The Hive

Goal

Seven letters are laid out as a hive: six cells around a golden centre cell. Form as many words as you can. Every word has at least four letters and always contains the centre letter. Letters can be repeated as often as you like.

How it works

• Tap the cells (or type on the keyboard) to build a word, then tap "Submit" (or press Enter). "Delete" removes the last letter (Backspace) and the shuffle button rearranges the six outer letters (space bar).
• Accents are optional: type them or leave them out, and the word is shown with its accents in the list.
• Every dictionary word is allowed, plurals and verb forms included, but no proper nouns. A word only counts once.
• Every hive hides at least one pangram, a word that uses all seven letters: finding it sets off a celebration and a big bonus.

Points

• A 4-letter word: 1 point
• A word of 5 letters or more: 1 point per letter
• A pangram: 7 extra points

Ranks

Your rank depends on the share of the maximum points you reach with the common words of the hive: Beginner, Forager, Apprentice, Worker, Builder, Guardian, Scout, Virtuoso, Genius and finally Queen, when every common word is found. Rare words, valid but seldom used, give their points as a bonus without counting towards your rank.

Levels

The level sets both the size of the hive (number of common words, more or less rare letters, more or less scholarly vocabulary) and the strength of the AI.

Game modes

• Solo: no time limit, or timed (3, 5 or 10 minutes). The Hint button reveals the first letters of a missing word; the flag gives up and reveals the solution.
• Against the AI: on the same hive, the AI finds its words at the pace of its level while you play. Most points wins.
• Two players: same device, same hive, one turn each for the chosen duration ("Pass the device" screen). Most points wins.
• Online: two to four players on the same hive, at the same time. The first to submit a word scores its points; the others' words appear as soon as they are validated. The host referees and sets the duration and level.

About the dictionary

The hive is drawn from a common pangram of the dictionary (269,846 words in English), ranked by frequency of use: easy hives only ask for everyday words. Every hive is fully solved, which makes it possible to validate your words, count the maximum points and draw up the complete solution.