Hive
I received Hive as a birthday gift, and it’s become my favorite two-player strategy game! I like it when my games are portable and have played this while on dates with my husband to coffee shops, a taproom, and even the nature center. The game play is similar to chess, but less complicated and in my opinion, more fun. The hexagonal tiles are made of resin (smooth, slightly weighted) and that’s part of what makes the game so satisfying.
Patchwork
I got this cozy game for my birthday last year! There is technically a strategy, but it’s more abstract and TBH, the real fun for me is methodically color-coordinating my patchwork quilt which has nothing to do with winning. It’s simply cute to look at.
Mantis
I’m a big fan of games by Exploding Kittens, and I think Mantis is another smashing success. First of all, the product design and color palette are delectable. It’s fun enough for two, so my husband and I have welcomed some friendly competition on date nights. Since it’s a card game, you can easily take them when you fly (which we’ve done) or set up at a coffee shop (which we’ve also done). We’re extra nerdy and created additional rules, and that’s the only version we teach our friends. We call it Advantis.
A visual timer
I give myself 10 minutes to come up with a story idea, reset the timer, then repeat.
