How To Play Hive -A Two Person Strategy Game
Do you enjoy a quick strategic game that makes you think and doesn’t take too long to learn? Hive is the perfect fit.
Hive is perfect for playing with your kids, your partner, or a fellow board game lover. This bug-themed battle of wits will have everyone hooked in minutes.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to play Hive, what makes it so entertaining, and why it’s a must-have for family game night.
What Is Hive?
Hive is a two-player abstract strategy game with no board and no dice. Instead, it’s all about positioning and outsmarting your opponent using hexagon-shaped insect tiles. Each player controls a colony of bugs, and your goal is simple: surround your opponent’s Queen Bee while protecting your own.It’s kind of like chess… but with bugs. And the perfect travel game.
Review’s
My 13 yr old son picked this game up so fast, and I feel like I didn’t even have a chance.
Liam said “its easy, quick, strategical and you can take it everywhere”.
He also said he loved it “because he was winning”! 🙂
What are the rules of Hive?
You need to completely surround your opponent’s Queen Bee. You can use your own tiles or even your opponent’s to do it. The first player to trap the other Queen wins.
What’s in the Box?
Hive comes with 22 chunky tiles:
- 🐝 1 Queen Bee (per player)
- 🕷 2 Spiders
- 🦗 3 Grasshoppers
- 🐜 3 Ants
- 🪲 2 Beetles
Each insect has its own way of moving, which makes Hive feel like a strategy puzzle every time you play.
How to Play Hive – Step by Step
- Set Up
No board is needed; you just need a flat surface. Each player takes their set of 11 tiles in their color (either black or white). You then decide who goes first.
- Start the Hive
The first player places one of their tiles to begin. The second player then places one of their tiles, but it must touch another tile.
From there, players take turns either placing a new tile or moving a tile that’s already on the table.
- Place Your Queen Early
You must place your Queen Bee within your first four turns. Until she’s on the table, you can’t move any of your other bugs.
- Move Like a Bug
Each Hive bug moves differently:
- Queen Bee—Can move 1 space at a time.
- Spider—Is able to move exactly 3 spaces, no more, no less.
- Grasshopper—Jumps in a straight line over other tiles.
- Ant – Crawls anywhere along the outside of the Hive.
- Beetle—Scurries 1 space and can climb on top of other bugs.
Remember: the Hive must always stay connected. You can’t break it apart by moving a tile.
Why Families Love Hive
- Quick games (15-20 minutes) mean you can play several rounds.
- No reading required—perfect for ages 9+.
- Easy to learn but offers tons of strategic play, making replayability high.
- Super portable—no board, no setup, just tiles, so it’s the perfect travel game.
- Hive is engaging with its chunky, colorful tiles.
- A great and quick two player game.
If you surround the opponent’s Queen Bee (with 6 tiles), you win.
FAQ’s
Q. What age is Hive for?
A. For ages 9 years and above.
Q. Is Hive harder than Chess?
A. Not at all. It’s a great strategic game, so you need to plan strategies and use the bugs skills wisely.
Q. Is Hive a good game for adults?
A. Absolutely. Because of the strategic element, adults love the challenge of this game.
Q. Is Hive a good travel game?
A. Yes, it comes in a small hand sized pouch.
Q. Can you move a Hive piece if it splits the hive into two separate groups?
A. You can’t move a tile if it would split the Hive (ie it looks like you have two separate bunches of tiles in play).
Q. Do you have to place your tile touching an opponent’s tile (except at the start of the game)?
A. When placing a tile, it must be touching an opponent’s tile.
Where to buy Hive
You can find Hive at local game stores, online retailers, or from the publisher Gen42.
Expansions and alternatives to Hive include expansion bugs like the Mosquito or Ladybug for even more fun, Magnetic Hive, Hive Pocket, Hive Ultimate, and more. Head over to Gen42 website for the expansions and also to find out how to play Hive in a range of different languages.
Now that you know how to play Hive, you’re ready to dive into one of the smartest (and most bug-filled) games out there. Hive brings smart, simple strategy to every game night.
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