Best Games for Couples

Best games for couples – quick overview

Here’s a quick overview of some games from the Playiro rules library that work particularly well for couples. You can link each game title to its rules guide on Playiro when you publish the article.

You don’t need all of these. Pick one or two that suit your style, then build your own “couple games shelf” over time.

Best board and card games for couples

Board and card games are ideal for couple nights: they’re reusable, easy to store and often scale well from two players up to a small group.

Ticket to Ride

Ticket to Ride is a route-building game where you collect coloured sets of train cards and claim tracks on a map.

• Players: 2–5
• Play time: 45–60 minutes
• Style: Strategic, but not overwhelming

At two players, the board feels open enough that you’re rarely completely blocked, but tight enough that a single well-timed route can ruin the other person’s grand plan. It’s one of the best games for couples who want a “proper” board game that still has simple, intuitive rules.

Azul

Azul is a visually striking game about creating beautiful tile patterns on your personal player board.

• Players: 2–4 (excellent at 2)
• Play time: 30–45 minutes
• Style: Calm, tactical, slightly cut-throat

You draft tiles from shared factories and place them in rows. The clever part is how you manage leftovers and avoid taking more tiles than you can place. At two players, you can really focus on reading each other’s plans and quietly steering the round in your favour. It’s perfect for a relaxed evening with snacks and music.

Carcassonne

Carcassonne is all about building a shared medieval landscape with tiles – cities, roads, fields and cloisters.

• Players: 2–5
• Play time: 35–45 minutes
• Style: Interactive, gentle territory control

Each turn you place a tile and decide whether to put one of your meeples on it, claiming part of the growing map. As a couple, you’ll constantly be weighing up whether to compete for the same feature, help each other finish something, or sneakily piggyback into the other person’s area. It’s interactive without being aggressive.

Rummikub

Rummikub combines elements of rummy and classic tile games.

• Players: 2–4
• Play time: 30–45 minutes
• Style: Classic, swingy, satisfying when it “clicks”

You try to get rid of your tiles by building sets and runs on the table. The magic comes from rearranging existing tiles to make room for yours – something couples either find hilariously messy or incredibly clever. It’s a great choice if you want a familiar-feeling game that still produces big “I can’t believe that move worked” moments.

UNO

UNO is the classic colourful shedding game that almost everyone recognises.

• Players: 2–10
• Play time: 15–30 minutes
• Style: Light, chaotic, family-friendly

For couples, UNO works well as a warm-up or closer for the evening. You don’t have to think too hard, but there’s still room for playful revenge with Skip, Reverse and Draw cards. Just agree in advance whether you’re using any house rules.

Scrabble

Scrabble is the classic word-building game played on a shared board.

• Players: 2–4
• Play time: 45–60 minutes
• Style: Thoughtful, language-focused

If you both enjoy words, Scrabble is one of the best games for couples who like a quieter kind of competition. You’ll end up debating obscure words, discovering surprising vocabulary and creating your own table jokes around certain tiles. You can also play a more relaxed version where you don’t worry too much about perfect scoring.

Chess or Backgammon

If you’re in the mood for pure two-player competition, you can’t go wrong with Chess or Backgammon.

• Players: 2
• Play time: 20–60 minutes, depending on format
• Style: Deep strategy (Chess), fast tactical races (Backgammon)

These classics are perfect if one or both of you enjoy thinking several moves ahead. You can play long, serious matches or keep it light with quick games and friendly commentary. Over time, you’ll develop personal rivalries and favourite openings.

Best party and drinking games for couples & double dates

When you’re hosting friends or going on a double date, you want games that are social, easy to join and mostly about laughter. Playiro’s rules library includes several party and drinking games that work very well in this setting.

Cards Against Humanity

Cards Against Humanity is an adult party game built entirely around outrageous combinations of phrases.

• Players: 4+
• Play time: 30–60 minutes
• Best for: Couples with a dark sense of humour and close friends

One player reads a prompt, everyone else plays a punchline card, and the funniest (or most shocking) combination wins. It’s rarely a game you play only as a couple, but it’s perfect for evenings with other couples where you’re comfortable being silly and a bit inappropriate.

Codenames

Codenames is a word-based party game where you try to guess the right words from a grid using one-word clues.

• Players: 2+ (great for teams)
• Play time: 15–30 minutes
• Best for: Double dates, group evenings

Couples can play on the same team, trying to “read each other’s mind” with clever clues, or play on opposite sides for friendly rivalry. It’s simple to explain but surprisingly deep, and it works across a wide range of group sizes.

Exploding Kittens

Exploding Kittens is a quick card game of risk management and ridiculous cats.

• Players: 2–5
• Play time: 15–25 minutes
• Best for: Warm-up games, mixed groups

You draw cards until someone explodes, unless they have a defuse card. The rest of the deck is full of ways to peek, skip, shuffle and sabotage. It’s easy to teach, easy to interrupt for a break, and full of the kind of petty revenge that often goes down well with couples and friends.

Ring of Fire

Ring of Fire (also known as King’s Cup) is a drinking game using a standard deck of cards and a circle of rules.

• Players: 3+
• Play time: Flexible
• Best for: Parties and pre-drinks, not quiet date nights

Each card number is linked to a specific action, from simple “you drink” to more creative mini-games. If you and your partner enjoy social drinking and want a game that quickly breaks the ice with other people, Ring of Fire can do that. Just agree on limits and drink responsibly.

Beer Pong

Beer Pong is a classic party game where you throw ping-pong balls into cups.

• Players: Usually 2 teams of 2
• Play time: Flexible
• Best for: Loud, energetic parties where couples play in teams

It’s simple, physical and doesn’t require much explanation. Many couples enjoy teaming up and taking on another couple, especially if you keep the competition friendly and the drinks modest.

Mafia

Mafia (and similar social deduction games) are all about bluffing and reading people.

• Players: 6–10+
• Play time: 15–30 minutes per round
• Best for: Group evenings where everyone is comfortable talking

In Mafia, some players secretly become “mafia”, others are villagers. The table discusses, accuses and votes players out until one side wins. Couples have fun trying to spot when their partner is lying – or watching everyone else get fooled. If your group enjoys talking and roleplaying, it’s a great pick.

Best online and mobile games for couples

You don’t have to limit yourself to physical boxes and decks. Online and mobile games can also be fantastic for couples, especially when you want something spontaneous.

Digital versions of classic games

Many classic board and card games in the Playiro library have digital or app versions: Chess, Backgammon, UNO, Scrabble, Dominoes and more.

• Access: Phone, tablet, console or PC
• Style: Familiar rules, convenient format

These are perfect if you don’t have the physical game at hand or if you’re playing long-distance. You can take turns throughout the day, play a quick match on the sofa, or compete for high scores. Because you already know the rules from the Playiro guides, it’s easy to jump straight in.

Casual co-op and versus games

Besides classic titles, there are countless small co-op and versus games on mobile app stores and console platforms.

• Short puzzle games you solve together
• Local co-op games where you share a screen
• Asynchronous games where you send turns back and forth

The main advantage is flexibility: you can play for ten minutes while dinner is in the oven or spend a whole evening on a shared campaign. If you like the feel of co-operation you get from games like Codenames or Dixit, co-op video games are a natural extension.

Romantic and conversation-based couple games

Not every couple game night has to be about points, routes and scores. Some of the best games for couples are the ones that give you structure for conversations, intimacy and getting to know each other better.

Monogamy – a board game just for couples

Monogamy is a board game designed specifically for couples, focusing on intimacy, connection and playful challenges.

• Players: 2
• Play time: Flexible, often played in sessions
• Style: Romantic, personal, sometimes spicy

You move around the board, draw cards and follow prompts that range from simple questions to dares and activities. The idea is not to “win” in the traditional sense, but to try new things together and talk about topics you might otherwise avoid. It’s best played when you both feel relaxed and have agreed on boundaries.

Question-based games and prompts

Whether you use a dedicated question deck or just write your own prompts, structured questions can be a brilliant “game” for couples.

• “What is a childhood memory you’ve never told me about?”
• “If money were no issue, how would you design our perfect weekend?”
• “Name three small things I do that you really appreciate.”

You can shuffle questions, take turns drawing them and answer honestly. It’s simple but often leads to long, meaningful conversations.

Light truth-or-dare style games

A gentle version of truth or dare can be both fun and connecting.

• Truths: Feelings, preferences, small confessions
• Dares: Harmless challenges like “send me a song that reminds you of us” or “share an old photo and tell the story behind it”

Keep it safe, respectful and tailored to your relationship. The goal is shared laughter and closeness, not discomfort.

How to choose the right couple game

With so many options, it’s easy to get stuck scrolling instead of actually playing. A few simple questions make it much easier to find the best games for couples in your situation.

Think about how long you want to play. Do you want a quick 20–30 minute game such as Azul, Yahtzee or UNO, or are you looking for a full-evening game like Carcassonne, Catan or Ticket to Ride?

Consider complexity. Some couples enjoy learning strategy-heavy games like Chess, Go or Risk. Others prefer straightforward rules where you can start playing almost instantly, such as Old Maid, Go Fish or Dominoes.

Mood matters too. Co-operative or gentler games (for example Dixit or Scrabble) fit when you just want something relaxed and creative. More confrontational games, like Cards Against Humanity or Mafia, are ideal when you’re in a social, teasing mood – especially with other couples involved.

Finally, think about practical details. Do you have a big table, or do you need something compact like a card game? Are you playing at home, bringing a deck to a bar, or travelling?

Quick checklist before you pick a game

• How much time do we actually have tonight?
• Do we feel like light and silly, or more strategic and thinky?
• Are we playing just the two of us, or with other couples as well?
• Do we want a classic we already know, or to learn something new?
• Do we have space and energy for a bigger board game setup?

Tips for a great couple game night

Choosing a good game helps, but the way you set up the evening matters just as much.

Set expectations beforehand. Decide how long you want to play and what type of game fits that. A short round of UNO or Yahtzee feels very different from a full Ticket to Ride map.

Keep rules explanations short. If you’re using one of the games from the Playiro rules library, skim the guide in advance so you can explain the basics quickly and start playing. You can always look up edge cases if they appear.

Think about the environment. Snacks that don’t leave grease on cards, drinks on coasters, good lighting and comfortable seating all make the experience smoother. Soft background music is great as long as you can still hear each other.

If one of you hates losing, lean towards more relaxed or co-operative experiences: Dixit, question games, Monogamy, or just playing Scrabble without keeping strict score.

Small tweaks that make game night feel special

• Light candles or dim the lights for a cosier atmosphere
• Make a simple themed snack or drink that matches the game (train snacks for Ticket to Ride, “tapas tiles” for Azul)
• Keep a little notebook of scores and funny moments over several game nights
• Put phones away, or at least face-down, to avoid constant interruptions
• Alternate who gets to choose the game so both of you feel involved