Hive Pocket

I was hesitant whether to buy classic/carbon or pocket at first and ultimately went with pocket for the size, the weight, and the price. I did not regret.Pocket is super portable, especially size-wise. It's the kind of size that fills a gap in your bag/luggage perfectly. (Not saying classic/carbon aren't, but I've never seen them in real life.) However, it's also surprisingly weighty, but in a good way! AS in it's satisfying to hold the pieces in your hand. The individual pieces are also just the right size, such that the whole "board", as you play, fits perfectly on the tiny pull-down table on a train! I didn't like the colour-coding of the bugs before buying, but it really helps a beginner read the board and familiarise with the different pieces. I'd still say though, the colours could have ben better, just personally not a fan of the muted, whitish colours and prefer richer ones. Same goes for the carrier pouch, it's perfect function-wise, but why do they have to use this repulsive faded red-orange colour??Now, the gameplay, if you have never played it. Hive is really fun (despite my sore loser moments). The way you'd plan ahead and strategise feels very chess-like, but it's simpler to learn, faster to play, and more flexible. As it's hexagonal and boardless, the geometry has endless possibilities. It is like the funner, artsier younger sibling of chess.

Pocket Hive has become an essential part of our train journey entertainment, and my boyfriend and I absolutely love it! This compact and lightweight game has provided us with countless hours of fun and bonding on our travels.It’s Travel-Friendly: Its small size and lightweight design make it perfect for train journeys.Engaging Gameplay: Pocket Hive offers a unique and captivating gaming experience.Strategic Challenge: It's a game that keeps our minds sharp and entertained.Perfect for Couples: Ideal for couples looking to pass the time together.High Replayability: We never get tired of playing it; every match is different.Durable: Despite its compact size, the game pieces are well-made and durable.It’s definitely a game we don’t leave home without!

Hive is an enigma. It is a 2 player game that is simultaneously dead easy and intricately complex. A bit like a crossword puzzle designed for 5 year olds, written in Latin. The most similar game to Hive out at the moment, and for the last thousand years actually, is Chess. You each take turns to move (or place) one of the game pieces according to their individual movement rules in an effort to surround your opponents bee, (check mate, if you will) while preventing your opponent doing the same to you. Hive differs from Chess not in complexity, but duration. While a game of chess can be like 90 minutes wading through treacle with an ice pick lodged in your pre-frontal cortex, a game of Hive lasts aound 5 minutes. And because of this, it doesn't matter if you lose! You just play again. You can experiment with different strategies without fear of wasting an hour in the process. Speaking of strategies, this is where Hive really shows its strength. You are required to place your bee tile down in your first 4 turns, but on which turn you decide to do it makes a MASSIVE difference to the rest of the game. Do you wait until turn 4? You get to put out more pieces potentially setting yourself up better for the rest of the game, but you're not allowed to move any of your other pieces until you've placed your bee, potentially allowing your opponent to pin you in early. The short length of the average game means you can experiment and find what works for you, and there's no wrong way to do it (except putting your bee down on turn one, that's just mad).Decent two player games are very hard to come by. Patchwork is fun but a little on the 'luck driven' side of things. Dominion is good but people that have played lots of card games before will have a clear edge. Netrunner is magnificent but unless you have someone to teach you, is harder to learn than braille.Hive is easy to learn but impossible to master. It's cheap (in the world of games anyway), and you can easily play it in the pub, airport terminal, back seat, 5 star restaurant, lift, portaloo etc. This is as close to the perfect game as it's possible to get without making a deal with the Devil.(disclaimer - I accept no responsibility for lost game tiles while participating in portaloo gaming. Game responsibly)

Great game for those that like the idea of chess. However, this game is much more simple than chess (and arguably better for it). I had no problem playing with my partner who is not interested in chess whatsoever.Pros:- Full game in a pocket size (slightly smaller tiles than the original)- Comes with drawstring travel bag that is perfect for stuffing into your carry-on luggage- Mosquito and ladybird expansion tiles included (add a slight complexity for regular players)- Lovely coloured tiles (no idea why anyone would purchase the black/white version)- Perfect for playing almost anywhere: no board, just play anywhere with a flat surface!Cons:- I have spotted one other expansion that isn't included: pillbug. Would be nice for them to update this pack to include, rather than charge £7-11 (prices I can see right now) for two extra tiles.- Not a problem for me, but mine also came with slight marks underneath the tiles as others have commented. I don't think this is from previous use, but is instead an issue with manufacturing/storage. Barely noticeable anyway.Final thoughts: Excellent game, I would buy it again. The cons listed are very picky, but worth pointing out.