Hive® Game

Official Digital Edition

Ratings

Age

4+

Board

Languages

English

Latest Version 1.0.5

Fri Feb 13 2026

- Completely redesigned main screen and navigation.

- Game Center support for friends-only matches.

- Local network play via WiFi.

- Added a rematch button for quick play.

- Significantly stronger Rustyblade AI at the Hornet level.

Hive is a highly strategic game for two players that is played with hexagonal insect pieces. Each bug has a unique movement rule: the Ant can travel anywhere around the hive, the Grasshopper jumps over other pieces, and the Spider moves exactly three spaces. The goal is to completely surround the enemy Queen Bee while protecting your own. Since there is no board, the game grows and shifts in shape as the pieces are played.

Dinsun Expert Review

Our Expert Score

94/100

Hive is widely considered one of the greatest modern board games, and this digital adaptation is flawless. The 'no board' concept translates perfectly to touchscreens; dragging your insects around to surround the enemy Queen feels natural and satisfying. Because every piece has a unique movement rule—like the Grasshopper leaping over other bugs or the Beetle climbing on top of them—the game feels like a much more organic, fast-paced version of Chess.

The AI in this version is surprisingly competent, providing a real challenge even for veteran players. However, the real draw is the online matchmaking. The community is active, and the ranking system is fair. Plus, having the expansion pieces like the Pillbug and Ladybug included from the start makes this the definitive way to play Hive. It’s an absolute must-own for anyone who enjoys pure strategy games.

Dinsun reviewed on: Fri Feb 27 2026

Features

Official digital adaptation

Online and local pass-and-play

Challenging AI difficulty levels

Includes expansion bugs (Pillbug, Ladybug, Mosquito)

Tips & Walkthrough

The 'One Hive' Rule

Remember that you cannot move a piece if it would break the hive into two separate parts. Use this to 'pin' your opponent's powerful pieces in place.

Gameplays

Turn-Based Tactics

On your turn, you can either place a new insect from your reserve or move one already on the table. You must place your Queen within the first four moves.

Screenshot

Q&A

Yes, the rules are simple enough for children, but the strategy is deep enough for masters.

Ratings & Reviews

Frustrated

Fri Jan 30 2026 NonstopRug

It’s very frustrating that you have to pay to have the expansion when it’s included automatically in the online version. The game itself comes with the expansions now so this should be included by default. The description of the app says it’s included but it’s not. Update: I’ll update to 4 stars since the dev did respond. But again, I wasn’t confused with the purchase model. I simply don’t agree with it. The actual online version of the game includes the expansions as they are considered part of the tournament and official version of the game now. So in my view, you should fine other ways to monetize, such as skins and other customizations instead of charging for what should be a complete game that includes the expansions for free.

unintuitive

Mon Jan 26 2026 Weiderkin

i really like the idea here. i like a simple game with heavily strategic elements (and i like bugs). the rules to this game are just not fun in my opinion however. the freedom of movement, the “gates”, the connection breaking; it just doesn’t really make sense. there are a lot of rules that are there that don’t actually make the game more interesting, they just make it tedious and complicated. i have yet to play a round without checking the rules multiple times because they are simply not intuitive. this game is hard for me to play not because the strategizing is hard, but because it just doesn’t really make sense. i think if i keep on trying for long enough i might get the hang of it, but i honestly don’t want to. i CONSTANTLY make mistakes that i don’t consider since the rules are weirdly complicated, and loosing over and over to a robot cause the rules are hard to understand isnt what i call fun. tldr love the idea, but this game is tedious, unintuitive and confusing.

Finally!

Thu Feb 12 2026 Blind Henry McClean

Update: With steady improvements and iCloud syncing finally added, I give it five stars. To sum up my feelings on Hive in general, I think it’s better than Chess! I’m happy to finally have a Hive app on iOS. Not having one was one of my few disappointments from switching to iPhone years ago. But, I hope the app continues to be supported and improved. The most urgent feature request I have is state-saving. I don’t always have time to play through a full game in one sitting. If I start a game on my break and don’t finish it, I just lose all progress and have to start a new game. That makes me not even want to bother starting a game/using the app. Kind of a big deal.

Putting in a good review with hope…

Mon Jan 26 2026 thenmrkid

This app does deserve a good review from the standpoint that it does the core thing it is designed to do VERY well. It has a smart AI. However, it is lacking in several things and the app feels 10 years old… what is needs 1) sound effects; 2) a clearer interface (why is the menu a little button at the top of the screen? 3) drag and drop pieces; 4) and this is a big one… stats. Why not have a way of tracking progress against ai?

I love this game… app needs work

Mon Feb 02 2026 spider10man

1. Needs online PvP. Can only play the AI so many times before I get bored. At the very least play vs friends online, but matchmaking would be legit. 2. Needs an undo button, or at least an option for “confirm move.” I have misclicked so many times it ruined several games I would have won. This may not be for everyone, but that’s why it should be a setting you can toggle on or off (like chess does). 3. Stats would be great Definitely love this game. One of my favorite two player tabletop games of all time, and that says a lot! Get online play and I’ll be addicted. Giving 5 stars for the game, and I hope the iOS version gets a lot of players. But the app itself gets 3 stars.

No save feature?

Thu Jan 29 2026 Irregular and Irate

No issues with the game itself but can you not save your game’s progress??

Controls need work

Mon Jan 26 2026 A.S.A.I

First off, I love hive and it's a common gift I buy for friends. So when the official digital edition came out I had high hopes. But it's just not the same. This is one of those games I would love to see blow up, but the controls make it unplayable. Drag controls, reponsive icons, anything. The menu is unintuiative, starting a new game is not obvious. Overall it feels unfinished and unpolished.

**It won’t launch *updated**

Thu Jan 29 2026 kimisawa

Tried on an iPad mini and iPhone 16 pro max, both won’t launch, latest iOS Update: i found out it’s that because I toggled the expansion. I don’t mind paying for it but it’s very unclear about this.