Top 10 Casual Two-Player Games

Tom Vasel, Zee Garcia, and Mike DiLisio take a look at their top 10 games for two players that people could enjoy casually.

Intro 00:00

Mike 10 - 06:42
Zee 10 - 10:30
Tom 10 - 13:22

Mike 9 - 15:27
Zee 9 - 18:50
Tom 9 - 20:40

Mike 8 - 22:40
Zee 8 - 25:50
Tom 8 - 28:03

Mike 7 - 31:09
Zee 7 - 33:22
Tom 7 - 35:57

Mike 6 - 38:24
Zee 6 - 40:15
Tom 6 - 42:55

Mike 5 - 45:18
Zee 5 - 49:08
Tom 5 - 51:12

Mike 4 - 53:49
Zee 4 - 56:26
Tom 4 - 59:30

Mike 3 - 1:01:30
Zee 3 - 1:04:05
Tom 3 - 1:06:38

Mike 2 - 1:08:35
Zee 2 - 1:10:36
Tom 2 - 1:12:40

Mike 1 - 1:14:40
Zee 1 - 1:17:11
Tom 1 - 1:20:10

People's Choice 1:22:22
Outro 1:25:40

Support the channel by becoming a member!

Check out the friendliest conventions on Earth!

[yannickmartin]

I do not agree that BGG weight ranking is total garbage. I think it's a neat asset that gives a pertinent idea of the game complexity.

Sure, it is not a scientific classification and a argument over a game with a rate of 2, 45 is objectively more complex than another rated 2, 35 would be totally pointless.

However, I know that a game rated 2, 50 will not give the same experience as one rated 1, 25 and another one rated 4, 15.

Roughly, I would said that a gap of 1 point between 2 games indicate that these 2 games aren't on the same level of complexity. Below that, I expect the games to be more or less the same complexity.

All this to say that it's a useful tool. At least, as useful as the length rate.

[atomiccritter]

I say it again Mike is the best addition to the Dice Tower

[smsix]

I really like Mike on these top 10's. Great trio.

[pringuskhan]

Let's go Mike! Complexity is an important factor to determine a Casual game so it's much appreciated

[cjharris]

Great list, and I think Mike's approach makes sense. Average BGG ratings: Mike 1.58, Zee 1.66, and Tom 1.98.

[jackabbott]

Mike I care about the BGG weight rating. I got your back.

[Cameronwatt]

For me a casual game is a game I can teach in under 3 minutes to someone who is usually slightly drunk and keeps saying ahhh we just start.

[violentfrog_]

when Mike said "First game I bought myself when I was getting into the hobby" my first thought was "Oh, gotta be the Royal game of Ur, maybe Senet"

[RG-svqb]

Okay, everyone loves Mike... But let's not forget zee. I really like what zee brings.

[adamrosenquist]

Casual, my definition as it pertains to board games: easily taught/learned and doesn’t require much of a commitment of time or money.

[keel]

A casual game is a game which can be learned by any two people (who are capable of reading and following a rulebook) regardless of their background or history with board games, and they can learn the game separately and (generally) come to the same conclusion in how the game works.

An "advanced" game requires at least one player to understand games already and typically has them teach it.

[thepardoner]

Mike is correct about the game weight rating. We find it quite useful.

[StevenLambertK]

Mike:
10. Let's Make a Bus Route: The Dice Game
9. Klask
8. Codenames: Duet
7. Jaipur
6. Schotten Totten
5. Onitama
4. Odin's Ravens
3. Santorini
2. Patchwork
1. Lost Cities (2 player)

Zee:
10. Tides of Time
9. Village Green
8. Jaipur
7. Holmes: Sherlock & Mycroft
6. Century: Spice Road
5. Mandala
4. Tatsu
3. Kariba
2. Lost Cities (2 player)
1. Archaeology: The New Expedition

Tom:
10. Shōbu
9. MicroMacro: Crime City
8. Memoir '44
7. 7 Wonders Duel
6. Funkoverse Strategy Game
5. Chronicles of Crime
4. Battle Line [is the same game as Schotten Totten]
3. Targi
2. Paperback
1. Onitama

People's Choice:
10. The Fox in the Forest
9. Onitama
8. Santorini
7. Wingspan
6. Star Realms
5. Lost Cities (2 player)
4. Targi
3. Patchwork
2. Jaipur
1. 7 Wonders Duel

[taba]

Some of our recent 2 player favorites: Fugutive, Jaipur, Hive, Istanbul, patchwork, splendor, Santa Monica, welcome to.., onitama, wingspan, kingdomino

[Tsumiffy]

Great recommendations across the board. Really like that each one of you have your own diverse thought process about it as well. Props to Roy for doing an amazing job behind the scenes. Really ups the bar of these videos.

[hanseathl]

I consume a, ot of gaming content on YouTube but there is nearly nothing meeting my enjoyment of those top 10 videos by far. I simply like the format and the chemistry is just on spot. Great. Thanks Dudes.
The only thing I enjoy more is the Secret Cabal Podcast.

[dhmcarver]

Great lists -- glad you all have re-visited this, as I am one of those who almost always play two-player. Surprised that Fox in the Forest and Star Realms/Hero Realms did not make anyone's list, as they are both excellent introductory two-player games. Learned a couple of new games to track down, which is always a plus. Thanks, you all.

[tonkabeanicecream]

The dice tower are my favourite reviewers by a huge margin. Especially Tom, Zee and Mike. The holy trio.

[adamg]

Yeah, 7 Wonders Duel and Targi are slightly too complex to be labelled "casual" and while some would say they're too light to be "strategic", they can compete with any two-player strategy game (especially with expansions).

When I think casual, I'm thinking Fox in the Forest, Archaeology, Point Salad, Conspiracy: Abyss Universe, PARKS...The most "complex" game that I would put on this list is Unmatched because everything about it is easy to grasp, it has a very casual feel and is lightning quick to set up and take down.

[MrJenssen]

Thanks for doing more lists for 2-player games! I feel like it's often hard to find games specifically designed for two players, and often they haven't been (video) reviewed or talked a lot about, and it's just hard to find out whether they are any good at all.