When my husband and I got married, one wise older woman told me, “Every couple needs an outdoor game and an indoor game that they can play together.”  I remember nodding and thanking her for the advice, but I didn’t think much about it for a few years.

Now I see the wisdom in her words.  As marriage progresses, it can be easy to live on parallel tracks–to live together without interacting deeply.  Having hobbies or games to play together gives couples a built in space to talk, have fun, and grow closer.  Games also make for a fun frugal date night.  (Be sure to check out my  10 Best Frugal Date Night Ideas!)

If you are looking for an indoor or outdoor game, check out these fun ones:

Best Games for Couples to Play

Outdoor Games

1. Tennis

This was the first outdoor game that my husband and I played together.  He had played in high school and wanted to teach me so that we could play together–either against each other or as pairs with another couple.  The cost of equipment is fairly minimal, the exercise is a bonus, and you can play tennis together well into your retirement years.  Love it!

2. Bocce Ball

My husband and I actually registered for a bocce ball set for our wedding.  That’s how much we love it!  The game is similar to horseshoes in its aim and rules, but played with balls instead.  It is simple enough to learn in five minutes but fun enough to play for hours.

3. Croquet

Go “old school” and learn to play croquet together.  Enjoy the nice weather and some friendly competition in this classic outdoor game.

Indoor Games

4. Settlers of Catan

Settlers is our indoor game of choice.  If you are a fan of strategy games like Risk, you will love Settlers of Catan.  Each player tries to settle land, gain resources, and be the first to win 10 points. The game typically takes between 45 and 60 minutes.  A nice mixture of strategy and luck, Settlers is one of our go-to in-house game nights.

5. Carcassonne

Another game of strategy, Carcassonne will challenge your mind as you try to build castles, roads, and more.  Carcassonne is a much quicker game than Settlers of Catan, allowing you to play multiple rounds in one evening.

6. Farkle

Besides being just plain fun to say, Farkle is a relaxing game that requires little mental concentration.  We used to carry it around with us to coffee shops and play it for a break from studying or working on projects.  One summer we even kept score for the entire summer–playing a sort of three months long version!  The winner (me, of course!) definitely had bragging rights for a l-o-n-g time.

7. Phase 10

Phase 10 is a card game with multiple rounds during which players try to complete the round’s challenge and accrue as few points as possible.  It’s just as fun with two players as with a big group.

8. Scrabble

Scrabble is one of my all time favorite games.  Being the word nerd that I am, I have been playing since I was little.  Fortunately, I married a man who shares my enthusiasm, so we can have many competitive matches!

9. Scattergories

Another word game, Scattergories challenges players to think of words in certain categories that all begin with the same letter–with often hilarious results.

10. Yahtzee

Finally, Yahtzee is another favorite in our house.  The classic dice game is quick, easy to learn, and fun to play.  It doesn’t require as much concentration as some of the other games on the list, making it easy to have good conversation while playing.

As trite as it may sound, games have been an important part of our marriage.  They provide a way for my husband and I to enjoy each other, relax together, challenge each other, and make shared memories.  If you don’t already, I encourage you to find an indoor and an outdoor game to play as a couple.  You may be surprised at just how much fun it is.

What games do you play as a couple?

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