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43 games

Games for two: board games for parent and child

Playing as a pair has a special appeal: nobody waits long, the child is involved in every turn and has their mother or father all to themselves. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) describes age-appropriate play with parents as a special opportunity for young children to develop social-emotional, cognitive and language skills as well as self-regulation, on which executive functions build. At the same time, it can strengthen a secure, reliable relationship. A board game with a little strategy calls on all three core functions. Players keep a plan in mind over several moves (working memory), avoid rushing a move (inhibition) and change plans when the opponent thwarts them (cognitive flexibility).

What works for two depends on age. Most children start to enjoy games with rules from around the age of three, but at first they often need an adult who plays along and helps when there are winners and losers. From age 8, the selection also includes abstract strategy games such as Quoridor or Pentago. With practice, children can become really good at them.

The selection ranges from reaction, memory and dexterity games through card and strategy duels to cooperative games. Pay attention to the balance of power: games with a little luck and games in which both players win or lose together offset the adult's advantage. A game should challenge without overwhelming. Most games here take half an hour or less.

Our recommendations

★ 4.4
Editors' pick

Rory's Story Cubes

Ages 6+ · 1–12 players · approx. 10 min

Nine picture dice, endless stories: a storytelling game with no winners or losers.

★ 4.3
Editors' pick

Bananagrams

Ages 7+ · 1–8 players · approx. 15 min

Everyone builds their own word grid at the same time: Scrabble without a board, but with speed instead.

★ 4.3
Editors' pick

Blokus

Ages 7+ · 2–4 players · 20–30 min

Get all your pieces onto the board, with each new one touching your own only at a corner. Pure spatial strategy.

The selection

Ages 8+★ 4.0

6 nimmt!

AMIGO · 2–10 players · approx. 45 min

Whoever lays the sixth card collects the row: number logic, a feel for risk and delightful gloating.

Logic and planningNumbers and arithmetic
Editors' pick
Ages 4+★ 4.2

Animal Upon Animal

HABA · 2–4 players · approx. 15 min

Crocodile carries sheep carries penguin: the classic stacking game for steady hands and a good eye.

Fine motor skillsLogic and planning
Editors' pick
Ages 6+★ 3.9

Avocado Smash

Ridley's Games · 2+ players · approx. 10 min

Turn over cards and slap lightning-fast when the right picture appears: a boisterous reaction and card game for the whole family.

Perception and speedImpulse controlNumbers and arithmetic
Editors' pick
Ages 7+★ 4.3

Bananagrams

Bananagrams · 1–8 players · approx. 15 min

Everyone builds their own word grid at the same time: Scrabble without a board, but with speed instead.

LanguageFlexibilityPerception and speed
Editors' pick
Ages 6+★ 4.2

Bandido

Helvetiq · 1–4 players · approx. 15 min

Work together to block the escape routes of Bandido: a cooperative tile-laying game from Switzerland.

CooperationLogic and planning
Editors' pick
Ages 6+★ 3.7

Bellz!

Spin Master · 2–4 players · approx. 10 min

Use the magnetic wand to fish out only your own bells: a delicate touch meets a careful weighing of risks.

Fine motor skillsImpulse control
Editors' pick
Ages 7+★ 4.3

Blokus

Mattel · 2–4 players · 20–30 min

Get all your pieces onto the board, with each new one touching your own only at a corner. Pure spatial strategy.

Logic and planning
Editors' pick
Ages 10+★ 4.0

Bomb Busters

Pegasus Spiele · 2–5 players · approx. 20–40 min

Defuse a bomb as a team: deduce the values of hidden wires from scant clues and cut them. Spiel des Jahres 2025 (German game of the year award).

CooperationLogic and planning
Editors' pick
Ages 8+★ 3.8

Cabo Deluxe Edition

Bézier Games · 2–5 players · approx. 30 min

Keep your face-down cards as low as possible, swap cleverly and call “Cabo” at the right moment: memory meets bluffing.

MemoryImpulse controlNumbers and arithmetic
Editors' pick
Ages 7+★ 4.2

Can't Stop

Franjos · 2–4 players · approx. 30 min

Combine dice cleverly and advance on up to three routes, but whoever keeps rolling too greedily loses the whole turn. A classic of weighing risks.

Impulse controlNumbers and arithmeticLogic and planning
Editors' pick
Ages 6+★ 4.3

Chairs

Paul Lamond Games · 1–3 players · approx. 5 min

Stack the little chairs ever higher without the tower toppling: a wobbly dexterity game for steady hands.

Fine motor skillsLogic and planning
Editors' pick
Ages 6+★ 4.2

Cockroach Salad

Drei Magier · 2–6 players · approx. 30 min

Say “lettuce” when there is a pepper on the pile: a Stroop test turned party game, and wonderfully tricky.

Impulse controlFlexibilityPerception and speed
Editors' pick
Ages 6+★ 4.0

Dr. Eureka

Blue Orange Games · 2–4 players · approx. 15 min

Move coloured balls between test tubes until they match the formula, without touching them. Pace meets a delicate touch.

Fine motor skillsLogic and planning
Editors' pick
Ages 4+★ 4.2

Foto Fish

LOGIS · 2–4 players · approx. 15 min

Find the fish shown on the dice in your own aquarium and “photograph” them as quickly as possible: a search-and-speed game for children.

Perception and speed
Editors' pick
Ages 6+★ 4.2

Fruit Punch

AMIGO · 2–6 players · approx. 15 min

Exactly five of the same fruit? Ring the bell! The reaction classic par excellence, and secret practice in grasping quantities.

Impulse controlPerception and speedNumbers and arithmetic
Editors' pick
Ages 8+★ 4.2

Ghost Blitz

Zoch · 2–8 players · approx. 20 min

Grab the right object, or the one that is not shown at all: reaction speed and impulse control under time pressure.

Impulse controlFlexibilityPerception and speed
Editors' pick
Ages 8+★ 3.9

Hanabi

R&R Games · 2–5 players · approx. 25 min

Everyone can see your cards except you: a cooperative fireworks display for the memory.

MemoryCooperationLogic and planning
Editors' pick
Ages 10+★ 4.1

Imhotep

Thames & Kosmos · 2–4 players · approx. 40 min

As master builders in ancient Egypt, ship stones by boat and erect monuments: tactical deliveries with constant rivalry.

Logic and planningFlexibility
Editors' pick
Ages 7+★ 4.2

Jungle Speed

Zygomatic · 2–10 players · approx. 15 min

Matching symbols? Grab the totem in a flash, but the symbols are fiendishly similar.

Perception and speedImpulse control
Editors' pick
Ages 3+★ 4.2

Katamino Family

Gigamic · 1–2 players · approx. 15 min

Fit wooden blocks into the given area without leaving gaps: a versatile spatial puzzle game that grows with the player's skills.

Fine motor skillsLogic and planning
Editors' pick
Ages 8+★ 4.2

Ligretto

Schmidt Spiele · 2–4 players · approx. 10 min

Everyone plays at the same time, laying cards in the middle at lightning speed: it takes speed, an overview of the table and nimble hands.

Perception and speedFine motor skills
Editors' pick
Ages 10+★ 4.0

Lost Cities: Card Game – With 6th Expedition

Thames & Kosmos · 2 players · approx. 30 min

Two players launch expeditions and lay cards in ascending order, but every expedition started must first earn back its cost of 20 points. A thrilling duel.

Impulse controlLogic and planningNumbers and arithmetic
Editors' pick
Ages 4+★ 4.0

Lucky Sock Dip

HABA · 2–6 players · approx. 10 min

Everyone rummages through a wild heap of socks at the same time, looking for pairs: searching fun at high speed.

Perception and speedImpulse control
Editors' pick
Ages 8+★ 4.0

Mastermind

Goliath · 2 players · approx. 20–40 min

Crack the secret colour code: deduction in its purest form, the classic logic game for two.

Logic and planningMemory
Editors' pick
Ages 8+★ 4.2

Memoarrr!

Pegasus Spiele · 2–4 players · approx. 15 min

A memory game (matching pairs) for advanced players: only cards that match may be turned over, and anyone who slips up is out.

Memory
Editors' pick
Ages 4+★ 4.0

My First BrainBox

The Green Board Game Co. · 1+ players · approx. 10 min

Memorise a picture for ten seconds, then answer questions about it: a memory game in a pocket-sized box.

MemoryPerception and speed
Editors' pick
Ages 8+★ 3.9

Once Upon a Time: The Storytelling Card Game

Atlas Games · 2–6 players · approx. 30 min

Invent a fairy tale together and use story and ending cards to steer it cleverly to your own ending: an imaginative storytelling game.

LanguageLogic and planningFlexibility
Editors' pick
Ages 8+★ 4.0

Panic Lab

Gigamic · 2–10 players · approx. 30 min

Amoebas on the run: the dice show which one is wanted, but the way there follows devious rules.

FlexibilityPerception and speedMemory
Editors' pick
Ages 8+★ 4.3

Pentago

Coiledspring Games · 2 players · approx. 10–15 min

Get five marbles in a row, but after every marble a quarter of the board turns. Strategy that keeps you rethinking.

Logic and planningFlexibility
Editors' pick
Ages 8+★ 3.9

Pickomino

Zoch · 2–7 players · 20–30 min

Roll, add up, take a gamble: keep rolling or secure the worm? Weighing risks, with an addictive streak.

Numbers and arithmeticLogic and planningImpulse control
Editors' pick
Ages 6+★ 3.9

Pig 10

Zoch · 2–8 players · approx. 15 min

Lay down cards and count aloud: whoever hits exactly 10 scoops up the cards. A brisk number game for mental arithmetic.

Numbers and arithmetic
Editors' pick
Ages 8+★ 4.2

Port Royal

Pegasus Spiele · 2–5 players · approx. 20–50 min

Reveal ships and secure your winnings before you push your luck too far: an exciting push-your-luck card game in a pirate harbour.

Impulse controlLogic and planning
Editors' pick
Ages 8+★ 4.2

Quoridor

Gigamic · 2–4 players · 10–20 min

Get your pawn to the opposite side while slowing your opponent down with walls: elegant logic on a maze board.

Logic and planning
Editors' pick
Ages 8+★ 4.0

Qwirkle

MindWare · 2–4 players · 30–45 min

Place colours and shapes cleverly: Spiel des Jahres 2011 (German game of the year award) and a classic family strategy game.

Logic and planningPerception and speedFlexibility
Editors' pick
Ages 6+★ 3.9

Rat-a-Tat Cat

Gamewright · 2–6 players · approx. 20 min

Keep your face-down cards low: whoever forgets which card is where swaps their way to ruin.

MemoryNumbers and arithmetic
Editors' pick
Ages 10+★ 3.9

Ricochet Robots

Abacus Spiele · 1+ players · approx. 30 min

Get robots to the target in as few moves as possible: they slide until they hit an obstacle. Puzzle-solving for everyone at once.

MemoryLogic and planningPerception and speed
Editors' pick
Ages 6+★ 4.4

Rory's Story Cubes

Zygomatic · 1–12 players · approx. 10 min

Nine picture dice, endless stories: a storytelling game with no winners or losers.

LanguageFlexibility
Editors' pick
Ages 6+★ 4.1

SET

PlayMonster · 1–8 players · approx. 20 min

Four features, one glance: whoever spots a valid set first may take it. Concentration in its purest form.

Perception and speedLogic and planningFlexibility
Editors' pick
Ages 10+★ 4.0

Sky Team

Le Scorpion Masqué · 2 players · approx. 15–20 min

Land a plane as a pair: place dice in silence on the right cockpit spaces and work together perfectly. An intense cooperative duel of concentration.

CooperationLogic and planning
Editors' pick
Ages 4+★ 4.2

Taco Kitten Pizza

Blue Orange Games · 2–6 players · approx. 5 min

Guessing taco, kitten or pizza and turning over the card: when a Candy card appears, everyone slaps the middle. A reaction game for children.

Impulse controlPerception and speed
Editors' pick
Ages 8+★ 3.9

The Game: Quick & Easy

NSV · 2–5 players · approx. 10 min

Together against the deck: play all the cards in ascending or descending order. Talking is allowed, but giving away numbers is not.

CooperationLogic and planningNumbers and arithmetic
Editors' pick
Ages 10+★ 4.2

The Quest for El Dorado

Ravensburger · 2–4 players · approx. 45–60 min

Winning the race through the jungle with a growing deck of cards: accessible deck-building with constant forward momentum.

Logic and planningFlexibility
Editors' pick
Ages 6+★ 4.3

Twin it!

Cocktail Games · 2–6 players · approx. 5–10 min

Spot two identical patterns among many similar ones in a flash and pounce: a fast-paced perception game for sharp eyes.

Perception and speed
Editors' pick

How we made this selection

Here you will find the games that we mark as “Editors' pick” and that can be played by two. They range from first games with rules from age 3 to duels from age 10; some are designed specifically for exactly two people. Each game has its own review on this website, with a description of how it plays, the number of players and a skills profile.

Frequently asked questions

Should I let my child win?

With three- to six-year-olds, the adult can help a little so that a long run of bad luck does not spoil the fun. At this age, children do not yet need to know how to lose; they are only learning it. It is precisely through play that they practise following rules and coping with disappointment. Things stay fair with open handicaps, such as a head start for the child, with games in which luck also counts, and with cooperative games in which you win or lose together.

From what age can I play one-on-one with my child?

Most children start to enjoy games with rules from around the age of three, but they only gradually learn to understand and follow the rules. This selection therefore starts with simple games from age 3 and 4, such as Katamino Family or Animal Upon Animal. Between five and seven, many children increasingly enjoy games with rules, with big differences in interest and ability. Once your child knows a game well, let them keep track of the rules themselves: that is more demanding than having adults remind them.

Competing or cooperating: which is better?

Both have their place. In competition, children practise dealing with winning and losing. Cooperative games take the pressure off because you win or lose together. In a study with 70 four- and five-year-olds in preschool groups, the children behaved more cooperatively and less aggressively during cooperative games; after competitive games, it was the other way round. Games you can play together as a pair here include Bandido from age 6, Hanabi or The Game: Quick & Easy from age 8 and Sky Team from age 10. Sky Team is designed specifically for two.

Does a game for two to four people also work with two?

The information on the box says that it is possible, not that it is as much fun with two as in a larger group. Some games adapt their rules: in a two-player game of Blokus, each person plays two colours. Games for two only are tailored entirely to the duel. In this selection, these include Mastermind and Pentago from age 8 as well as Lost Cities: Card Game – With 6th Expedition and the cooperative Sky Team from age 10. The number of players is given in the review of each game.

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