The Best Date Night Games for Couples

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The board game experts at Our Family Plays Games recommend games for date night

Co-authored by Our Family Plays Games and Marcus Pruitt, BS

Last Updated: January 19, 2026 Fact Checked

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• Competitive Games
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• Chill Games
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• For First Dates
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• To Get to Know Each Other
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• Expert Q&A

|Show more |Show less

If you really want to make date night unforgettable, invite your date to game night. There are plenty of games you can play on date night to keep things fresh and entertaining, from a fun board game, like Hive, to an exhilarating card game, like Uno, and in this article, we get into it all. With the help of board game experts and dating coaches, we walk you through the best date night games for couples, whether you’re looking for something competitive, chill, or in between!

Date Night Games for Couples

The board game experts at Our Family Plays Games suggest playing Patchwork if you’re looking for a fun, relaxing date night game. Other date night games include:

• The Couples Game That’s Actually Fun
• We’re Not Really Strangers
• Never Have I Ever
• Let’s Get Closer
• Codenames Duet

Steps

Section 1 of 4:

Date Night Games for Competitive Couples

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   Hive Hive is a two-player, chess-esque board game that utilizes geometry and strategy. Players must determine which tiles to place and move on a board to surround the opponent’s queen bee tile. If one player surrounds an opponent’s queen bee tile with their tiles, they win. This focus-heavy, strategy-based game lets you see how your partner solves problems and comes up with their own strategies.

   • Duration: 30 minutes
   • There’s a portable, compact version of Hive that you can play on the go, making it great for date nights.
   • Each tile has a bug with a unique ability that shapes how it moves and how you can utilize it, adding to the strategic element of the game.
   • The durable hexagonal pieces mean you don’t need a traditional board, just a flat surface. The pieces also won’t get damaged if you spill your drink or have greasy fingers, making Hive a great choice for a night out at a bar.

   Meet the wikiHow Experts

   Our Family Plays Games is a family-owned business based in Omaha, Nebraska. Launched in 2018, their mission is to promote growth and awareness of the modern board game hobby.

   Triple S Games, based in Salt Lake City, Utah, is owned by Jim, who has been teaching and developing games since 2004. The Triple S Games YouTube channel is known for creating concise, how-to explainer videos.

   Jess Hamlet is a Board, Card, and Dice Game Expert and owner of Village Meeple, Springfield, Missouri’s first board game cafe.

   John Keegan is a Dating Coach with over 15 years of experience helping people find love using his dating, attraction, and social dynamics expertise.

   Sven Loss is a Relationship Coach who specializes in helping others with relationship and behavioral issues.
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   Uno Uno is a popular card-stacking game where the goal is to empty your deck quicker than your opponent(s). Whether it’s just you and your partner or you’re on a double date, Uno is great for cutting the small talk and getting straight to action, according to Triple S Games. The deck is peppered with draw 4 cards, skips, reverses, and all types of other game-changers, making it a great option for those nights when you need some chaotic excitement.

   • Duration: 10-20 minutes
   • Uno lets you see how your partner strategizes with the cards they’re dealt.
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   Jenga Jenga is a fun, exciting game where you and a partner compete to pull as many blocks out of a tower without making it fall. While classic Jenga is fun already, you can really spice things up by personalizing your Jenga blocks and making them specific to your relationship. For example, write a challenge to remake one of your favorite relationship moments on one of the blocks to bring back some good memories.
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   Red7 Red7 is a color and number-based card game where value is determined by the colors of the rainbow and the numbers each card has. Like Uno, each player starts with 7 cards, working to gain the most high-value cards or the most cards for the current game rule (which is determined by the color of the top card in the discard pile). If you’re looking for an exciting game that’s more niche than games like Uno, go with Red7.

   • Duration: 5-30 minutes
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   Jaipur Jaipur is a card-based game where you compete with your opponent to gain more goods than they do, with the goal of becoming the Maharaja’s personal trader. You use the deck’s cards to form the market, then strategically buy and sell goods in the form of cards. Turns alternate, with the quick, cunning nature of the game allowing you to see how your partner thinks on their feet (and vice versa).

   • Duration: 30 minutes
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   That’s Pretty Clever! That’s Pretty Clever! (aka Ganz Schön) is a fun, simple dice- and puzzle-based game that’s nonstop action. You only need 1-4 players, and everyone is against each other. If you’re looking for a game that’ll keep you highly engaged on date night, this is the one for you.​​

   • Duration: 30 minutes
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   Onitama Onitama combines the move-and-capture aspect of chess with the unpredictable nature of cards for a fun, strategic game that gets everyone’s minds moving. The objective is to move 5 pieces across the board to capture your opponent’s Master pawn by using moves determined by cards and strategic piece placement. It’s perfect for those nights when you and your partner want to stimulate your brains with a little friendly competition!

   • Duration: 10-20 minutes
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   The Duke The Duke is a two-player game where opponents try to capture one another’s Duke by traveling across a gridded board, similar to a chessboard. Like chess, The Duke is a game that’s about strategy and focused thinking, which allows you to see how well your partner forms focused strategies when they’re in competitive situations (and vice versa).

   • Duration: 10-15 minutes
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   Azul Azul is a tile-laying board game where each player must use the tiles to build an impressive mosaic that garners them points. The tiles are laid in quick succession, making Azul a fast-paced game that lets you go back and forth with your opponent and host a perfectly exciting date night.
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    EXIT EXIT is an escape room-style board game where you solve logic puzzles to determine where the exit is. From cutting the pamphlets to studying every little detail of the included puzzles, the EXIT game is a great option if you’re looking for a game that will take a good chunk of time while keeping you and your partner engaged all the way through.

    • Duration: 1-2 hours
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    Scrabble Scrabble is a fun, simple board game where you use lettered tiles to form words. As you form words, you rack up points, with the goal being to outscore your opponent. It’s a low-stakes, mentally stimulating board game that’s perfect if you and your boo are some Chatty Cathies (or just really into words).

    • Duration: 1 hour
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Section 2 of 4:

Chill Date Night Games

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   We’re Not Really Strangers We’re Not Really Strangers is a popular question-based couples card game that’s intended to be as playful as it is intimate. The questions included in the deck give you the opportunity to get deep and reflective with your partner while keeping things lighthearted.

   • Duration: Flexible (30 minutes-several hours)
   • If you’re looking to strengthen your connection with a new partner, this is the game for you, as it works its way up from icebreakers to deep reflection.
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   …And Then We Held Hands …And Then We Held Hands is a game where you and your partner are each dealt a certain number of cards based on different emotions. As you play, your objective is to use the emotion-based cards to fix a hypothetically broken relationship. This gives you the opportunity to see what your partner’s emotional values are, what your own emotional values are, and how they mesh, making it great for couples looking to go deep.

   • Duration: 30-45 minutes
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   Patchwork The board game experts at Our Family Plays Games say Patchwork is a relaxing, enjoyable game for couples. Patchwork is a board game where you use patch pieces to make a quilt that has more valuable pieces than your opponent's. As you craft your quilt, you earn points in the form of buttons. So, not only do you get to put together a beautiful quilt, but you get rewarded for doing so!

   • Duration: 15-30 minutes
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   The Fox in the Forest The Fox in the Forest is a card-based game where players compete to score a set amount of points before their opponent. You play tricks with the goal of winning as many as possible without going over a certain number of points. It’s a quick, strategy-based game for a night in, so go with The Fox in The Forest if you want to keep things relaxed.

   • Duration: 15-30 minutes
   • Want to learn how to play The Fox in the Forest? Check out this guide here.
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   The Mind The Mind is a card game where you and your partner must play numbered cards in the correct rising order (1-2, 2-3, etc.) without communicating with your partner. The goal is to empty your hands to complete the levels in the deck, which go up to 100. It’s an exciting, mind-based game that lets you test your connection without communicating, making it a fun game for couples that are getting to know each other more deeply.

   • Duration: 20 minutes
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Section 3 of 4:

Best For First Dates

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   Cornhole Cornhole is a great way to encourage friendly competition in your relationship, making it a good choice for couples who are just starting to get comfortable with each other and for those who have been together for years. It’s a simple summertime game that’s easy to set up, too. All you have to do is set some boards 27 feet across from each other, grab some cornhole bags, and start tossing!

   • Duration: 15-20 minutes
   • According to event planner Christa Innis, yard games like cornhole encourage socializing without being too formal.
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   Bowling Bowling is the perfect date night game if you’re looking for a blend of conversation and action. As the pins reset and you wait for the balls to return, you and your partner can engage in casual conversation, but once the ball’s back and it’s time to roll, you can get serious and show off your striking skills.

   • Duration: 20-30 minutes
   • The balance between conversation and action makes bowling a great date night game for all stages of a relationship!
   • If there’s ever a lull in conversation or you don’t have any new questions, focus on the game. It can help build some lighthearted tension and competition.
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   Billiards Billiards (also known as pool) is a more intimate game, making it great for those date nights where you want to do a lot of talking. When you’re getting to know someone, a game of billiards gives you the chance to chat while you compete. Throw in a few flirty quips and help your partner if they’re struggling, and you’re golden!

   • Duration: 10-30 minutes
   • There are plenty of different versions of billiards you can play, too, so switch it up if things start to slow down.
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   Darts If you’re out at a bar and need a fun, casual game to play, look for a dart board and get ready to throw. Darts give you the chance to be competitive, and when you’re drunk, they make for a night out filled with laughter and darts anywhere but the board (and fortunately, these days, many bars only have plastic darts to prevent injury!). It’s the perfect game for new (and old) couples who are trying to have fun during a casual night out.

   • Duration: 10-40 minutes
   • There are plenty of different types of dart games you can play, too, like 501, Cricket, and Around the Clock
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   Mini Golf Mini golf is a great date night game if you’re looking for a balance between conversation and competition. In between strokes, you two can talk about whatever comes to mind. But once you get to the green, it’s showtime. This game will allow you to get a glimpse of your partner’s competitive side and what they’re willing to do to win, giving you the chance to experience each other in a different light.

   • Duration: 30-60 minutes
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   Disc Golf Looking to enjoy the outdoors with your partner? Try out disc golf! It gives you and your partner the chance to exercise while you compete with one another. It also stimulates both of your brains, as you have to figure out what the best angles and speeds are for throwing the disc inside the goal.

   • Duration: 1-3 hours
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   Arcade Arcades are fun, casual opportunities to get to know how your partner reacts to challenges in various situations. How do they get when they’re kicking your butt in ski ball? Are they a sore loser or a good sport when you cream them in air hockey? As light as the situation is, arcades let you have fun while seeing your partner in a different light, making it great for a date night!
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   Escape Rooms Escape rooms are fun challenges where you must use hints around the room to escape, giving you and your partner the chance to put your heads together and figure out how to get out. It’s a great way to see how you and your partner work together, it doesn’t matter if you’re on a third date or your thirtieth year!

   • Duration: 45-90 minutes. Varies depending on the escape room.
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   Roller Skating Roller skating is a year-round activity that lets you show off in front of your partner if you’re skilled in the rink. If they’re also good with skates, you can show off tricks and dance moves for one another, making it a great date idea if you’re looking for a fun, low-stakes night out.
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    Ice Skating Ice skating is a fun wintertime activity that could be great for you and your partner. Whether you two are just getting to know each other or have been together for years, ice skating gives you a chance to let loose on the ice, gliding (or falling) with your partner right by your side. It’s the perfect mix of exercise and fun for times when it’s too cold to do anything else outside, even if you aren’t the type to don the skates.
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Section 4 of 4:

Date Night Games to Get to Know Each Other Better

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1. 
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   21 Questions 21 Questions helps you get to know the person you’re dating by having one person ask the other 21 questions that must be answered honestly. The questions tend to start lightheartedly before ramping up to romantic, deep, and intimate, allowing for a slow burn between you and your partner. It can be used to start a conversation, build your relationship, and learn more about your partner.
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   Codenames Duet Codenames Duet is a fun word game where you work with 2 or more players to find all of the secret agents hidden in a 5x5 grid of word cards. Using one-word clues and numbers to guide your partner(s), you must help them figure out the correct words before time runs out. It tests you and your partner’s communication and deduction skills, making it a great choice if you’re looking to get to know each other better.

   • Alongside the secret agent cards you’re trying to locate, there are also assassin cards that you’re trying to avoid.
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   Where Should We Begin? Where Should We Begin? is a relationship-based card game inspired by relationship psychologist Esther Perel's podcast of the same name. The game uses prompts and die rolls to get players to divulge personal stories. When played with 2 people, it gives both of you the chance to share playful, exciting, heartwarming, and intimate stories. Not only does this switch up the usual date-night talk, but it also helps spice things up, making it perfect for a night in or a night out.

   • Duration: 45 minutes
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   Let’s Get Closer Let’s Get Closer is a conversation-sparking card game that’s useful for getting to know your partner. The cards included in the deck are split into three levels: Close, Closer, and Closest. As the levels increase, the questions become more personal and intimate, gradually encouraging you two to open up. There are even wild cards thrown in that help soften any potential awkwardness!

   • Duration: Flexible
   • The wild cards include fun, playful prompts like “Draw each other’s portraits.”
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   Let’s Get Deep: Questions for Couples This couple-based card game is perfect if you’re looking for an opportunity to get deep with your partner. Let’s Get Deep: Questions for Couples is divided into three intimacy levels: Icebreaker, Deep, and Deeper, so choose which one works best for your relationship, alternate between who’s asking and answering, and take the opportunity to learn more about your partner!

   • Duration: Flexible
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   The Couples Game That’s Actually Fun The Couples Game That’s Actually Fun is a board game where you answer a series of questions on a whiteboard to have some lighthearted fun with your partner (and other couples). The questions are divided into 3 types: Match cards, Best cards, and Me and You. Each type of card allows you to learn a bit more about each other, from which memories you value together to how you’d draw your partner if only given a dry-erase marker.

   • Duration: 30 minutes
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   Dungeons & Dragons Board, card, and dice game expert Jess Hamlet says, “D&D is a unique way to get to know people that you don’t know.” Campaigns tend to be low-pressure and low-stakes, but still a good time. Since you’re roleplaying, it also gives you the chance to re-create yourself and be who you want to be, making it easier to socialize with new people.

   • In Dungeons & Dragons, players tend to be open-minded about you, your choices, and your characters, giving you the chance to build new relationships fairly easily.
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   Would You Rather Would You Rather is a simple game where you ask the opposing player an ultimatum. These ultimatums are typically fun and lightly flirty, but can range depending on the type of relationship you two have. According to relationship coach Sven Loss, question-based games like Would You Rather help couples become familiar with each other, making it a great game if you’re in the early stages of dating.

   • Example: “Would you rather give up kissing or give up every type of sauce?”
   • Example: “Would you rather travel 15 years into the future or 15 years into the past?”
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   Never Have I Ever Never Have I Ever is an icebreaker game that allows you to know more about the person you’re dating, making it perfect for those early stages of dating. Everyone starts with five fingers up, alternating between who proposes the prompt. When it’s your turn, say something that you’ve never done that you suspect your partner has. The first one to put all of their fingers down loses!

   • Example: “Never have I ever blown up my favorite celebrity’s DMs.”
   • Example: “Never have I ever stalked a crush on Instagram.”
   • Dating coach John Keegan says asking questions and guessing things about people through observations is a great way to get to know them.
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Expert Q&A

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• Question

  What two-player games would you recommend?

  

  Triple S Games
  Game Experts

  Triple S Games, based in Salt Lake City, Utah, is owned by Jim, who has been teaching and developing games since 2004. The company’s YouTube channel, launched in 2014, is known for concise “how to play” videos covering the rules of over 1,000 games—and counting. Their content spans board games, card games, parlor games, puzzles, and video games, with the most popular videos translated into 11 languages. In addition to instruction, Triple S Games has designed and published original titles and produces checkered board variations for chess-based gameplay.

  

  Triple S Games

  Game Experts

  Expert Answer

  There are trading card games like Magic the Gathering, Yu-Gi-Oh, or Pokémon, but they're kind of niche. If you want something that has more abstract strategy, Abalone is great — you use marbles to push your opponent’s pieces off the board. If you want a deeper strategy, there’s Gops, also called the Game of Pure Strategy, where you play cards head-to-head for points.

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