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Two player word games: what to play when it is just you and one other
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Scrabble itself works well for two, and for something shorter, Bananagrams Duel is made for exactly two players and takes about 10 minutes. If you want to work together instead of competing, Codenames Duet is built for two. The list below sorts word games by how they play, so you can pick one for the evening.
Which two player word game should you pick?
Choose by mood: a long game of tiles, a quick race, or a team effort. Player counts below come from the sources noted in each section.
| Game | Type | Players | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scrabble | Board, tiles | 2 to 4 | A proper game with tactics |
| Bananagrams Duel | Dice and cards | 2 only | A 10-minute duel |
| Shenanigrams | Tiles, steal words | 2 to 6 | Players who like a little mischief |
| Boggle | Letter dice, timer | Plays with 2 | Quick rounds with pen and paper |
| Quiddler | Letter cards | Check the box | Card players |
| Codenames Duet | Co-operative clues | 2 only | Couples who like to work together |
| Paperback | Word-building deckbuilder | 1 to 5 | Keen gamers |
| Scrabble Slam | Card game | 2 to 4 | Fast play |
| No kit needed | Talking games | 2 | Queues and car journeys |
Scrabble for two
Scrabble is for 2 to 4 players, so two is a fully supported game. Each player draws seven tiles, and with only one opponent you take more turns than in a four-player game. See our full rules if you need a refresher.
With two players, challenges are simple: only one person can challenge you. Agree on a dictionary first. In the UK, Collins Scrabble Words is the standard list, and our two-letter words list helps either player. To keep score, use our free score keeper.
If you do not own a set yet, see which Scrabble set to buy.
Bananagrams Duel
Bananagrams Duel is a two-player take on Bananagrams. It uses letter dice and theme cards, and Thirsty Meeples, a UK games shop, lists it as 2 players, 10 minutes, and ages 7 and over. Choose it for a short game before dinner or in a café.
The original Bananagrams plays 1 to 8 players, according to Tabletop Bellhop. Each player builds their own crossword from tiles, and it also works with two.
Shenanigrams
Shenanigrams is a tile game where you build, tag, and steal words. Thirsty Meeples lists it as 2 to 6 players, 15 to 30 minutes, and ages 8 and over. It is closer to Scrabble than the dice games because words can be taken from your opponent, which gives a two-player game some bite.
Boggle
Boggle works for two. You shake 16 letter dice, then have three minutes to find words in touching letters. Only words that nobody else found score, so with two players the longer finds matter most.
A 2017 BoardGameGeek thread has one player listing Quiddler, Boggle, and Word on the Street as good two-player word games.
Quiddler
Quiddler is a card game where you spell words from a hand of letter cards. The hand grows from three cards to ten as the rounds go on, so the words get longer. Check the player count on the box you buy, as we could not confirm it for this guide.
Codenames Duet
Codenames Duet is made for two players. Thirsty Meeples lists it at 15 minutes and ages 10 and over. You swap one-word clues with your partner, so it is co-operative rather than competitive, and that suits couples who would rather play on the same side.
It is not a tile game, so it will not scratch the Scrabble itch. It does reward knowing how your partner thinks. We have no buy link for it, so look for it at a games shop.
Paperback
Paperback is a word-building deckbuilder. You build words from the cards in your hand, and your deck changes as you play. Thirsty Meeples lists the 10th Anniversary Edition as 1 to 5 players, 25 to 60 minutes, and ages 10 and over. It is a stronger fit for people who already like modern board games, and one Reddit poster names it among their top word games.
Scrabble Slam
Scrabble Slam is a card game: you start from a four-letter word and change one letter at a time. The Amazon listing is from Winning Moves, for 2 to 4 players aged 8 and over. It is quick and simple.
Word games you play with no kit
You can play several word games with nothing but your voices. These suit queues, car journeys, and waiting rooms.
- Say the Same Thing: two players each say a word at the same time. In later rounds you both try to say a word that links the two before it, until you say the same word.
- Last Letter, First Letter: pick a category and take turns saying a word that starts with the last letter of the previous word.
- Ghost: take turns saying a letter to spell a word, without completing a full word yourself.
These are described by The Game Gal and by REI, a US outdoors retailer, and the rules can vary, so agree them first.
Online options
If your opponent is far away, Words With Friends is a free online game where two players take turns laying out words on a crossword-style board from a rack of seven tiles. Wordfeud is another free option that uses the same 15 by 15 board as Scrabble, as we cover in games like Scrabble.
How to choose
For a long game, play Scrabble or Shenanigrams. For a quick one, try Bananagrams Duel or Boggle. For a team game, pick Codenames Duet. If you want more ideas for larger groups, see our guide to games like Scrabble.
Common questions
Can you play Scrabble with two people?
Yes. Scrabble is for 2 to 4 players. Each player draws seven tiles, and the game plays as normal.
What is the best two player word game?
It depends on the style. Scrabble suits a long game, Bananagrams Duel a short one, and Codenames Duet a co-operative one.
Is there a word game made only for two players?
Yes. Bananagrams Duel and Codenames Duet are both listed by Thirsty Meeples as 2-player games.
What word games can two people play without equipment?
Say the Same Thing, Last Letter, First Letter, and Ghost need nothing but your voices.
What is a quick word game for two?
Bananagrams Duel is listed as about 10 minutes. Boggle rounds are three minutes each.
Are there co-operative word games for couples?
Codenames Duet is co-operative, with partners swapping one-word clues. Say the Same Thing is also a co-operative game.
Can two people play Boggle?
Yes. Only words that nobody else found score, so with two players your longer words matter most.
Are there free two player word games online?
Yes. Words With Friends and Wordfeud are both free to play, and both let two players take turns.
Related: Games like Scrabble · Which Scrabble set should you buy? · Travel Scrabble · Rules · Two-letter words · Score keeper