Overview
Two players face off with hexagonal bug tiles. Protect your Queen Bee while surrounding your opponent’s — using ants, beetles, grasshoppers, and spiders that each move differently.
Featured on: Best Two Player Board Games
Charlene’s Review
Likes
- Fast rounds — great for multiple plays in one sitting
- No setup, perfect for travel
- Excellent two-player strategy game
Dislikes
- Wish there was an expansion for more than 2 players
First Impressions
When I first opened the box, I wasn’t immediately hooked. Two sets of hexagon tiles — one black, one white — each printed with bugs. I wasn’t sure this was going to do it for me. I was wrong.
I strongly prefer the original coloured version over the carbon edition. The distinct colours make identifying different bug types much easier at a glance.
Thoughts
The theme is surprisingly well executed. The pieces are hexagonal, forming a honeycomb structure. The Queen Bee is the piece you protect. Each bug moves in a way inspired by its real-world counterpart — Grasshoppers jump over other bugs, Beetles are slow (one space at a time) but can climb on top of others to pin them, Ants move freely around the outside of the hive. The thematic movement rules make the game feel coherent and are much easier to remember than arbitrary movement rules would be.
This feels like Chess and Checkers combined. Chess strategy depth, Checkers play speed. Every move can be critical — blocking an ant, repositioning your Queen, placing a piece that cuts off a vital path. The strategic surface is surprisingly deep for a game with so few components.
Ant control is key. Ants are the most mobile piece in the game and can surround your opponent’s Queen faster than almost anything else. Stopping your opponent’s ant from moving by cutting off its retreat path is one of the most effective defensive plays. Placing a Beetle on top of their ant pins it completely.
Don’t be afraid to move your Queen. It can reset the whole board state when your opponent has nearly surrounded her. It’s a desperation move, but it works.
No setup at all — just place the bag down, pull out the pieces, and play. This makes Hive genuinely perfect for travel or impromptu games.
Conclusion
One of my favourite two-player games. It rewards repeated play and strategy development without ever feeling repetitive. I’ve played 10 games in a single sitting and wanted more. Easy to learn, endlessly deep — a must-own for anyone who enjoys two-player abstract games.
