10 good 2 player games, Recomendations for Barry

My friend Barry has asked for some recommendations for a good 2 player game with a bit of substance to play with his cousin Garry.

So without further ado 10 games I have enjoyed which I think will go down well.

10. Memoir 44
WW2 game which plays out various scenarios, depicting at squad/company level various battles from the D-day landing to the eastern front and beyond. A simple gaming system which is very easy to learn, uses cards to simulate the fog of war, allowing you only to order units in a particular section of the map if you have the correct card. Games are quite quick with most scenarios being played out in under an hour. Should also mention this game has tons of expansions, which introduce new nations (Russian British, Japanese) and many more scenarios than you will ever get round to playing.
http://www.daysofwonder.com/memoir44/en/ww.daysofwonder.com/memoir44/en/

9. Runebound 2nd Ed.
A fantasy adventure game an a similar vain of Talisman or World of Warcraft: the board game. Plays in about an hour and a half, with each player taking the role of a hero competing various challenges in order to level up and ultimately defeat the big bad dragon chap. Regarded by many on board game geek as one of the best games in the genre.
http://www.fantasyflightgames.com/edge_minisite.asp?eidm=23&enmi=Runebound

8. Dungeon Twister
A strange one this, looking at the bits it looks like a dungeon crawler, like heroquest. However the truth is this has more in common with chess. Each player control 8 characters each with various strengths and weaknesses as they ender a random labyrinth. The objective is to kill the opponents pieces or to move your pieces out the opponents starting area. With very little luck involved this will get your brain working! Also one with lot of expansions which introduce new characters and dungeon tiles
http://www.dungeontwister.com/us/

7. Hammer of the Scots
Barry and I had a go at this once before, however I believe that if played WITHOUT consuming 2 bottle of wine a-side this game will take significantly less time to play and will make much more sense.
http://hammerofthescots.com/

6. Go
Looking for a brain burner? this abstract strategy game is the ultimate. By far the oldest game on this list, This is the alpha example of easy to learn difficult to master. So much so that in the East where the game originates there is a martial art style ranking system for the players. Someone on BGG said that this “makes Chess look like a fisherpice toy”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Go_(board_game)


5. Conflict of Heros
A current favourite of mine, conflict of heros is a squad level WW2 war game. Slightly more complex than Memoir 44, you have complete control of your troops not being reliant on the whims of card play. Games play out between an hour and two. well worth a look.

http://academy-games.com/index.php/home/conflict-of-heroes-coh

4. War of the Ring
This one is a monster, only 1 game under my belt so far but am happy to recommend as it ticks so many boxes.
Evocative theme - check
Brilliantly produced board and bits -check
involving strategy - check
Epic feel - check
it does take 20 min or so to set up and 3ish hours to play so not for the faint of heart

http://www.fantasyflightgames.com/edge_minisite.asp?eidm=52&enmi=Warof the Ring

3. Race for the Galaxy
A card game that plays like a board game. Can be tricky to pick up for non-gamers as the icon system, which works very well once used to, can take a little while to get used to. This is also a current favourite, I am enjoying the constant need to reassess your position and constantly have to try and stay flexible, whilst developing a cohesive strategy which will score well. Short play length 30-40 mins means that this is getting quite a bit of play at the moment. http://www.riograndegames.com/games.html?id=240

2. Tigris & Euphrates
This one may not capture the evocative or epic feel of some of the other games on the list, but this one is a pure game and you cant help but admire the elegance of the design. This is another which will make you head hurt in a good way. Loads of depth to the strategy with the bonus that as well as being a good two play it can be played up to four folks. http://www.mayfairgames.com/shop/product/0480-0499/pages/0491.htm

1. Twilight Struggle
If you add up all the game time it is likely that Chloe and I have spent more time playing this than any other of our games, if one good reason, This game is great! An unlikely hit, TS is set during the cold war, with the players taking the roles of the super powers USA and USSR spreading your influence across the globe. Wrestling control of strategic countries by instigating coups or puppet governments. with a large world map you can live your doctor strange love fantasies there are few other games that can get the adrenalin going quite like TS. If you can commit to the 3 hr play time then there is no game to rival this. http://www.gmtgames.com/nnts/main.html


Bonus game: Light Speed
This game doesn’t have substance but costs less than a packet of cigs and takes less time to play then it takes to smoke one. Great game if you are looking for a quick blast.
http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/5534 http://www.cheapass.com/products/hippocket/cag964.html