My personal top 10: 1) 7 Wonders Duel (with the Pantheon expansion). 2) Patchwork 3) Lost Cities 4) Jaipur 5) Tides of Time 6) Fugitive 7) Odin’s Ravens 8) Castellen 9) Yinsh 10) Kahuna
Came back to this one after your more recent best 2p only games as I had not watched it. Some great ones in here, and excited to see Fjords is now on Kickstarter!
Totally agree on Trambahn - I love, love, love this game! Thanks to you for helping me discover it back when it released :) I would put Patchwork on my list.
My Wife and I just picked up And then we held hands. Been playing it and loving it. It's really wonderful and meaningful for it to be a cooperative game, you are right, there ain't many. It's nice to be playing together to solve something rather than against one another. Love it.
Great to hear someone praise Carcassonne The Castle, which was my wife's and my gateway game. Hardly anyone ever brings it up, but it's a sweet little game that has held up great even after we're well through the gate.
Another great video. Missing for me are Patchwork and 7 Wonders: Duel, although I understand Richard is not particularly keen on those two games, which is fair enough. Jaipur is another of my favourites, so good to see it make the list here.
Jaipur is a favorite for me and my wife. Such a great, quick playing, easy to pick up game. I've also played a good bit of Patchwork with my kids as well. I am so bummed I waited to go after Akrotiri. The print run sold through, and by the time I was ready to order it, it was gone from stores. I looked around BGG to find out about the next print run and, according to the designer, Z-Man has decided not to reprint it.
I had a dream last night you did a top 10 2 player game list...true story! :) I could think of 3 off the top of my head and they were in there alright...
While Targi is a really nice game, we found it a bit long as a small 2p affair...which is why we much prefer Lost Cities, Jaipur, and Capo de Capi. We also tried Trambahn, which was ok, but it left us a bit flat. I keep waffling on Akrotiri...looks like fun! Nice list overall!
Targi does go a tad too long in some games, yet others seem to fly by. Just like in Roma 2, so i don't mind it when it happens because it feels unpredictable
love your videos and gameplays... def looking for more 2 player games as kids growing up.. is this list your list or your and jen list ..or what is jen's top ten
and then we held hands sounds really interesting .. a co-op game where you have to be considerate of the other player's state. I think I may grab that one if I can. Also I suspect that they've done some reprints of Claustrophobia as I managed to pick up the main box and the 2 expansions online recently and they were marked as 'New' just in etc. Get Jaipur, it's cheap, an excellent game and it's multi language I picked my version up in Spain.
I felt that Institute for Magical Arts had too many effects that involved messing with your opponent's stuff. Never felt like I was building an engine. Just getting a nice thing every once in a while before it was torn away from me by my opponent.
Was hoping for more co-op games in this list. Do you have any recommendations for some good two player co-op games? Doesn't have to be exclusively two player!
I know you said that you dont like games where you attack each other, but I highly recommend The Duke and The Jarl. Both are tile laying games similar to chess with an added twist. Very very fun!
Hey, rahdo, recently I got Fungi (Morels) after I saw your video on it. How do you feel about the game compared to your top 10 now? I found it to be very enjoyable and the theme is just fabulous.
Speaking of 2 player games, after your suggestion I finally got myself a copy of Kuri Kuri Mix on Ps2, me and lisa have not filmed it yet but its ready and waiting!
someday maybe, but always moving forward instead of revisiting as a general rule. here's a list of all the games i own that are 2p only and how i rank them though: www.boardgamegeek.com/geeksearch.php?action=search&advsearch=1&objecttype=boardgame&q=&include%5Bdesignerid%5D=&geekitemname=&include%5Bpublisherid%5D=&geekitemname=&range%5Byearpublished%5D%5Bmin%5D=&range%5Byearpublished%5D%5Bmax%5D=&range%5Bminage%5D%5Bmax%5D=&floatrange%5Bavgrating%5D%5Bmin%5D=&floatrange%5Bavgrating%5D%5Bmax%5D=&range%5Bnumvoters%5D%5Bmin%5D=&floatrange%5Bavgweight%5D%5Bmin%5D=&floatrange%5Bavgweight%5D%5Bmax%5D=&range%5Bnumweights%5D%5Bmin%5D=&colfiltertype=owned&searchuser=rahdo&nosubtypes%5B%5D=boardgameexpansion&range%5Bminplayers%5D%5Bmax%5D=&range%5Bmaxplayers%5D%5Bmin%5D=2&playerrangetype=exclusive&range%5Bleastplaytime%5D%5Bmin%5D=&range%5Bplaytime%5D%5Bmax%5D=&B1=Submit
oh wait, you can only see the rankings on that list if you're logged in as me! well, it's a list of all the 2p only games i own at least, and you can cross check that against ranked.rahdo.com :)
Well, that's actually what I meant by my question -- moving forward instead of looking back. I probably should have worded it differently. 'Could you please do a top 10 in which you feature only games that are readily available from many sources?' :) I will check out your lists.
the reason i don't leave games out of print on the lists is because a lot of folks are considering buying those games at inflated prices, so i'm trying to give some subjective metric for their value relative to their contemporaries
Thanks for replying, but what I really was trying to ask you to do is to NOT put hard to find or out of print games on your lists. :) This list, for example, has several games that are hard to find now. But never mind!
What are your thoughts on Battle Line. Even though it is battle themed it is more of a puzzle game. Easily my favorite two player game of all time (besides chess).
There are many, many euros that are considered 'best with 2'. It is unlikely they would risk alienating the wider market as some people do not like/ have no use for/ are not interested in 2 player only games. Some ideas - boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/183461/item/3616809#item3616809
My personal top 10:
1) 7 Wonders Duel (with the Pantheon expansion).
2) Patchwork
3) Lost Cities
4) Jaipur
5) Tides of Time
6) Fugitive
7) Odin’s Ravens
8) Castellen
9) Yinsh
10) Kahuna
Came back to this one after your more recent best 2p only games as I had not watched it. Some great ones in here, and excited to see Fjords is now on Kickstarter!
Great list! I'd definitely include 7 Wonders Duel, Patchwork, Raptor, and Lost Cities in my list. Jaipur is my #1 for sure.
Raptor is one 2p game we enjoy very much lately. Very fun and tense chess-like game.
My favorite two player game along with roma 2
Totally agree on Trambahn - I love, love, love this game! Thanks to you for helping me discover it back when it released :) I would put Patchwork on my list.
Really really love your choices for two player games rahdo. I'll be looking up some of those games. Thumbs up!
My Wife and I just picked up And then we held hands. Been playing it and loving it. It's really wonderful and meaningful for it to be a cooperative game, you are right, there ain't many. It's nice to be playing together to solve something rather than against one another. Love it.
Great to hear someone praise Carcassonne The Castle, which was my wife's and my gateway game. Hardly anyone ever brings it up, but it's a sweet little game that has held up great even after we're well through the gate.
Thank you for highlighting some lower profile games that haven't been talked up to death on everyone else's best 2 player lists!
Welcome back Richard, long time without a new Rahdo video ;-) (yes....addicted haha)
Another great video. Missing for me are Patchwork and 7 Wonders: Duel, although I understand Richard is not particularly keen on those two games, which is fair enough. Jaipur is another of my favourites, so good to see it make the list here.
7 wonders: Duel is my favorite 2 player game ya
Have to throw in the bgg go to. Twilight Struggle, such a great thematic battle.
Excellent video! Now I have to find Fjord and still looking for Carassone Castle!
Jaipur is a favorite for me and my wife. Such a great, quick playing, easy to pick up game. I've also played a good bit of Patchwork with my kids as well.
I am so bummed I waited to go after Akrotiri. The print run sold through, and by the time I was ready to order it, it was gone from stores. I looked around BGG to find out about the next print run and, according to the designer, Z-Man has decided not to reprint it.
Yes! We absolutely love Targi too, such a great game :-)
Nice close Dutch tilt, very engaging framing.
cool, i did it kind of by accident. lets see if i can recreate it on purpose for the next top10 :)
I have just come home from my FLGS having bought Tessen (on the strength of a Rahdo video).
Looks a very fun and frantic 2 player game.
Jaipur and Patchwork ftw!
Wow! Targi is #1?? Im honestly not surprised with that choice. what an incredible game. Any possibility you will be reviewing the expansion?
I had a dream last night you did a top 10 2 player game list...true story! :) I could think of 3 off the top of my head and they were in there alright...
While Targi is a really nice game, we found it a bit long as a small 2p affair...which is why we much prefer Lost Cities, Jaipur, and Capo de Capi. We also tried Trambahn, which was ok, but it left us a bit flat. I keep waffling on Akrotiri...looks like fun! Nice list overall!
Targi does go a tad too long in some games, yet others seem to fly by. Just like in Roma 2, so i don't mind it when it happens because it feels unpredictable
Right with you on your 1 and 2.
Great list!
Hi Richard. Have you and Jen tried Thunder and Lightning (re-working of Hera and Zeus)? Beautiful artwork, easy to learn, great two-player game.
nope, might try it someday but h&z was never high on our must plya list
love your videos and gameplays... def looking for more 2 player games as kids growing up.. is this list your list or your and jen list ..or what is jen's top ten
here's a list of all the top10s i've done (including jen's)
ua-cam.com/play/PLmQverenaaqIR4TovRQCIvedgdWbjzfa7.html
thx!!
and then we held hands sounds really interesting .. a co-op game where you have to be considerate of the other player's state. I think I may grab that one if I can. Also I suspect that they've done some reprints of Claustrophobia as I managed to pick up the main box and the 2 expansions online recently and they were marked as 'New' just in etc. Get Jaipur, it's cheap, an excellent game and it's multi language I picked my version up in Spain.
Patchwork and Hive missing for me... But Jaipur - brilliant !
i agree...
Agree!
I felt that Institute for Magical Arts had too many effects that involved messing with your opponent's stuff. Never felt like I was building an engine. Just getting a nice thing every once in a while before it was torn away from me by my opponent.
Was hoping for more co-op games in this list. Do you have any recommendations for some good two player co-op games? Doesn't have to be exclusively two player!
do a search for rahdo top 10 co-op :)
Have you thought of providing a list of all the games you have kept? I would love to see that.
check out games.rahdo.com (might have to refresh page once or twice). and also gone.rahdo.com for all the games i've gotten rid of
I know you said that you dont like games where you attack each other, but I highly recommend The Duke and The Jarl. Both are tile laying games similar to chess with an added twist. Very very fun!
Hey, rahdo, recently I got Fungi (Morels) after I saw your video on it. How do you feel about the game compared to your top 10 now? I found it to be very enjoyable and the theme is just fabulous.
it would have been around 11 or 12... it just missed the list! :)
Hi Richard :) Nice list.
Me and my gf absolutely loves to play "7 wonders - duel" so i was a little disappointed it wasn't on the list :D
He has done a run through, I believe he found it too confrontational.
I agree. It might be to aggressive for his tastes but it's one of the best two player games out there
+moderneros undoubtedly would a popular choice for many players compiling a 2 player list.
Yeah, that´s a great game! Doesn´t exactly suit Rahdo, though...
yup brilliant game, but not for us
Finally - the list without 7 Wonders: Duel.
Hey. Neat list but I was expecting Fields of Arle on it. Just curious why you did not have that in your top ten?
i talk about that in my FoA final thoughs vid
Speaking of 2 player games, after your suggestion I finally got myself a copy of Kuri Kuri Mix on Ps2, me and lisa have not filmed it yet but its ready and waiting!
sweet can't wait!
Could you update your list restricting it to games that are not hard to find or out of print? Thanks!
someday maybe, but always moving forward instead of revisiting as a general rule. here's a list of all the games i own that are 2p only and how i rank them though:
www.boardgamegeek.com/geeksearch.php?action=search&advsearch=1&objecttype=boardgame&q=&include%5Bdesignerid%5D=&geekitemname=&include%5Bpublisherid%5D=&geekitemname=&range%5Byearpublished%5D%5Bmin%5D=&range%5Byearpublished%5D%5Bmax%5D=&range%5Bminage%5D%5Bmax%5D=&floatrange%5Bavgrating%5D%5Bmin%5D=&floatrange%5Bavgrating%5D%5Bmax%5D=&range%5Bnumvoters%5D%5Bmin%5D=&floatrange%5Bavgweight%5D%5Bmin%5D=&floatrange%5Bavgweight%5D%5Bmax%5D=&range%5Bnumweights%5D%5Bmin%5D=&colfiltertype=owned&searchuser=rahdo&nosubtypes%5B%5D=boardgameexpansion&range%5Bminplayers%5D%5Bmax%5D=&range%5Bmaxplayers%5D%5Bmin%5D=2&playerrangetype=exclusive&range%5Bleastplaytime%5D%5Bmin%5D=&range%5Bplaytime%5D%5Bmax%5D=&B1=Submit
oh wait, you can only see the rankings on that list if you're logged in as me! well, it's a list of all the 2p only games i own at least, and you can cross check that against ranked.rahdo.com :)
Well, that's actually what I meant by my question -- moving forward instead of looking back. I probably should have worded it differently. 'Could you please do a top 10 in which you feature only games that are readily available from many sources?' :) I will check out your lists.
the reason i don't leave games out of print on the lists is because a lot of folks are considering buying those games at inflated prices, so i'm trying to give some subjective metric for their value relative to their contemporaries
Thanks for replying, but what I really was trying to ask you to do is to NOT put hard to find or out of print games on your lists. :) This list, for example, has several games that are hard to find now. But never mind!
What are your thoughts on Battle Line. Even though it is battle themed it is more of a puzzle game. Easily my favorite two player game of all time (besides chess).
Battle Line killed Lost Cities for my wife and me.
i just did a runthrough for battleline actually :)
TARGI is a fair #1. such a great game. Replayability is infinite!
Agreed. That game is a masterpiece.
This list is so far from what mine looks like! But that is to be expected as my wife and i enjoy conflict.
Agricola All Creatures Big and Small with expansion
I agree. This is such a great game, especially with the two expansions. Gives endless play that is thought-provoking and fun.
Would it be fair to compare the Targi mechanism to Tic-Tac-Toe?
not really... i don't quite see the parallel i think...
Claustrophobia best dungeon crawl period? Do you stand by this statement with games like Gloomhaven and sword & sorcery on the horizon?
Cheers,
gloomhaven might eclipse it, but i'll take claus over S&S
hey xyst, now that gloomhaven is actually out.... what do you have to say? Hahaha
Jaipur is my go to 2 player
How far outside of your top 10 is Lost Cities? It'd probably be #2 or #3 for me.
it would be top15 for sure :)
For Daily Boardgame Eye Candy:
instagram.com/playtography/
It's a pity most are fillers, would be nice a lot more of medium-heavy euros for 2P
There are many, many euros that are considered 'best with 2'. It is unlikely they would risk alienating the wider market as some people do not like/ have no use for/ are not interested in 2 player only games. Some ideas - boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/183461/item/3616809#item3616809
Balloon Cup.
Uh, no 7Wonders Duel, A few Acres of Snow, Arler Erde, Patchwork, Morels - interesting list anyway.
I traded Targi away after 1 play, boy did I find that game to be the definition of BORING, for shame Rahdo, for shame!
Yes, how dare someone like something you don't.
yes, it is definitely a shame that you didn't enjoy the game as it's really quite excellent :)
Google dutch angle
Patchwork? Not a top 10?
He got rid of it some time ago...
Surprised about that too. Was sure that would make the list. Let's see what he says in the podcast :-)
love it, only got rid of it because a friend of mine wanted it. if i still had it, it would have made the list i believe :)