The best 2 player games for kids (free in your browser)

What makes a good 2 player game for kids?

The best two player games for kids have a few things in common. Look for these before you pick one:

• Rules in a minute. If a game takes longer to explain than to play, younger kids drift off.
• Short rounds. Games that finish in a few minutes mean more rematches and fewer sulks.
• A fair chance for both. A bit of luck or a smaller board keeps it fun when a little one plays a big sister or a parent.
• One screen is enough. No second device, no download, no waiting around.
• Nothing to worry about. No sign-up and no chat with strangers.

Every game on PlayTrova ticks those last two boxes. They all run in the browser on a phone, tablet or computer, and there's no account and no chat. Most of the board games can also be played with a friend on another device through an invite link.

Below, the games are grouped by feel, so you can pick the right one for the moment.

Quick 2 player games for younger kids

Perfect for a few minutes before dinner or a first taste of strategy. Rounds are short, so losing one hardly matters.

• Tic-Tac-Toe Plus: the classic three in a row. Suits: young kids and anyone learning to take turns. Game length: about a minute. When 3×3 gets too easy, switch to 4×4 or the nine-board Ultimate version. Our Tic-Tac-Toe strategy guide shows how to never lose.
• Memory Match: flip two cards and find the pairs. Suits: little ones and up, with friendly animal, fruit and toy pictures. Game length: a few minutes on the Small board (6 pairs), longer on Big (10 pairs). Our memory game tips help kids remember more.
• Four in a Row: drop discs into columns and line up four. Suits: kids who have outgrown Tic-Tac-Toe. Game length: a few minutes. Discs have a ring or a star as well as a colour, so they're easy to tell apart.
• Dots & Boxes: draw lines between dots and close boxes to claim them. Suits: fans of pencil-and-paper games. Game length: a few minutes on the 3×3 board, which is great for younger kids; 5×5 is a long battle.

Two player strategy games for older kids

These games grow with your child. The rules are simple, but there's always a smarter move to find. Each one has four computer characters, from Rookie Robo (easy) to Grandmaster Owl (expert), for practice between family games.

• Checkers: jump pieces, crown kings and clear the board. Suits: kids ready for their first "real" board game. Game length: a few minutes on the 6×6 Quick board, longer on the classic 8×8. New to it? Read how to play Checkers.
• Mancala: scoop up a pit and sow the seeds round the board. Suits: counters and planners, as it's sneaky counting practice. Game length: shorter with the Quick 3-seed game, longer with the classic 4 seeds. See how to play Mancala.
• Sea Battle: hunt your opponent's hidden fleet on an 8×8 sea. Suits: kids who love guessing games and grids. Game length: fairly quick, because the default rule gives you another shot every time you hit. Fleets are placed for you and stay secret, even on one shared device.
• Reversi: trap and flip your opponent's discs. Suits: older kids and grown-ups, because the whole board can change in one move. Game length: a longer sit-down game. Our Reversi strategy guide explains why corners matter.
• Five in a Row: place stones to make a line of five, a game also known as Gomoku. Suits: Four in a Row fans who want a bigger board. Game length: quicker on the 11×11 board than on the classic 15×15.
• Tilt Four: four in a row with a twist, because each player can tilt the whole board once and let every disc fall. Suits: older kids who like surprises. Game length: a few minutes, with plenty of "wait, what just happened?" moments.

Active 2 player games on one screen

When the kids need to burn off some energy, these real-time games are loud, fast and made for a tablet lying flat on the table. Each player gets their own side of the screen, so nobody waits for a turn. They're played on the same device, not over a link.

• Puck Duel: air hockey for two thumbs. Suits: anyone who can drag a finger. Game length: a quick match, first to 7 goals. On a computer, one player uses the mouse and the other the arrow keys or WASD.
• Snap Duel: a new picture rule every round, like "find the cat", and the fastest correct tap wins. Tap at the wrong moment and you're frozen. Suits: kids from about 6, since every rule is a picture plus a few words. Game length: first to 5 points.
• Math Race: everyone sees the same sum and the first right answer scores. Suits: ages 5 and up, with levels from adding up to 10 to times tables. Game length: first to 7 points. A wrong tap only locks your buttons for a second. More ideas in math games for kids.
• Turbo Trails: race a car or a motorbike on five trails, from Sunny Beach to Neon City. Suits: young racing fans, as the car speeds up by itself and you mostly just steer. Game length: races of 1, 2 or 3 laps. On a laptop the screen splits side by side; on a tablet the two halves face each other.

Two player dice games that keep it fair

Big age gap? A bit of luck is the great leveller. In a dice game a younger child can beat a grown-up fair and square, and nobody feels outplayed.

• Lucky Lanterns: roll the lantern die to grow your pot, then bank it before a Gust blows it away. First to 100 wins. Suits: all ages, because each roll is luck and the only skill is knowing when to stop. Game length: about ten turns each, and 2 to 6 people can play on one device.
• Race Home: a Ludo-style race. Roll a 6 to bring a token out, capture your opponent's tokens and race them all home. Suits: families who love a classic board-game evening. Game length: shorter in the Quick version with 2 tokens each, which suits younger kids; Classic with 4 tokens takes longer.

How kids can play: one device, a link or the computer

Every PlayTrova game has more than one way to play, so there's always a game going, even when only one child is free.

• vs Friend on this device: take turns on one phone, tablet or computer, or share the screen in the arcade games. Dots & Boxes, Memory Match, Race Home, Snap Duel and Math Race work for up to 4 players, and Lucky Lanterns for up to 6.
• vs Friend with a link: in the turn-based games (all of them except Puck Duel, Snap Duel, Math Race and Turbo Trails), choose "Invite with a link" and send it to a friend or grandparent. Our guide to games to play with friends online explains how it works.
• vs Computer: four characters, from Rookie Robo (easy) through Clever Cat and Sly Fox to Grandmaster Owl (expert). It's a great way to practise before challenging a brother or sister. See all games vs the computer.

There's nothing to download and no account to make. You can browse every game in 2 player games or the kids games collection.

Tips for happy two player game time

• Let the youngest choose. They'll be keener to play, and it feels fair.
• Swap who goes first. In many games starting first is a small advantage. When you play on one device, the next game starts with the other player.
• Play best of three. One loss stings less when there's another round coming.
• Match the game to the age gap. For a big difference, pick a dice game or a smaller board, such as 3×3 Dots & Boxes or 6×6 Checkers.
• Stop while it's still fun. Short games make it easy to finish on a high.

Frequently asked questions