The Tabletop for Two Podcast

We're finally back, and what better time than the holidays to help you with your late gift requests as we take another look at our Top 10 two-player games, and my how things have changed! We alo have impressions of Xia: Legends of a Drift System, Ex Libris, and much more!   Xia: Legends of a Drift System - 01:56 Ex Libris - 07:22 Clank: In Space! - 11:53 Ladder 29 - 17:08 Catacombs and Castles - 20:42 Revisiting our Top 10 two-player games - 24:54

This episode we review one of our favorite tile laying games: Bezier Games' Suburbia. Before that, we deliver our impressions of the Aztec expansion from Imperial Settlers and Freedom: The Underground Railroad, and Brad wonders aloud about why his video game habits vary so much from his board gaming ones.    Freedom: The Underground Railroad - 03:58 Apotheca - 12:00 Imperial Settlers: Aztecs - 16:06 Suburbia Review - 22:34

A shorter than usual episode filled with impressions from the most recent additions to our collection, including Codenames Duet and Wasteland Express Delivery Service, among others! Fate of the Elder Gods - 01:14 Kingdomino - 07:53 Rokoko: Jewelery Box (expansion) - 12:14 Codenames Duet - 17:45 Wasteland Express Delivery Service - 24:18

We do our annual tradition of looking at the games that will be debuting at Gen Con 2017 that we're most excited about as we end up schooling each other with our picks! First though, we have to give our first impressions of Lisboa, Churchill, and more! Lisboa - 01:54 Churchill - 08:19 Haru Ichiban - 12:36 Legendary Encounters: An Alien Deck Building Game Expansion - 15:25 Gen Con 2017 Two-Player Preview - 20:25

We're chatting about our favorite 2-player experiences thus far in 2017! We also hear some of your top games, and then we break down the games we're most excited for in the back half of the year. Before that though we're offering impressions of In the Year of the Dragon, Spires, and the Dunwich Legacy campaign from Arkham Horror! In the Year of the Dragon - 02:10 Spires - 09:15 Arkham Horror TCG: The Dunwich Legacy - 15:36 Crusaders: Thy Will Be Done Kickstarter - 24:00 Renegade Kickstarter - 27:40 Our favorite 2017 games so far - 30:10 The games we're most looking forward to in the second half of the year - 43:30

We're giving the full review treatment to the game we can't stop playing (or talking about!) and that's Clank!: A Deck Building Adventure. Find out why we think it's spectacular and also what we think about the Sunken Treasures expansion. Before we get there though, we talk about our first plays of both 1960: The Making of the President and Arkwright! 1960: The Making of the President - 01:50 Guilds of London - 13:00 Arkwright (Spinning Jenny) - 17:44 2-Player Review of Clank!: A Deck Building Adventure - 25:12

We're leading off this week with our thoughts on Terraforming Mars, why Emily hated Town Center, and why Ghost Stories has carved out a permanent place in our collection. We talk about the new Zombicide Kickstarter campaign and why we can't bring ourselves to back it this time around. In our main segment, we're talking about the best bluffing games that can be played with two players. Terraforming Mars - 01:56 Morocco - 10:50 Town Center - 15:38 Ghost Stories - 19:59 Zombicide: Green Horde kickstarter - 25:32 Bluffing Games with Two Players - 30:54

We have impressions of a couple heavy hitters including Broom Service, The Pillars of the Earth, and the massive War of the Ring. Then in the main topic, Emily and I talk about the eclectic designer Vlaada Chvatil and which of his games that we've played offer a great two player experience! War of the Ring (Second Edition) - 01:48 The Pillars of the Earth - 11:05 Jamaica - 16:16 Broom Service - 20:24 Vlaada Chvatil's games for two players - 28:10

We kick things off by giving our initial impressions on Archipelago, The Golden Ages, and Exit: The Game! In our main segment, we revisit several games we had previously given impressions on. Which games have carved out a place in our rotation and which ones we ended up kicking to the curb! The Golden Ages (and Cults and Cultures expansion) - 01:45 Archipelago - 09:05 Exit: The Game: The Secret Lab - 18:47 Revisiting our initial impressions - 23:57

We're giving the two-player review treatment to one of our favorite under-the-radar strategy games: Bruxelles 1893! We also give our impressions on TMG's deluxe rendition of Yokohama and Mega Man Pixel Tactics from Level 99 Games, as well as have our willpower fade before your very ears as we succumb to the temptation of Roxley Games' Brass Kickstarter campaign! Yokohama Deluxe - 02:14 Mega Man Pixel Tactics - 09:56 Aeon's End - 18:22 Deus: Egypt (expansion) - 24:58 Brass Deluxe Kickstarter campaign - 29:58 Bruxelles 1893 review - 38:10

This week we're talking about game with campaigns. Find out what style of campaign works best for us and which ones we recommend for two players. We also give you our impressions of Clank! and At the Gates of Loyang.   Clank! - 02:20 Fugitive - 12:40 La Granja - 19:02 Pitchcar - 25:00 At the Gates of Loyang - 28:10 Hardback on Kickstarter - 38:36 Gloomhaven reprint on Kickstarter - 42:08 Campaign style games for two players - 44:37

We visited Unpub 7 this weekend and have some games to talk about! Hear our thoughts on the handful of games we played. We also give our very early impressions of Gloomhaven and speak about The Colonists! Gloomhaven initial thoughts - 01:12 Villages of Valeria - 16:32 Pandemic: The Cure - Experimental Meds - 22:16 Orleans: The Duel - 26:56 The Colonists - 30:48 All about Unpub 7 - 40:11

We are reviewing a game that's made it to our table more than most in our collection: Legendary Encounters: An Alien Deck Building Game. See where we place it amongst deck builders and how worthy an addition it is to your collection as a two-player game. We also get into a few new games including our descent into Crokinole obsession! Crokinole - 02:40 Glass Road - 09:36 Thebes - 16:15 Empires of the Void II - 23:17 The Last Garden - 27:52 Legendary Encounters review - 30:37

Our main topic is all about asymmetric games. Why does Brad love them so much, and what are the best ones to play with two players across a variety of different categories. We also give our impressions of two hidden gems that we recently discovered as well as a brief overview of our recently received Duchess gaming table! Duchess impressions - 01:50 Starving Artists - 07:45 Super Motherload - 14:30 King Chocolate - 19:34 Tash-Kalar: Nethervoid expansion - 23:36 Asymmetric Games - 26:00

We really enjoyed 2016 in gaming, but now it's time to look ahead to 2017! We both bring our own lists to the table and sell each other on the games we're most looking forward to. Also included are our first impressions of Great Western Trail and Cuba Libre. Great Western Trail - 02:06 Cuba Libre - 08:43 Colony - 14:18 La Granja: No Siesta - 19:36 Darkest Night - 24:24 Concordia Salsa - 28:58 Mystic Vale - 31:57 World's Fair 1893 - 37:16 Most Anticipated Games of 2017 - 42:58

This episode has us taking an introspectve look at our backing habits on Kickstarter. We look at which types of games backed have stood the test of time, what we personally use the crowd funding service for (and how that has evolved over these past 3 years), and how that lines up with what Kickstarter set out to be in the world of board games. We're also giving first impressions of Key to the City: London and Tramways!   Tramways - 02:10 Key to the City: London - 11:54 7 Wonders Duel: Pantheon - 18:58 America - 27:10 Our introspective Kickstarter analysis - 32:29

It's the end of the year so, as we did last year, we give you our Enthusiastic Seals of Approval (which are our top 2-player picks in a variety of categories)! We may have gone chalk for our Game of the Year, but there are bound to be a few surprises in there for sure! We also give a slew of new impressions including several new abstract games that have hit our table recently! Sola Fide: The Reformation - 01:22 Discworld: Ankh-Morpork - 07:21 One Deck Dungeon - 11:21 Santorini - 17:14 Agamemnon - 20:51 YINSH - 25:06 Tabletop for Two's 2016 Seals of Approval - 29:14

This episode is the finest you'll find this side of R'lyeh as we give you a double dip of Lovecraft goodness. We're leading off with out initial impressions of the new Arkham Horror Living Card Game, and our main segment has us giving a full review of Eldritch Horror. Arkham Horror: The Card Game - 01:47 High Treason: The Trial of Louis Riel - 11:42 Russian Railroads - 18:22 Tiny Epic Western - 22:36 Lord of the Rings - 27:25 Eldritch Horror review - 32:39

This episode finds us talking about games with scaling difficulties. Whether it's a traditional sliding scale or the gradual introduction of more complexity, we give you our favorite games we think handle it the best. We also give our initial impressions of Mechs vs Minions!   Mechs vs Minions - 02:03 My Village - 11:18 Kraftwagen - 15:28 The Manhattan Project: Chain Reaction - 20:29 Mega Man Pixel Tactics - 23:24 Games with Scaling Difficulty - 28:22

This episode has us reviewing the games of one of our favorite designers, Vital Lacerda, as we discuss what makes his designs stand out and which offers the best two player experience. We also happen to give our impressions of his newest (old) release: Vinhos Deluxe Edition Vinhos: Deluxe Edition - 02:27 Beyond Baker Street - 11:07 Escape from the Aliens in Outer Space - 15:57 Shakespeare: Backstage - 20:57 Valeria Card Kingdoms: Flames & Frost - 25:24 Spires - 27:58 Vital Lacerda discussion - 30:51

The show kicks off with our impressions from our initial plays of A Feast for Odin and Cry Havoc! Later on we break down area control/majority as a mechanic when playing with two players. See which games we think utilize area control the best. Games discussed in this episode include: A Feast for Odin - 01:28 Cry Havoc - 07:54 Above and Below - 16:04 Fight for Olympus - 20:18 Junk Art - 26:00 Walnut Grove - 31:27 Rolling Freight - 37:26  Area Control with Two Discussion - 43:02

Essen is right around the corner and there are several games being featured at the show that have us drooling. We detail the titles that are must-buys for us and tell you why we think they'll be great for two. We also have two more Victory Point Games offerings to discuss, and Emily gets giddy over the Harry Potter deck building game. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Battle - 01:26 Imperial Stars II - 07:54 Moonbase Alpha - 12:30 The Castles of Burgundy: The Card Game - 16:12 Fleet: Arctic Bounty - 22:46 221B Baker Street - 28:22 Tally Ho! - 30:25 Our Must-Haves from Essen 2016 - 33:09

We've never done an overall top-whatever list before but now seems as good a time as any! It's our consensus top 20 games! Before that we give our first impressions of Caverna, ZhanGuo, and more! ZhanGuo - 01:46 Caverna: The Cave Farmers - 09:43 A Game of Thrones: The Card Game (Second Edition) - 17:54 Puerto Rico - 24:00 Stockpile: Continuing Corruption - 27:18 Our Top 20 Games - 33:26

In this episode we discuss our favorite games whose components consist of just a small deck of cards and discover which of these diminutive games pack the most punch for two players. We also give impressions from first plays of several big releases including Mansions of Madness and The Others! Games discussed in this episode include: The Others: 7 Sins - 01:21 Mansions of Madness (Second Edition) - 10:43 New Bedford - 15:28 The Networks - 22:04 Lord of the Rings: The Confrontation - 26:45 2 de Mayo - 30:36 Kahuna - 35:13 Main Topic: Deck of cards games - 40:04

With GenCon 2016 right around the corner, we preview the games we think are going to be the best two-player games to buy and/or play at the convention. Brad also waxes poetic about his initial experiences with titles from Victory Point Games. Games discussed in this episode include: Dawn of the Zeds (Third Edition) - 1:33 Healthy Heart Hospital - 8:14 Trifecta - 12:53 Ascension X: War of Shadows - 16:35 ...and then we held hands - 21:15 Discount Salmon - 26:03 Fate of the Elder Gods - 29:10 GenCon 2016 Two-Player Preview - 33:06

We, along with many of you, have received Scythe and have been playing it bunch. Seems like a two player review is in order! We review the game as a whole and let you know if we think it's a worthwhile endeavor at two players. Also first impressions of the Kosmos classic Targi! Games discussed in this episode include: Scythe Onward to Venus New Dawn Mow Money Dimension Seven7s Targi 13 Minutes Millennium Blades

The man topic for this episode are games that we really enjoyed but yet couldn't maintain a place in our collection. What happened that we kicked these titles to the curb? We also give our first impressions of Food Chain Magnate! Games discussed in this episode include: Food Chain Magnate Thunderstone Advance: Towers of Ruin The Downfall of Pompeii Seventh Hero Ticket to Ride: Nordic Countries Fugitive Kickstarter Campaign The Duchess Kickstarter Campaign

This episode we each give our personal top five games that were released in the first half of 2016. We also highlight a few excellent looking Kickstarter projects that have caught our eye, and give first impressions of Railways of the World and Starship Catan! Games discussed in this episode include: Railways of the World The Big Book of Madness Claustrophobia Starship Catan 51st State: Master Set Dr. Eureka Twilight Squabble Xia: Embers of a Forsaken Star Catacombs & Castles Anachrony Star Wars: Rebellion Onitama Thunder & Lightning Millennium Blades 13 Days: The Cuban Missile Crisis Valeria Card Kingdoms Archaeology: The New Expedition Stick tap to Joel Eddy for the inspiration for this episode topic!

This week we look at a genre of games not usually filled with a ton of great two player games: 4X-style games. See what we liked and what we didn't about the ones we have played and hear our recommendation for the best one to play with two. Games featured in this episode include: Swinging Jivecat Voodoo Lounge Onitama Thunder & Lightning Mexica Shakespeare Babel Arcadia Quest: Beyond the Grave Empires of the Void Clash of Cultures Eclipse Runewars Hyperborea Impulse Quantum

In this episode we review Trajan, a popular Stefan Feld title, and see how it holds up with two players. We also check out what's new to our table this week and highlight a Kickstarter project we're considering backing. Games discussed in this episode include: Archaeology: The New Expedition Grand Austria Hotel Guildhall Champions of Midgard Hocus Starving Artists Trajan

This one is pretty jam-packed, folks! We attended Unpub 6 in Baltimore and tell you which games we played that we think you should look out for down the road. We also give impressions of quite a few new games including Millennium Blades and Star Wars: Rebellion! Games discussed in this episode include: Millennium Blades Star Wars: Rebellion Pax Porfiriana Mombasa Vampire Empire Odin's Ravens The Rose King Ingenious Unpub 6 games

This episode is about cooperative games! What aspects of co-ops do we like and loathe? What does a great co-op need to work well with two players? Plus we give you our favorite two player cooperative games and a few you should avoid. Also: first impressions of A Few Acres of Snow and Baseball Highlights 2045! Games discussed in this episode include: Eminent Domain: Exotica Baseball Highlights 2045 The Pillars of the Earth: Builder's Duel Paradox Ophir A Few Acres of Snow XCOM: The Board Game Warhammer Quest: Adventure Card Game Galaxy Defenders Legendary Encounters: An Alien Deck Building Game Pandemic: The Cure Eldritch Horror Burgle Bros Zombicide: Black Plague

On this episode we take a dive into the different games designed by Antoine Bauza and how they play with two players. We also take a lengthy look at new games we've gotten to the table; some we loved...and quite a few that we really didn't! Games discussed in this episode include: 13 Days: The Cuban Missile Crisis The Cave City Hall Perry Rhodan: The Cosmic League Venetia Oh My Goods! Tesla vs Edison: War of Currents

We just wrapped up our Pandemic Legacy campaign and have a lot to say about it! We give a spoiler-free 2 player review before diving into all of the twists and turns we encountered over our nineteen games. Also our initial impressions of Fields of Arle! Games discussed in this episode include: Fields of Arle Luchador! Mexican Wrestling Dice Tugie! Stronghold 2nd Edition Mystery Rummy: Murders in the Rue Morgue Burger Joint Pandemic Legacy

This episode we look at auction mechanics in games and what types of auctions work well in a two player experience. Games discussed in this episode include: Automobiles Tigris & Euphrates Biblios Carson City Viceroy Power Grid Fleet Stockpile Council of Verona

This episode we look at what we feel are some of the good, and not so good, two player variants in board gaming. Also first impressions of Warhammer Quest: ACG and the new edition of Through the Ages!Games discussed in this episode include:Warhammer Quest: Adventure Card GameEpicBest Treehouse EverValeria Card KingdomsThe King is DeadThrough the Ages: A New Story of CivilizationAmong the StarsBelfortTroyesBrass7 WondersFrescoCompoundedCodenames

This episode we review Kanban: Automotive Revolution from Vital Lacerda and give our thoughts on how we think it stacks up with two. Also we begin chipping away at our massive stack of new games with a ton of new impressions including a pair of hidden movement games!Games discussed this episode include:KlaskSpecter OpsFury of DraculaRaptorNotre DameRobinson Crusoe: Adventure on the Cursed IslandRoll for the Galaxy: AmbitionKanban: Automotive Revolution

This episode we reveal what games we're most looking forward to in 2016, and surprisingly there's quite a bit of difference between our lists!Games discussed in this episode include:Zombicide: Black PlagueNipponRockwellBlood RageTumblin DiceCatacombsScytheStar Wars: RebellionMillennium BladesStar Trek: FrontiersLisboa13 Days: The Cuban Missile CrisisCarson CityThe OthersParadox

It's our last show of the year, so why not talk about our favorite games of 2015? This episode we give our Tabletop for Two Enthusiastic Seals of Approval in a variety of categories including our overall Game of the Year!Games discussed in this episode include:Wombat RescueTournayLe Havre: The Inland PortImperial Settlers: AtlanteansXenon Profiteer

This episode brings a review of a recent favorite: Uwe Rosenberg's Le Havre! We also have a pretty big pile of new games that we give our impressions of and see how we did with November's Get to the Table.Games discussed in this episode include:Burgle BrosBottom of the 9thLuna: In the Domain of the Moon PriestessThe Little Prince: Rising to the StarsMadame Ching7 Wonders: DuelLe Havre

This episode we discuss our most successful games to break out when fellow couples who aren't heavy gamers come over, along with our normal impressions of games we've been playing including our first play of Orleans!Games discussed in this episode include:Agents of SMERSHOrleansReef EncounterTakenoko ChibisCash & Guns: Second EditionCodenamesSkullTicket to RideDiamondsCamel Up

On this episode we talk about all the different ways we acquire new games so we can stay on budget! There may be a method or two out there that you never realized before. We also have impressions from the first play of the highly anticipated The Gallerist and we see how we did on our Get to the Table segment for the month of October.Games discussed in this episode include:The GalleristBetween Two CitiesValley of the KingsTuscany: Expand the World of ViticultureConcordia

We recorded a quick episode before heading down to Florida, so what better time to talk about the games we are traveling with? We also of course talk what we've been playing and answer a listener question about scaling games down to two players that aren't intended for two.Games discussed in this episode include:Gold WestCO2Samurai

This episode we review probably our favorite game: Eminent Domain! We also look at how we did with our Get to the Table segment last month, and talk about our recent games including Pandemic Legacy!Games discussed in this episode include:Pandemic LegacyFantastiqaSteam WorksTraders of OsakaSaint PetersburgHaggisEminent DomainEminent Domain: Escalation

This week we look at the various games designed by Scott Almes, best known for the Tiny Epic series of games. How do these small box games stack up with two players? We also have a slew of new games we've been getting to the table, and an update on last episode's Get to the Table challenge!Games featured in this episode include:Isle of Skye: From Chieftain to KingThe World of SMOG: On Her Majesty's ServicePandemicLegendary Encounters: A Predator Deckbuilding GameStockpileCodenamesForbidden StarsTiny Epic KingdomsTiny Epic DefendersTiny Epic GalaxiesKings of Air & SteamHarbour

This week we explore our five favorite Deckbuilding games. We also debut a new segment and have a pretty lengthy list of new games to discuss!Games discussed in this episode include: Barony Navegador Tides of Time Citadels Rise of Cthulhu Rococo Sunrise City Ascension Puzzle Strike Paperback Legendary EncountersTrains

Expansions can make a good game great and this episode we detail our six favorite expansions for games that we own. We also give our impressions on the few new releases that have made it to our table recently!Games featured in this episode include:Ashes: Rise of the PhoenixbornFlick 'Em UpTrambahnRhino HeroTuscany: Expanding the World of ViticultureSuburbia IncEminent Domain: EscalationEldritch Horror: Forsaken LoreCarcassonne: Inns and CathedralsTrains: Rising Sun----more----Follow us on social media:Twitter: @tabletopfortwoFacebookInstagram: @tabletopfortwo

Jam-packed episode this week as we talk about the games coming to GenCon 2015 that we're most excited about. Not only that, but we also do our first review as we look at 2-player staple Twilight Struggle!Games discussed in this episode include:The Voyages of Marco PoloLonghornViticultureBruges: The City on the Zwin expansionA Game of Thrones: The Card Game (Second Edition)Tesla vs. Edison: War of CurrentsSuburbia 5*Takenoko: ChibisAshes: Rise of the PhoenixbornTides of TimeFlick Em Up!The Undercity: An Iron Kingdom Adventure Board GameLegendary Encounters: A Predator Deckbuilding Game

This week we discuss our preferred gateway games across a variety of genres. We also dive into some recent plays, notably for a few games that we've been wanting to hit the table for a while.Games discussed in this episode include:PanamaxMadeiraClash of CulturesImpulseGinkgopolis

This week we discuss our top 10 two player-specific games. We also debut a new segment where we look at current Kickstarter projects that are catching our eye and of course detail the new games that have hit our table this week.Games discussed in this episode include:Sherlock Holmes: Consulting DetectiveBrassImperial SettlersLords of VegasEpic Card Game13 Days: A Game of the Cuban Missile CrisisThe GalleristCarson City Big Box

When you want a fulfilling experience but time is of the essence, which game do you choose? This week we look at our favorite games to play when the baby goes down for nap time! We also talk about the games that have hit our table the last two weeks including the first play of A Game of Thrones.Games featured in this episode include:A Game of Thrones: The Board GamePaperbackEminent Domain: MicrocosmMottainaiDoomtown: Reloaded