Happy Valentine’s Day1!
Pulling from the 150+ virtual escape rooms and puzzle games I’ve played and reviewed over the past couple of years, I’ve compiled a list2 below of seven of my two-player favorites.
These games range widely in format. Some are playable on-demand, either fully digitally or with printable materials. Others involve physical components mailed to you. But all are delightful options to play with a partner or friend. I hope you enjoy playing them as much as I did!
OXXOO OXXXX XOXXO OOXOX,
Matthew
Mechanics of the Heart (clueQuest)
I’ve long been a fan of UK escape room company clueQuest’s print-and-play games. They’ve released a staggering NINE such games since the start of the pandemic, and their ❤️-themed Mechanics of the Heart was one of my favorites.
As an added bonus, there are options to personalize some elements in the game. This would be especially fun if you want to sneakily insert inside jokes or personal messages to fellow players.
Together at Heart (Enchambered)
Together at Heart was designed by Sacramento, CA escape room company Enchambered. In a similar style to their other wonderful digital games Alone Together and Together Apart, Together at Heart is designed for exactly 2 players and is fully digital. Each player sees a different screen and describes information on their screen that’s needed for their partner’s puzzles.
The interfaces are slick, the puzzles are cute, and at $10 a pop, this is a great option for a casual game night.
Solve Our Shirts (CU Adventures)
I’ve long desired nicer puzzle attire, and CU Adventures delivered strongly with their Solve Our Shirts games.
In addition to being visually engaging and SO SOFT, these shirts each contain over an hour of puzzles that cleverly use all elements of the shirt, along with some other physical and digital materials. The 2020 Escape from the Maze of the Minotaur shirt seemed like it exhausted all the possible things you could do with a shirt… and then the 2021 Treasure Trove of Pirates Cove pulled off a completely new set of tricks. The puzzles are accessible to puzzle noobs while still satisfying for more experienced puzzlers.
If you’re playing with a partner, note that CU Adventures offers a Couple’s Pack so you can each get a shirt!
REA reviews of Escape from the Maze of the Minotaur and Treasure Trove of Pirates Cove
The Social Distancing Puzzles (Eric Berlin)
If you like crosswords and variety word puzzles, you will love The Social Distancing Puzzles. This printable puzzle packet is designed specifically for two players. Each player has information that the other player needs for each puzzle, so get ready to communicate nonstop with your partner.
For an optional donation to a good cause, you’ll get a solid few hours of puzzling, making this both the most affordable and most puzzle-ful recommendation on this list.
P.S. If you enjoy this style of clever-yet-accessible word puzzles, also pick up a copy of Eric Berlin’s Puzzlesnacks while you’re at it!
Tick Tock: A Tale for Two (Other Tales Interactive)
Tick Tock: A Tale for Two is a two-player cooperative digital game, available on mobile, tablet, computer, or Nintendo Switch.
From my review: “Tick Tock: A Tale for Two is a shining example of puzzles as art. Over the past year, I’ve continued to find new value and meaning in asymmetrical information-sharing games, particularly those intended for just two players, as a way to connect with friends from afar. Tick Tock: A Tale for Two takes this design pattern to a new level through a stunningly beautiful narrative, well-executed mechanics, and alluring visuals.”
Taco Twosday (Trapped Puzzle Rooms)
This game comes as two packets of information – one for the Flour Bureau of Investigation, and one for the Corn Intelligence Agency. These packets are mailed to you, and each player/group has access to one of the two packets.
From my review: “Taco Twosday provided a mouthwatering meal of asymmetrical information-sharing puzzles, sprinkled with a generous pinch of punnery and just the right level of spice. Puzzle flow was smooth and puzzle quality was high, with a gentle on-ramp, consistent signposting, and some satisfying ahas and mini-metas throughout.”
Escape from the Two Base Stations (SCRAP)
SCRAP is a Japanese escape room company that many US-based escape room enthusiasts may already be familiar with. Though their in-person US operations have sadly closed during the pandemic, they’ve offered up some notably creative virtual and tabletop offerings.
One such game is Escape from the Two Base Stations, in which two players split up North Pole and South Pole packets. The puzzles are well designed and full of clever moments, with an especially sneaky ending sequence (no shame in taking a hint on the final steps!)
This game works especially well for partners in different locations, and much of the gameplay is explicitly designed around constraining certain video chat functions.
A peek into my puzzle brain: VALENTINES anagrams to LATIN SEVEN, which of course clues SEPTEM. Fun fact: “septem” is the root of September, but that’s the 9th month in our calendar… but it was the 7th month in the Roman republic calendar, which contained only 10 months total.
To note, none of these recommendations are paid endorsements or affiliate links. As a reviewer for Room Escape Artist, I received complimentary plays of some of these games, but that neither affected my reviews for Room Escape Artist nor my recommendations here.