this post was submitted on 27 Jul 2025
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Board Games

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Looking For a Simple, Short, Portable 2 Player game (discuss.online)
submitted 6 days ago by umean2me@discuss.online to c/boardgames@sopuli.xyz
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Im familiar enough with board games to know that I’m asking a lot here. My goal is to have a game that I can carry around with me, walk up to people I meet in public, and ask them to play.

The most obvious path here I thought of would be some type of game played with a standard deck of cards. While I’m not opposed to this, I fear the randomness that comes with that might not be what I’m looking for. I want the game to be strategic with minimal luck but simple enough that a first time player could reasonably win against someone experienced.

Something like Hive comes to mind, as it has the pocket variation and seems like it could be easy enough to teach, but I have yet to play it so I fear it might be daunting to newcomers in ways similar to chess.

Thank you in advance for any and all answers, and if you would like further clarification I’d be happy to elaborate!

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[–] nokturne213@sopuli.xyz 7 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Splendor. If taken out of the box, it can be stored in a much smaller box. It is very easy to learn and a lot of fun for 2-4 players.

[–] smeg@feddit.uk 2 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Also there's Splendour Duel which is specifically for 2 players

[–] nokturne213@sopuli.xyz 1 points 5 days ago (3 children)

I have never played it, but have heard it is not as good as splendor.

[–] TAG@lemmy.world 1 points 4 days ago

Splendor Duel is more complicated to teach but has more agonizing decisions (lots of times when you can make a good move that also enables good moves for your opponent or you take a bad move and deny your opponent opportunities).

For some people both of those are positive changes, but I think both are negative.

[–] smeg@feddit.uk 3 points 5 days ago (1 children)

I personally prefer it, feels like it has way more options especially for 2 players

[–] UnfairUtan@lemmy.world 2 points 5 days ago

I feel the same

[–] AwesomeLowlander@sh.itjust.works 1 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago)

Actually plays a lot better, imo