What is the best 2-player abstract strategy board game?

Azul (2017) is the highest-rated 2-player abstract strategy board game on BoardGameGeek, at 7.8/10 from 56,934 ratings. Patchwork Winter Edition and Santorini round out the top three.

How many 2-player abstract strategy board games are there?

MeeplePick lists 445 2-player abstract strategy board games, ranked here by BoardGameGeek community rating.

2-player games / Abstract Strategy

Best 2-player abstract strategy board games

The best 2-player abstract strategy board games are Azul, Patchwork Winter Edition and Santorini — the top-rated of 445 2-player abstract strategy board games in the MeeplePick database, led by Azul (2017) at 7.8/10 on BoardGameGeek.

Refine 2-player abstract strategy board games by time, complexity & ageOpen finder →

Top abstract strategy board games for 2 players

As an Amazon Associate, MeeplePick earns from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.

Azul (2017)
2–4 players · 30–45 min · ★ 7.8
Complexity
See on Amazon ↗
Patchwork Winter Edition (2014)
2 players · 15–30 min · ★ 7.7
Complexity
See on Amazon ↗
Santorini (2016)
2–4 players · 20 min · ★ 7.5
Complexity
See on Amazon ↗
Hive (2000)
2 players · 20 min · ★ 7.3
Complexity
See on Amazon ↗
Chess (1475)
2 players · 60 min · ★ 7.1
Complexity
See on Amazon ↗
Samurai (1998)
2–4 players · 30–60 min · ★ 7.5
Complexity
See on Amazon ↗
Onitama (2014)
2 players · 15–20 min · ★ 7.4
Complexity
See on Amazon ↗
Azul Summer Pavilion (2019)
2–4 players · 30–45 min · ★ 7.8
Complexity
See on Amazon ↗
Photosynthesis (2017)
2–4 players · 30–60 min · ★ 7.1
Complexity
See on Amazon ↗
Travel Blokus (2000)
2–4 players · 20 min · ★ 6.9
Complexity
See on Amazon ↗
Mensa Connections (2004)
1–4 players · 45 min · ★ 7.1
Complexity
See on Amazon ↗
YINSH (2003)
2 players · 30–60 min · ★ 7.7
Complexity
See on Amazon ↗
Tiny Towns (2019)
1–6 players · 45–60 min · ★ 7.3
Complexity
See on Amazon ↗
Azul Stained glass of Sintra \/ Les vitraux de Sintra (2018)
2–4 players · 30–45 min · ★ 7.4
Complexity
See on Amazon ↗
Tsuro (2004)
2–8 players · 15–20 min · ★ 6.7
Complexity
See on Amazon ↗
Calico (2020)
1–4 players · 30–45 min · ★ 7.9
Complexity
See on Amazon ↗
War Chest (2018)
2–4 players · 30 min · ★ 8.0
Complexity
See on Amazon ↗
Through the Desert (1998)
2–5 players · 45 min · ★ 7.1
Complexity
See on Amazon ↗
Hey (2003)
2–4 players · 20 min · ★ 6.7
Complexity
See on Amazon ↗
Qwirkle Collector's Edition (2006)
2–4 players · 45 min · ★ 6.8
Complexity
See on Amazon ↗
Torres (1999)
2–4 players · 60 min · ★ 7.1
Complexity
See on Amazon ↗
Ricochet Robots (1999)
1–99 players · 30 min · ★ 7.0
Complexity
See on Amazon ↗
Reef (2018)
2–4 players · 30–45 min · ★ 7.1
Complexity
See on Amazon ↗
Tash-Kalar Arena of Legends (2013)
2–4 players · 30–60 min · ★ 7.2
Complexity
See on Amazon ↗
DVONN (2001)
2 players · 30 min · ★ 7.5
Complexity
See on Amazon ↗
Dragon Castle (2017)
2–4 players · 30–45 min · ★ 7.2
Complexity
See on Amazon ↗
TZAAR (2007)
2 players · 30–60 min · ★ 7.7
Complexity
See on Amazon ↗
Mexica (2002)
2–4 players · 90 min · ★ 7.2
Complexity
See on Amazon ↗
Cottage Garden (2016)
1–4 players · 45–60 min · ★ 6.9
Complexity
See on Amazon ↗
Backgammon (-3000)
2 players · 30 min · ★ 6.5
Complexity
See on Amazon ↗
The Duke (2013)
2 players · 30 min · ★ 7.4
Complexity
See on Amazon ↗
Rummikub (1977)
2–4 players · 60 min · ★ 6.4
Complexity
See on Amazon ↗
Mandala (2019)
2 players · 20 min · ★ 7.7
Complexity
See on Amazon ↗
Nova Luna (2019)
1–4 players · 30–60 min · ★ 7.5
Complexity
See on Amazon ↗
NMBR 9 (2017)
1–4 players · 20 min · ★ 6.9
Complexity
See on Amazon ↗
Kahuna (1998)
2 players · 30–40 min · ★ 6.6
Complexity
See on Amazon ↗
Winning Together (1991)
2 players · 20 min · ★ 6.9
Complexity
See on Amazon ↗
Tak University Edition (2017)
2 players · 20–60 min · ★ 7.6
Complexity
See on Amazon ↗
Quoridor Travel (1997)
2–4 players · 15 min · ★ 6.7
Complexity
See on Amazon ↗
Vigor Blokus (2005)
2 players · 15 min · ★ 6.8
Complexity
See on Amazon ↗
Stratego (1946)
2 players · 45 min · ★ 6.1
Complexity
See on Amazon ↗
Blue Lagoon (2018)
2–4 players · 30–45 min · ★ 7.2
Complexity
See on Amazon ↗
The King is Dead Second Edition (2020)
2–4 players · 30–45 min · ★ 8.0
Complexity
See on Amazon ↗
Kodama The Tree Spirits (2016)
2–5 players · 30 min · ★ 6.7
Complexity
See on Amazon ↗
GIPF mini (1996)
2 players · 30–60 min · ★ 7.1
Complexity
See on Amazon ↗
Tsuro of the Seas (2012)
2–8 players · 20–40 min · ★ 6.5
Complexity
See on Amazon ↗
Abalone Classic (1987)
2 players · 30 min · ★ 6.5
Complexity
See on Amazon ↗
Kingdoms (1994)
2–4 players · 45 min · ★ 6.6
Complexity
See on Amazon ↗

Quick abstract strategy board games for 2 players (30 minutes or less)

Patchwork Winter Edition (2014)
2 players · 15–30 min · ★ 7.7
Complexity
See on Amazon ↗
Santorini (2016)
2–4 players · 20 min · ★ 7.5
Complexity
See on Amazon ↗
Hive (2000)
2 players · 20 min · ★ 7.3
Complexity
See on Amazon ↗
Onitama (2014)
2 players · 15–20 min · ★ 7.4
Complexity
See on Amazon ↗
Travel Blokus (2000)
2–4 players · 20 min · ★ 6.9
Complexity
See on Amazon ↗
Tsuro (2004)
2–8 players · 15–20 min · ★ 6.7
Complexity
See on Amazon ↗
War Chest (2018)
2–4 players · 30 min · ★ 8.0
Complexity
See on Amazon ↗
Hey (2003)
2–4 players · 20 min · ★ 6.7
Complexity
See on Amazon ↗
Ricochet Robots (1999)
1–99 players · 30 min · ★ 7.0
Complexity
See on Amazon ↗
DVONN (2001)
2 players · 30 min · ★ 7.5
Complexity
See on Amazon ↗
Backgammon (-3000)
2 players · 30 min · ★ 6.5
Complexity
See on Amazon ↗
The Duke (2013)
2 players · 30 min · ★ 7.4
Complexity
See on Amazon ↗

Frequently asked

What is the best 2-player abstract strategy board game?: Azul (2017) is the highest-rated 2-player abstract strategy board game on BoardGameGeek, at 7.8/10 from 56,934 ratings. Patchwork Winter Edition and Santorini round out the top three.
How many 2-player abstract strategy board games are there?: MeeplePick lists 445 2-player abstract strategy board games, ranked here by BoardGameGeek community rating.