Hive

Gen42 Games, 64 Ounce Games, Crómola · Board game · 2001
2 · best 2 20 min Weight 2.3/5
7.9 rating Ludopedia
7.3 rating BGG
How to Play Buy · from US$ 18.99
7.9 rating Ludopedia
7.3 rating BGG
Our Verdict

If you're looking for a two-player abstract strategy game that's easy to learn but offers surprising depth, Hive is a fantastic choice. Its unique "living board" mechanic makes every game feel fresh and engaging.

Highlights
  • Deep strategy from simple rules
  • Excellent two-player abstract game
  • No setup, highly portable
  • Tactile, high-quality components
  • Quick to learn, challenging to master
Keep in mind
  • Can feel repetitive over many plays
  • Abstract theme not for everyone
  • Requires strategic thinking
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Learn How to Play Step by Step Check out our complete step-by-step rules guide.
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About the game
Hive is one of those games you grab thinking it'll be a quick match and suddenly an hour has passed. No fixed board, no setup phase, no fuss — you drop the first piece and you're off. The game consists of twenty-two tokens, eleven per side, each representing an insect with its own quirky movement rules. There's no board to speak of; instead, the pieces themselves gradually form the playing field as you take turns placing and sliding them around. Each bug moves differently — the queen bee is slow and precious, the beetle can climb over others, the ant is versatile, the spider and grasshopper leap in specific patterns. Nobody gets eliminated; pieces just relocate across the growing cluster. The goal is to completely surround your opponent's queen bee while keeping yours safe. It sounds straightforward, but the game hides surprising depth inside a tiny, pocket-sized box. It's the kind of title where you say "just one more round" and suddenly it's three. The hexagonal layout gives everything a tidy, strategic feel, and the lack of a fixed board means you can play on literally any flat surface — even the living room floor, if you're feeling adventurous.
Expansions
Rules videos

In English

Rules manual
Rules manual — Hive English · PDF
Download PDF
BEST PLAYER COUNT
2 BEST
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Game details

Families

Animals: Ants Animals: Bees Animals: Grasshoppers Animals: Insects Animals: Spiders Category: Combinatorial Components: Hexagonal Tiles Containers: Unique Shape Containers: Zippered Pouch Digital Implementations: Board Game Arena Digital Implementations: BoardSpace Digital Implementations: Google Play Digital Implementations: Steam Game: Hive Misc: Dice Tower Hall of Fame Misc: Mensa Select Players: Two-Player Only Games Theme: Nature
Publisher Gen42 Games, 64 Ounce Games, Crómola, G3, Ghenos Games, Gigamic
Designer John Yianni
Artist John Yianni
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a game take?
Usually between 15 and 25 minutes — short enough for a coffee break, long enough to feel meaningful.
Do I need a board or does it work on any flat surface?
No board required. Play on any flat surface — table, floor, paper, whatever you have handy.
How many players?
Exactly two. It's a pure head-to-head affair.
What's in the box?
Twenty-two plastic pieces — eleven black, eleven white — each shaped like a different insect, with distinct silhouettes so you never mix them up.
Are pieces ever removed from the game?
Nope. Nobody gets eliminated; pieces just move around. You lose only when your queen is completely surrounded.
Is it hard to learn?
Not at all. The rules fit on one page, and after a quick practice round you'll have it down.