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We really try to be intentional about our time together as opposed to just putting on the TV all of the time. Playing board games together is definitely on the list! But sometimes it’s hard to find 2-player games that are fun and worth the money. For example, Catan is one of our favorite family games, but you need at least 3 players.

So we wanted to share some of our favorite 2-player games…and what we like and dislike about them. Please share your favorite games in the comments! (Games make great gifts for the couples in your life, by the way!)

Dominion

Synopsis: It’s a deck-building game where you try to get the most treasure (AKA victory points).

What we like: Each game is different because you can change out the cards used each time. It’s also takes the perfect amount of time to play, about 30 minutes. Not too long, not too short.

What we don’t like: It has a bad first impression. You have to play a couple games before you realize how awesome it is.

Monopoly Deal

Synopsis: Be the first to collect 3 sets of properties (via cards and not on a board).

What we like: It’s much quicker than the original Monopoly game, and it only requires cards. We often play this on our bed, which is cool. No table required!

What we don’t like: Some of the cards will make you hate each other! Ha. Deal Breaker card, we’re looking at you. (Seriously, though.)

Carcassonne

Synopsis: It’s a tile-laying game that takes place in medieval times. Build cities and roads while you try to score the most points!

What we like: It only requires tiles and meeples (the little people), and there’s a scoreboard included…so no paper and pen needed. It’s also easy to learn.

What we don’t like: We want to buy all the expansions now. Well played, Carcassonne. Well played.

Rack-O

Synopsis: Be the first to arrange your rack from lowest number to the highest.

What we like: It’s easy to learn and there is no way to make each other mad by ruining their chances.

What we don’t like: Keeping score (requiring pen and paper) is a little annoying. We also don’t ever play as long as the instructions say, until one person scores 500 points. That takes too long!

Scrabble

Synopsis: Score as many points as you can by creating words with the letters you randomly choose.

What we like: This game is nostalgic for us, as it was probably the first game that we played often together.

What we don’t like: Keeping score. But maybe we are just weird.

Sushi Go

Synopsis: Collect sushi cards while attempting to score the most points.

What we like: It’s a game all about our favorite takeout food! You also pass your hand of cards around, which is a neat twist.

What we don’t like: It was very confusing at first, and we are always consulting the instruction book. We actually have the Sushi Go Party version, so that might be why (more cards are included). But many people prefer the Party version! You can play with 2 players for both.

Go Nuts for Donuts

Synopsis: Collect donut cards while attempting to score the most points.

What we like: It’s similar to Sushi Go, but easier to learn and you don’t pass all of your cards each turn.

What we don’t like: It makes us want to eat donuts.

Ticket to Ride

Synopsis: Complete as many train routes as you can so you can earn the most points.

What we like: It’s a mini geography lesson, since you’re building routes from one city to another.

What we don’t like: There are opportunities to be a jerk and cut off someone’s route, which leads to some hard feelings. But maybe you aren’t as competitive as us. 🙃

Other 2-player games we enjoy but just haven’t played in awhile (AKA honorable mention):

Qwirkle

Bananagrams

What are your favorite 2-player games? We’re always looking new suggestions!

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We’re in full summer mode over here, which looks very different from life during the school year. So we try to remember that it’s still important to be focusing on our marriage, and we often have more bandwidth to do so. If you need some ideas on how to enrich your marriage this summer, we’ve got plenty of ideas and resources for you!

1. Create a summer bucket list.

What are all of the things you’ve been wanting to do together for awhile? Write them down together and make it happen this summer. Go to a concert, try a new restaurant, take dance lessons, or any of the things below! A few years ago, we wanted to bake a cake together…so we did! It was so fun. (See the video here.) Download our Summer Bucket List here to list everything and check them off. Life is short, and we don’t want to regret not doing the things we want with our spouse!

2. Have fun together.

Maybe it sounds silly to include this, but sometimes we forget how important it is to enjoy each other and have fun together. We even have a budget category called “summer fun”, and even though that’s for things to do with our kids, it’s a reminder that we should have summer fun for our marriage too! Our favorite ways to have fun include going on dates (whether out of the house or at home), do silly lip sync videos (find us on Instagram), dance parties in the kitchen, and jamming out to music in the car.

3. Go on a retreat or do some kind of marriage enrichment together.

We talk about why we go on a retreat every year in this video and can’t recommend it enough, but the important thing is to be growing spiritually and emotionally in some way together. A retreat is our favorite way to do that, but you can also read a marriage book together (see our recommendations here), attend a marriage event, or find a workshop online.

4. Find a new hobby together.

This is one reason we try to do new things on dates, because we’ve learned what we enjoy doing together. So often couples just have their own interests, and while that’s important, we should also find things to do together. A few examples include gardening, playing a sport (we love to play tennis together), baking, or creating something. 

5. Plan a getaway.

We know, we know…it can be so difficult to make this happen. But it is so worth the effort! A vacation with your kids is special in its own way, but a trip with just a husband and wife can be even more special. We’ve never gone on a long couples trip due to various reasons, but have realized that just a night or two away does wonders for our marriage! Our anniversary is during the summer, so we usually plan a quick getaway during the summer months. We already have on the calendar a quick 2-night trip and we can’t wait! (We should also note that we had grand plans to go on a cruise for our 15-year anniversary but ended up planning something much simpler. Just make it happen!)

As with most things, these things will require time and effort. But anything worth doing in life requires that! So remember that your marriage requires constant investment. Talk to your spouse about having fun together this summer. We’re praying you can make some of these things happen!