There are plenty of great reasons to stay inside right now. If you’re not worried about catching covid (and, let’s be clear, you absolutely should be), there are several winter storms wreaking havoc across America that should serve to keep you locked in with a cup of tea and a good book. Sometimes, though, the cabin fever starts to settle in, and a book just isn’t going to cut it anymore. Yes, I said it. Sometimes it’s okay to not want to read! That might not be the advice you’d expect from a book podcast, but here we are.

As we’ve spent the last bit inside, Todd and I have been playing more board games than before. Let’s just say that some of them are better than others. These are our top board games to play with a partner (or a small group of pals) while you’re stuck inside. Most notably, all of these games are fun with a small number of people, and don’t need a big party or group to enjoy.

The Fox in the Forest

The Fox in the Forest is a two-player game that Todd and I enjoyed a lot when we were newly dating. I’m happy to say that we love it just as much after being married for a while. The game is fairly simple; Two players dual against each other through a series of hands, each trying to outwit the other via various “tricks.” There’s a very specific, but simple, hierarchy of cards, with certain cards beating others and winning hands. If you don’t win enough hands during a game, you’ll surely lose, but if you win too many, you’ll also lose! The Fox in the Forest is all about not hoisting yourself up by your petard and remaining humble – lest your confidence come back to bite you.

This is one of those games that takes simple card mechanics from generations of games (most notably, IMO, rummy) and puts it into an aesthetically pleasing, fresh game that somehow still feels familiar. It’s not hard to pick up, and it’s a joy to play, whether you win or lose. There’s also a co-op version of the game for those that don’t want to trash talk each other, The Fox in the Forest Duet.

Marrying Mr. Darcy

Go back in time to the Regency Era with this game all about Jane Austen’s most famous novel, Pride and Prejudice. Marrying Mr. Darcy doesn’t ask players to stick to the book as they accumulate training and skills to become the best belle in all the land, though. Players can choose a husband from a wide swath of Austen characters, from the rakish Mr. Wickham to the nerdy and boring Mr. Collins. Players choose an Austen heroine to embody, each with their own starting stats, then attempt to learn enough skills (or acquire a big enough dowry) to win the suitor of their choice. Fail to live up to the era’s high standards and end up a spinster, which is its own reward.

The true fun of this game, though, is really getting into your role. Playing the stuck up Caroline Bingley? Make sure to rub your wealth in everyone else’s face. Trying on the witty Elizabeth? Pull out your best puns and barbs to antagonize other players. While this isn’t a specific rule of the game, a little light roleplaying definitely makes things more fun.

There are also a couple of expansions for Marrying Mr. Darcy to add a different flavor to the fun. An Undead expansion adds – you guessed it – zombies to the game, while an Emma expansion brings a new cast of characters and worries to Austen’s universe.

The box folds out to be the board. Genius.

A Game of Cat and Mouth

Sometimes, you just don’t want to think about strategy when you’re playing a game, and that’s okay. For days when you feel like you can’t consider one more thing and just want to escape into silliness, A Game of Cat and Mouth has you covered. From the mind behind The Oatmeal, A Game of Cat and Mouth is a pinball-esque, fast-paced board game that requires players to fling little rubber balls back and forth through a cat-shaped goal in order to score. The game is cute, easy to understand, and beautifully packaged, so it’s a delight to play. Just be careful; If you have your own cats at home they might chase those tiny balls all over the place.

MicroMacro

MicroMacro is like Eye Spy on the next level. Players receive 16 “cases” to solve and a giant, intricate map of a city. They must work through each case by finding clues, tracking the progression of time, and keeping an eye out for anything suspicious. While some of the cases are family-friendly – one is about a lost sombrero while another is about a lovesick sailor causing mishaps around town – others have darker themes. After all, MicroMacro is a game about crime in the big city. I was shocked to find dead bodies on the map while looking for seemingly harmless clues. I can only imagine that we’ll return to that violence in later cases.

MicroMacro is the perfect game to play with a partner, though you can include more people if you want. It’s challenging, but simple, and reimagines the best parts of childhood games for adults (and a new generation of kids, too)!

Magic Puzzle Co.

This isn’t a board game per se, but Magic Puzzle Co. has cracked the code on what it takes to make the best puzzle. I will happily declare Magic Puzzle Co. puzzles the ABSOLUTE BEST I have ever seen wholeheartedly. In fact, I don’t even like puzzles that much, but these have me hooked. Truly. Every night while we were in the midst of this puzzle, I’d get off work and wonder how I could maneuver things around to have more time to puzz. It’s that good.

Magic Puzzle Co. makes puzzles that tell a story. As you put together the 1000 piece beauties (all illustrated by different artists), new details emerge to complete the tale. After you finish, and every piece is in place, there’s a secret ending included that reveals something new about the story. I won’t spoil the surprise, but I will say that I absolutely loved it.

On a puzzle level, Magic Puzzle Co. solves all the issues inherent with most traditional puzzles. Its pieces are, while challengingly constructed, clearly part of specific scenes in the puzzle, and the entire product is well made. In the entire box, we didn’t find one piece that was misshapen or miscut. The set also includes two posters of the full image, so puzzlers can get up close and personal to find the pieces they need most. On top of that, the printing is on point, and the end result is a vibrant, beautiful work of art. Even if you don’t enjoy most puzzles, these are worth checking out.

Alice is Missing

You’ll need at least a group of 3 to play Alice is Missing, but it can be done in person or long distance. Alice is Missing is a roleplaying game that takes place entirely via text message (or Discord or some other app, if you prefer). You play as friends of the missing girl Alice and try to get to the bottom of her strange disappearance.

While Alice is Missing is a roleplaying game, it’s also a testament to the power of narrative. The game includes all sorts of tips on making the experience more immersive, and they really do help. When I played (with Emily and her husband Ben), we listened to the premade soundtrack included online for the game and turned the lights down low, lit a candle. It felt atmospheric and important, and for a time I really felt like I knew Alice and her other friends.

Tether

Tether is a roleplaying game built for two people and created to be played exclusively long distance. Players each play a character living in the same small town, writing to each other via a mysterious journal across time. To do this, players mail a real, physical journal back and forth, adding a bit of suspense and craftiness to the experience. Getting mail is always fun, and it’s even more enjoyable when it’s the next installment in a longform roleplaying game, isn’t it?

There’s some degree of customization allowed by Tether. You can choose to play online, of course, or pass a journal back and forth in person. You can also vary the amount of time you want to spend playing, making the game as long or short as you desire. I haven’t gotten to play Tether yet, but I’m eager to. It sounds like the perfect game to pass the time while sitting out the latest wave of covid.