Review: Hive (Pocket Edition)

8.8

What is Hive??

Hive is a clever two-player strategy game where players take turns placing or moving insect-themed tiles, each with its own unique movement pattern. The objective is simple: completely surround your opponent’s Queen Bee tile. With no board and no setup time, Hive has the abstract depth of chess but with a faster play time.

What's in the box?

• 1 Instruction Leaflet
• 1 cloth, drawstring bag
• 26 Hexagonal Tiles, split equally into Black and White and marked as follows:
• 3 Ants
• 2 Grasshoppers
• 2 Spiders
• 2 Beetle
• 1 Ladybug
• 1 Mosquito
• 1 Queen Bee

We both think the components of Hive (Pocket Edition) are excellent quality. The Pocket Edition trims the size of the standard tiles but keeps the tactile joy intact. The tiles are made of durable, chunky bakelite-style plastic that feels satisfying in the hand and sturdy on the table. Each tile is clearly etched and color-coded—black or white—with minimalist but easily recognizable insect designs.

The artwork isn’t flashy, but it suits the game’s clean, abstract aesthetic. Each insect is clearly identifiable, which is what matters most during gameplay.

The drawstring bag is compact and well-made, ideal for travel or impromptu games at the pub or in the park. While we’d personally prefer a sturdier storage option—like a tin—the toughness of the tiles themselves means we’re not worried about damage during transport.

The instruction leaflet is well laid out, with clear and concise explanations for each piece’s movement. However, we do think the game would benefit from including a small reference card for each player. Passing the leaflet back and forth whenever one of us forgets a piece’s ability slows down the game and has started to cause visible wear and tear on the paper itself.

How to Play Hive

Players choose their color—black or white—and take all 13 corresponding tiles. One player goes first, and then the game begins.

• The first two tiles placed on the table must touch but may belong to either player.
• After that, new tiles can only be placed next to your own pieces—not touching your opponent’s.
• Your Queen Bee must be placed by the end of your fourth turn.

On each turn, you can either:

• Place a new tile following the placement rules
OR
• Move an already placed tile, provided:
1. The hive stays connected (you can’t break it apart).
2. The piece can physically slide or climb into its new space, depending on its movement style.

Each insect moves differently:

• Queen Bee: Moves 1 space around the hive
• Ant: Moves around the outside of the hive to any position
• Grasshopper: Jumps over connected tiles in a straight line
• Beetle: Moves 1 space and can climb on top of other tiles, pinning them
• Spider: Moves exactly 3 spaces along the outside of the hive
• Ladybug (expansion piece): Moves exactly 3 spaces—2 over the hive, then down into an empty space
• Mosquito (expansion piece): Mimics the movement of any insect it’s touching at the start of the turn

Victory goes to the player who completely surrounds the opposing Queen Bee—using any combination of their own or their opponent’s tiles.

Our Thoughts on Hive (Pocket Edition)

We both agree that Hive is a brilliant game. It’s quick to learn and easy to teach—getting it to the table is as simple as pouring it out of the bag. Its fast-paced nature means you can play several rounds in a row without feeling fatigued or burned out.

There’s a strong strategic depth to Hive that isn’t always immediately obvious on a first play. The more we’ve played, the more interesting it has become, especially as we’ve started to learn each other’s tactics and adapt our own in response. It keeps the gameplay fresh and dynamic, even after dozens (or hundreds) of plays.

While there’s only a small price difference between the standard and pocket editions, we think the Pocket Version has clear advantages—mainly its portability and lower storage demands.

We love a game we can whip out at the pub or in the park, and Hive: Pocket Edition fits that perfectly. The durable tiles and compact design mean we never worry about it getting damaged in transit.

Our only real criticism is how easy it is to forget the movement rules for some of the pieces—especially the less commonly used ones. Even after many, many plays, we still occasionally find ourselves checking the instructions. A small player aid for each person would solve this and help keep the game flowing without interruptions.

All in all, Hive is easily one of our most-played games—and for good reason.

Rob 9 - Jess 8.6