KickStarter Recommend me a 2 player tabletop game

[Cadmus]

Guys can you recommend me a tabletop game for 2 players?
Criteria:
- not childish
- not too complicated
- nicely themed would be good, something with atmosphere
- probably not a card game
- not retarded expensive

My gf likes tabletop games but we only play Carcassone with friends but because I hate friends I'd like something that's actually fun in 2 players. Shouldn't be too complicated or time consuming, like 45 mins games tops I think.

I have played only few of these so I have no idea where to start, the stores are full of movie and game knock-offs and I have no idea how to judge the quality.

 

[Grimgravy]

I don't own these.
Targi: Played it a couple times (with another avid board gamer not my wife) and enjoyed it.
Five Tribes: Only played it once with the above gamer and his wife. They usually play it 2 player.
Azul: Played a couple of times with 4 players. BGG says it's best with 2.

I personally own these. All have cards but here they are anyway in decreasing order of complexity.
7 Wonders Duel: 2 player variant of 7 Wonders. My wife likes this, but hates Carcassone.
The Downfall of Pompeii: Fill Pompeii with people. Then the volcano erupts. Try to get more of your people out than your opponents. On board volcano to drop guys into. 2-4 players. Better with more players but still fun with 2.
The next two are definitely lighter and more about cards. I own them mostly because my wife likes shorter, lighter games.
Lost Cities: Earn point on archeological expeditions. You need 21+ value in an expedition to get points. You can lose points if less than 20. Some cards add multipliers to your net score in an expedition.
Piñata: Need high or low cards. When someone wins the Piñata it flips over, and it need low instead of high and vice versa. Collect majorities different colored candies to win.

 

[CryptRat]

Mr. Jack is one of my favourite 2 player games and it fits all your criteria.

A bunch of characters each with a particular abilities on a board and all controlled by the two players, and one of the characters is Jack. One player knows who he is and will try to have him escape, the other is the inspector trying to unmask and arrest Jack. At each turn some characters are discared as "is not Jack" based on the current configuration.

 

[Cadmus]

Thanks guys keep em coming Ill research those you posted

 

[lukaszek]

deterministic system > RNG

 

[UglyBastard]

Pandemic is quite okay at two players and you can also use it when the friends should come around eventually.

It has nice flavor and good quality set pieces, rules are not too complicated but allow for many decisions and it's coop, so no one gets pissed at the end.

 

[Aqualung]

I find Mr Jack very basic and boring. Maybe you would like to try Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective.

My favourite bf/gf games are Hannibal. Rome vs Carthage, Twilight Struggle, Battlecry, Memoir 44, Commands and Colors (both Ancients and Napoleonics), Age of Napoleon and For the People but I think that this is not what you are looking for. Arkham Horror is always a good choice too.

 

[lukaszek]

deterministic system > RNG

 

[Leechmonger]

Lord of the Rings: Confrontation is a nice Stratego-like game.

 

[Ellef]

Seconding Targi recommendation, really solid game with enough randomisation to keep it interesting for a while.

 

[Ellef]

Hive is very popular and a great one for limited space and taking on trips. Can't say it's atmospheric at all but the pieces are nice and a finished game looks pleasant.

 

[Ranarama]

Five Tribes. It's Mancala on Ritalin.

 

[Destroid]

I haven't played it but Twilight Struggle (cold war theme) was on top of BoardGameGeek for years and it's 2 player only.

Also haven't played, but I have watched a game of Star Wars: Rebellion played in person and it looked very good, also it's really only a 2 player game (you can play with 4 but it's not really made for that). Might be a bit on the heavy side though.

Terraforming Mars I can recommend wholeheartedly for 2-4 players, it's great with any of those.

 

[Aqualung]

Hive is very popular and a great one for limited space and taking on trips. Can't say it's atmospheric at all but the pieces are nice and a finished game looks pleasant.

Hive is very nice indeed. I rec buying the travel size with the mosquito, ladybug and pillbug expansions.

 

[Gay-Lussac]

Another vote for 7 wonders duel, it's a nice 2 player civ-building drafting game, nice art on the cards, even my mom learned how to play it.

For more strategic depth, add in the Pantheon expansion.

 

[Gay-Lussac]

Viticulture is also a staple for couples games. It's a medium weight worker placement euro where you run a vinyard. Tuscany expansion complicates it but makes it quite a bit better.

 

[udm]

Azul: Played a couple of times with 4 players. BGG says it's best with 2.

Second Azul. It is a lot of fun.

Also, Patchwork is a must-buy.

 

[flabbyjack]

I hear chess is good.

 

[Cadmus]

Chess is bad because one side loses...
If you catch my drift.

 

[Aqualung]

If someone has issues with losing, try Arkham Horror.

 

[Bocian]

Strip poker. Usually the only thing you lose is your clothes.

 

[Galdred]

I played Summoner Wars a lot with my girlfriend when we had more time.
I definitely recommend Summoner Wars. The game is about killing the opponent commander. You have to chose whether to play your cards or use them as mana every turn, while moving your units on the board (units are cards that you summon on the board with mana).
Killing units also give you mana.

CIA vs KGB was a bit shallow, but had a nice mind game element.

Dominion plays well with 2 player, but it might get old quickly, and it suffers from a lack of interaction.

Space Hulk is an awesome 2 player game, but maybe a bit pricey for what it is.

 

[J1M]

Dominion is good for girlfriends because even if you lose you can feel like you were building something positive.

Terra Mystica plays well for the same reason.

 

[deuxhero]

There's a bunch of 1 on 1 RPG modules out there for various systems if those count.

 

[Jason Liang]

For me the best 2 player experience is Netrunner, so I have to recommend either Netrunner or Android Netrunner (RIP). Don't need to get fancy, the core set + the standalone scenario Terminal Directive together is enough of a great Netrunner experience.

https://www.shutupandsitdown.com/test/
https://www.shutupandsitdown.com/review-android-netrunner-terminal-directive/

No one's mentioned LotR: Confrontation. A bit on the simple side and a bit geeky but it has its moments.

2 player Scrabble is always a good way to pass time.