Hive

About

Hive is a single player and multiplayer casual shooter game with a horror theme. It was developed by BlueLine Games and was released on March 20, 2014. It received positive reviews from players.

"Hive is a horror shooter game based on the Mensa Select award-winning board game, with local and online multi-player and single-player vs. AI options. The game features 3D graphics, camera control, and switchable controls between mouse/keyboard and gamepad. Expansions like the Pillbug, Ladybug, and Mosquito are available as DLC, which can be used in online games even if your opponent does not own them."

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82%

Audience ScoreBased on 217 reviews

gameplay6 positive mentions

music7 negative mentions

Hive is a faithful recreation of the original board game, offering a fun and strategic experience that is easy to learn but difficult to master.
The game features adjustable AI difficulty levels, making it suitable for both beginners and experienced players, and allows for quick gameplay sessions.
The digital version includes various modes such as local multiplayer and AI play, providing flexibility for players who may not have a partner to play with.

The online multiplayer functionality is often broken or lacks an active player base, making it difficult to find opponents for online play.
The user interface is clunky and unrefined, with issues such as auto-zooming and a lack of customization options that detract from the overall experience.
The AI, even at higher difficulty levels, can be predictable and lacks the depth of strategy found in human opponents, leading to a less challenging experience.

graphics
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
56%
22%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many users criticizing them as subpar or "horrendous," citing issues like a clunky interface and lack of customization options. While some appreciate the game's art style and find the visuals crisp and fluid, others feel that the overall aesthetic is limited and could benefit from significant improvements. Overall, the graphics seem to detract from the gameplay experience for a considerable number of players.
- “You can choose different tiles which have different art styles.”
- “The interface is smooth and polished; the graphics are beautiful, the sounds are immersive and fit well in the mood of the game.”
- “Visuals are crisp and fluid, much better than you'd think from viewing the trailer.”
- “The graphics are horrendous.”
- “The main problem for me is graphics and the complete lack of them in the game.”
- “The graphics and music are awful, just look at that wood grain.”
gameplay
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
61%
13%
The gameplay is characterized by simple rules that allow for deep strategic complexity, likened to chess but with unique mechanics that enhance tactical depth. While playing against human opponents is highly engaging, the AI is criticized for being predictable. The addition of DLC pieces enriches the gameplay further, although some players feel the overall depth could be improved.
- “Simple rules that lead to incredibly deep gameplay.”
- “Long story short, the gameplay has a lot of ways for different tactics, and you could also say this game is like chess, but I think this one is more in-depth.”
- “Beautiful game mechanics - incredibly simple to learn, but yielding many different tactics and strategies.”
- “Solid mechanically but lazy effort on the engine, audiovisuals, game modes, input support.”
- “There is simply not enough gameplay and depth to the game.”
- “This version seems to be a direct port of the mobile platform, and while I've not had issues with gameplay, it did freeze when I went to look at the extras.”
music
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
43%
44%
The music in the game has received largely negative feedback, with many users describing it as repetitive, monotonous, and lacking variety, often looping the same short track. While some players noted that the chirping sound effects of the pieces add a bit of charm, the overall soundtrack is considered inadequate and detracts from the gaming experience. Many reviewers suggest that the music feels more like a placeholder than a fully developed score, leading to a desire for more diverse and engaging audio.
- “As a curiosity, I can mention that some sound effects and music are free from Freesound.”
- “You can play in windowed mode or full screen and can also change the volume of music (can be lowered to not hear it) and sound effects.”
- “An odd and annoying soundtrack... it's just... bad.”
- “The same song loops over and over, which is fine, just a little monotonous.”
- “The musical selection is somewhat boring and repetitive; the game has a single and rather short track that repeats before you eventually disable audio playback after an hour of the song playing with your mind.”
stability
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The stability of the game is heavily criticized, with users reporting numerous bugs that hinder functionality, including slow response times and issues with online gameplay. Many players experience game-breaking glitches, particularly when opponents have no moves left, leading to unexpected draws. Overall, the game is described as nearly unplayable due to its instability.
- “The UI is simply too buggy to function properly.”
- “Hive is excellent, but this game is almost unplayable as it's so buggy and slow to respond to your commands.”
- “The online games rarely work as they should, and there's a game-breaking bug where if you leave your opponent without moves, the game glitches and immediately declares a draw.”
replayability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
80%
60%
Overall, "Hive" is praised for its high replayability, with many players finding it fun to learn and challenging to master. However, some users note a lack of replayability due to perceived limitations in the AI's intelligence. Despite this, the game is generally considered addictive and offers significant replay value.
- “Endlessly replayable.”
- “Hive is fun to learn, difficult to master, and highly replayable.”
- “Hive is a fantastic and addictive board game that has a ton of replay value.”
- “No replayability, and the AI isn't as smart as it's advertised to be.”
- “Once you complete the game, there's little incentive to play again.”
- “The lack of varied outcomes makes replaying feel pointless.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The atmosphere of the game is generally praised for being organic and pleasant, contributing to an enjoyable experience. However, some users note that the lack of music and a poor menu/UI detracts from the overall ambiance, and the absence of in-game guidance or tactical suggestions may leave players wanting more.
- “The atmosphere is incredibly organic.”
- “This is an awesome board game with a pleasant atmosphere. A+”
- “However, the menu and UI are poor, there's little music or atmosphere, and unlike games like Chessmaster, there's nothing in-game to teach tactics, suggest moves, or provide the equivalent of '2 moves to checkmate' style puzzles. It really depends on what you expect from it.”
story
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The story's moral is often highlighted as a central theme, prompting players to reflect on its deeper meanings and lessons. Reviewers appreciate how the narrative encourages introspection and ethical considerations, enhancing the overall gaming experience.
- “The story felt disjointed and lacked a clear direction.”
- “Character motivations were weak, making it hard to connect with them.”
- “The plot twists were predictable and failed to deliver any real surprises.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
100%
The game's optimization has been criticized for lacking noticeable performance differences across its difficulty levels, and while it runs smoothly, the graphic engine could benefit from further optimization to reduce resource consumption and prevent excessive cooling fan activity.
- “The graphic engine could be optimized to be less resource-consuming; it's not slow at all, but it does make the cooling fans go wild sometimes, even without AI involved.”
- “While the game offers 5 difficulty levels of CPU opponents, I have yet to notice a significant performance difference between them.”
- “The graphic engine could be optimized to be less resource-consuming; it's not slow at all, but it makes the cooling fans go wild sometimes, even without AI involved.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find "Hive" to be a humorous and enjoyable experience, making it a great choice for those who appreciate board games with a comedic twist. The game's lighthearted nature contributes to its appeal, encouraging players to join the community of fans.
- “In conclusion, if you like board games, abstract games, or simply funny games, buy Hive and join our little group of Hive players!”
- “So funny indeed.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization strategy of the game is not heavily criticized, as it functions adequately despite the graphics not being impressive, and it has managed to attract a large player base.
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by the unique ability of a character that, while initially immobile, can mimic the movements of other pieces it interacts with, symbolizing themes of connection and adaptability. This mechanic evokes feelings of empathy and resilience, as players navigate the challenges of relying on others to progress.