7 Board Games For Two That Aren't Scrabble

Including a chess-like strategy game that is super-addictive.

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I love board games, and one of my passions is finding fun board games for two players (LOL, invite me to a party).

Parks and Recreation / NBC

I'm especially interested in board games that don't need a lot of space to set up and store. No, wait! Come back!

Board games tend to run a little expensive, so I've tried to keep the price here under £30. If you're in the mood to spend a little more on your board game, then this Reddit thread has loads of great recs.

1. Hive

amazon.co.uk

“I bought Hive before a long holiday with my boyfriend two years ago. It’s a two-player game that’s a bit like chess, but quicker – one game takes about 15 minutes. We were travelling across Scandinavia and getting trains almost every other day, which made Hive perfect because you don’t need a board for it. The aim of the game is to surround the queen bee with other insects, which all move in different ways. It sounds odd but is honestly the most compelling game I’ve ever played.” – Tabatha Leggett

Get it on Amazon, £14.95

2. 7 Wonders: Duel

L.G/ amazon.co.uk

"Was looking for a 2 player game. Read loads of reviews and got this one. BEST DECISION! Was a massive hit. Took it away on holiday and played it every day. Great game.

"Only tip... We found it hard to get a scientific victory with 6 tokens so we play that you need 4 to win. Honestly love this game." – L.G

Get it on Amazon, £18.99

3. Bananagrams

instagram.com

"A newbie to Banagrams, I was intrigued what appeared to be a cross between scrabble and a kind of snatch-it game. The idea is simple: Each player builds their own set of words grabbing extra ones from the middle or putting some back with a forfeit of more tiles – first one finished wins! The party version has an extra twist with the party tiles that add forfeits and other activities to the normal game. It does say 10+ on the pack and I would agree – our younger children felt left behind and it started to get a bit like a the stereotype of a family Monopoly game where the board gets thrown up in frustration. All comes in a funky yellow banana case. What's not to like?" – Flyboy

Get it on Amazon, £13

4. Carcassone (New Edition)

amazon.co.uk

"The game itself is very simple to play. You lay land tiles and choose to lay a token or not on one of its component – field, road, city, or monastery. They all have a slightly different scoring system, but if you complete them during the game you get points, if you don't complete, you still get points at the end scoring. The tactics and strategy involved can be complex, giving a 'simple' game a lot of depth.

"It plays well with two players, but you can play with up to five. My 6-year-old loves it, as it's simple enough for her to play." – Scooby Dimples

Get it on Amazon, £25.99

5. ...and then we held hands.

instagram.com

"An excellent and deep game. I played this with my fiancé several times. As we are not allowed to talk about the game while playing it, it gives us a space to talk about anything else while bounding emotionally over the game (which is all about the balance of emotions and the reunion of two lovers)

"With its simple rules but complex game play (working out how you co-op thinks), and nice graphics (plus the cards feel so smooth), I would definitely recommend this two player game." – Mr F Bouyer

Get it on Amazon, £19

6. Odin’s Ravens

amazon.co.uk

"Odin's Ravens is an addictive, simple to play, 2-player strategy game. The game is well designed, well made from quality materials and is one of our favourite 2-player games. The game is basically a raven race between you and your opponent with tactically played effect cards that can change either player's path to the finish. Easy to learn, fun to play, and I can't find any fault in this product to comment on!" – KK1

Get it on Amazon, £14.50

7. OK Play

amazon.co.uk

"Bought this on a whim, and we LOVE it. Such a beautiful design, which makes it easy to transport. You can play it anywhere. And the tag line is absolutely right – takes minutes to learn, but the more you play the more tactics you learn. I'll be buying more as presents. This is destined to be a classic." – AEC

Get it on Amazon, £15