2 Player Tuesday - Hive. Taking Down the Queen.

Jake
Sep 12, 2017
3 min read

Every other Tuesday we will be bringing you a review of a game either made just for 2 players or one we feel, even though can be played by more, makes a great 2 player game.

Number of Players: 2

Play Time: 20 Min.

Age: 9+

Complexity Rating (Lower = Easier): 2

Website: http://www.gen42.com/hive

Type: Abstract

Publish Year: 2001

Designer: John Yianni

Artist: John Yianni

Publisher: Gen42 Games, Asmodee

Description

Hive is a highly addictive strategic game for two players that is not restricted by a board and can be played anywhere on any flat surface. Hive is made up of twenty two pieces, eleven black and eleven white, resembling a variety of creatures each with a unique way of moving.

With no setting up to do, the game begins when the first piece is placed down. As the subsequent pieces are placed this forms a pattern that becomes the playing surface (the pieces themselves become the board). Unlike other such games, the pieces are never eliminated and not all have to be played. The object of the game is to totally surround your opponent's queen, while at the same time trying to block your opponent from doing likewise to your queen. The player to totally surround his opponent's queen wins the game.

The Review

Hive brings a lot to the table, or floor, or beach... where ever you are playing it. It sets up the combination of the Insect movement rules with a One Hive Rule to create a grouping of options that allows each player to trap their opponents or scuttle away from one that was set for themselves. People often compare two player games like this to ones such as Chess and Go, and I believe Hive stands up there with them. It brings the qualities of this style of game into a modern style without feeling like it is just trying to be Chess 2.0.

The Learning Curve on this game makes it stand out in my opinion because unlike other games where after three or four games you are still making those "Mulligan", Hive you might only do that during the first game but after that you tend to have a pretty strong grasp on the game. The with it's quick pace, you will go through games pretty fast, which is a great thing. Games that do not take too long with 2 players allows for friends to challenge each other before a larger game where everyone can sit together, or a couple on date night in a cafe can play a game.

It is a beautiful game as well. The Bakelite bring to it a very picturesque. Google "Hive Board Game" and you will see pages upon pages of the tiles. It is one of those games that draws the eyes, and we can see stores using them on their demo tables to draw people in. And it is a great intro game into the board gaming world. The price point on it tends to be fairly reasonable with a high replay value.