This week, we’re diving into two awesome games designed for two players! Let’s jump right in!

District Noir

First up is District Noir from Pandasaurus Games. This quick card game has players competing to score the most victory points in a semi-trick-taking format.

Game Overview

We recently tried out District Noir, and we have to say, we’re fans of its design! The shadowy figures really set the mood. The main objective is to either collect three location cards for an instant win or gather cards of varying point values to have the highest score. If you’re into deep storytelling, this game might not be your cup of tea, as there’s only a little flavor text in the instruction manual. But if you’re just looking for a fun weeknight game, this fits the bill perfectly!

Game Components

The game consists mainly of cards and a first player token. The illustrations have an art nouveau vibe that really captures the 1950s feel. Everything is beautifully designed in shadow, which we thought was a fantastic aesthetic choice. The token is plastic and feels like a poker chip, with two different player icons on either side.

Game Setup

Setting up is a breeze! Just randomly remove three cards, shuffle the deck, deal five cards to each player, and then place the deck on the table while flipping over the first two cards.

Gameplay

District Noir is simple to play! Over four rounds, each player takes six turns. For five of those rounds, players alternate laying down cards beside the existing ones on the board. At any time, a player can opt to take the last five cards played instead of putting down a card, but they can only do this once per round.

The cards you collect become your victory points. There are seven card types: 5s, 6s, 7s, and 8s, along with + and - cards, and location cards. At the end of the game, you count your 5s, 6s, 7s, and 8s. If you have the most of each, you get that number of victory points! Plus, for each complete set of 5, 6, 7, and 8, you earn 5 points, and don’t forget to add or subtract your + and - cards for your final score!

Schotten Totten 2

Next up, we played Schotten Totten 2 from Iello, designed by Riner Knizia.

Game Overview

In this game, one player defends their castle wall while the other takes on the role of an attacking Scottish cook in a kilt. Players take turns placing cards on either side of the wall. The attacker wins by breaking through in four places or by breaking through the same place twice. The defender wins if the deck runs out without the attacker achieving their goal.

Game Components

Schotten Totten 2 is primarily a card game featuring fantastic cartoon illustrations. There are five suits of sequential cards from 0 to 11 and seven double-sided wall tiles indicating how many cards are needed to break through that tile. Each player gets a standee of their character to remind them of their role, which adds a fun touch to the game.

Game Setup

Setup is pretty straightforward! Shuffle the cards and deal six to each player. Then, set up the wall pieces in a row between you. Don’t forget to hand out the standees and oil tokens to the defender! You’ll be ready to play in no time!

Gameplay

Schotten Totten 2 presents a strategic challenge! Each wall piece has unique card icons and symbols. The attacker aims to create a better hand than the defender. The twist is, once the defender places a card, they can’t remove it! However, the attacker can pull back their cards whenever they want. If either player places a 0 or 11 behind a wall tile, the opponent can counter by playing the opposite card (0 for 11 and vice versa) to remove those cards. The defender can also use oil tokens to remove up to three cards from the closest positions to the wall. Think of it as a medieval siege with some oil-dumping drama!

When the attacker has a winning hand that the defender can’t beat, they can claim that wall piece by flipping the wall tile and discarding the cards. The attacker needs to accomplish this on four wall pieces or can try to break through the same piece again with new card rules. It’s a clever bit of strategy and a lot of fun!

Overall Impressions

Both games are a blast! District Noir is light on theme and story, making it perfect for casual late-night gaming sessions or road trips. On the other hand, Schotten Totten 2 is more strategic and challenges players to think like poker pros. The comic illustrations and card combinations are a joy! While we enjoy both games, Schotten Totten 2 takes the crown for us. Happy gaming!