Apiary
Official Description:
In Apiary, each player controls one of twenty unique factions of highly-evolved bees in a distant future where humans have vanished and bees have become the dominant species. The game is set in a universe where these advanced bees, known as Mellifera, have developed their own societies and technologies, venturing into space to explore, expand, and thrive.
Apiary is a worker-placement, hive-building game where players send their bee workers to explore planets, gather resources, develop technologies, and carve monumental achievements to demonstrate their faction’s prosperity. The game features a unique mechanism where workers “hibernate” after being used, requiring careful planning and timing to maximize efficiency and productivity.
Throughout the game, players must balance resource management, strategic placement, and long-term planning to outmaneuver their rivals and lead their hive to victory. The combination of asymmetric factions, evolving workers, and a richly thematic setting offers a dynamic and engaging experience for fans of strategy and science fiction games.
Apiary is currently seeing near-weekly play, and that’s not just novelty churn—it’s the combination of a sharp sci-fi theme and a mechanical twist that keeps veteran tables engaged. The core worker placement is familiar, but the hibernation cycle for bee workers and the timing of bumping other players’ pieces add a layer of tactical depth that rewards repeat play. The asymmetric factions and the wild swings introduced by Seed cards mean that even experienced players are kept on their toes, and the space-faring bee premise is just odd enough to spark curiosity without feeling like a gimmick. For groups that have cycled through the usual worker placement suspects, Apiary’s engine-building and interaction hooks are enough to keep it in heavy rotation.
From a logistics standpoint, this is a main event game—expect a full table, a 90-minute commitment, and a fair bit of component management. The box is packed: resources, tiles, and a variety of faction pieces, but the internal insert does a lot of the heavy lifting for setup and teardown. Stonemaier’s production quality is evident, but you’ll still want a dedicated table and a host who’s comfortable with a bit of pre-game wrangling. This isn’t a filler or a warm-up; it’s the centerpiece of a session, best slotted when you have a focused group and the time to let the engine-building breathe.
Teaching Apiary is a procedural affair—plan on a 20-minute rules rundown, especially to clarify the distinction between active and landing area bees, the timing of bumping, and the impact of Seed cards. Once the first round is underway, the parallel play structure means you can step away to manage other tables without the game grinding to a halt. Player interaction is indirect but meaningful, with the bumping mechanic creating just enough friction to keep the table engaged without tipping into direct conflict. The room energy stays focused, with players absorbed in their own hive-building puzzles but still watching for opportunities to disrupt or capitalize on rivals’ moves. For hosts used to juggling multiple tables, Apiary’s self-sustaining flow is a welcome relief.
MY score
8
Our Total Plays
18
Last PLayed
17 Feb 26
🚀 High Velocity
Player Count
1-5
Playtime
90 mins
👑 PREMIUM
Play on BGA
