Intro/First Impressions

When I first opened the box and took out the game pieces, I was unsure if I would like this game. I didn’t get that initial excited new game feeling. There are two sets of hexagon tiles, one set is black the other is white. Each tile has a bug on it. The object of the game is to protect your Queen Bee while also trying to surround or capture your opponents Queen. You have different bugs that move differently, and use them to succeed. I do prefer the original version with the bugs being in different colours over the carbon version. I find it adds a very small visual element. It helps me distinguish between the different types of bugs easier.

Thoughts

The theme of bugs isn’t going to be a favourite amongst some people but it does fit the game really well. The pieces are shaped like hexagons so it looks like a honey comb. With the shape of the pieces it makes sense to have the tile each player needs to surround being the Queen Bee. So with those two concepts, it makes sense to follow that trend and have the tiles also be bugs. I enjoy the concept of bugs and feel it is done really well here. The way each bug moves corresponds to how they do in reality. For example a Grasshopper jumps over other bugs, while a beetle is slow (only moves one space) but can climb.

The rounds go by quite quickly which makes this a game that is great to play when you are limited for time. It is also great if you do have the time because you can play multiple rounds. I do not get tried of playing this game over and over again in the same day. I have played 10 games of it in one sitting and still wanted to play it again. The fact that it is a fast game and is so strategic really appeals to me. Each move you make can be crucial to your game.

Hive gives off the feeling of a mixture of chess and checkers to me. It has the strategy of chess and the quick play of checkers. Each different piece has a different way of moving. An ant moves around the outside of the hive, while a grasshopper jumps over other bugs. The first few rounds I played this game I was playing purely defence which was extremely unsuccessful. I started to win games when I started to play different bugs with different methods. The beetles I used for defence while the ants were offence. Ants are very useful in surrounding your opponents queen. I found that if you are capable in stopping your opponents ant in being able to move, this will help your game a lot. You can stop their ant from being able to move by placing a bug on a side of the ant that is not attached to the hive. By doing this they can not move the ant because then your tile will be detached from the hive. You can also stop the ant by placing a beetle on top of it. Do not be afraid to move your Queen. This can throw the other players next move out the window. They will basically have to start over trying to surround your Queen. With that being said, try and stop your opponents Queen from moving as soon as you can. The easiest way is by placing a bug on a side of the queen that is not attached to the hive. The Queen can then not move because it would leave your bug detached from the hive. As seen below, the black Queen can not move because of the white ant.

Conclusion

This is a great 2 player game. I may not have had the initial excited feeling when I opened the box, but now it is a game I can’t wait to grab and play. It is definitely one of my favourites. It is easy to learn, only challenge is in remembering how each bug moves. With there being nothing to set up, this game is perfect for traveling. Just find a place to sit down and you are good to start. Hive comes with a zippered bag for storing the game. The game also comes in a pocket size.