Hive: The Pillbug

Gen42 Games · Board game · 2013
2 · best 2 20 min Weight 2.4/5
rating Ludopedia
7.7 rating BGG
How to Play Buy
rating Ludopedia
7.7 rating BGG
Our Verdict
RECOMMENDED

Perfect for Hive enthusiasts looking for more strategic layers and piece manipulation.

Highlights
  • Adds significant tactical depth
  • Innovative movement mechanic
  • Compact and easy to carry
Keep in mind
  • Increases rule complexity
  • Requires base game to play
Learn How to Play Step by Step Check out our complete step-by-step rules guide.
Access Rules Guide

About the game

What you do in a play session

If you've already mastered the Hive, it's time to introduce a new member: the Pillbug. This expansion adds a pair of tiles that completely shake up the game's positioning dynamics, introducing a manipulation capability that can either save your skin or wreck your opponent's plans. The Pillbug isn't just another piece; it's a movement facilitator.

Basically, the Pillbug can move normally, one space at a time. But the real trick lies in its special ability: it can take any adjacent piece (friend or foe) and 'jump' it over itself into an adjacent empty space. It's like giving a strategic nudge to reorganize the battlefield. But hold on, it's not all fun and games! There are strict rules to prevent abuse: it cannot move the piece the opponent just moved, nor can it move pieces that are already part of a stack. Furthermore, the move cannot break the fundamental 'One Hive' rule or violate the 'Freedom to Move' rule.

The most critical detail is the post-move 'paralysis': any piece physically moved by the Pillbug becomes immobile on the next player's turn. It cannot move, be moved again, or use its special ability. That's the price for the free ride! For those who love chaos, remember that the Mosquito can mimic the Pillbug's abilities, even if the Pillbug itself has been rendered immobile. If the Pillbug is pinned under a Beetle, it remains trapped just like any other piece. It's the perfect dose of extra complexity for those looking to deepen the base game's strategy.

Expansion for

Published additional content

2 items

Rules manual

Official PDF file

Rules manual — Hive: The Pillbug English · PDF
Download PDF

Best player count

BGG community vote

Duel · 2 players
2 BEST

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Game details

Mechanics, categories, families and credits

Families

Animals: Insects Category: Combinatorial Digital Implementations: Board Game Arena Game: Hive Players: Two-Player Only Games
Publisher Gen42 Games
Designer John Yianni
Artist John Yianni

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers before you buy

5 questions
Do I need the base game to play?
Yes! This is an expansion. You need the original Hive to use the Pillbug pieces.
How many players can play?
Hive is a duel, so it remains exclusively for 2 players.
Does it make the game much harder?
It adds new tactical possibilities and some movement restrictions, so the learning curve goes up slightly, but nothing overwhelming.
What's inside the box?
Just the two Pillbug tiles and the instruction sheet.
How long does a game with the Pillbug take?
The average time remains around 20 minutes, although move analysis might take a bit longer.