Five Elements Chess vs Hive® Game
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Five Elements Chess
Engage in strategic spell-duels with this match-three game inspired by Five Elements theory. Enjoy a calm, Zen-like visual style with a blend of strategy and luck. Compete locally or online against other players.
- Five Elements theory integration
- Match-three gameplay
- Deep strategy
- Zen-inspired visuals
- Local and online PvP
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Five Elements Chess is a spell-duel game that combines the Five Elements theory and match-three gameplay. Features • Simple rules, deep strategy • Calm, Zen-inspired visual style • A balance of strategy and luck that anyone can enjoy • Local and online PvP
Hive® Game
Experience the award-winning strategy board game digitally. This app offers a faithful adaptation of the classic game, featuring challenging AI, all official expansions, and customizable visuals. Perfect for both new players and seasoned veterans.
- Official Hive® rules and design
- Includes all three official expansions
- Advanced RustyBlade™ AI
- Adjustable difficulty for beginners
- Video tutorial by game creator
- Customizable visual settings
- Local network play
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"What impresses me most about this Hive® app is how the AI plays with true strategic depth—enough to challenge even seasoned Hive veterans. The developers have captured the purity of the game beautifully: no clutter, no distractions, just clean design that lets the elegance of Hive shine through. A thoughtful, well-crafted adaptation." – John Yianni, creator of Hive® The award-winning tabletop classic Hive® is now in your pocket. Created with the blessing of the game’s designer, John Yianni, this app delivers a clean, focused, and beautifully polished digital Hive® experience. Hive® is a captivating strategy game often described as “nature’s chess.” There is no board — the game itself is built from the creatures you place. Your goal is simple: surround your opponent’s Queen Bee while keeping your own safe. Easy to learn, endlessly deep to master. OFFICIAL HIVE® EXPERIENCE Faithful to the vision of its original designer, this app captures the award-winning rules and timeless elegance of Hive® without compromise. THE COMPLETE HIVE® Play Hive® exactly as intended. Alongside the base game, all three official expansion pieces are included: Mosquito, Ladybug, and Pillbug. THE RUSTYBLADE™ AI Don’t settle for predictable opponents. RustyBlade™ is a bold, aggressive AI engine that plays with initiative and intent. It doesn’t aim for safe draws — it fights for victory. Expect intense, uncompromising strategic battles. PERFECT FOR BEGINNERS TOO New to Hive®? The fully adjustable difficulty lets RustyBlade™ become a patient training partner. Learn the ropes with a video tutorial by John Yianni (the creator of Hive), while the illustrated rulebook and Undo feature allow you to learn, experiment, and improve without pressure. ELEGANT & FULLY CUSTOMIZABLE A sleek design that adapts to your style. Choose your preferred board orientation (flat or pointy-top), select custom colors, and adjust wood grain intensity. Responsive controls, subtle animations, and haptic feedback ensure a smooth, immersive experience that brings the hive to life. UNIVERSAL PURCHASE Unlock the Elite Edition once and enjoy it on your iPhone, iPad, and Mac. ELITE EDITION: - Full access to all official expansions: Mosquito, Ladybug, and Pillbug. - Test your skills against advanced RustyBlade™ AI difficulty levels. - Personalize your experience with premium backgrounds and visual settings. - Detailed player statistics. - Game Center support (friend-invite matches only). - Local network play over the same Wi-Fi network. - Family Sharing: Share the Elite experience with your family at no extra cost. The Hive is humming. The army is ready. Are you? Official Website: https://hivegameapp.com
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Five Elements Chess at 100% against Hive® Game's 65%. Five Elements Chess also leads on update cadence (daily vs every 11 days) and rating (4.8 vs 4.5). Hive® Game's advantage is ratings volume (280 vs 74). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Five Elements Chess sells 3 one-off in-app purchases and Hive® Game sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Five Elements Chess holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 74 and 280 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of Five Elements Chess's written reviews are positive against 65% of Hive® Game's.
Five Elements Chess ships an update daily, Hive® Game every 11 days. The most recent releases landed on October 11, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Five Elements Chess | Hive® Game |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (74 ratings) — better | 4.5 (280 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better | 64.6% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 74 | 280 — better |
| Update frequency | Daily — better | Every 11 days |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | 15.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 280 MB | 11 MB |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Beijing Jiao Dian Chuang Yi digital technology Co.,Ltd. | GiantStep Kft. |
Customer experience
Five Elements Chess
Hive® Game
In-app purchases
Five Elements Chess
- Time Skin Pack$1.99
- Five Elements Chess full game$3.99
- Seasons Skin Pack$3.99
Hive® Game
- Elite Edition$9.99
Questions
Is Five Elements Chess free?
Is Hive® Game free?
Which has better reviews, Five Elements Chess or Hive® Game?
Do Five Elements Chess or Hive® Game have ads?
Which is updated more often, Five Elements Chess or Hive® Game?
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