Joined in 2023 
82 
63 About this deal
You already have Splendor: We'd argue that this is the superior game, but it might be a little too similar for anyone that already owns its predecessor. You don't like randomness in games: While it's pretty excellent in every other regard, Splendor Duel can be at the mercy of its randomly-drawn card market. If you're looking to win by collecting gems of a single color (one of the new victory conditions), you're stuffed if it doesn't come up - and it won't be your fault. Just be warned: it takes a hot minute to get your head around the rules, and it's not the easiest to explain. Sure, its theme hits closer to home nowadays. But there's something cathartic about giving a pandemic the boot… even if it's only in this tabletop world of tokens and cards.
The bottom line: So long as you're happy to do a little homework in terms of its mechanics, you'll find that Root has a lot to offer. It's essential for strategy fans thanks to spotless asymmetric gameplay, and being able to boost the experience with a number of expansions keeps that spark alive. Being able to swap your letters around when you run out of space takes things up a notch. It really gives your gray matter a workout, and while that will understandably turn some people off, it's a thrill for those who love word games. What you need to know: Think you can handle Jurassic Park better than its creators? The Legacy of Isla Nublar lets you give it a good go. Along with tense gameplay and consequence-driven mechanics, it improves on the 'legacy' format (where your decisions follow you) by providing something so much more replayable than its peers. Hold onto your butts, because few cooperative board games can match it.How it works: Your aim here is simple - make it out of the mansion alive after completing one of 50 missions. That isn't to say it's predictable, though. Betrayal isn't set up like traditional board games, and that's part of its appeal. Your character has been drawn to the house for mysterious reasons (they're following a friend who's gone missing or received an invitation from parties unknown, for example), and it's revealed turn by turn as you try to solve that case. However, each room is selected at random when you enter it. The items or events encountered within are randomized as well. In other words? There's no way of telling what lurks behind those doors.
Gameplay: Is it better to buy and trade cheap items as fast as possible? Or should you collect expensive goods for a bigger payday? There isn't a 'correct' way to go about things in Jaipur, and that flexibility helps the game stand out. You can't commit to multiple sessions: Seeing as it'll take weeks for you to finish this game in its entirety, we'd steer clear if you're short on time. You want something simple: Gloomhaven's strength is also its downfall. Because it's a lot deeper than most games, it's a lot more complicated as well. Some of these cards are worth a lot right away, others provide multipliers, and yet more require you to collect a set for bigger payouts.This means that there are multiple approaches you can take on your path to victory. (Just don't forgot about Puddings, which are only scored at the end of the game and may tip your score over the edge.)How it works: The idea isn't complicated; each player gets 20 or so single-letter tiles, and they have to put them into a crossword. When you've finished (which is harder than it sounds if you get a handful of ‘q’), you have to take another one that's added to the same crossword. The rub is, your opponent's got to take a new tile as well… regardless of whether they’ve finished their own pile yet. The only thing that helps is the fact that they have to yell "peel" first. Cut your losses– If you are holding out for a bonus but your opponent also starts taking an interest in the same good as you, consider selling early, especially if high value, rare cards are as stake. It's a risk worth considering, and games can be won and lost on it. Camel Up!– The player with the most camels gets five points, plus camels are useful. Camels give you the option for big plays, you can switch in new goods without it costing you any goods from your hand. You can do a big sale, then on your next turn brings in a whole new set of cards ready for another sale. If your opponent doesn’t take them on their turn, then rinse and repeat. You're turned off by dense rules: There's no way to sugarcoat this - the rules of Root are intimidating. Due to each faction having its own mechanics on top of an already-complex system, you'll need to spend time swotting up on how to play before you place your first meeple on the board. Naturally, that won't appeal to everyone. Image credit: Twin Drums, Cephalofair Games, Prospero Hall, Cubicle 7) What are the most popular board games for 2 players?
The bottom line: There's a good reason why Pandemic has been on shelves for a couple of decades now - its blend of challenge and elation when you win makes it a classic. While there are countless versions to choose from now, we're still partial to this original game due to how elegant it is. Absolutely nothing is wasted in terms of mechanics and design. Jaipur is a clever 2 player trading game where you cannot afford to ignore the camels. Each turn, you will choose to take cards or sell cards and that’s it! Of course, herein lies the rub; the risks and rewards of the game lie in what you take and what you sell.Learning the right time to take, sell and swap is key to doing well. It can, however, lead to cagey passages of play where players are selling single cards, or keep swapping to stop revealing a new card for their opponent, which can frustrate. But this is a) a minor issue when a game only takes about 10 minutes, and b) not the way everyone will choose to play anyway. The rules say you’re supposed to play best of three but if you’re really pushed for time a one-off is still lots of fun. A common question asked by the board game community is “what two-player games would you recommend?” Well it’s a question that we have asked too. Jaipur is a two-player only game that has accompanied us on many vacations. Gameplay: Naturally, there's a catch to all this. To be precise, certain patches cost more to buy and each one advances the timer forward a set number of spaces. That means splashing out on a lucrative tile now might limit what you can do later. What's more, you'll lose points if you leave spaces on your quilt unfilled. Are any of those the ultimate board game for 2 players, though? Realistically, no - that honor would go to chess. Yes, it's surprising. But in terms of sales, chess shifts three million units per year. We suspect that's more than all of the above combined.
The bottom line: So long as you have the patience to learn its rules, you'll find a smart and engrossing 2-player board game that can keep you busy for a long time. As we mentioned in our review, there's "enough depth and spice to keep you playing for months." Naturally, all this is pretty fluid and changes regularly. For instance, the recently-announced Undaunted 2200: Callisto has everyone talking right now. This futuristic spin on the classic wargame (which focused on WW2 conflicts before, as seen in Undaunted: Battle of Britain) asks you to choose between blue-collar miners and the mega-corporations that are trying to snuff out their rebellion. It looks set to shake up the formula with that sci-fi setting, a lunar battlefield, and the addition of new units like mechs. This is followed by Pandemic Legacy: Season 1, an adaptation of the classic team game where your actions have consequences that carry over from session to session. Actually, those 'legacy' mechanics seem to be a common feature for many of the top board games according to users; fantasy dungeon-crawler Gloomhaven comes in third, for example, and that one sees you working your way through an ever-evolving story. Because each of these baddies is so distinctive mechanically speaking, this is the sort of game that benefits from repeat play as well. It'll take you a match or two to understand how they work, and different match-ups provide all-new challenges. (Especially if you add the Disney Villainous expansions.)It's not overly aggressive, either. Unlike so many entries on this list, there's less emphasis on screwing each other over. Although it's frustrating when a rival claims a route you were going for, there's usually an alternative with which you can salvage all that time and effort. As such, this is an option we're more than happy to break out if things can get heated on game night. Like our review mentions, it's "the perfect option for newcomers and tabletop veterans alike." Take the goods you want from the market into your hand and exchange them with goods from your hand and/or your camel herd. You many never finish with more than seven cards in your hand.
Great Deal 
New Comment