The best games with a tug-of-war marker that keeps the game score 2024

7 Wonders Duel takes the essence of the classic 7 Wonders and refines it for an intense two-player experience. It retains the thematic elements of building a civilization through acquiring various types of cards, but it introduces unique mechanics suited for a duel.

Star Wars: The Deckbuilding Game brings the epic conflict between the Galactic Empire and the Rebel Alliance to your tabletop. This two-player game captures the essence of the Star Wars universe, offering a dynamic and strategic experience where players build their decks and battle to destroy each other's bases.

Watergate thrusts players into the historical tug-of-war between the Nixon Administration and a determined journalist from the Washington Post. This game recreates the infamous political scandal, requiring strategic card play and keen decision-making.

Caper: Europe thrusts players into the heart of a high-stakes game of thievery and strategy, set against the backdrop of Europe's most iconic locations. As rival criminal masterminds, players draft a crew of skilled thieves, dispatch them across the continent, and equip them with various gear to pull off daring heists. The challenge lies in outsmarting your opponent by efficiently managing your resources, controlling key locations, and securing valuable stolen goods. With only six rounds to enact your master plan, the pressure is on to be the most cunning and successful mastermind.

Jekyll vs. Hyde is a riveting two-player trick-taking game inspired by the classic novella Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson. This game pits two iconic characters against each other in a battle of wits and strategy, with one player embodying Dr. Jekyll, striving to maintain his secret and sanity, and the other player taking on the role of Mr. Hyde, seeking to dominate and unveil the dual identity.

Twilight Struggle offers an immersive journey through a pivotal period in history, where the world stood on the brink of nuclear annihilation. This two-player game takes place during the forty-five year rivalry between the Soviet Union and the United States. Instead of traditional warfare, players engage in a dance of intrigue, prestige, and the occasional outbreak of hostilities. As the superpowers strive to make the world safe for their ideologies, you'll navigate a complex web of politics, espionage, and strategy. The game begins in the aftermath of World War II, with both superpowers scrambling for control, and concludes in 1989, leaving only one superpower standing.

13 Days: The Cuban Missile Crisis is a tense, strategic two-player game set during the critical moments of the Cuban Missile Crisis. It captures the high-stakes Cold War atmosphere, offering a rich thematic experience in just 45 minutes. The game challenges players to navigate complex dilemmas, such as choosing between gaining prestige or risking global nuclear war, and strategically managing their hand of cards to outmaneuver their opponent.

Dogs of War is a beautifully crafted board game that transports players into a steampunk-renaissance universe, where noble houses clash in a struggle for dominance. Players assume the roles of the eponymous Dogs of War, mercenary captains who wield their private armies to sway the outcomes of battles between these houses for profit and influence.

Maria is a strategic board game set during the tumultuous period of the War of the Austrian Succession, offering a rich blend of military strategy and historical diplomacy. Designed primarily for three players, it casts them into the roles of the major powers of the time: Austria, France with Bavaria, and Prussia along with the Pragmatic Army. Utilizing a unique map that is divided into two parts—Flanders and Bohemia—Maria challenges players to navigate the complexities of warfare and alliance, demanding not just military might but also political sagacity to emerge victorious.

Churchill places you in the shoes of one of the three iconic leaders during World War II - Churchill, Roosevelt, or Stalin - engaging in a strategic battle of wits and diplomacy rather than military might. This unique game focuses on the pivotal conferences that shaped the Allied strategy and post-war landscape, challenging players to negotiate, manipulate, and sometimes cooperate to advance their agendas.

Labyrinth: The War on Terror, 2001 - ? is a strategic board game that delves into the complex geopolitical conflicts of the early 21st century, focusing on the rise of Islamic extremism and the subsequent global war on terror.