Smart Zone Games Hive Pocket

Were always looking for games that travel well and work great for outdoors. Hive delivers on every single need we have for a game when we are camping. Like others Ill certainly say how Hive has a great chess-like feel to it, however the quick play time of it lets you do multiple games in a fraction of the time. When you first start playing the strategy will be or seem rather simple, but once you really start learning each of the pieces moves youll find more and more ways to outwit your opponent. The more often you start with or try the different bugs the quicker youll find great tactics that work to your play style. In my opinion you do want the pillbug expansion added to this base game that does have ladybug and mosquito in it already. It adds another interesting moveset that really challenges and changes gameplay. About the quality, this game is durable and very well crafted, I love the feel of the tiles, they have a nice weight to them. We had our copy out recently at the beach and sat by the Ocean all afternoon playing Hive, probably did 20 or more games and no sign at all of wear or tear after tiles fell onto the sand or had a light mist spraying on them from the sea. Each of those games was vastly different and the winner changed frequently as you can only do the same strategy a few times before your opponent will change and adapt theirs, so its a fun tug of war between the different plays. Would recommend if you like strategy, are perhaps already a chess player, enjoy fast games, and like some interesting moves that each different bug can take. So all the pros are here above, the only con I could think to add to my review would be if you prefer lighter games with less strategy. If you for example hated Chess, please still give this a try, I think youll be happily surprised.

We have played the original version, which lacked the ladybug and mosquito expansion pieces. Pocket Hive gave us those, and was even more portable. Portable games are our favorite. Sitting in a diner or a brewery, the pieces are more resistant to spills than our card based games are. The fact that this one is specifically a two player is a bonus. Play is enough like chess in that each insect has specific moves, and the goal is to surround your opponents queen (bee). Learning the game together gave an advantage over chess in that neither of us had a head start. And the best moves weve picked up are from playing against each other. One of the main criticisms is that the first player always has the advantage. And because we play this so much, my husband and I play the same color consistently. We just take turns being the player who gets the opening move. Another thing that can easily happen, is getting into a rut. Developing an opener that is your go-to, can get a little stale. Heres The Sambient Randomizing Variation: Randomize the opening moves. As in regular play, your queen has to be placed within the first four tiles set down. Start with the pieces face down and scrambled. For the first three turns, pick blindly, reveal and place your piece. If your queen has not been drawn in the first three turns, your unplayed pieces are to be placed face up. Placing the queen has to be your next move. If you did pick the queen in one of your first three turns, keep your pieces face down until after youve picked your fourth piece blindly. You can, however, as with the traditional rules, move any of your pieces on your turn once the queen has been placed. After those first four tiles, normal rules. This randomization adds a touch of challenge in addition to keeping the game fresh. In time, we did add the Pillbug expansion. I recommend it, but go ahead and master Pocket Hive as it is first. I hope you too enjoy going head-to-head with your favorite person.

I assume you already know what the game Hive is all about. If not, here it is in a nutshell. Players start out with a number of hexagonal Bakelite playing pieces with several different kinds of insects on them. They take turns either placing a piece onto whatever playing surface you choose -- there is no board -- or moving an existing piece. Each bug type moves differently. Some crawl over each other, others jump from one spot to another, and still others sidle along the edge of the Hive. The Hive is the mass of bugs you and your opponent are creating, one at a time. You can only place your bugs next to your own bugs -- not touching your opponents. You cant split the Hive, which means that every piece must be on, adjacent, or linked by a chain of adjacent pieces, to every other piece. You win when your opponents Queen is surrounded by 6 pieces. Play is simple and elegant -- a clear classic. The colors resemble those of the original version. (Personally, I prefer the black and white of the Carbon version.) This version includes the same pieces as the Carbon version -- which means you get the Mosquito and Beetle expansions -- which amount to a total of four extra tiles, compared to the original. This version is the obvious choice if you are looking for a very portable version you can toss in your bag. Highly recommended for fans of Hive who want to play on the go. And its great for introducing gaming to non-gamers. Fans of language games may also enjoy

Awsome game Very easy to get into, and awsome kit for the roads Already caused 3 more friends whove seen it to order it themselves!

I would rate the game higher, if I could play it. Ive looked over every page of the instructions, no English anywhere on it. Off to BGG for the English instructions. Disappointing that I have to do that.

I love this game! I am not a chess lover, but want to like strategic type games for the benefit of my spouse, who loves such games. This is similar to chess, in that each piece has a specific move, but it is more intuitive since each piece resembles an insect and the move is slightly similar to what such insect would really do. It is a quick strategic game for two, with games complete in 10-30 minutes. I love the small size of these tiles (about a tad smaller than a quarter diameter wise, and 1/4 inch thick)- it is a very portable game that I am even considering packing in my suitcase for a trip this summer. This version includes the mosquito and lady bug pieces, which are extra in some versions of the game. I just wished it included the pillbug piece, though I know that piece changes the nature of the game quite a bit (it helps to make defensive moves)

We are a family that LIKES to play games - card games, board games, pick-up games like this. This was a stocking stuffer for my husband with the intent of keeping it in the car for those times we are waiting at a restaurant, etc. It has not made it to the car and has been played at least 15 times since Christmas (6 days ago). Easy to play, in our opinion (read the instructions yourself, do not have someone explain it to you - they are GOOD instructions and you want to read them firsthand). The game does not take long to play - a plus, has just the right amount of challenge to keep the players engaged, and is FUN. The extension/add on pack has already been requested. This is a game that will probably stay in the house and get taken when we are headed to a restaurant, etc.

This is one of those games where if you make one wrong move, the rest of the game is just watching the other person whoop your butt. My partner and I got bored of that real quick, so we have some alternative/additional rules that we sometimes do for fun: 1) the Queen MUST be placed on the 4th move, no other time 2) all the pieces must be face-down to start except the Queen, so you dont know what youre going to get if you decide to draw on your turn We also recommend the Pillbug expansion, although another one of our rules is whether or not we play with it or without it (its kind of a powerful piece). Overall we really like this game.

Really fun game to pass the time. The pieces have a nice heft to them which I appreciated. Not sure I would like the larger sizes pieces from the other version of the game as much.

Cute and fun for all!