🕹️ Elevate your game nights with Hive – where strategy meets fun!
The Smart Zone Games Hive Pocket is a compact, award-winning strategic board game designed for two players. It includes expansions featuring Ladybug and Mosquito, making it perfect for travel and on-the-go entertainment. Recognized by Mensa and other prestigious awards, this game promises engaging gameplay that sharpens your strategic thinking.
R**R
A great format for a great game
First, I'll discuss the game of Hive, and then I'll talk about this set, both in terms of itself and as compared to other Hive editions (i.e. the standard set and Carbon).So far, I've played several editions of Hive: my pocket edition (being reviewed), the standard edition, and the digital version on Steam. I've played several dozen games, now, so I'm evaluating the game from a novice perspective. That alone should tell you something; Hive is a deep enough game that you don't come close to mastering it in a few dozen plays. And yet, the rules are even simpler than those of chess, something I can explain to anyone in five minutes.Another thing you can tell from my playing history is that I really enjoy this game. These several dozen games have taken place over the course of three weeks, so I'd call myself an enthusiastic novice. I used to be a fairly committed chess player for a short period of time, and Hive evokes very similar feelings. It's a two player game in which the players take turns, moving their pieces in distinctive ways in order to capture the opponent's royalty (here a queen bee instead of a king). In both cases, there's no luck, and the position on the board is very dynamic and complex.I'm not qualified to say whether or not Hive is as deep as chess, but unless you're a pretty serious player of either, you'll be able to get enough strategic depth out of either one. There are a few things that I actually enjoy more about Hive. First of all, I like the theme and aesthetics of the cute hexagonal bug tiles, although this is highly subjective. One undeniable advantages that Hive enjoys, however, is that it is even more portable that chess, requiring no board. A relatively flat surface will do; a highlight of my recent cruise to Bermuda was playing with my stepdaughter on their beautiful beaches.This leads us to the qualities of this particular set. The pocket edition, like all the current Hive editions, consists of nice sturdy hexagonal tiles made of bakelite. All sets use the same art for the etched insect icons. The standard and pocket editions have black and ivory pieces with different colors for the etching of each type of insect, while the Carbon set etchings are colored the opposite of the black and white tiles. The tiles for the pocket edition are about an inch across, while the standard and Carbon tiles are about twice that.So the aesthetics of each set are very similar. The Carbon set is very distinctive, but I've heard people say they like the cue of the insect colors. I don't think the pocket tiles suffer from being smaller than the other tiles; on the contrary, it makes them more portable. Like everyone says, the bakelite material is very pleasing, like mahjong tiles. I like the insect iconography, but I understand a minority of players are just turned off by the bug theme. It's abstract enough that I feel safe saying that won't be a problem for most people.One thing that I think sets the pocket edition apart is the price; the full retail price is currently $25, but it's selling as of now for $18 and change on Amazon. Since I view the size of the pocket edition to be an asset on the balance, the reduced price tag makes it only more attractive as compared to the other editions. I don't feel that anything is sacrificed by the smaller tiles, and one's preference for the standard/pocket style versus the Carbon edition might go either way.I don't really have anything negative to say about this game, at all. I've been able to get several other people to enjoy this game enough to buy their own set. It's engaging like chess, without the centuries of strategic "baggage" that requires months of study before you can even call yourself an amateur. This is currently my favorite two-player game and my favorite abstract strategic game.
F**O
Fun to play, travel size
This is easy to learn, fun to play and re-play. I got it for my 13-years old son and we are still learning the strategies to win. It says 20 mins playtime but our games go faster, maybe 10 mins. As we get better, I can see maybe longer games. The tiles will last for ever and are not too small, just be careful as you move them around so you don’t mess up your game. The pouch is simple, but best for travel. You get two sets of instruction, in French and English. You will probably keep them home with the box, when traveling with the pouch only. Not a problem because the game is easy to learn. I think the travel set is well priced, but I would not pay more for the bigger box/tiles. Very happy with this Xmas game.
I**?
Awesome game, extra portable. A must buy!
For those who don't know, Hive is a rather awesome new strategy game, which is a rare thing. The only other games I enjoy as much are chess, and Go, which are ancient. Hive has some similarities to both, but is uniquely its own. If you like two player strategy games, get Hive; highly recommended. The game is deceptively simple, but becomes complex with good players. I'm still learning it, lots of surprises and twists.This "pocket" set is a nice size for travel, if a little large for an actual pocket. Occasionally, we find it difficult physically to get pieces (grasshoppers and beetles) into or out of the center of a tightly packed hive due to the small size, relative to the full-sized pieces, which is the trade-off for portability. It's not a big deal, we just carefully re-align any pieces that get bumped, but it can be a little fiddly, especially for the very young or very old; if dexterity is an issue, maybe think about the full-size sets... The pieces are nice to handle, well made. This set includes both the ladybug and the mosquito, like the Carbon set. Comes in a drawstring bag. This set now lives in my backpack, ready for a game anywhere, anytime. If you've got a travel chess set, and a travel Go set, you'll want one of these as well. 5 stars plus!
G**K
Super fun for two! & very portable! You can take & play this game ANYWHERE!
Recently, while camping, my teen son & I couldn't get any one else to play games. We were stuck with a pile of multiplayer games so when we came home, I began a search for the best 2 player games & this one pulled up on quite a few lists! We are BIG board game people, I am amazed I have never seen this one before!We have now played it a bunch of times & both love it, I am not a strategy person but my son is. Although he wins more than not, I still have a good chance of winning & it is always fun! The pieces & moves really fit the insect/spider behavior so you do pick up & remember the moves easily. I bet they will come out with a caterpillar expansion :)I could see playing this game anywhere - even a plane. The tiles are heavy & solid & would stay put, especially if you take a little no slip drawer pad (could easily be stored in the bigger-than-necessary carrying bag. Play it on a windy day outside, play it in the backseat of a car on the center console. It is so small & so portable & won't blow away like cards!We also bought the pill-bug expansion, it is a real game-changer. We haven't played it much so I can't really give a review of it or the other two expansions. When we first started to play, we didn't include any of the expansions, I think that is the best way to get the idea of the game, then slowly add each expansion as you learn how to use them.There is a learning curve & you will never master this game. It has lots of replay-ability, each game is completely different, even if you tend to start with the same piece (spider in my case).Get this game! It's a bit spendy but you will not regret it!
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