10 Great Games for Couples Game Night

1. Ticket to Ride

This is one of our all-time favorite games. There are many different versions, but if you are just starting out, I recommend going with the classic. If you enjoy it, you can branch out into the other versions later.

It can be played with 2–5 players, but with two players the rules change slightly. For example, only one of the double routes can be claimed. The fun part is that each game feels different since you will not get the same destination cards every time. You can play with different strategies too, either blocking your opponent or focusing on completing your routes as quickly as possible.

2. Five Crowns

This is my partner’s favorite card game. It starts off simple, but quickly ramps up because your hand grows with each round. You try to make either “books” (cards of the same value but different suits) or “runs” (cards in sequential order of the same suit).

There are also jokers, which are always wild, plus the card number for the current round becomes a wild card too. For example, in round five, all 5s are wild. This makes the game exciting since you are constantly on the lookout for wild cards. In our case, we often forget what is wild until it is too late, which always makes us laugh afterward.

3. Codenames

Codenames is usually a team game, but me and my partner like playing it just the two of us. So we like to practice and get better at understanding each other’s clues so we can dominate when we play Codenames against others.

We usually play either the original version or the Disney version. There are also many other versions such as Marvel and Harry Potter. For two players, one person gives clues and the other guesses. You choose one color team and try to avoid the black card. Simple, but always fun.

4. Monopoly Deal

I recently bought this one and it has been such a fun surprise. It is way better than playing Monopoly for three or more hours while everyone gets frustrated. This card game version takes about 15 minutes per round and is very fun to play 2–3 rounds of in one night.

The first time through, you will probably need to check the rules a lot, but once you get the hang of it, it is quick and easy. Even people who hate Monopoly usually end up liking this game.

5. Junior Detective

This one might sound silly since it is targeted at kids, but trust me, it is fun. It is basically a kid-friendly version of Clue. There are 40 different “cases” to solve, so every game feels different.

I love that it is simple and does not require too much brainpower, which makes it perfect for a relaxed game night.

6. Unsolved Case Files

I absolutely love Unsolved Case Files. They make you feel like you are really stepping into an investigation. While you can play them solo, I think they are better with two people since you can divide up the evidence and debate theories with each other.

Sometimes we even compete to see who can solve the case first. I recommend buying more than one case at a time, since once you finish one you will want to dive into another right away.

7. UNO

Do I really need to explain? It is a classic, easy, and works perfectly for two players.

8. Incohearent

This game always has us cracking up. The idea is to guess phrases based on jumbled words that sound similar. We skip the timer and just take turns reading cards. It often leads to us laughing so hard we cannot focus and sometimes sparks random conversations that make it more of a bonding experience than you would expect.

9. Catan

We recently got into Catan and quickly became obsessed. While it is meant for more than two players, there are special two-player rules you can find online. Here are two different versions of the rules that we have used:

• Nicholas Borko’s rules

• Table Top Monthly’s rules

There are tons of expansions and different versions of Catan, and the fan community is very active with extra pieces and custom rules. It is a game that never really gets old.

10. Let’s Get Deep

This one is more of a conversation starter than a “game,” but it is great for couples. It is basically a deck of cards with prompts that range from lighthearted to deep and meaningful. We have had some amazing conversations because of it.

There are also versions made for friends, plus expansion packs if you want more variety.