Couples date night board games cover image

27+ Best Board Games for Couples for Beautiful Date Nights

Tired of the same old date night routine?

Dinner, a movie, maybe some small talk at a bar? Lost for ideas?

Let’s level up your couple game night with board games designed to spark connection, laughter, and maybe a little healthy competition.

We’re talking games that go beyond rolling dice and collecting tokens – these are experiences you’ll share, strategies you’ll craft together, and memories you’ll laugh about for years to come.

So, ditch the screens, grab your favourite beverage, and get ready to discover the joy (and maybe a little playful rivalry) of board games for couples.

Best Board Games for Couples in 2024

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Patchwork

Imagine a cosy evening with your partner, a cup of tea, and a challenge that’s both relaxing and a bit competitive: that’s Patchwork.

This game lets you escape into a world of colourful fabrics as we try to design the prettiest, highest-scoring quilts you can. Specifically designed with two player in mind, this game is an international bestseller and has a ton of replayability, great strategy, and an easy to learn flow that keeps on giving.

How You Play

Every turn brings a tough decision. Do I spend my precious buttons on a quirky new fabric patch, adding a splash of color to my quilt? Or do I advance along the time track, earning buttons to spend later?

It’s a constant puzzle – how do I fit these odd-shaped pieces together while also keeping an eye on my resources?

Pros

Easy to get into: It won’t take long to learn the rules, but the decisions feel surprisingly satisfying.
Hands-on fun: There’s something special about actually building your quilt piece by piece.
Perfect for a relaxed night: Patchwork is a way to challenge my mind without getting overly stressed.
Keeps giving with no two games feeling quite the same.

Cons

Not much talking: It’s more about focusing on my own quilt than directly interacting with my partner. Obviously you can still chat, but it doesn’t exactly encourage topics.
Might feel same-y: If you’re not into spatial puzzles, the act of placing patches could get old after a while.

Fog of Love

Fog of Love comes up as one of the best games for couples every single time you search or ask around, but this is for a good reason.

Fog of Love plays like a romantic comedy you and your partner get to star in. You’ll create unique characters with secret traits and goals, then act out dramatic (and sometimes hilarious) scenes to navigate the ups and downs of your fictional relationship. Think of it as a playful choose-your-own-adventure for couples!

That said, it’s way pricey that most of the other games here, clocking in at £40/$40. Sure, the quality is amazing, and one of the best features. It feels like an experience to play, and that’s exactly what this game is for.

However, many believe it’s a little convoluted and hard to follow. Pretty much every negative review I went through says it’s difficult to follow the instructions and way too complicated.

So my verdict, if you love roleplaying games, getting stuck into a game, and want a ton of creative potential and replayability, absolutely go for Fog of Love. This is an investment you’ll love.

On the other hand, if you’re looking for something quick, punchy, and easy to pick up and put down, maybe try something else.

How You Play

You’ll take turns playing “scene” cards, presenting situations that crop up in your relationship. Your choices are guided by what you think your character would do, even if it clashes with your own personality. Will you act selfless or give in to temptation?

Compromise or stand your ground? Each decision shapes your character’s personality and how your love story unfolds.

Pros

Immersive & Creative: Fog of Love lets you step into new shoes and explore relationship dynamics in a fun way with an interesting and unique roleplay fastion.
Laugh out loud moments: The sometimes-awkward situations lead to surprisingly hilarious (and sometimes insightful) conversations.
Replayability: The various scenarios and character combinations create a unique experience each time.

Cons

Role-playing required: If you’re uncomfortable acting out a character, this might not be your ideal game.
Potential for touchy topics: Some scenes can bring up real-world relationship issues, so sensitivity is key.
An Investment: This game has a much higher price tag than most games. Unless you’re going to enjoy it, it’s worth getting it second hand on eBay or Facebook Marketplace.

Hive

Hive is a beautifully simple but deeply strategic game where you control a swarm of insect-themed pieces, released all the way back in 2001. Think of it as chess with a twisty, buggy theme. The goal isn’t checkmate, but to completely surround your partner’s queen bee with your own critters.

Oh, and there’s also a Pocket Edition available which is well worth checking out.

How You Play

Each turn, you either introduce a new bug from your “hand” to the playing area or move one you’ve already placed. Each insect type moves in a unique way – ants move in a line, beetles climb over others, grasshoppers leap, and spiders crawl along the edges.

You’ll need to plan several moves ahead, anticipating how your partner might react to block your plans.

Also, this game works with just tiles and a flat surface, so you can take it with you, play in a cafe, in the park during a picnic, or anywhere you like.

Pros

Elegantly Simple: The rules are incredibly easy to pick up, but the potential strategies are surprisingly complex.
Portable and Quick: There’s no board, just the pieces themselves, making it perfect for on-the-go play.
Mind Games: Hive offers a satisfying mental workout of planning moves and countermoves.

Cons

Highly competitive: It’s all about outsmarting your partner, so not ideal if you dislike direct conflict in games.
Theme isn’t for everyone: If you’re squeamish about insects, the artwork might be a turn-off.

Exploding Kittens

Exploding Kittens is like a game of hot potato… with exploding kittens! Picture Russian Roulette with cards, a dash of silliness, and a whole lot of strategy. The goal is simple: don’t be the one to explode (by drawing an Exploding Kitten card), and force your opponents to get blown up instead.

This is by far one of my favourite games of all time, not just for playing with me and my partner, but with large groups of friends. It’s our go-to, and pretty much every household who likes games to any degree should just have a set of Exploding Kittens ready and waiting at all times.

An evergreen title that will never get old – it’s like Uno on steroids.

How You Play

You take turns playing cards with hilarious effects. Some make you peek at the deck, others force your opponent to take multiple turns, and some allow you to shuffle those pesky Exploding Kittens around.

The key is to stockpile “Defuse” cards – these let you disarm an Exploding Kitten and survive another round.

Pros

Fast and hilarious: Games are quick, and the absurd card illustrations and actions will have you laughing out loud.
Easy to teach and play: Anyone can jump in, even if they haven’t played many board games before.
Tons of replayability: The chaotic, random nature makes every game different.

Cons

Take-that style: A lot of cards are designed to mess with other players, which can be frustrating if you prefer less direct confrontation. You’re basically trying to screw other players.
Luck factor: While there’s strategy, an unlucky draw can still blow you out of the game early.
Very Casual: If you’re looking for a more in-depth experience, this may not be for you. This is run-and-gun casual play at its finest.

Unstable Unicorns

Unstable Unicorns is a game about everyone’s two favourite things: destruction & unicorns! You’ll build a wacky unicorn army with unique powers, then sabotage your friends’ stables with the goal of being the first to collect seven majestic (and sparkly) unicorns.

How You Play

Each turn you’ll draw a card and play a card. These cards can be Unicorns for your stable, Upgrades to give your unicorns super-powers, Downgrades to mess with your opponents’ unicorns, or Magic cards that change the tide of the game in your favour.

Watch out for those pesky “Neigh” cards, though, they can block your actions!

Pros

Strategic and silly: It’s got a satisfying blend of planning your unicorn power-ups while finding ways to thwart your friends.
Adorable but cutthroat: The artwork is super cute, but the gameplay is about sabotaging each other’s progress – in a fun way!
Quick games: Rounds go fast, so it’s easy to play, replay, and get revenge.

Cons

Lots of “take that”: The majority of cards focus on messing with each other, so it’s not ideal if you dislike direct conflict.
Can get chaotic: With many cards and potential effects, keeping track of everything can be a bit overwhelming for beginners, but most people will pick it after a round or two.

Race to the Raft

Race to the Raft is a cooperative game where you and your partner work together to rescue a group of disoriented cats from a smoke-filled island. It’s a race against time (and spreading fire!) as you build pathways to guide the cats to the safety of the raft.

How You Play

Each turn, you choose between two actions: placing a pathway tile from your hand or advancing on the time track. Placing tiles lets you extend paths for the cats to follow, but the fire spreads across the island with every tile laid. Advancing on the time track earns you buttons (the game’s currency) to buy more pathway tiles. The trick is balancing progress with containing the blaze!

Pros

True teamwork: Success relies on communication and strategizing together, fostering a ‘we’re in this together’ feel.
Adjustable difficulty: The game offers multiple scenarios with varying levels of challenge.
Quick and engaging: Race to the Raft offers a satisfying puzzle in a short amount of time.

Cons

Limited replayability: While scenarios offer variety, the core gameplay can feel similar after several playthroughs.
Potential for “Alpha Gamer”: One player might take over decision-making, so it’s important to communicate well.

Where Should We Begin

Where Should We Begin isn’t a board game in the traditional sense, but more of a guided conversation starter designed for couples. Created by psychotherapist Esther Perel, this card deck delves into deeper aspects of your relationship – your histories, desires, challenges, and dreams.

How You Play

There are no winners or losers in Where Should We Begin. You and your partner will take turns drawing cards and answering the thought-provoking prompts they contain. These questions are designed to open up honest conversations and offer a new perspective on your connection. Some questions are playful, others might spark a vulnerable discussion.

Pros

Sparks meaningful dialogue: The prompts go beyond surface-level and encourage real reflection about your relationship.
Different every time: You’re likely to get new insights and discussions each time you revisit the deck.
Potential for stronger connection: Openly exploring your inner worlds can foster intimacy and understanding.

Cons

Requires vulnerability: This isn’t for couples who avoid tough conversations. Honesty and openness are key.
Not just for fun: It’s less about a lighthearted game night and more about fostering personal growth.
Might not be for everyone: Some couples might prefer a therapist-led environment for deep relationship work.
Expensive: Clocking in at £58 brand new (on sale at the time of writing for £41), this game is pricey as. An investment to say the least. Might be worth getting second-hand, but few copies available.

Machi Koro

In Machi Koro, you and your partner become mayors of rival cities, racing to build your dream skyline! It’s a lighthearted, dice-rolling game where you’ll collect coins, construct buildings, and maybe even swipe some cash from your opponent.

Get ready for a bit of friendly competition with a dash of luck, this game is beautiful, has a very unique aesthetic which makes it simply a joy to play, and is relatively easy to pick and get started!

How You Play

Each turn, you’ll roll dice and earn coins from any buildings you own that match your roll. Then comes the fun part – using those coins to buy new buildings! You’ll choose from bakeries, cheese factories, radio towers, and more, each with unique abilities.

Your goal is to build a set of landmark buildings (like a train station or an amusement park) before your opponent does.

Pros

Easy to learn, fast to play: The rules are simple to grasp, making it perfect for casual game nights.
Satisfying engine building: Adding new buildings and seeing your city come to life is rewarding.
A bit of playful rivalry: Some buildings let you earn income from your opponent’s rolls, creating fun moments of good-natured sabotage.

Cons

Luck plays a big role: Dice rolls can swing the game, so don’t expect deep strategy every time.
Limited interaction: Most of your turn is focused on your own city, rather than direct head-to-head play.

Onitama

Onitama draws inspiration from martial arts, blending simple rules with a deep, chess-like feel. You and your partner become rival martial arts masters, guiding your students in a battle for supremacy.

With a touch of luck and a lot of cunning, you’ll aim to either capture your opponent’s master or move your own across the board.

How You Play

You each command a master and four students. Movement is dictated by five cards with unique patterns, placed face up in the centre. On your turn, you’ll choose one of your cards, move a piece accordingly, then swap it with the centre card. This means the movement options constantly change, keeping you on your toes!

Pros

Deceptively Simple: While easy to learn, Onitama offers surprising strategic depth.
Quick and Engaging: Games are fast, making it perfect for multiple rounds or a quick mental challenge.
Beautiful Components: The artwork and board design create a sense of zen-like focus during play.

Cons

Highly Competitive: It’s a head-to-head, zero-sum game, so it’s not for everyone.
Can be Brain-Burny: Anticipating your opponent’s moves several turns ahead can be mentally taxing.

Carcassonne

Carcassonne is a tile-laying game where you and your partner construct a medieval landscape. You’ll build sprawling cities, winding roads, peaceful monasteries, and lush fields. It’s a game that’s easy to pick up, but offers surprising depth for both casual players and those who love a little strategic thinking.

How You Play

Each turn, you draw a tile and place it to expand the landscape. You must make sure your new tile lines up with features already on the board (for example, roads must connect to other roads).

Once you’ve placed your tile, you can choose to put a little wooden follower (or “meeple”) on a feature to claim ownership. When that feature is completed, you score points based on its size!

Pros

Relaxing yet strategic: The core gameplay is simple, but offers plenty of decisions about where to place your tiles and followers.
Appeals to many: Carcassonne is a gateway game enjoyed by both seasoned players and casual gamers.
Expansions galore: If you love the base game, there’s a massive collection of expansions to add new twists and challenges.

Cons

Luck factor: Drawing tiles is random, so sometimes the best strategy can be trumped by bad luck.
Scoring can be fiddly: Especially with expansions, tallying points can sometimes slow down the end of the game.

We’re Not Really Strangers (Couple’s Edition)

We’re Not Really Strangers (WNRS) is a card game designed to foster deeper connections. Whether you’re playing with your partner, a close friend, or even a new acquaintance, it’s about breaking down barriers and getting to know each other on a new level.

How You Play

WNRS has three levels of questions designed to gradually increase in depth. Level 1 focuses on perception, encouraging you to see your partner in new ways.

Level 2 delves into connection, prompting reflection on past experiences and personal values.

Finally, Level 3 is all about reflection, asking profound questions about life and your hopes for the future. There are also ‘wildcard’ options that add an element of surprise.

Pros

Sparks Meaningful Connection: The questions are thoughtfully designed to go beyond surface-level chat.
Flexible for different relationships: Whether you’re new to dating or have been married for years, WNRS can spark deep conversations.
Visually Appealing: The minimalist design and thought-provoking prompts make it inviting to play.

Cons

Requires openness: This isn’t for those who shy away from vulnerability. Be prepared to answer honestly.
Limited Replayability: While powerful, revisiting the same question sets multiple times might lose its impact.
Emotional Intensity: Some questions are deeply personal. Consider your comfort level and that of your partner before playing.

Regicide

In Regicide, you and your partner face a relentless assault! Picture a fantasy card game, but instead of battling each other, you team up to defeat a powerful monarchy.

With standard playing cards representing your foes, you’ll need to strategize, work together, and play your cards right to survive.

How You Play

You’ll face a series of enemies from the deck: Jacks, Queens, and finally, the Kings. Each turn, you play a card from your hand to attack, with the goal of matching or beating the current enemy’s value. Card suits add special abilities like healing or discarding. But watch out, after you attack, the enemy strikes back! You need to discard cards to match the damage, or it’s game over.

Pros

True Cooperative Experience: Success relies on working together, planning card combos, and making tough sacrifices.
Challenging & Intense: Regicide doesn’t hold back – it’s a thrilling fight for survival until the end.
Travel-friendly: The game is literally a deck of cards, perfect for taking anywhere.

Cons

High Difficulty: Winning is tough! Expect several losses before you master the strategies and teamwork needed.
Limited Replayability: While the challenge is great, the core gameplay can feel same-y after lots of plays.

The Fox in the Forest

The Fox in the Forest is a two-player twist on traditional trick-taking games (think Hearts or Spades). With its fairy tale theme and unique card abilities, it’s all about clever plays and outsmarting your partner. Get ready for a game that’s easy to learn, but with a surprising amount of depth.

How You Play

You’ll be dealt a hand of cards, each with a suit and a number. On your turn, you must follow the suit that’s been led. If you can’t, you can play any other card.

The highest card of the led suit wins the trick (or a special trump card if played). But here’s the twist: some cards have special abilities that let you change the trump suit, avoid losing, and more!

Pros

Quick and engaging: Rounds move fast, making it perfect for replaying or a quick session.
Surprisingly Strategic: The special card powers add a layer of decision-making beyond standard trick-taking games.
Don’t be greedy: There’s a unique scoring system – win too many tricks, and you’ll actually lose points!

Cons

Two-player only: If you’re looking for a game night with more friends, this won’t fit the bill.
Can feel random: Sometimes a few bad draws can ruin your best plans, adding a bit of luck to the mix.

Buy Now on Zatu Games UK

The Couple’s Game That’s Actually Fun

Tired of the same old “get to know you” questions? The Couple’s Game That’s Actually Fun ditches the mushy stuff and focuses on playful interaction and fun conversation starters. It’s perfect for couples who want to laugh together and maybe even discover new things about each other.

How You Play

The game has three question categories: MATCH, BEST, and ME OR YOU. With a dry-erase board for each of you, you’ll write down answers in secret. The fun comes from comparing your responses and seeing if you were on the same page (or hilariously far apart). Questions range from silly “Would you rather” scenarios to thought-provoking preferences.

Pros

Lighthearted & Playful: This game is designed to spark laughter and keep things fun.
Easy to pick up: No complicated rules, just a few question types and a whole lot of conversation.
Conversation starter: Even if your answers don’t match, the questions can lead to interesting discussions.

Cons

Not deeply strategic: If you prefer games with heavy planning or strategy, this won’t be your jam.
Some questions may miss the mark: It’s possible a few question prompts won’t resonate with every couple which can kind of kill the vibe and flow of the night.

Ticket to Ride

Ticket to Ride is a gateway game that’s loved by families and seasoned gamers alike, and is one of the most board games in modern history – a bestseller year on year with seemingly dozens of expansions and versions to try.

You’ll compete with your partner to claim colourful train routes on a map of North America (or other editions featuring Europe, Asia, etc.). It’s the perfect blend of simple rules, strategic choices, and just a touch of healthy competition.

When choosing your version, the main standard version is the absolute best because it’s the full experience exactly how it was meant to be played with everything you could want or need, even as a beginner.

How You Play

Each turn you’ll choose one of three actions: draw train cards (which come in different colors), claim a route by playing a matching set of cards, or draw Destination Tickets (which give you bonus points for connecting specific cities). The longer your train routes and the more Destination Tickets you complete, the more points you’ll earn!

Pros

Easy to learn, fun to master: The rules are simple enough to teach in minutes, but the strategies run surprisingly deep.
Satisfying gameplay loop: Claiming routes and seeing your colourful train lines spread across the map is just plain fun.
Lots of expansions: If you love the base game, there’s a whole world of expansions with new maps and twists.

Cons

Potential for “analysis paralysis”: With lots of route options, players prone to overthinking may slow the pace down.
Direct Competition: If you dislike games where you can directly block each other’s plans, this might not be ideal.

Why Don’t We Laugh Together

Why Don’t We Laugh Together is a card game designed to bring more fun and laughter into your relationship. Get ready for silly challenges, playful competition, and a healthy dose of absurdity. It’s perfect for couples looking to lighten the mood and let loose together.

How You Play

The game is pretty simple! There are multiple sets of cards with categories like “Talents,” “Games,” and “Trivia.” Each turn, you’ll draw a card and complete the challenge on it.

If you succeed, you keep the card as a point. Expect things like doing your partner’s makeup blindfolded, acting out charades based on cheesy song lyrics, or answering trivia about each other.

Pros

Encourages Playfulness: The challenges are designed to break you out of your routine and make you laugh at yourselves.
Quick and Easy: This is a game you can whip out for a short burst of fun or play for an entire evening.
Learn New Things: Some challenges might reveal surprising talents or preferences you never knew about your partner.

Cons

Some Challenges Might Miss: Not every task will be a hit, and some might feel a little too childish.
Requires a Silliness Level: If you or your partner don’t like being put on the spot, this might not be the best fit.

More or Less Card Game

More or Less is a trivia game that’s more about your judgment than your knowledge. It’s packed with quirky, obscure questions that you’ll probably need to guess on.

Think “Are there more or less than 500,000 meatballs consumed in Ikea stores daily?”. Perfect for couples who enjoy a bit of random trivia and a good laugh.

How You Play

A player reads a question aloud. Everyone else secretly writes down their guess (a specific number). Then, in turn order, you each say “More” or “Less” in relation to the correct answer. Each correct “More” or “Less” answer scores points, and the closest guess gets bonus points too!

Pros

Lighthearted and Fun: It’s less about knowing the answers and more about having fun with wild guesses. It’s also really interesting, if not shocking, to hear some of the facts here.
Anyone Can Play: You don’t need to be a trivia whiz to enjoy More or Less, making it great for casual get-togethers.
Lots of Replayability: The quirky and varied questions keep things interesting over many plays.

Cons

Luck Factor: Some games come down to lucky guesses rather than strategic thinking.
Limited Interaction: Outside of guessing and revealing answers, there’s not much direct interaction between players.

Really Good Conversations for Couples

Really Good Conversations (for Couples) is a another card deck designed to spark meaningful discussions and deeper connection for couples in all stages of their relationship. Forget small talk – this game is about exploring big ideas, learning new things about each other, and simply enjoying good conversation.

How You Play

Simply shuffle the deck and draw a card!

The questions are open-ended, thought-provoking, and sometimes even a little playful. Think questions like “Tell me about a time you felt really proud of yourself” or “If you could have a superpower, what would it be and why?”

There’s no right or wrong way to play – simply share, listen, and enjoy the journey of discovery with your partner.

Pros

Quality Conversation Starters: The questions go beyond the typical “how was your day” and offer fresh perspectives.
Flexible & Relaxing: Play for a quick, meaningful chat or dive in for hours of deeper conversation.
Sparks Connection: Openly discussing hopes, struggles, and dreams is a powerful bonding experience.

Cons

Requires Vulnerability: As with other games like this, openness is key. It’s best for couples comfortable sharing deeper thoughts. Be ready to open up.
Might Not Be For Everyone: If you prefer light-hearted games, this more reflective style might not be your jam.

Azul

Inspired by the colourful Portuguese tiles known as azulejos, Azul is a game of pattern-building and strategic thinking. It’s easy to learn, but offers a surprising amount of depth, making it a great choice for both new and experienced gamers.

This is one of my all-time favourites and have played for years. Love playing it with my family, and it’s usually the one we settle to play at Christmas. Great fun, high replayability, and highly recommend.

Over the years, there’s also been plenty of expansions and extra versions, so you really get pick of the litter, depending on your taste and preferences.

How You Play

You’ll take turns drafting colourful tiles from central “factories” and arranging them on your player board. To score points, you must place tiles in specific patterns and sets, but wasted tiles will deduct points!

It’s all about balancing immediate rewards with planning for future rounds. The player with the most points after all the tiles are drafted wins.

Pros

Elegantly Simple: The rules are easy to grasp, but offer plenty of thoughtful decisions with each turn.
Visually Pleasing: The colourful tiles and satisfying placement are aesthetically delightful.
Appeals to Many: Its combination of luck and strategy makes it enjoyable for everyone, from casual game night to serious strategy fans.

Cons

Somewhat Abstract: If you don’t enjoy spatial puzzles, the theme might not resonate strongly.

Codenames Duet

Codenames Duet takes the word-guessing fun of the original Codenames and turns it into a two-player cooperative experience. You’ll work together with your partner to reveal a network of secret agents before time runs out. Think of it as a mind-reading challenge with high-stakes consequences!

How You Play

A grid of word cards is laid out on the table. Both of you have a secret key card that shows which words are your agents (in green), which are innocent bystanders (beige), and which are dangerous assassins (black). Each turn, one player gives a one-word clue followed by a number.

This number tells their partner how many words on the grid are linked to the clue word. Your partner then tries to guess as many agents as possible before running into an assassin!

Pros

Cooperative Twist: Unlike the competitive original, Duet is all about teamwork and thinking on the same wavelength.
Clever Clues: Coming up with words that connect to multiple meanings can be challenging and thrilling.
Quick and engaging: Games have tight time limits, making each decision exciting.

Cons

Frustration Potential: Miscommunication can happen, especially early on, leading to missed guesses.
Limited Replayability: While the grid setup changes, the overall gameplay can feel similar over time.

Jaipur

Jaipur transports you to a bustling Indian marketplace where you and your partner compete to become the Maharaja’s most esteemed merchant. It’s a game of trading, set collection, and knowing when to strike the best deal. Prepare for a blend of strategy, a touch of luck, and lots of camel management!

How You Play

Each turn, you choose one of two actions: take cards or sell cards. Taking cards lets you grab goods (like leather, spices, or jewels) from the central market, or freely swap camels from your herd.

Selling cards lets you cash in specific goods sets for valuable tokens, but the values decrease as more people sell the same goods.

Pros

Fast and Engaging: Jaipur offers snappy turns and quick gameplay, perfect for a light but strategic session.
Easy to Learn: The rules are simple to grasp, making it a great choice for introducing new players to strategic games.
Satisfying Decisions: You’ll constantly weigh whether to build larger sets of goods for bigger payouts, or sell early before the market floods.

Cons

Luck Factor: The cards available influence your decisions, adding an element of randomness.
Mostly Two-Player: While there are unofficial variants for more players, Jaipur shines brightest as a head-to-head duel.

Splendor

In Splendor, you and your partner step into the role of wealthy Renaissance merchants, vying for prestige by acquiring gem mines, crafting fine jewellery, and attracting noble patrons. It’s a game about collecting colourful chips that represent gems, and strategically spending them to develop your growing empire.

How You Play

On your turn, you can take one of three actions: collect gem chips, purchase a development card that provides permanent gem bonuses and points, or reserve a card for later purchase.

As your gem collection grows, you’ll be able to buy more powerful development cards, earning points and potential visits from nobility. The first player to hit 15 prestige points wins!

Pros

Satisfying Engine Building: Acquiring cards that make future purchases cheaper is a rewarding feeling.
Simple yet Strategic: The rules are easy to grasp, but offer plenty of thoughtful decisions with each turn.
Beautiful Components: The poker chip gems and detailed cards add a tactile and visually appealing element.

Cons

Limited Interaction: You’re mostly focused on building your own gem engine rather than direct competition.
Luck of the Draw: The available cards can influence your strategy, so sometimes being in the right place at the right time matters.

Sagrada

Sagrada turns you and your partner into rival stained glass artisans, each creating a masterpiece for the famed Sagrada Família. It’s all about carefully selecting colourful dice and placing them in your window according to specific patterns and restrictions. Think of it as a puzzle wrapped in an artistic theme.

How You Play

Each player has a beautiful board representing their stained glass window. Each round, you’ll draft dice from a shared pool, then add them to your window, following rules that restrict certain colors and values from being placed next to each other.

There are also tools to help you manipulate the dice, and public objectives for bonus points.

The player with the highest score at the end wins!

Pros

Visual and tactile: The vibrant dice and satisfying puzzle aspect make it engaging on multiple levels.
Strategic Depth: Planning your dice placements with the changing restrictions requires forward thinking.
Solo Option: Sagrada has a great solo mode if you sometimes enjoy playing games on your own as well.

Cons

Frustration Potential: Dice rolls can limit your options, sometimes forcing you to abandon your best-laid plans.

Hanamikoji

In Hanamikoji, you and your partner become geisha house rivals, vying for the favour of seven illustrious geishas. Each geisha excels in a specific artistic performance, and to impress them, you’ll strategically present gifts that match their preferences. It’s a game of deduction, careful planning, and sometimes, bold gambles.

How You Play

Each turn, you choose one of four actions, each with varying levels of risk and reward. You might secretly choose cards to then offer as a set to your opponent (who keeps one set, and you keep the other).

Or, you might discard cards face-down in an attempt to eliminate possibilities. The goal is to collect the most favour tokens from four of the seven geishas, earning their patronage.

Pros

Elegantly Simple: The rules are easy to grasp, but the decisions pack a surprising strategic punch.
Mind Games: Deduction and anticipating your opponent’s moves are key to success.
Quick and Engaging: Games of Hanamikoji are fast-paced and tense, offering a satisfying experience in a short time.

Cons

Limited Interaction: While there’s strategy in offering gifts, it’s mostly focused on individual action choices.
Frustration Potential: Luck plays a part in what cards you draw, sometimes limiting your strategic options.

Lords of Waterdeep

In Lords of Waterdeep, you step into the shoes of a masked lord, a secret ruler of the splendid fantasy city of Waterdeep.

Your goal is to amass power and influence by strategically sending agents out into the city and employing adventurers to complete quests on your behalf.

Expanding Waterdeep’s infrastructure through building construction also plays a vital role in establishing your dominance.

This is a Dungeons and Dragons game from the official Wizards of the Coast, so if you’re a fan of the RP masterpiece, this is surely for you.

How You Play

Lords of Waterdeep is a worker-placement game at its core. On each turn, you’ll place one of your agents on a location on the board, triggering specific actions. These could involve:

Recruiting adventurers: Fighters, clerics, rogues, and wizards come into play here, represented as colorful cubes.
Taking quests: Quests are the main way to score victory points and unique rewards.
Building construction: New buildings offer ongoing benefits and expand available actions.
Playing intrigue cards: Introduces an element of surprise and direct competition.

The player with the most points after eight rounds wins!

Pros

Accessibility within a beloved setting: While offering strategic depth, the rules are easy to grasp and Waterdeep’s setting draws in Dungeons & Dragons fans.
Satisfying worker-placement: Provides a classic Euro-style experience of resource management and tactical placement decisions.
Replayability: The variety of quests, intrigue cards, and potential building combinations keep things fresh.

Cons

Theme not deeply integrated: While set in Waterdeep, the core mechanics could be adapted to other settings.
Downtime potential: While your turn is active, some waiting is involved while other players take their actions.
Luck factors: The quests available and intrigue cards drawn can introduce an element of randomness.

Santorini

In Santorini, you step into the role of a Greek god or goddess vying to build your way to victory atop the beautiful coastal cliffs of the island. With its simple rules and visually stunning presentation, Santorini is a modern classic that blends accessibility with surprising strategic depth.

This game is a bit pricey, clocking in around the £60 mark, so make sure you’re going to commit to learning it. That said, you are paying for a full comprehensive game, complete with quality cards, 3D models (over 40 building blocks in total), making this unlike any other board game in the list.

How You Play

Each turn has just two steps:

Move: Move one of your two builder figures to an adjacent space on the 5×5 grid board, with the potential to move up (but never down) a single level.
Build: Place a building block next to your moved builder. If a builder reaches the third level, top it off with a signature blue dome, making that space permanently inaccessible.

The first player to have one of their builders climb to the third level of a building wins!

Pros

Incredibly accessible: Santorini’s rules are incredibly easy to teach and grasp, making it perfect for players of all ages and experience levels.
Strategic depth: Despite its simplicity, every move has significant implications, creating a wealth of tactical decision-making.
Beautiful presentation: The crisp white buildings, blue domes, and illustrated god cards create a visually stunning tabletop experience.
God Powers: The unique abilities of each god or goddess add a layer of variability and replayability.

Cons

Direct competition: Santorini emphasizes direct head-to-head conflict, which may not appeal to everyone.
Potential for stalemates: Careful players can sometimes create situations where neither side can force a win.
Simple theme: The theme of Greek gods is primarily an aesthetic backdrop and not deeply integrated into the mechanics.

Schotten Totten

Schotten Totten pits two rival Scottish clans against each other in a light-hearted battle for territory. Players strategically lay down poker-like card formations in front of nine boundary stones, vying for control. Clever card play, deduction, and a bit of calculated risk will crown you the victor.

How You Play

In this two-player game, each turn follows a simple pattern:

Play a card: Place a card from your hand into a formation of up to three cards next to one of the border stones.
Draw a card: Refil your hand back to six cards.

To claim a boundary stone, your three-card formation must beat your opponent’s formation using poker-style ranking (e.g., three of a kind, straight, or flush). The first player to claim five stones, or any three adjacent stones, wins!

Pros

Quick and engaging: With short turns and fast play time, Schotten Totten is perfect for casual gaming sessions or as a filler.
Deceptively strategic: The simple rules belie a surprising depth of decision-making and the ability to deduce your opponent’s intentions for a tactical advantage.
Portable and durable: The compact card-based game makes the perfect travel companion.

Cons

Two-player only: Schotten Totten is strictly a two-player affair.
Luck factor: While skill plays a significant role, the cards you draw can influence your options.
Simple theme: The Scottish clan theme isn’t integral to the core mechanics of the game.

Pandemic

In Pandemic, you and up to three other players take on the role of specialists fighting against the spread of four deadly diseases ravaging the globe.

Working together is your only chance for survival as you travel the world treating infections, establishing research centres, and desperately searching for cures before humanity succumbs.

How You Play

Each turn consists of four phases:

Player Actions: Use up to four actions per turn to move around the board, treat diseases, build research stations, or share knowledge (cards) with other players.
Draw Cards: Draw two player cards, which may help your efforts, but some will trigger Epidemic cards, intensifying the danger.
Infect Cities: Draw cards from the infection deck, placing disease cubes in the corresponding cities on the board. Outbreaks can create chain reactions, rapidly spreading panic.
Replenish Hand: Draw back up to your hand limit, ensuring you’re somewhat prepared for the next round.

You win if you discover cures for all four diseases. Lose if too many outbreaks occur, a disease runs out of cubes, or you run out of player cards to draw from.

Pros

True cooperative experience: Success in Pandemic demands teamwork, communication, and coordinated planning.
High replayability: Random distributions of epidemics and role combinations keep each session feeling fresh and challenging.
Tense and thematic: The building pressure and constant threat of losing control recreate the high-stakes atmosphere of a global pandemic crisis.

Cons

Alpha player potential: A dominant personality can sometimes overshadow other players’ decision-making, reducing the cooperative feel.
Difficulty curve: Pandemic can be quite challenging, especially for beginners.
Randomness: The order of cards drawn can significantly impact the game’s difficulty, sometimes leading to frustrating losses out of players’ control.

Wrapping Up Board Games for Couples

And there we have it – the complete list of games that are best for couples, whether you’re playing on date nights, going out to the park, a café, or just filling an afternoon.

But don’t just read about these games – try them! And don’t forget, your local game store might have demo copies or host game nights – a perfect way to experience a game before you buy.

And if you’re hooked, share the fun! Introduce a new friend or family member to the joy of board gaming.

Happy gaming!