35 Games for Couples: Board, Card, Video and Online Games

The best games for couples are the ones that make you laugh, team up or get to know each other better: two-player board games like 7 Wonders Duel and Patchwork, conversation games, and co-op video games like It Takes Two. The right pick depends on your mood that night: competitive, cooperative or just cozy. Here are 35 games for two, sorted by type, plus tips to keep game night fun for both of you.

How to choose a game for the two of you

Before buying anything, ask yourselves three questions:

• Competitive or cooperative? Some couples love trash talk; others would rather win or lose together. If one of you is a sore loser, start with a co-op game.
• How much time? A 15-minute weeknight game and an all-evening Saturday game are very different things.
• What's the goal? Fun, a brain workout, or getting to know each other better? Question games are built for that last one.

One more tip: "2–4 players" on the box doesn't always mean it's good with two. Look for games designed specifically for two players, or known for working well at that count.

Board games designed for two

These are built as head-to-head duels and play perfectly with two.

1. 7 Wonders Duel: the two-player version of 7 Wonders. You build a civilization with several paths to victory (military, science, points). Strategic, around 30 minutes.
2. Patchwork: you stitch together a quilt from Tetris-like fabric pieces. Easy to learn, surprisingly clever, and very cozy.
3. Jaipur: a fast card game about trading goods at the market in Jaipur. Tense and quick, perfect for a weeknight.
4. Lost Cities: Reiner Knizia's expedition card game, where timing your risks is everything.
5. Codenames Duo: the cooperative two-player version of Codenames. You give one-word clues to help each other find the right words, and you win or lose together.
6. Fog of Love: a romantic role-playing board game for two where you play characters falling in love. Unusual, funny, and often revealing about your own relationship.

Classic board games that work great with two

These support more players but are still excellent one-on-one.

7. Carcassonne: lay tiles to build cities, roads and fields. A family classic that gets surprisingly tactical with two.
8. Azul: draft colorful tiles to build a mosaic. Gorgeous, quick to teach and sneakier than it looks.
9. Splendor: collect gems to buy development cards. A great gateway into modern board games.
10. Ticket to Ride: build train routes across a map. Smaller-map versions tend to be tighter with two.
11. Pandemic: a cooperative game where you fight global outbreaks together. Ideal for couples who'd rather be on the same team.
12. Hanabi: a co-op fireworks game where you can see each other's cards but not your own. You have to communicate with very little information, which is a great test of teamwork.
13. The Mind: play your cards in ascending order without talking. Weird, magical and often hilarious.

Card games with a standard deck

No shopping required: a regular 52-card deck already gives you plenty of options.

14. Gin rummy: the classic two-player game of sets and runs.
15. Speed: a frantic race to get rid of your cards first.
16. Egyptian Ratscrew (Slap): fast, loud and great for blowing off steam.
17. Cheat (BS): perfect for finding out who's the better liar.
18. Cribbage: if you've got a board, this two-player classic never gets old.

For store-bought card games, Uno, Exploding Kittens and Love Letter are easy picks for a quick round.

Question games to get to know each other

The goal here isn't winning, it's talking, laughing and surprising each other.

19. The 36 Questions: from psychologist Arthur Aron's 1997 study, these increasingly personal questions were designed to build closeness between two people. They work beautifully for long-term couples too.
20. Would You Rather: "Would you rather live by the beach or in the mountains?" Simple, and it sparks unexpected conversations.
21. Truth or Dare, couple's edition: adjust it to your mood, from sweet to spicy.
22. Who's More Likely To: answer separately ("Who's more likely to get lost on a road trip?"), then compare.
23. The "How well do you know me?" quiz: each of you writes 10 questions about yourself (favorite food, first concert, biggest fear) and the other has to guess.
24. The memory game: one of you describes a shared memory, and the other has to name when and where it happened.

Need prompts? Pull from our list of questions for couples.

Co-op video games for two

For couples who love a controller, or for gently introducing a non-gamer partner.

25. It Takes Two: an adventure game built exclusively for two-player co-op, with a story that's literally about a couple. A must-play.
26. Split Fiction: from the same studio (Hazelight), another two-player-only co-op game, this time about two writers trapped in their own stories.
27. Overcooked 2: run a kitchen in total chaos. Expect laughter (and some yelling).
28. Stardew Valley: run a farm together at your own pace. Perfect for chill nights.
29. Minecraft: building a house or village together is basically a couple's project.
30. Portal 2: its two-player co-op campaign is a fantastic puzzle game for two brains.

Long-distance games for couples

Being apart doesn't mean you can't play. Games are a great way to share time on a call.

31. Gartic Phone: the telephone game, but with drawings, right in your browser. Even better with a few friends.
32. Skribbl.io: a free online Pictionary where one draws and the other guesses.
33. GeoGuessr: you're dropped somewhere on Street View and have to guess where. Great for daydreaming about future trips.
34. Online chess (on Lichess or Chess.com, for example): play one move a day asynchronously to keep a thread running between you.
35. Online multiplayer games: most of the video games above can also be played remotely, each from your own place.

More ideas in our guide to long-distance date ideas.

How to turn game night into a real date

To make a round of games feel like a date:

• Set the mood: dim lights, a playlist, a snack board.
• Add stakes: the loser makes breakfast, picks the next movie or gives a back rub.
• Mix it up: follow a competitive game with a cooperative one so you end the night on the same team.
• Put the phones away: except for long-distance games, obviously.

It's an easy, low-cost evening, and it pairs well with our other at-home date night ideas.

Where Lomly fits in

Lomly isn't a games app, but it can feed your game nights. Its shared drawing widget shows whatever you draw on your partner's home screen, which makes for an improvised "guess what I'm drawing" game throughout the day. And with date matching, you each swipe through date and activity ideas on your own, including ones you can do long distance; when you both like the same idea, it's a match, and you can drop it straight into your shared calendar. Lomly is available on Android and iPhone.

FAQ

What is the best board game for couples?

Among games designed for two, 7 Wonders Duel, Patchwork, Jaipur and Codenames Duo are favorites. The best one depends on whether you prefer strategy, speed or cooperation.

What games can couples play with no equipment?

Question games like Would You Rather, Who's More Likely To, or Arthur Aron's 36 Questions need nothing but time. With a regular deck of cards you can also play gin rummy, speed or cheat.

How can long-distance couples play games together?

Browser games like Gartic Phone, Skribbl.io and GeoGuessr are easy to launch during a video call. Online chess and multiplayer video games also work well when you're apart.

What game should we play if one of us is a sore loser?

Go for cooperative games where you win or lose together, such as Codenames Duo, Hanabi, Pandemic or It Takes Two. They build teamwork instead of rivalry.

What is a good video game for couples?

It Takes Two and Split Fiction were designed specifically for two-player co-op and are widely recommended for couples. Overcooked 2, Stardew Valley and Minecraft are also great picks to play together.