If Splendor Duel has been the reliable two-player game on your shelf, it just got its first proper shake-up. Space Cowboys has released The Counterfeiters, the first expansion for the head-to-head gem duel from Marc André and Bruno Cathala, and it hands both players a way to bend the rules they have spent hours mastering.
Run game nights? Backseat Gamer handles RSVPs, waitlists, date polling, and game voting so you can focus on playing.
Start organising for freeSplendor Duel took the streamlined engine of the original Splendor and turned it into a tense fight for two, where you race to grab gems from a shared board, buy jewel cards, and reach one of several victory conditions first. It plays in about half an hour and has become one of the go-to picks when you want a quick, thinky game that only needs one opponent. Space Cowboys illustrator Davide Tosello gives the whole thing its jewel-box sparkle.
The Counterfeiters leans into its title with a rogue's toolkit. New Glassware tokens let you pass off fakes as the genuine article, standing in for real gems when you are short. Counterfeiter cards twist the usual turn structure with tricks the base game never allowed, and a fresh batch of Royal cards changes which favours are worth chasing. This is a box aimed squarely at players who already know Splendor Duel well and want new decisions rather than a gentler on-ramp, so you will need the base game to play.
Stop juggling Meetup, WhatsApp, and spreadsheets. One platform for your gaming group's events, RSVPs, and member management.
See how it worksIt is a small box at a small price, the sort of expansion that quietly earns a permanent spot in the base game's insert. Splendor Duel was already a strong shout for a two-player night, and this gives regular opponents a reason to relearn each other's habits.
The Counterfeiters is out now, with UK copies through retailers like Zatu. Splendor Duel is the game to reach for when it is just the two of you, so grab your regular rival, or find a game night near you to line up some new ones.
Sources: Space Cowboys | Zatu Games | Asmodee
