Home News Top Board Games for Couples in 2025

Top Board Games for Couples in 2025

Author: Lucas May 07,2025

There are plenty of two-player board games out there that are excellent, but board games for couples deserve their own special sub-category. Many two-player games tend to be hardcore war games or abstract strategy games, which can be challenging categories for couples to enjoy together. Even beyond these niche picks, two-player games often lean towards fierce competition, which might not be ideal unless both partners are extremely forgiving. That's why we've curated a selection of the best board games that strike a balance between competition and cooperation, blending luck with strategy to create the perfect gaming experience for couples. If you're looking for a fun Valentine's Day date idea, these board games for couples are a great 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

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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

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The Fox in the Forest

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7 Wonders: Duel

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Schotten Totten 2

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Splendor: Duel

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Sea Salt & Paper

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Dorfromantik: The Board Game

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Editor's Note: While all 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, be sure to check the player count listed for each game.

Race to the Raft

1See it at Amazon!

Age Range: 8+

Players: 1-4

Playtime: 40-60 mins

Remember those movement puzzle games from the early internet days? They're the inspiration for this engaging board game where you guide finicky cats to safety. Each cat will only travel over one color of terrain, so you must collaborate to build a path to a raft before a blazing fire blocks it. The challenge comes from the random terrain cards, the risk of blocking another cat's route, and limited communication rules that might have you meowing to communicate. It's both challenging and hilarious, with over 80 scenarios of increasing difficulty.

Sky Team: Prepare for Landing

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Age Range: 14+

Players: 2

Playtime: 20 mins

What better way to express love than embarking on 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 a pool of dice and instruments to manage, and some require balancing the values assigned by both players. No strategy discussions are allowed during the placement phase, which can prevent arguments when the dice run short, the plane tilts dangerously, and there's a queue for the runway.

The Search for Lost Species

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Age Range: 13+

Players: 1-4

Playtime: 60-75 mins

With an appealing theme and dynamic puzzle mechanics, this app-driven game has players racing to map an island's ecology and find a lost animal. Beneath the engaging surface lies a complex logic puzzle. Each animal has rules about where it can live, some fixed and others revealed by the app as you research. Use these rules and clues from your exploration to determine which hexes hold which species and pinpoint the location of the mysterious beast. It's complex but quick to master, and each game offers a fresh puzzle. You can even team up against the app, though you'll need to share a playing piece.

For a deeper dive into the gameplay, check out my hands-on review of The Search for Lost Species.

Fog of Love

1See it at Amazon!

Age Range: 17+

Players: 2

Playtime: 1-2 hrs

A perfect game for couples, Fog of Love lets you explore the story of a relationship between fictional characters. Though it uses blue and pink colors, it's inclusive of same-sex relationships. Each player gets secret traits and destinies, playing through scenes and making choices that affect the outcome. As an experimental game, there's no traditional winner, but you'll win by enjoying a fascinating journey through an imagined relationship.

Patchwork

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Age Range: 8+

Players: 2

Playtime: 30 mins

Patchwork is a simple yet clever game where players buy geometric pieces with buttons to create a quilt with minimal holes. Each purchase advances you on a time track, earning buttons or single-square patches, but the player last on the track takes the next turn. This setup allows for strategic plays like planning double turns or leapfrogging your opponent. It's gently addictive and has won numerous awards and nominations.

Codenames: Duet

1See it at Amazon!

Age Range: 15+

Players: 2+

Playtime: 15 mins

The original Codenames was a breakout hit among party games. Players lay out cards with words and give single-word clues to link multiple words to their side. Codenames: Duet refines this for two players into a cooperative game, where you both try to find fifteen clues before time runs out. With both players taking turns giving clues, downtime is minimized, bringing party game magic to your duo.

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

The Adventures of Robin Hood

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Age Range: 10+

Players: 2-4

Playtime: 60 mins

Unlike other games on this list, The Adventures of Robin Hood is a narrative-driven title where you retell the legend across nine scenarios. It introduces clever mechanics like measuring progress across the map with a wooden piece, staying in shadows to avoid guards. The board acts like an advent calendar, with numbered pieces to flip over, creating a dynamic world. Can you and your partner save Nottingham from the Sheriff before Guy of Gisborne catches you?

Hive

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Age Range: 9+

Players: 2

Playtime: 20 mins

Played with chunky plastic hexes, Hive can make your skin crawl with its insect theme, but it also engages your mind with its strategic depth. Each player has a Queen hex and wins by surrounding the opponent's Queen. With four other insect types, each with unique movement rules, the game becomes a complex web of strategy. Only eleven tiles per side enter play one by one, and the Hive must remain a single conglomeration, making it easy to transport and set up but hard to master.

Onitama

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Age Range: 10+

Players: 2

Playtime: 10 mins

Onitama maximizes a simple idea: players move pieces on a grid, trying to knock out the opponent's master or move their own to the opposite side. Movement depends on a random deal of cards, with players choosing two each turn. This creates a fascinating interplay of cause and effect, allowing you to plan ahead while the changing moves keep you on your toes.

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

Five Tribes

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Age Range: 14+

Players: 2-4

Playtime: 40-80 mins

Inspired by Mancala, Five Tribes has players picking up color pieces and dropping them on tiles to determine actions. The changed board state affects the next player's options, making each turn a strategic puzzle. An auction determines the first player, and with two players, you get double turns, adding another layer of strategy.

The Fox in the Forest

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Age Range: 10+

Players: 2

Playtime: 30 mins

If you're familiar with trick-taking games like Whist, you might doubt it could work with two players. The Fox in the Forest proves otherwise with its three-suit deck where odd-numbered cards have special powers. The scoring rewards winning either the majority or minority of tricks, making it challenging to maintain a lead. It's fast, fun, and innovative.

7 Wonders: Duel

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Age Range: 10+

Players: 2

Playtime: 30 mins

While the original 7 Wonders was a hit, this two-player version is considered even better. You draft cards to create point-scoring sets representing an ancient civilization. Instead of the pick-and-pass method, 7 Wonders: Duel uses a pyramid of overlapping cards, adding a strategic element of timing as you balance your picks against your opponent's options.

Schotten Totten 2

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Age Range: 8+

Players: 2

Playtime: 20 mins

A classic from 1999, Schotten Totten involves battling across nine stones by creating Poker-style three-card combos. The tension arises as you and your opponent strategize and anticipate each other's moves. There's also a deck of special power tactics cards to add variety. Plus, you can use the cards to play a different game called Lost Cities.

Splendor: Duel

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Age Range: 10+

Players: 2

Playtime: 30 mins

The original Splendor was already great for two players, but Splendor: Duel refines the gameplay for couples. As master jewellers, you create works for noble clients, boosting your purchasing power. You pick gems from a board with placement rules, aiming for three victory conditions with special effects to vary strategies. It's a delightful dance of two-player strategy.

Sea Salt & Paper

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Age Range: 8+

Players: 2-4

Playtime: 30-45 mins

This abstract card game by Bruno Cathala combines classic gameplay elements. You build sets to score points, using pairs for special effects like taking extra cards or stealing from opponents. Players decide when to end the hand, gambling on their winning combo. It's best with a couple, and you can both enjoy its unique origami artwork.

Dorfromantik: The Board Game

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Age Range: 8+

Players: 1-6

Playtime: 30-60 mins

Inspired by the relaxing video game, Dorfromantik lets you build your rural utopia hex by hex. The board game captures the same vibe, with players working together to complete terrain groups. It features a campaign mode with new content revealed in little boxes, adding excitement to each game. Sharing these discoveries with a partner enhances the experience.

For a more in-depth look, check out my review of Dorfromantik: The Board Game.