# Hive

Hive is a board game for 2 players. It plays in 20 minutes and is meant for ages 9 and up. It is rated 7.4 out of 10 by 140 Ludoya reviewers. The cheapest copy in stock is $22.73 (United States).

- **Players:** 2
- **Playing time:** 20 minutes
- **Minimum age:** 9+
- **Complexity:** 2.3 out of 5
- **Year published:** 2001
- **Categories:** Animals, Abstract Strategy
- **Mechanics:** Grid Movement, Tile Placement, Hexagon Grid, Pattern Movement, Three Dimensional Movement, Pieces as Map, Enclosure
- **Ludoya rating:** 7.4 out of 10, from 140 reviews
- **Owned by:** 263 Ludoya players
- **Plays logged on Ludoya:** 2,014
- **Unique players:** 490

**Designers:** John Yianni

**Artists:** John Yianni

**Publishers:** (Unknown), Gen42 Games

## Where to buy in United States

| Shop | Price | Link |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Cardhaus Games | 35.49 $ | https://www.cardhaus.com/hive/ |
| 401 Games | 43.95 $ | https://store.401games.ca/products/hive |
| Good Games | 27.77 $ | https://www.goodgames.com.au/products/hive |
| Alphaspel | 239 kr | https://alphaspel.se/491-bradspel/192853-hive |
| Gameology | 34.95 $ | https://www.gameology.com.au/products/hive |
| World of Board Games | 249 kr | https://www.worldofboardgames.com/hive |
| Hyggeonkel | 199.95 kr | https://www.hyggeonkel.dk/produkt/hive |
| Uplay | 48.95 € | https://www.uplay.it/it/gioco-da-tavolo-hive--edizione-inglese-.html |
| Game Ninja | 399 kr | https://www.gameninja.no/produkt/hive/ |
| Fantasiapelit | 37.3 € | https://www.fantasiapelit.com/index.php?main=ai&kat=single&mista=indeksi&etsittava=_128262 |
| Spielezar | 39.9 Fr. | https://www.spielezar.ch/abstrakte-spiele/hive |
| Nexus | 6495 kr | https://nexus.is/vara/hive/ |

## Expansions

- [Hive: The Pillbug](https://www.ludoya.com/games/hive-the-pillbug)
- [Hive: The Mosquito](https://www.ludoya.com/games/hive-the-mosquito)
- [Hive: The Ladybug](https://www.ludoya.com/games/hive-the-ladybug)
- [Hive Colony (fan expansion for Hive)](https://www.ludoya.com/games/hive-colony-fan-expansion-for-hive)
- [Dragonfly (fan expansion for Hive)](https://www.ludoya.com/games/dragonfly-fan-expansion-for-hive)
- [The Earthworm (fan expansion for Hive)](https://www.ludoya.com/games/the-earthworm-fan-expansion-for-hive)
- [The Firefly (fan expansion for Hive)](https://www.ludoya.com/games/the-firefly-fan-expansion-for-hive)
- [Cockroach (fan expansion for Hive)](https://www.ludoya.com/games/cockroach-fan-expansion-for-hive)
- [Centipede (fan expansion for Hive)](https://www.ludoya.com/games/centipede-fan-expansion-for-hive)
- [Flea (fan expansion for Hive)](https://www.ludoya.com/games/flea-fan-expansion-for-hive)
- [Firefly (fan expansion for Hive)](https://www.ludoya.com/games/firefly-fan-expansion-for-hive)
- [Fly (fan expansion for Hive)](https://www.ludoya.com/games/fly-fan-expansion-for-hive)
- [Assassin Bug (fan expansion for Hive)](https://www.ludoya.com/games/assassin-bug-fan-expansion-for-hive)
- [Butterfly (fan expansion for Hive)](https://www.ludoya.com/games/butterfly-fan-expansion-for-hive)
- [Moth (fan expansion for Hive)](https://www.ludoya.com/games/moth-fan-expansion-for-hive)
- [Praying Mantis (fan expansion for Hive)](https://www.ludoya.com/games/praying-mantis-fan-expansion-for-hive)
- [Queen Wasp (fan expansion for Hive)](https://www.ludoya.com/games/queen-wasp-fan-expansion-for-hive)
- [Earwig (fan expansion for Hive)](https://www.ludoya.com/games/earwig-fan-expansion-for-hive)
- [Scorpion (fan expansion for Hive)](https://www.ludoya.com/games/scorpion-fan-expansion-for-hive)
- [Shieldbug (fan expansion for Hive)](https://www.ludoya.com/games/shieldbug-fan-expansion-for-hive)
- [Stick-bug (fan expansion for Hive)](https://www.ludoya.com/games/stick-bug-fan-expansion-for-hive)
- [Tick (fan expansion for Hive)](https://www.ludoya.com/games/tick-fan-expansion-for-hive)

## Similar games

- [Hive Ultimate](https://www.ludoya.com/games/hive-ultimate)
- [Hive Pocket](https://www.ludoya.com/games/hive-pocket)
- [High Tide](https://www.ludoya.com/games/high-tide-2)
- [Tintas](https://www.ludoya.com/games/tintas)
- [Santorini](https://www.ludoya.com/games/santorini)
- [The Duke](https://www.ludoya.com/games/the-duke)
- [LYNGK](https://www.ludoya.com/games/lyngk)
- [Honey Buzz](https://www.ludoya.com/games/honey-buzz)
- [Monkey Palace](https://www.ludoya.com/games/monkey-palace)
- [Amazons](https://www.ludoya.com/games/amazons)
- [Night at the Zoo](https://www.ludoya.com/games/night-at-the-zoo)
- [Onitama](https://www.ludoya.com/games/onitama)

## Rules questions

### Do I have to place my Queen Bee by a certain turn, and can I move pieces before I place it?

You may not move any pieces until you have placed your Queen Bee; the Queen can be placed any time from your 2nd to your 4th turn and must be placed on your 4th if not placed earlier (p.1).

### When I place a new piece, can it touch my opponent’s pieces?

Except for the first piece each player places, a newly introduced piece may not be placed touching any of your opponent’s pieces (p.1).

### Can I move a piece if that move would split the Hive into two parts?

No — the One Hive Rule requires all pieces in play to remain linked at all times, so you may not move a piece that would separate the Hive (p.2).

### What does ‘Freedom to Move’ mean — can pieces be blocked from sliding?

Most pieces move by sliding and cannot move through a narrow gate or into a space they cannot physically slide into; if a piece is blocked so it cannot physically slide out, it may not be moved (exceptions and details on Grasshopper, Ladybug, Beetle noted) (p.2).

### How does the Beetle’s stacking work — can I place a Beetle on top of the Hive and does the stack count as a color?

A Beetle cannot be placed directly on top of the Hive when introduced, but it can move on top later; while a Beetle is on top the stack takes on the Beetle’s colour for the purposes of the placing rule (p.1).

### How does the Mosquito copy other pieces, and are there limits if it’s touching only Mosquitoes or is stacked?

Once in play the Mosquito takes on the movement characteristics of any creature it touches at the time (including opponents'), but if it is touching only other Mosquitoes (including stacked Mosquitoes) it may not move; if moved as a Beetle on top of the Hive it continues to move as a Beetle until it climbs down (p.2).

## Links

- [This page](https://www.ludoya.com/games/hive)
- [Hive in the Ludoya app](https://app.ludoya.com/g/hive)
- [BoardGameGeek entry](https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/2655)

_Data from Ludoya, updated 2026-09-24. Ratings, ownership and play counts are Ludoya's own._