Hive (2014)

Developer: BlueLine Games
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux
Genres: Casual, Indie, Strategy
Rating: 4.2 of 5, 311 player ratings
Typical playtime: about 3.4 hours
Where to get it: Steam

The 3D catalog: game boxes on wooden shelves, with the cat sitting at the counter next to its greeting.

The catalog in 3D

The same catalog has a room you can walk around in. The cat behind the counter is the AI Catbot, and they pick real games from it when you tell them what you feel like playing. Nothing is for sale, here or in there. Go in from here and this game is already out on the counter, with more like it waiting on the shelf next to it.

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How it feels

a slow, meditative battle of wits where every move feels carefully considered on a growing hexagonal battlefield

abstract strategyturn-basedrelaxingmindfulcalmpuzzle-likecompetitive

What players say

Players praise Hive itself as a deep, quick strategy game, but the Steam version is let down by broken or glitchy online multiplayer, weak AI even at high levels, and paid DLC for bugs. Opinions split on whether the ugly interface and missing undo are dealbreakers.

Screenshots

More games like this

This page is from Underplayed Gems, a catalog of older and overlooked games. Not quite it? You can browse by platform and genre, or take this one into the 3D catalog and ask the Catbot for something closer.