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Thematic illustration for Hive
AbstractStrategy

Hive

Place and move insects around a shared hive to surround the opposing queen.

Players2–2 best with 2
Play time20–20 min
Complexity2.3/5 · Medium
Learn & set up5 min

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At the table

Move a growing cluster of insect pieces with no board. Each insect moves differently, but all pieces must remain part of one connected hive.

Play style
Competitive
Suggested age
9+
Time to teach
About 5 min
Time to set up
About 0 min
Player elimination
No

How it plays

Tile placementAbstract strategy

Rules at a glance

Your goal

Completely surround the opposing queen; if both queens become surrounded on the same move, the game is a draw.

The flow of play

  1. Place a piece beside your own color; each player’s first placement is the exception

  2. Place your queen by your fourth turn; only after placing her may you move existing pieces

  3. Move one insect according to its movement rules while keeping the hive connected and observing sliding restrictions

A quick introduction to the base game. Use your edition’s rulebook for full setup, card effects and exceptions.

Official rules ↗

A feel for the game

portabledurable2 player
Suggested age
9+
Interaction
Medium
Reading
None
Conflict
Heavy
Luck or skill
Skill
Table space
Small
Downtime
Low

Playing times and difficulty are catalog estimates and may vary by group and edition. Consult the official rulebook for complete rules.

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