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Android App Review #1: Hive with AI

For the review of the tabletop version, see here:

Review #2: Hive

Price: Free

Rating: 8*

This is a review for the unofficial Hive with AI app for Android, not the official Hive app. For the longest time I had the official app but when I saw that there was no tutorial, it just sat there on my phone. I had never played Hive before and would rather play through a tutorial instead of reading the rules. Then I stumbled upon this unofficial implementation and was impressed by its production values and inclusion of a tutorial! Granted, it is a very simple game but it was done well and the AI is difficult for me to beat on the harder levels - either that or I'm just terrible.


There is no fluff to this app - as soon as you open it up you are presented with a board ready for your first move. In the top right there is a drop down menu allowing the user to choose a variety of options, of which I will highlight a few notable ones. The first is the level of the AI, which ranges from Beginner to Master. The option to play 2-player pass-and-play is here as well. You are also able to select the amount of hints the game will provide you with to assist you as you learn how to play. 


Under rules you are able to access the tutorial and read the rules for the base game and expansions. And yes - this game has the three mini expansions, Ladybug, Mosquito, and Pillbug, as additional in-game purchases. Each of these are $2.29 CAD and probably worth it once you get tired of the base game. Another in-game purchase that is available is the ability to use the Hive Carbon black and white pieces for a visual change for $1.19 CAD - I wouldn't recommend this option as it adds nothing to the actual game. The last notable option is the ability to track win statistics over the different difficulty levels.


Again, this is a game with a simple ruleset making it easy to implement into an app. The availability of a tutorial made me select this version instead of the official one. Could the official one be better? Maybe, though I see no reason to try. This app is excellent, the game is fantastic, and I wholly recommend it.

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