Gennifer Rose - Vintage Board Games for Date Night - Table with Scrabble game, strawberries and charcuterie board snacks.

There’s something so romantic and nostalgic about vintage board games. It brings you back to a time before technology had taken over our lives and people really took their time to enjoy each other’s company.

For myself and my husband, our perfect date night consists of lively conversation, good food and drinks, music playing and cell phones turned off.

To make things extra interesting, maybe you and your significant other can make some friendly bets and wagers. Maybe loser has to take over the house chores for a week, or treat the other players to a dinner date.

The board games listed in this blog post were each chosen because they are great options for two players. Each game has its strengths and will set the tone for a romantic evening. So grab two glasses of wine, light some candles, play some chill background music and let the competition begin!

Two-Player Board Games for Date Night

Scrabble

If you’ve heard of the popular game app Words with Friends, Scrabble is the original board game version of the game. I personally have a love for fancy words so Scrabble is my favorite board game. Players remember… using the dictionary is cheating!

Crossword

Back in the day, there was a fun two-player game called "Crossword Duels." One person would fill out a crossword, and the other would try to solve it. After that, they'd switch roles and check the crossword answers to see if they were right. It was like the classic crossword but with a twist, making it a fun challenge for friends to play together.

FRIENDS TV Show Trivia Game

When my husband and I first started dating, we instantly connected over our love for the 90’s TV show Friends. Our cheap dates consisted of take-out meals and watching re-runs of Friends.

Several years later our cheap dates include a friendly competition of testing our knowledge of the show. You’ll also find trivia games for popular shows such as The Office, Big Bang Theory, Seinfeld, Game of Thrones, Sex and the City, Disney and more.

Clue

The murder mystery board game Clue can be played with multiple players, but is also just as fun with two people. There’s nothing like a little mystery and intrigue to spark some date night banter.

If you’re a fan of the board game Clue, then you might want to challenge yourselves further with the game Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective. There’s multiple versions of this game with new mysteries to solve, so it will keep you busy for a while.

Twister

Twister has often been regarded as a rather “sexy” game due to the fact that you can find yourself physically twisted up with your playing parter. If you’re looking for an excuse to get up off the couch, roll out the Twister floor mat and show off your flexibility.

Candy Land

Make sure you have plenty of candy sweets to munch on during your rounds of the classic board game Candy Land. This simple board game doesn’t require much hard thinking or strategy, making it a rather relaxing way to spend an evening.

Operation Game

Another silly and light-hearted game night option is Operation. While it’s not much of a brain-teaser, players do need to have a steady hand and be cool as a cucumber to successfully conduct surgery in order to win the game.

Gennifer Rose - Vintage Board Games for Date Night - Vintage Scrabble board game with wooden letters that spell "Date Night."

Classic Two-Player Card Games

If you’ve got a deck of cards handy, with two players you can play Poker, War, Gin Rummy, Crazy Eights, Go Fish, Old Maid, Blackjack and Kemps.

The Game of Life

Many of us married couples are already playing the real-life game of life, but nonetheless it’s fun to try your hand at the board game. For couples who are at the beginning stages of your relationship, the Game of Life can be a fun way to foresee your future.

Battleship

The game of Battleship was invented in 1967 and it’s just as much fun to play today. This retro two-player game relies on both luck and a plan of action to win the war against your opponent.

Checkers

The game of Checkers goes by many different names throughout the world, but remains a board game staple regardless of geographic location. While the checkered board and pawn pieces have minimal designs and flare, the game strategy still brings the drama and thrill you seek for a fun date night.

Jenga

The simple yet heart-pounding building game of Jenga will test your partner’s nimbleness, especially after a glass of wine!

Connect Four

Connect 4 is a fun and speedy game that goes by quickly, so you can play several rounds in one evening. This game is extra engaging because it’s the only board game where the playing surface is vertical as opposed to the common horizontal board.

Forbidden Island

The thrill-seeking strategy game of Forbidden Island was the 2010 Mensa Favorite Brainy Games Winner so buckle-up for some strategic thinking. This game is best played with 2 players (although you can play with up to four people for a double-date night) and it will really bring the adventure.