Top 2025 Board Games for Couples to Enjoy Together

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 genres like war board games or abstract strategy games, which can be challenging for couples to enjoy together. Additionally, these games often lean towards fierce competition, which might not be ideal unless both partners are very forgiving. Our curated selection of board games for couples strikes the perfect balance between competition and cooperation, blending luck with strategy, to create an enjoyable experience for both players. If you're in need of a Valentine's Day date idea, these board games for couples could be the perfect solution.

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: While all the games listed below are perfect for two players, some can accommodate up to 4 players. If you're looking for a game that can be enjoyed both as a couple and during board game nights with friends, make sure to check the player count listed below each entry.

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 that were popular in the early internet days, you'll appreciate this vibrant and engaging board game about guiding finicky cats to safety. Each cat will only travel over one color of terrain, and it's your job to collaboratively build a path for them to reach a raft before a blazing fire cuts them off. The challenge is heightened by the random terrain cards you draw, the risk of blocking another cat's route with each play, and limited communication rules that might lead to some amusing meows. With over 80 scenarios of increasing difficulty, the game offers both challenge and humor.

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 together to an exotic destination. In Sky Team, you and your partner play as the pilot and co-pilot, working together to land the plane safely. It's more challenging than it sounds: each player has their own dice pool and set of instruments to manage, and some require balancing values assigned by both players. The twist? No strategy discussions are allowed during the placement phase, which can prevent arguments when the dice pool runs low, the plane tilts dangerously, and you're facing 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, where 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 on the island follows specific rules about where it can live, some fixed and some changing, revealed by the app as you research. You must use these rules and clues from your exploration to pinpoint the location of the mysterious beast. The game is complex but quick to play once mastered, and the app ensures each game is a unique puzzle. You can even collaborate against the app, sharing one playing piece.

For a deeper dive into the 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 specifically to tell the story of a couple's relationship, not yours, but one you'll create between two fictional characters. It's inclusive, supporting both heterosexual and same-sex relationships. Each character has secret traits and destinies that influence the choices made during scenes, affecting the relationship's outcome. As an experimental game, there's no traditional winner; instead, you win by enjoying the journey through an imagined relationship.

Patchwork

### Patchwork

1See it at Amazon

Age Range: 8+Players: 2Playtime: 30 minsPatchwork's charm lies in its simplicity and clever design. Players buy geometric pieces with buttons to create a quilt with minimal holes. Each purchase advances you on a time track, occasionally earning extra buttons or useful single-square patches. The player last on the track takes the next turn, allowing strategic plays like planning for double turns or leapfrogging to grab a crucial patch. This gently addictive game, which engages multiple parts of your brain, has won numerous awards and nominations.

Codenames Duet

### Codenames: Duet

1See it at Amazon

Age Range: 15+Players: 2+Playtime: 15 minsThe original Codenames was a breakout hit in party games, where players use single-word clues to link multiple words on a grid. Codenames: Duet refines this into a cooperative game for two. You work together to find fifteen clues before time runs out, with both players taking turns giving clues, minimizing downtime and bringing the fun of a party game to your intimate setting. Duet is just one of many Codenames spin-offs, offering variety if you enjoy this version.

The Adventures of Robin Hood

### The Adventures of Robin Hood

1See it at Amazon

Age Range: 10+Players: 2-4Playtime: 60 minsUnlike other games on this list, The Adventures of Robin Hood is a narrative-driven game where you retell the legend across nine scenarios. It introduces innovative gameplay, such as measuring progress across a map with a wooden piece, staying in shadows to avoid guards, and an advent calendar-style board that dynamically changes as you lift and flip numbered pieces. Can you and your partner collaborate to save Nottingham from the Sheriff's clutches before Guy of Gisborne catches you?

Hive

### Hive

1See it at Amazon

Age Range: 9+Players: 2Playtime: 20 minsPlayed with chunky plastic hexes, Hive may give you the creeps with its insect theme, but it's a brain teaser that keeps you engaged. Each player has a Queen hex, and the goal is to surround your opponent's Queen with your pieces. With four other insect types, each with unique movement rules, the game's complexity grows as you strategize. Only eleven tiles per side are used, entering play one at a time, and the Hive must remain a single unit, making it portable and easy to set up but challenging to master.

Onitama

### Onitama

0See it at Amazon

Age Range: 10+Players: 2Playtime: 10 minsOnitama offers a lot of strategic depth from a simple setup. Played on a grid, each player starts with a master pawn and five students. You win by knocking out the opponent's master or moving your master to the opposite end. The twist is that the legal moves for your pieces are determined by randomly dealt cards, giving you two choices each turn. This creates a dynamic interplay of planning and adaptation, making each game uniquely challenging.

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 Amazon

Age Range: 14+Players: 2-4Playtime: 40-80 minsInspired by Mancala, Five Tribes translates the concept into a modern strategy game on a grid of tiles. You pick up handfuls of colored pieces, and the final tile you place determines your actions for the round. Each turn becomes a puzzle as you balance your strategy against your opponent's potential moves. With two players, you double your turns, adding a layer of planning for combo plays. This game's auction for the first player adds to its modern classic status.

The Fox in the Forest

### The Fox in the Forest

0See it at Amazon

Age Range: 10+Players: 2Playtime: 30 minsIf you're familiar with trick-taking games like Whist, you might be surprised that it can work with two players. The Fox in the Forest achieves this with a three-suit deck where even-numbered cards function normally, but odd-numbered cards have special powers. The scoring system rewards winning either the majority or the minority of tricks, making it a challenge to maintain a lead without perfect timing. This fast, fun, and innovative game is a remarkable solution to an intriguing challenge.

7 Wonders: Duel

### 7 Wonders: Duel

0See it at AmazonAge Range: 10+Players: 2Playtime: 30 minsWhile the original 7 Wonders was a massive hit, 7 Wonders: Duel is often considered even better for two players. The core concept remains the same: drafting cards to build point-scoring sets representing aspects of an ancient civilization. However, instead of the standard drafting, 7 Wonders: Duel uses a pyramid of overlapping cards, most starting face down, adding a layer of timing and strategy as you choose between taking your best pick and leaving options for your opponent.

Schotten Totten

### Schotten Totten 2

0See it at AmazonAge Range: 8+Players: 2Playtime: 20 minsA classic since 1999, Schotten Totten remains relevant today. You're battling over nine stones, trying to form Poker-style three-card combos on your side, one card at a time. This creates tension as you and your opponent strategize around probabilities, with an additional deck of special power tactics cards adding variety. You can also use these cards to play a different game called Lost Cities, featuring amusing cartoon art.

Splendor: Duel

### Splendor: Duel

0See it at AmazonAge Range: 10+Players: 2Playtime: 30 minsThe original Splendor was already excellent for two players, but Splendor: Duel refines it further for couples. As master jewelers, you create masterpieces to attract noble clientele, enhancing your purchasing power. The game introduces a board for picking raw gems, multiple victory conditions, and special effects to vary your strategies. This refined version is ideal if you're playing exclusively with your partner.

Sea Salt & Paper

### Sea Salt & Paper

0See it at AmazonAge Range: 8+Players: 2-4Playtime: 30-45 minsThis abstract card game by Bruno Cathala combines classic gameplay elements into a simple yet strategic package. You draw cards from the deck or discard pile, aiming to build sets for points. Certain card pairs offer special effects, like taking an extra card or stealing from an opponent, but this reveals your points. Players decide when to end the hand, gambling on a winning combo at the risk of losing points. Best played with two, the game's unique origami artwork adds an extra layer of enjoyment.

Dorfromantik: The Board Game

### Dorfromantik: The Board Game

0See it at AmazonAge Range: 8+Players: 1-6Playtime: 30-60 minsInspired by the relaxing video game, Dorfromantik brings the same peaceful puzzle experience to the tabletop. Players work together to build a rural utopia by placing tiles, aiming to complete groups of similar terrain features. The game's campaign mode adds new content through a tree of reveals, each in a little box you open. Sharing these discoveries with a partner enhances the experience, making it a perfect choice for couples before embarking on your next tile-laying adventure.

For a more detailed look at this game, you can read my review of Dorfromantik: The Board Game.