Two-player does not have to mean two devices. The oldest multiplayer setup is still the best one for a queue: put the phone between you, agree who goes first, and take turns.
Why one phone works
There is no invite link, no waiting room, and no stranger on the other end. The game is a shared object on the table. That also makes it easy to stop: the board stays where it is, and the next round can wait.
The four
Dots & Boxes is the quickest to teach: draw a line, close a box, go again. Air Hockey is the physical one — drag your mallet and defend your half. Reversi rewards a quiet corner flip. Checkers is the full five-minute match, with forced captures and kings.
House rules that help
Decide whether the phone lies flat between turns or one player holds it. For fast games, the loser starts the next round. For longer games, agree on a resignation rule before the first move, so nobody has to stare at a lost board. And if you are on a train, keep the sound down; all four have in-game mute or a silent default.
