These Are the Best 2 Player Cooperative Board Games

When you think of board game night, you might picture a family of four gathered around the table playing Monopoly. If you’ve dipped your toes a bit further into the world of gaming, you might even picture Catan.

But the truth is, there are so many more games out there. And if your family game nights only consist of two people, don’t worry.

Playing a game together is a great way to spend quality time with your partner, friend or roommate.

So, I dedicate this article to two-player cooperative games.

As a disclaimer, cooperative games may not for everybody. I have to admit that my husband, who is my main go-to board game buddy, usually prefers a competitive game instead.

I think it’s the competitive streak within him. Plus, it’s not fun to lose, and it feels even worse to lose to an inanimate object (the game itself).

Still, working toward a common goal together can be a fun way to spend an evening.

As a disclaimer, I’m going to rank these in order of approximate price. Usually, the most expensive games are the most complicated.

They are the ones that have more pieces and generally take a longer amount of time to learn and play. So, if you’re new to gaming, be sure you start out with some of the ones with a lower cost. They will have a lower barrier to entry when it comes to playability for beginners.

Without further ado, here are some of the best cooperative board games for two players:

1. Codenames Duet

Codenames, in general, is one of my favorite go-to games. It’s simple yet challenging.

Traditionally, the Codenames set is best with a larger group of people. But Codenames Duet changed all of that and made the game available for smaller groups, even those who only have two people.

In this game, players act as secret agents who try to safely communicate with each other through one-word clues that relate to multiple cards on the board. Your teammate will try to identify the correct words before the turns run out.

It’s a great game that has simple rules and it is easy to learn. It’s an enjoyable experience for those who are newer to board games.

It is currently on Amazon for about $14.

2. Forbidden Desert

This game is a type of puzzle cooperative game where players must piece together an old flying machine to escape an ancient desert city.

It’s not a literal puzzle. However, there are actual pieces that players must discover to win.

The whole game is beautifully designed and perfect for two-player sessions.

It accommodates 2-5 players total and takes about 45 minutes. It currently costs about $24 on Amazon.

A word of warning, this game can be a bit challenging. My crew lost the game the first time we played.

Also, I don’t think it has quite as much replayability as some of the other games on the list. However, that’s why there are so many different variations of this game, which brings us to our next item …

3. Forbidden Island

From Gamewright, who brought you the game previously mentioned, this different flavor of basically the same game also requires problem-solving and cooperation.

In this version, players are capturing treasures from the ruins of an abandoned paradise before the entire cursed island sinks.

This version of the game is available for about $20 on Amazon.

It plays 2-4 people and has about a 30-minute playtime.

4. Flash Point

In this game, everyone is playing on the same firefighting team. Players work together to rescue people, fight fires and investigate points of interest.

Flash Point plays 2-6 players and has about a 30-minute playtime.

As a bonus, no two games are the same. There are different difficulty levels for an added challenge, as well as two different rule sets.

While it can be played with two players, this fire rescue game generally does play better with four if you can get the whole family together.

Flash Point is currently on Amazon for about $28.

5. Castle Panic

In Castle Panic, players work together to defend a castle, which rests in the center of the game board. Monsters emerge from the edges of the game, and players must strategize the best way to beat them.

While the game is cooperative, the player with the most victory points is declared the “Master Slayer”.

This is a fun element of the co-op game and adds an extra layer of competitiveness. It’s described as a gateway game for those who do not enjoy a very complex game.

It may also be played as a solitaire game.

It plays 1-4 players and generally takes about 1-2 hours. It’s very highly rated and available on Amazon for about $32.

6. Pandemic and Pandemic Legacy

Pandemic is one of the most popular games on the market, and it often ranks as one of the best board games available. But, I think it’s also just one of the most well-known.

In this game, players work together to eradicate a disease before it overwhelms the world with outbreaks. The game requires teamwork to find cures before it’s too late.

It’s a relatively easy game, but I have lost before.

The base game is about $35 at the time of this writing. It plays 2-4 players and takes about 45 minutes.

If you’re looking for an upgrade to this game, consider Pandemic Legacy.

Legacy games are meant to be played as a series. Each session is like an episode, beginning similar to the original game and evolving from there. As you play, previous decisions you made during the game will carry over to future sessions.

Legacy Games are a lot of fun if you have a regular board game partner(s).

You can currently get Pandemic Legacy from Amazon for about $72. It also plays 2-4 players with an average playtime of 60 minutes.

Either way, Pandemic has been around for a long time and has a good amount of replay value for future game play.

7. Sherlock Holmes

For players who enjoy playing detective, Sherlock Holmes is a mystery game for teens and adults by game makers Space Cowboys.

Players interview suspects, search through articles, sweep the streets for clues and work together as a team to solve a mystery.

The game has ten cases to solve so you can play multiple times.

It plays 1-8 players with a playtime of about 90 minutes. It is currently on Amazon for about $42.

8. Mysterium

In Mysterium, players explore a haunted mansion together.

One player takes on the role of a ghost and the remaining players work as psychics. All of the players work together to psychically communicate with the ghost and interpret clues to solve the mystery.

As another mystery board game, Mysterium is beautifully designed. As a downside, the playability of this game with only two people can sometimes present a challenge for replayability.

Mysterium plays 2-7 players total and takes about 45 minutes to play. It is currently available on Amazon for about $44.

9. Arkham Horror

In this mystery strategy game, gamers play the role of investigators as they work together to discover and destroy alien creatures and monsters.

The game was inspired by the writings of H.P. Lovecraft, which is also the inspiration for another one of my favorite games, Lovecraft Letter.

Read Also: Date night games for married couples: Best ideas for 2022

The game, to me, looks a bit similar to Betrayal except, of course, it’s cooperative. Players can select one of the 12 unique investigators, each of whom have their own special abilities and items.

Arkham Horror can accommodate 1-6 players and takes about 2-3 hours.

This board game is currently about $64 on Amazon.

10. Mansions of Madness

This is a horror game that takes place in the same universe as Arkham Horror. Players explore cursed mansions as they work together to solve a mystery.

The game has four campaigns with various levels of difficulty. It’s a fun game for those who enjoy a thrilling, spooky theme and ghost stories.

This game plays 1-5 players total and takes about 2-3 hours.

It currently retails for $72 on Amazon.

11. Honorable mention: Overcooked 2

This video game is not a board game, but I wanted to give it a mention. Playing a good couch co-op game leaves me with the same good vibes as any board game.

In this adorable game, characters work together to prepare meals in overall poorly designed kitchens that each present a unique set of challenges.

Overcooked 2 is my all-time favorite co-op game. I love playing with four people, but it does quite well with two players also. It’s available on the Steam store and plays on the Switch, PlayStation 4 and Xbox.

What is your favorite game for a two-player cooperative game night? Did I miss any on this list of games? Let me know in the comments below.