Recently I watched the video below on YouTube, and as usual for Actualol it is both informative and entertaining. However, one section stood out to me, and that was on player count.

Firstly, though I am going to address the fact publishers put a wide player count on the box to increase the market appeal of the game, and often this something they shouldn’t do – they must know that some games don’t work with say five players or two players! Arkwright, my second favourite game of all time says 2-4 on the box and whilst yes it can be played with two, you’ll not have a very good experience. It is a four-player game, three at a push.

Le Havre says 2-5 on the box and woe betide anyone playing that with five. So player count is a tool used by publishers to sell games to a wider market.

You could then, as recommended in the video, check out the BGG (Boardgamegeek.com) recommended player count. This is come from people playing the game and their subjective opinion of what is the best player count. Above two players it is useful, and Arkwright does indeed show a “Best 4” on the community player count. It also has a 61% recommendation at two players, and here we have the main issue with the BGG ratings for player count – they fall over at two players.

Unless it is a two-player dedicated game, the way you play a 2-x player game with two will give you a different experience. Play Concordia on the standard 2-3 player map and the game is wide open enough for each player to do what they want without much interaction, and that would turn an excellent game into one that is as dull as dishwater. On the flipside of that, if you go for each other’s cities, if you compete for cards – snag that colonist your opponent really needs – then the game is excellent. Much better than waiting for an eternity to take your turn again in a five-player game. But who has played it what way and who has put their recommendations on towards player count on BGG?

There are some excellent two-player only games. Watergate, Jaipur, and the daddy of all two player games Fields of Arle, are just a few examples. There are also some that are just not good. However, if you happen to play only or mostly two players and decide to go for only two player games or listen to what reviewers or YouTubers say, then you are missing out on a bigger, wider, world of games. As always, it is best to do your own research, and if you are new to the hobby don’t believe everything you read. From player count on the box, to what others think is the best player count for a game.