For two players: from games without equipment to tabletop games and apps
Have you ever found yourself at a loss for what to do when you’re spending time with someone—family, friends, or a partner—just the two of you?
In this article, we’ll introduce a variety of two-player time-killing games that are perfect for those situations!
We’ve picked a wide range: simple activities that require no props at all—or just a bit of paper and a pen—deeper tabletop options like card and board games, and even smartphone apps that two people can enjoy together.
There are plenty of fun games that might start as a way to kill time but before you know it, you’ll be totally hooked! Use this as a handy reference when you’re looking to pass the time.
- Perfect for killing time! Games you can play with two people.
- Fun two-player games recommended that you can play using conversation only
- A card game for two players
- [For 2 Players] Easy Pen-and-Paper Time-Killing Game
- Recommended games for two people that you can enjoy without any equipment
- Brain-teasing game roundup
- Exciting! Multiplayer games everyone can play. Time-killing app games
- Games you can play with just conversation. Classic and popular activities you can enjoy without any props!
- Games for two people to enjoy. A roundup of party games that liven up drinking gatherings.
- Games you can play in the car! Fun activities to liven up drives and traffic jams
- [Solo Time] A roundup of ways to kill time without using your smartphone
- A collection of icebreakers you can enjoy with a small group
- Single-player games: a roundup of time-killing games
Table Games, Card Games, Board Games (1–10)
Quarto
Quarto is a board game that looks simple but has surprising depth.
Players take turns placing pieces on a 4×4 grid, and the goal is to align four in a row vertically, horizontally, or diagonally.
While the win condition sounds straightforward, you can’t win by just lining up any four pieces.
Each piece has one of eight attribute combinations, and you must align four pieces that share a common attribute.
When you complete such a line, you say “Quarto.” The catch is that if you overlook the shared attribute, you might not realize you’ve won.
If you fail to call it and your opponent points out “Quarto,” the victory goes to them—so be careful!
Codename: Duet
This is a game called Codenames: Duet, where you listen to your partner’s clues and pick the cards among the laid-out cards that match the clues.
First, lay out 25 randomly chosen cards.
One player looks at a key card and gives clues so that their partner will pick the cards whose positions match the green spaces on the key card.
A clue consists of a word that evokes the target cards and a number indicating how many cards match that word.
The key card also marks the locations of an assassin and of cards you should avoid, so guide your partner away from those.
If you select all the cards that match the green spaces on the key card, you’re good! If the assassin card is chosen, the game ends immediately.
However, you can only give nine clues in total, so how you give clues is crucial—for example, try to get multiple correct picks from a single clue.
Table Games, Card Games, Board Games (11–20)
Nine Tiles
Nine Tiles is a card game with the catchy slogan “Rules explained in just 10 seconds so everyone can have fun.” As the name suggests, it’s played with nine tiles and is suitable for 2 to 4 players.
The rules are simple: each player receives nine tiles, each with different designs on the front and back.
Then you draw one tile that shows the target pattern.
Players arrange their nine tiles to match the pattern on the target tile, and the first to complete it wins.
The rules are simple, but because you have to consider the front-and-back combinations of each tile, it’s trickier than it looks! It’s great for friends or couples, and adults and children can enjoy playing together, too.
Battle Line
Battle Line is a two-player board game themed around ancient warfare.
Players compete over nine flags; the winner is the first to capture five flags or three adjacent flags.
To seize a flag, players take turns placing one card at a time in front of it.
Once both sides have three cards in front of a flag, the strength of the sets is compared, and the winner claims that flag.
There are also various detailed rules that demand strategic thinking, and once you play it, you’ll almost certainly get hooked and want to play match after match.
Pylos
Born in France, the board game Pylos is a three-dimensional area-control game.
It uses a total of 30 balls—15 in each of two colors.
Two players take turns stacking the balls, and the winner is the one who manages to place their ball at the very top of the pyramid.
There are several rules, but the key points are: if four balls form a square, regardless of color, the player may place one of their already-played balls on top of that square; and if four balls of a player’s own color form a square, they may reclaim two of their previously placed balls.
It’s fun to use these rules skillfully to craft strategies in your favor.
Its wooden, refined design also makes it appealing as interior decor, which is another selling point.
Jenga
Jenga is a classic party game—chances are you’ve played it at least once.
You remove a single wooden block from the stacked tower and place it on top; the player who causes the tower to collapse when removing a block loses.
You must use only one hand when taking out a block—no using both hands.
These days there are many varieties of Jenga, including jumbo-sized sets and character-themed versions.
A head-to-head match between two people can really heat up.
It might be fun to prepare a penalty game for the loser, too.
Jaipur
Jaipur is the name of a place in India, and it’s also a board game where you become a merchant, collect goods, and sell them off.
The player with the most points at the end wins.
On your turn, you can choose either to take cards or to sell cards.
It really turns the merchant’s actions—procure and sell—into a game! When selling, selling earlier gets you higher prices, but selling more cards at once earns you bonus tokens, so strategy and bluffing can make the difference between winning and losing.
Each game takes about 30 minutes, making it perfect when you want a leisurely way to pass the time.