Smitten & Smitten 2 Card Game Review

Smitten & Smitten 2

WBG Score: 6.5/10

Player Count: 1-2

You’ll like this if you like: Nice, simple, card games

Published by: Stonemaier Games

Designed by: Ryan S. Davis, Jamey Stegmaier

This is a free review copy. See our review policy here.

Smitten is a delightful 18-card game that represents art from various Stonemaier games. It challenges one to two players in a quick, simple, but enjoyable card-laying experience. The game came out in 2022 to celebrate the tenth anniversary of Stonemaier Games and represented nine games created by Stonemaier at that point. Each game was shown on two cards from the deck of 18, with nine separate art designs. However, when you formed a grid of three-by-three with them, as is the idea in the game, they form one cohesive picture. The games featured were Tapestry, Euphoria, Wingspan, Between Two Castles, My Little Scythe, Charterstone, Pendulum, Viticulture, and Between Two Cities. Scythe is in the background when you form the tableau. It's pretty cool!

In 2025, Smitten Two was released. It is the same premise but with nine new pairs of cards. Nine new cards, representing nine new games within the Stonemaier universe, with nine new card powers. This time, the games featured have not been confirmed by Jamey yet, but my best guess is we have Wyrmspan, Apiary, Stamp Swap, Tokaido, Rolling Realms Redux, Vantage, Finspan, Libertalia, and collectively they create an image, of what I am guessing to be Expeditions. There is one other game included, but I am unsure what this is. Maybe an unreleased game? Or perhaps, Red Rising which is not featured in Smitten, and could be here? But it just my guess. OK, enough of that, are these games fun? Let's get them to the table and see how they play.

How To Set Up Smitten & Smitten 2

Shuffle the 18 cards into a deck and place one random card face down away from the play area, this is out of the game. Next, choose a difficulty level, easy, medium, or hard. This determines how may cards you start with. Easy you get four cards each, medium and hard you get three. But in hard, there are also some extra rules, covered below.

In solo, create two "hands" by shuffling the deck, then placing two cards face up and one card face down into each of the two piles. The two hands represent two players, so when you play a card from one hand, the other hand now represents the other player, or "partner" as it is referred to in this game. You are now ready to play!

How To Set Up Smitten & Smitten 2

The aim of the game is to place all 17 cards into their prescribed position in the grid. You are creating two separate three-by-three grids. One made by each player. Or in a solo, one from one hand, and one by the other. But of course, as one card has been taken out of the game, one grid will be incomplete. So you win when you place the 17th card. Ignore the effect of the 17th card, and now place the previously discarded 18th card to complete your two grids. You loose if you ever cannot place a card, or follow a placed cards instructions.

Players place cards from their hand into a grid. The first card can go anywhere on the table, but subsequent cards must be placed adjacent to a previously played card. Cards must be placed in their correct position as shown on the symbol on the top left of each card. One in the top left, five in the middle, etc. When you play a card, the other player (the partner) must then follow that card's actions, as shown on the card. At the end of each turn, both players draw cards to replenish their hands if possible, with the active player drawing their card(s) first.

Players can play cards whenever they see fit. There are no turns in this game. It's not player A then player B. You play simply when you feel you have the right card to play. To decide who should play in the multiplayer game, the only information you can discuss is whether you are able or willing to play a card, simply stating, “I can play/I want to play” or “I can’t play/I don’t want to play.” You can also say “I can play, but I don’t want to play.” The player who decides to play becomes the active player.

If a cards action instructs the "partner" to play a card, the second card played in this sequence by the partner does not trigger its 'when played' action.

In the hard mode, you cannot play or place a card if it results in one grid having more than two cards difference compared to the other grid.

In solo, you can play any card from either hand. If you lay a face-down card, flip it face up first. Whenever a card has been played, if the partner has a face-down card, you must immediately flip it over to be face up.

For the easy solo mode, at the beginning of any turn, either hand may set a card aside face up and replace it, face up with the card that was set aside during setup. If you want to play hard mode, use the above hard mode rules, and/or you must ensure that the first and last card played must come from the left hand.

Is It Fun? Smitten & Smitten 2 Card Game Review

I find the art to be a little clearer in the first game. I much prefer it. The above picture shows the final grid, and you can see the main picture representing an image of Scythe, and the individual components representing each game really do stand out. Scroll up to see the darker, busier final grid from Smitten Two. It does not quite pop as a single image to me.

Smitten and its follow-up Smitten 2 are tiny-box card games that celebrate the Stonemaier catalogue in a clever and artistic way. With just 18 cards, players work together to build two three-by-three grids where the art from across the company’s titles combines into one bigger picture. Each card also carries a rule twist that keeps the puzzle fresh. The cooperative play is quick, accessible, and charming, making this a strong choice for couples, solo players, or anyone looking for a pocket-sized puzzle that takes minutes to learn but has just enough bite to stay interesting.

That said, Smitten will not be for everyone. The rules around hand management, adjacency, and partner-triggered actions can feel fiddly, especially in harder modes where balance between grids becomes stricter. With so few cards in the deck, luck can sometimes dictate the flow of play, and the cooperative restrictions on communication may frustrate players who prefer open table talk. This is a game that thrives as a light, thematic diversion but may struggle to satisfy gamers who want depth, strategy, or replayability beyond the novelty of the art.

Pros

• Gorgeous art from across the Stonemaier catalogue

• Quick setup and fast playtime

• Works well solo or cooperatively

• Portable and highly accessible

Cons

• Limited depth and replayability

• Luck of the draw can dictate success

• Restrictions on communication may frustrate some

• Hard mode can feel fiddly

Ultimately, Smitten and Smitten Two shine as celebration pieces, both for Stonemaier fans and for players who enjoy quick, puzzly co-ops. The game has beautiful art, minimal setup, portability, and a clever core concept. But be mindful of the light gameplay, occasional frustration with restrictions, and limited scope. If you are looking for a filler game with table presence and charm, or if you are a Stonemaier enthusiast keen to see their universe represented in miniature form, this will be a delightful addition to your collection.