Sail

My partner and I have played this at least a dozen times this month, and the two-player trick-taking setup actually holds up without one person running the whole show. The co-op angle makes losing feel like a shared disaster instead of an argument, which is rare for us.

Finally a two-player co-op trick-taking game that actually works. The way you have to communicate silently while navigating storm cards makes every hand feel like a real adventure.

My partner and I have played this co-op trick-taking game almost every night this week, and the two-player format is surprisingly tense in the best way. The turbulent waters mechanic keeps us talking through every hand instead of just playing silently.