Playing board games with other couples is one of my favourite double date ideas. And whether it’s cooperative or competitive board games, there’s always fun to be had.
But, instead of playing your standard gamut of board games, like Monopoly, or Scrabble, or Trivial Pursuit, why not change it up?
Well, below is my list of the top 10 board games perfect for couples on a double date.
Article Contents:
- Ticket to Ride · 35 – 60 minutes · 2 to 5 player
- Carcassonne · 35 – 45 minutes · 2 to 5 player
- Survive: Escape from Atlantis · 45 – 60 minutes · 2 to 4 player
- Kingdomino · 15 – 30 minutes · 2 to 4 player
- Splendor · 25 – 45 minutes · 2 to 4 player
- Monopoly Deal · 15 – 20 minutes · 2 to 5 player
- Magic Maze · 5 – 15 minutes · 2 to 8 player
- Citadels · 20 – 60 minutes · 2 to 8 player
- Sushi Go! · 15 – 20 minutes · 2 to 5 player
- Codenames · 20 – 30 minutes · 4 to 8 player
Gameplay: 35 to 60 minutes
Players: 2 to 5
Ages: 8+
Transportability: Low
Difficulty to Learn: Medium
Setup Time: 10 minutes
Expansions: Yes
Price: $55 to $65
One of the first board games I typically suggest for a double date is Ticket to Ride. It’s a personal favorite and a riot to play for a pair of couples.
Quick Rules
The name of the game is to be awarded the most points by the end. Players can score points two ways: (1) By purchasing and placing rail cars between cities, and (2) by completing destination cards.
At the end of the game, any destination cards that are not completed result in negative points being awards.
Why it’s Great
Ticket to Ride is such a great board game for a double date because perfectly balances chance and strategy to win. It’s not overtly competitive so it’s great for couples who are novice board gamers.
It’s very easy to setup and explain, and every game is different. So, if you’re stuck inside and want to spice up your double date night, this board game is your go-to!
Looking for the complete rules to play Ticket to Ride? Check them out here.
Gameplay: 35 to 45 minutes
Players: 2 to 5
Ages: 7+
Transportability: Medium
Difficulty to Learn: Medium
Setup Time: 2 minutes
Expansions: Yes
Price: $35 to $45
Usually lasting 45 minutes to an hour, Carcassonne is a relatively unknown board game great for couples.
Quick Rules
Setting up this board game consists of taking out the scoring board, choosing a colour of “followers” and mixing up the game tiles face-down in the box. That’s it!
Tiles are selected at random and players must connect them to other tiles already in play. But, tiles must fit together such that the “border” of the tiles work together. A new tile, when connected to an existing tile, must complete the map without producing a fallacy, such as a road ending abruptly, a field-edged tile connected to a city-edge tile, etc.
Why it’s Great
Carcassonne is great because all you need to play is a large flat surface. There is virtually no learning curve to playing, the game dynamics are straightforward, and even scoring is simple.
For couples looking for a slow-paced board game perfect for date night, check out Carcassonne.
Looking for the complete rules to play Carcassonne? Check them out here.
Gameplay: 45 to 60 minutes
Players: 2 to 4
Ages: 8+
Transportability: Low
Difficulty to Learn: Low
Setup Time: 5 minutes
Expansions: No
Price: $40 – $50
Sometimes, couples date night needs some intrigue and excitement. Well, Survive: Escape from Atlantis is the perfect board game to add a little exhilaration.
Quick Rules
The name of the game is to get your players off of a volcanic island that’s poised to explode. But, toss in a few sharks, whales, and seas serpents, pepper in some occasional sabotage, and you’ve got a recipe for truly blockbuster board game for all!
Why it’s Great
The competing strategy of each player, and, at times, the pure cut-throat action makes Survive a thrilling board game everyone will enjoy.
Well, unless you’re on the receiving end of a Kraken attack!
Looking for the complete rules to play Survive: Escape from Atlantis? Check them out here.
Gameplay: 15 to 30 minutes
Players: 2 to 4
Ages: 8+
Transportability: Medium
Difficulty to Learn: Low
Setup Time: 2 minutes
Expansions: Yes
Price: $20 to $30
Kingdomino is such a simple, yet highly addictive board game that’s moderately competitive and quick to play, making it perfect for a double date.
And, for its surprisingly low cost, just oozes with value.
Quick Rules
The objective of Kingdomino is to gather and build the most lucrative 5 x 5 square kingdom around your castle using domino tiles, earning you points based on the number of connected terrain territories.
All you need is a flat playing surface. So, huddling around a coffee table, or playing on the floor next to a fireplace is an ideal gaming surface.
Why it’s Great
The low set-up time, relatively quick play-time, and easy-to-follow gameplay makes Kingdomino a great option for your next couple’s double date night!
Looking for the complete rules to play Kingdomino? Check them out here.
Gameplay: 25 to 45 minutes
Players: 2 to 4
Ages: 10+
Transportability: Medium
Difficulty to Learn: Low
Setup Time: 5 minutes
Expansions: Yes
Price: $35 to $40
Splendor is a game of patience, persistence, and perseverance. The goal of this deck-building board game is to collect gem tokens and gem cards to gain enough “prestige points” before your opponents. The first player to reach or exceed 15 prestige points wins!
Quick Rules
The goal of this deck-building board game is to collect gem tokens and gem cards to gain enough “prestige points” before your opponent. The first player to reach or exceed 15 prestige points wins!
To get prestige points, you need to purchase prestige gem cards. To purchase prestige gem cards, you need to have either enough tokens (chips) and/or other gem cards. And, to get gem cards, you need to purchase them with tokens. Finally, to get tokens, you can pick them up 3 (or two) at a time on your turn.
Phew! That’s the game in a nutshell.
Splendor can feel like you’re playing a chess match because you are constantly anticipating your opponents next move while planning your own. It hurts my brain just thinking about it.
Why it’s Great
My wife is a master at Splendor, and it drives me bonkers!
If you want, you can also pickup the expansions box which offer alternative ways of playing so it never gets repetitive… But don’t worry, it never does!
Splendor is a fantastic board game for the cottage, camping, and on vacations, with your bestie, or with another couple. Check it out!
Looking for the complete rules to play Splendor? Check them out here.
Gameplay: 15 to 20 minutes
Players: 2 to 5
Ages: 8+
Transportability: High
Difficulty to Learn: Low
Setup Time: 1 minute
Expansions: No
Price: $10 – $15
Regular Monopoly is the classic date night board game everyone has played.
But, Monopoly Deal is a card-based board game that is just as competitive as its older brother but at a fraction of the complexity and time commitment which makes it perfect for a double date.
Quick Rules
Unlike traditional Monopoly, Monopoly Deal takes only 15 to 20 minutes to play! And the rules are a whole lot simpler. The first player who is able to collect three complete sets of properties wins.
Why it’s Great
Playing Monopoly Deal with couples on a double date is a no-brainer. The low setup time, simple rules, and high re-playability makes ideal for all levels of players. This pocket-sized board game is also great for couple’s like to play board games while on vacation.
Looking for the complete rules to play Monopoly Deal? Check them out here.
Gameplay: 5 to 15 minutes, per Round
Players: 1 to 8
Ages: 5+
Transportability: Medium
Difficulty to Learn: Low
Setup Time: 5 minutes
Expansions: No
Price: $30 – $40
For couples who take cooperative board games seriously, Magic Maze is truly a whopper. The game takes a bit of explaining, but once you get the jest of it, it’s actually unbelievably fun.
Quick Rules
The board game consists of completing different “find and escape” scenarios, and with each scenario comes added complexity.
Four coloured pawns are placed on a centre map tile. Each player is then granted a specific ability associated with the movement of the pawns. For example, move up, move right, relocate a player, etc. The pawns methodically explore each tile, revealing more areas and connecting tiles, until the all the required items are recovered and the pawns get to the exits.
The game requires intense cooperation. But there’s a twist… actually, a double twist! For a vast majority of gameplay, no talking or gesturing is allowed.
Instead, players are forced to use the “Do Something!” token, and tap it in front of the player that needs use their ability to move a pawn. Oh, and there’s a running timer that must be reset before it runs out!
Why it’s Great
Magic Maze is a test of focus and teamwork, which makes it great for a double date night. Trust me, if you stop paying attention for just a second, even a cool and collected player will become panic-stricken and confused!
Looking for the complete rules to play Magic Maze? Check them out here.
Gameplay: 20 to 60 minutes
Players: 2 to 8
Ages: 10+
Transportability: High
Difficulty to Learn: Low
Setup Time: 5 minutes
Expansions: Yes
Price: $20 – $30
In Citadels the board game, players are constantly switching characters in an attempt to gain power and points, all the while undermining their component’s attempts at success.
This fundamental principle of the game makes it a riot to play with another couple who are into competitive board games.
Quick Rules
During the game, players take turns selecting 1 of 8 character cards in secret. Each character has their own unique ability, which becomes evident during the action phase of gameplay.
Some characters give you more points, others let you chose your next character first, and others all-together block rival characters from maneuvering during the action phase.
The goal is to systematically choose characters that help increase your income so that you can build district cards (which earn you points). Once any player builds their 8th district card, the game ends, and the player with the most points wins!
Why it’s Great
So, to add some friendly competition to your double date night without much effort, why not bring Citadels? It’s small, simple, and loads of fun.
Looking for the complete rules to play Citadels? Check them out here.
Gameplay: 15 to 20 minutes
Players: 2 to 5
Ages: 8+
Transportability: High
Difficulty to Learn: Low
Setup Time: 2 minutes
Expansions: Yes
Price: $15 – $20
What pairs perfectly with a couple’s sushi date night? Sushi Go, of course!
Sushi Go! is a fast-paced board game that’ll have you snatching up sashimi and wanting more wasabi!
It’s a low cost board game that’s comes in a tiny box. But, don’t let its small size fool you. It’s loads of fun!
Quick Rules
The overall concept of Sushi Go is simple. Over a series of three rounds, players add sushi cards to their “plate”. The player with the highest scoring plate wins!
One thing I love about Sushi Go is how compact the game actually is. The game case (which is essentially a tin box) is no larger than 3 x 5 x 2 inches.
Why it’s Great
It’s the perfect compact board game you can pull out whenever you have date night at your place – condo, apartment, or house!
And, even if you don’t like eating sushi, you’ll definitely love playing Sushi Go. It’s an affordable, quick, and compact game that offers endless fun.
Looking for the complete rules to play Sushi Go!? Check them out here.
Gameplay: 20 to 30 minutes
Players: 4 to 8
Ages: 10+
Transportability: High
Difficulty to Learn: Low
Setup Time: 5 minutes
Expansions: No
Price: $25 – $35
In Codenames, couples try to reveal friendly spies by properly guessing their codename with only one-word, one-number clues.
Quick Rules
For example, if the friendly spies are associated with the codenames universe, spider, iron, stone, and camera, what’s one word that can connect them all?
Well, if you said “Marvel – 5”, you would be an expert spy master and would definitely be interested in play (and winning) Codenames.
Why it’s Great
The complete rules for Codenames are quick and easy to explain. It can be a lot of fun, especially among couples that claim to “work great together”. This is the ultimate test…
It’s decently competitive which makes it great to play while on a double date.
Looking for the complete rules to play Codenames? Check them out here.
Which board games do you enjoy playing with another couple while on a double date? Let me know your favourites in the comments below!
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