What we‘re looking for:
- Easy to learn, hard to master
- small footprint
- It has to be great with both 2 or more players (up to 5)
- exciting (push your luck or take that or similar mechanisms, maybe bluffing? A coop small engine builder tycoon game heavier than Bohnanza maybe?)
What we already have and like, but are bad with 2p
- The Crew: Awesome, but sucks at 2p
- For Sale
- High Society
What we didn‘t enjoy:
- Sushi Go Party
- Cascadia (also too big)
- King if Toyko (awesome but a bit too big, we‘d prefer a game without dice)
- Love Letter
- Coup
These are all great fun with 2-5, and may fit your requirements:
Port Royal
Century: Spice Road
Camel Up
Incan Gold (AKA Diamant)
Have you tried Skull? You can get the official set or play with coasters. Bluffing and push your luck. I think you’d like it!
I know you said preferably no dice, but… have you checked out Perudo/Liar’s Dice? It’s a cup & dice game based around bluffing
Sherriff of Nottingham is also a great push your luck sort of game but the footprint is probably bigger than you’d like, you’re trying to make money by selling goods and maybe contraband past the sheriff, who could also be open to bribery…
I’ve been enjoying Death Wish
You might want to look at some laminated games with erasable pens. We really like Welcome To, and recently discovered Aquamarine as a 4 dollar game.
5 minute dungeon is a quicktime game that is coop, but was hard to get in Europe.
Picomino (regenwormen in Dutch) is a dice push your luck game that has a small footprint. I know you said no dice but still wanted to give the tip :p
Lastly you have walletgames such as Sprawlopolis (coop) which might be worth looking at, they are meant to be small.
Roll & Writes: We didn‘t enjoy Cartographer, it didn‘t feel exciting for us. Ganz schoen clever was another suggestion, but we‘d prefer no dice.
5 Minute Dungeon is awesome, but I played it so many times with my kids that I can‘t stand it anymore. But great suggestion! I‘ll have a look into your other suggestions.
