Top Board Games for Couples in 2025

While there are plenty of two-player board games that are excellent, board games designed specifically for couples deserve their own special sub-category. Many two-player games can be quite intense, often falling into categories like war board games or abstract strategy games, which might not appeal to everyone in a couple. These games can also be fiercely competitive, which might not be ideal unless both partners are very forgiving. So, here are our top picks for the best board games that strike a perfect balance between competition and cooperation, blending luck with strategy, to help you find the sweet spot for enjoying quality time together. If you're still searching for a Valentine's Day date idea, these board games for couples are a fantastic place to start.

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 are perfect for two players, some can accommodate up to four players. If you're looking for a game that can be enjoyed both on board game night and as a couple, make sure to check the player count listed for each game below.

Race to the Raft

### Race to the Raft

1See it at AmazonAge Range: 8+Players: 1-4Playtime: 40-60 minsIf you fondly remember the movement puzzle games popular in the early days of the internet, you'll appreciate the vibrant and engaging nature of Race to the Raft. In this game, players work together to guide finicky cats across different colored terrains to reach a raft before a blazing fire cuts them off. The challenge comes from the random terrain cards you draw, the risk of blocking another cat's path, and the limited communication rules that might have you meowing to each other in a humorous attempt to coordinate. With over 80 scenarios of increasing difficulty, this game offers both a challenge and plenty of laughs.

Sky Team: Prepare for Landing

### Sky Team: Prepare for Landing

1See it at AmazonAge Range: 14+Players: 2Playtime: 20 minsWhat better way to express your love than embarking on a flight to an exotic destination together? In Sky Team, you and your partner take on the roles of pilot and co-pilot, working together to land the plane. It's more challenging than it sounds: you each have your own dice pool and instruments to manage, with some tasks requiring you to balance values from both players. The twist? You can't discuss strategy during the crucial placement phase, which adds an extra layer of excitement—and hopefully avoids any arguments as you navigate through the dice rolls, the plane's tilt, and the 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 minsWith its captivating theme and dynamic puzzles, The Search for Lost Species invites players to map an island's ecology and discover a long-lost animal. Beneath the engaging surface lies a complex logic puzzle. Each animal has specific rules about where it can live, some fixed and others revealed by the app as you progress. Players must use these rules and clues from their exploration to pinpoint the location of the mysterious creature. While it's complex, the game plays quickly once you get the hang of it, and every session is a fresh puzzle thanks to the app. You can even team up against the app, though you'll need to share a single playing piece.

For a deeper dive into 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 hrsFog of Love is a unique game designed to explore the story of a couple's relationship. You and your partner create and navigate the journey of two fictional characters, exploring the nuances and challenges they face. While the game's visuals may lean towards traditional gender roles, it's inclusive of same-sex relationships. Each character has secret traits and destinies that influence their choices throughout various scenes. As an experimental game, there's no traditional winner; instead, you both win by enjoying the fascinating journey through an imagined relationship.

Patchwork

### Patchwork

1See it at AmazonAge Range: 8+Players: 2Playtime: 30 minsPatchwork is a charming game that brilliantly combines several clever concepts. Players use buttons to buy geometric pieces and create a quilt with as few gaps as possible. Each purchase advances you on a time track, which can earn you more buttons or crucial single-square patches, but the player last on the track always goes next. This mechanic allows for strategic plays like setting up double turns or snatching valuable patches. It's gently addictive and won numerous awards for its ability to engage multiple parts of your brain at once.

Codenames Duet

### Codenames: Duet

1See it at AmazonAge Range: 15+Players: 2+Playtime: 15 minsCodenames was a breakout hit in the party game genre, where players lay out a grid of word cards and give single-word clues to link multiple words for their team. Codenames: Duet refines this into a cooperative game for two. You work together to find fifteen clues before time runs out, taking turns giving clues to keep the game flowing smoothly. It brings the fun and excitement of a party game to an intimate setting, and if you enjoy this version, there are many other Codenames spin-offs to explore.

The Adventures of Robin Hood

### The Adventures of Robin Hood

1See it at AmazonAge Range: 10+Players: 2-4Playtime: 60 minsThe Adventures of Robin Hood is a narrative-driven game that retells the legend across nine scenarios. Unlike other games on this list, it doesn't use traditional board spaces. Instead, you track progress with a long base on your wooden piece, trying to stay hidden from guards. The board is like an advent calendar, with numbered pieces you lift and flip to reveal a dynamic world, as described in the included book. Can you and your partner work together to save Nottingham from the Sheriff and evade Guy of Gisborne?

Hive

### Hive

1See it at AmazonAge Range: 9+Players: 2Playtime: 20 minsHive's chunky plastic hexes might make your skin crawl with their insect theme, but they'll also make your brain work in delightful ways. Each player has a Queen hex and wins by surrounding the opponent's Queen. Four other insect types have unique movement rules, which you must master to achieve your goal. With only eleven tiles per side that enter play one by one, and the Hive always remaining a single conglomeration, the game is easy to transport and set up, yet challenging to master due to the intricate movement strategies.

Onitama

### Onitama

0See it at AmazonAge Range: 10+Players: 2Playtime: 10 minsOnitama maximizes a simple concept on a grid where players move a master pawn and five students. You win by knocking out the enemy master or moving your master to the opposite end. The twist is that legal moves depend on randomly dealt cards, giving you two choices each turn. The card you choose is discarded and replaced, creating a dynamic interplay of cause and effect. If you enjoy Onitama's mechanics, explore more options 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 the classic Mancala, Five Tribes translates the bead-moving concept into a modern strategy game on a grid of tiles. You pick up multiple colored pieces, and the final tile you place them on determines your actions. The board state changes with each move, creating 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 can double your turns, setting up combos for a strategic advantage.

The Fox in the Forest

### The Fox in the Forest

0See it at AmazonAge Range: 10+Players: 2Playtime: 30 minsIf you're familiar with trick-taking games like Whist, you might wonder how it could work with just two players. The Fox in the Forest achieves this with a three-suit deck where even-numbered cards act like standard cards, but odd-numbered cards have special powers. For example, 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 timing crucial. This game is fast, fun, and innovative, offering a unique twist on a classic genre.

7 Wonders: Duel

### 7 Wonders: Duel

0See it at AmazonAge Range: 10+Players: 2Playtime: 30 minsWhile the original 7 Wonders was a hit, 7 Wonders: Duel is often considered even better for two players. You draft cards to create point-scoring sets representing aspects of an ancient civilization, like military, technology, or wonders. Instead of the standard pick-and-pass draft, you select from a pyramid of overlapping cards, most starting face down and only becoming available when cards above them are taken. This adds a strategic element of timing to your choices, balancing your picks against your opponent's options.

Schotten Totten

### Schotten Totten 2

0See it at AmazonAge Range: 8+Players: 2Playtime: 20 minsA classic from 1999, Schotten Totten remains engaging today. Players battle across nine stones, each trying to form Poker-style three-card combos on their side, one card at a time. This creates tension as your opponent guesses your strategy, and you hope to draw the right cards. Like Poker, it's about playing the probabilities, with an extra deck of tactical cards to add variety. Plus, you can use the amusing cartoon art to play a different game, Lost Cities.

Splendor: Duel

### Splendor: Duel

0See it at AmazonAge Range: 10+Players: 2Playtime: 30 minsWhile the original Splendor is a top engine-building game, Splendor: Duel refines it for couples. As master jewelers, you create works for noble clients, each purchase enhancing your power for future masterpieces. In this version, you select raw gems from a board with placement rules, aiming for three victory conditions and using special effects to vary your strategies. This makes it a perfect choice over the original if you're playing solely with your partner.

Sea Salt & Paper

### Sea Salt & Paper

0See it at AmazonAge Range: 8+Players: 2-4Playtime: 30-45 minsSea Salt & Paper, designed by Bruno Cathala, combines classic gameplay elements into a simple yet strategic card game. You draw cards either randomly or from a discard pile, aiming to build sets for points. Certain card pairs allow special effects like taking extra cards or stealing from opponents, but this reveals some of your points. Players decide when to end the hand, risking points for potential victory. 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, known for its relaxing puzzle gameplay, lets you build a rural utopia hex by hex. In the board game version, players work together to complete groups of similar terrain features before running out of tiles. A unique campaign mode adds new content through a tree of reveals, each coming in little boxes you open as you progress. Sharing these discoveries with a partner enhances the experience, allowing you to enjoy your new toys together before the next tile-laying adventure begins.

For a more detailed look at this game, check out my review of Dorfromantik: The Board Game.