This game is rated 3
Our review includes potentially triggering words:
Spider.
Continue
Back
Ignore All Content Warnings
Posted: 3 months ago, last updated 4 weeks ago.
Author: @GeekDadGamer and Rob Prior.
Overview
You play with twenty two Insect pieces, eleven black and eleven white. You start by one player placing a piece, subsequent pieces need to be played so they have one of their hexagon edges touching an existing piece. The aim is to surround your opponent's Queen piece. But you also nee to be careful to stop your Queen from being surrounded at the same time.
Each turn you can choose whether to add a piece or move a piece. The different Insect pieces move in different ways:
- Ant can move anywhere around the edge of the board.
- Spider can move three spaces at a time.
- Grasshopper can jump to the end of a straight line of pieces.
- Beetle moves one space but can move on top of other insects.
- Queen can move one space at a time.
This simple set of moves combine, like chess, to create all sorts of complex battles and strategies. Along with how you move your pieces you can also aim to lock in your opponent. One way to do this is to place an Insect on a protruding end of the pattern, as no move can divide the Hive this can stop your opponent from moving a particular piece.
Game Details
Skill Rating: 10-16 year-olds
Release Date: 01/01/2000, updated in 2013
Genres: Battle, Brain Game, Puzzle, Sequencing and Traversal
Pieces: Placeables
Developer: Gen 42 Games (@Gen42Games)
Players: 2
Lists
View our choice of games like Hive. This game is good if you want to:
Duration
Play Time: This game will take between 20 minutes and half an hour to complete. The game takes longer the more expert the players are.
Play Style
You can play this game in the following styles:
Age Ratings
Skill Rating
10-16 year-olds usually have the required skill to enjoy this game.
Content Rating
We rate this suitable for 3+ years-olds.
Costs
- Hive: The Mosquito (2007) - Takes on characteristic of any touching insect.
- Hive: The Ladybug (2010) - Moves two spaces up and one down.
- Hive: The Pillbug (2013) - Can move one space, or move an adjacent insect.
A travel version of the game, Hive Pocket was released in 2010.
Accessibility
We haven't documented accessibility features for this game yet. Our Hive Accessibility Report details system-wide settings that may help, and suggests similar games with accessibility features. Tweet the developer (@Gen42Games) to let them know about our Accessibility Questionnaire.

Board Games Like Hive
Our experts have hand-picked the following board games that offer a similar experience or theme to Hive. These are good alternative games to Hive.
Video Games Like Hive
Our experts have hand-picked the following video games that offer a similar experience or theme to Hive.
