Range: 8+Players: 2Playtime: 30 minsPatchwork is a simple yet clever game where players buy geometric pieces with buttons to create a quilt with as few holes as possible. Each purchase moves you along a time track, earning extra buttons or useful patches, but the player last on the track takes the next turn. This allows for strategic plays like planning double turns or snatching a one-square patch. It's gently addictive and has won numerous awards and nominations.

Codenames Duet

### Codenames: Duet

1See it at AmazonAge Range: 15+Players: 2+Playtime: 15 minsThe original Codenames was a breakout hit in party games, where players laid out a grid of word cards and gave single-word clues to link multiple words. Codenames: Duet refines this for two players into a cooperative game. You work together to find fifteen clues before time runs out. With both players giving clues, downtime is minimized, bringing the fun of a party game to just the two of you.

Duet is one of many Codenames spin-offs available, offering variety if you enjoy this version.

The Adventures of Robin Hood

### The Adventures of Robin Hood

1See it at AmazonAge Range: 10+Players: 2-4Playtime: 60 minsUnlike other games on this list, The Adventures of Robin Hood is narrative-driven, retelling the legend across nine scenarios. It introduces clever ideas like measuring progress with a long base on your wooden piece, staying in shadows to avoid guards. The board acts like an advent calendar, with numbered pieces you flip to create a dynamic world. Can you and your partner work together to save Nottingham from the Sheriff before Guy of Gisborne catches you?

Hive

### Hive

1See it at AmazonAge Range: 9+Players: 2Playtime: 20 minsPlayed with chunky plastic hexes, Hive might make your skin crawl with its insect theme, but it'll also make your brain work in the best ways. Each player has a Queen hex, and you win by surrounding your opponent's Queen. Four other insect types have unique movement rules you must use strategically. With only eleven tiles per side, the game is easy to transport and set up, but the complex movement rules make it challenging to win.

Onitama

### Onitama

0See it at AmazonAge Range: 10+Players: 2Playtime: 10 minsOnitama gets a lot from a simple idea. Played on a grid, each player starts with a master pawn and five students. Moving onto an opponent's piece knocks it off, and you win by knocking out the enemy master or moving your master to the opposite end. Legal moves depend on a random deal of cards, with two choices each turn. This creates a fascinating interplay of cause and effect, where you can plan ahead but the changing moves add complexity.

If you like Onitama's mechanics, check out more picks from our list of the best dueling board games.

Five Tribes

### Five Tribes

0See it at AmazonAge Range: 14+Players: 2-4Playtime: 40-80 minsInspired by Mancala, Five Tribes is a modern strategy game on a grid of tiles. You pick up multiple color pieces, and the final tile you drop one on determines your actions. The changed board state then affects the next player's options, making each turn a puzzle of balancing your needs against your opponent's opportunities. An auction determines the first player, adding another layer of strategy. With two players, you double your turns, allowing for combo plays.

The Fox in the Forest

### The Fox in the Forest

0See it at AmazonAge Range: 10+Players: 2Playtime: 30 minsIf you've played trick-taking games like Whist, you might wonder how it works with two. The Fox in the Forest uses a three-suit deck where even-numbered cards work like standard cards, but odd-numbered cards have special powers. The 3-value Fox changes the trump suit, while the 9-value Witch is always a trump. The scoring system rewards winning either the majority or minority of tricks, making it hard to lead unless you time your wins perfectly. Fast, fun, and innovative, it's an incredible answer to a seemingly impossible question.

7 Wonders: Duel

### 7 Wonders: Duel

0See it at AmazonAge Range: 10+Players: 2Playtime: 30 minsWhile the original 7 Wonders was a hit, this two-player version is considered even better. You draft cards to create point-scoring sets representing aspects of an ancient civilization. Instead of the standard pick and pass, 7 Wonders: Duel uses a pyramid of overlapping cards, most starting face down. This adds timing to the draft as you balance your picks against giving options to your opponent.

Schotten Totten

### Schotten Totten 2

0See it at AmazonAge Range: 8+Players: 2Playtime: 20 minsA classic from 1999, Schotten Totten still holds up today. You battle across nine stones, creating Poker-style three-card combos one card at a time. This creates tension as your opponent guesses your meld, and you hope to draw the right cards. Like Poker, there's strategy in playing probabilities, plus a deck of special power tactics cards. You can also use the cards with amusing cartoon art to play a different game called Lost Cities.

Splendor: Duel

### Splendor: Duel

0See it at AmazonAge Range: 10+Players: 2Playtime: 30 minsThe original Splendor was a great engine-building game, but Splendor: Duel refines it for couples. You're master jewellers creating beautiful works for noble clientele, which boosts your purchasing power. You pick gems off a board with placement rules, aiming for three victory conditions, and use special effects to vary your strategies. It's a fantastic two-player experience, ideal if you're playing with your significant other.

Sea Salt & Paper

### Sea Salt & Paper

0See it at AmazonAge Range: 8+Players: 2-4Playtime: 30-45 minsThis abstract card game from Bruno Cathala combines classic gameplay elements. You take a card each turn, either randomly or from a discard pile, aiming to build sets for points. Pairs of certain cards have special effects like taking an extra card or stealing one from an opponent, revealing some of your points. Players decide when the hand ends, gambling on a winning combo at the risk of losing points. While it works with a group, it's best with a couple, and you can both enjoy its unique origami artwork.

Dorfromantik: The Board Game

### Dorfromantik: The Board Game

0See it at AmazonAge Range: 8+Players: 1-6Playtime: 30-60 minsDorfromantik, the video game, was known for its relaxing puzzle where you build a rural utopia hex by hex. This board game adaptation brings the same vibe, with players working together to complete terrain groups before the tiles run out. It features a campaign mode with a tree of reveals, adding new content to your game. These come in boxes you open with each reveal, and sharing these discoveries with a partner adds to the excitement before your next tile-laying adventure.

For a more in-depth look at this game, you can check out my review of Dorfromantik: The Board Game for additional details.