| RTP | 96.97% - Compare RTPs |
|---|---|
| Volatility | Low |
| Reels | 5 |
| Paylines | 30 |
| Bet Range | £0.10 - £90.00 |
| Features | Wilds, Scatters |
The Hive is a bee-themed slot from Betsoft built on a 6x6 hexagonal grid rather than the standard reel format. Released in June 2020, it runs on 30 paylines with an RTP of 96.97% and low volatility. The defining mechanic is a honey meter that fills across multiple spins and pays out as a free spins round with spreading wilds. Bets run from £0.10 to £80, with a maximum win of 378x your stake.
The Hive at a Glance
| Developer | Betsoft |
|---|---|
| Grid | 6x6 hexagonal |
| Paylines | 30 |
| RTP | 96.97% |
| Volatility | Low |
| Bet Range | £0.10 - £80 |
| Max Win | 378x stake |
| Wilds | Yes - standard and Honey Burst Spreading Wilds |
| Bonus Feature | Sticky Sweet Free Spins (5 spins with spreading wilds) |
| Theme | Bees, honeycomb, nature |
Grid Layout and Design
The Hive uses a 6x6 hexagonal honeycomb grid instead of vertical reels. Symbols land on hexagonal cells and paylines run across from multiple angles - horizontal, diagonal, and between rows. The visual effect is immediately distinct from standard slot layouts, and the honeycomb structure reinforces the bee theme without feeling forced.
The backdrop is green meadows and flowering plants. Symbols include the Queen Bee, a ladybug, red flowers, purple flowers, white flowers, and lower-value honey-covered playing card letters (A, K, Q, J). All three bee types - Queen, Drone, and Worker - appear as moving characters on the grid rather than static symbols, and each has a different mechanical function.
The Three Bee Types
The core of the gameplay is the interaction between three roaming bee characters. Each bee type moves clockwise one position around the grid per spin and disappears after a random number of spins between 3 and 18. New bees can spawn at any point during base game play.
The Drone Bee fills the honey meter by one level each time it appears. The meter has 12 levels in total - so 12 Drone Bee appearances are needed to trigger the free spins feature. The Drone is the most mechanically important bee in the base game; without it, the honey meter does not progress.
The Queen Bee accelerates progress by summoning additional Drones and Worker Bees to the grid. When the Queen appears she can trigger a rush of followers, which speeds up both meter filling and win multipliers. She stays active for 5 to 7 consecutive spins before leaving.
The Worker Bee adds stacking multipliers to wins when aligned with a paying payline. The total multiplier value depends on how many Worker Bees are active simultaneously - more Workers on the grid at once means larger win multipliers on any line they contribute to.
The Honey Meter
The honey meter sits beside the grid and fills one level per Drone Bee appearance. At 12 levels full, it triggers the Sticky Sweet Free Spins round. The meter does not reset between spins and carries forward through the session - every Drone that lands contributes regardless of whether that spin produces a win.
Because the meter is persistent, every Drone Bee has tangible value in The Hive even outside of direct win contributions. A spin that produces no line win but lands a Drone still moves you 1/12th closer to the free spins feature. This gives the base game a sense of measurable progression that many low-volatility slots lack.
Sticky Sweet Free Spins
When the honey meter reaches the top, 5 free spins begin. At the start of the round, 1 to 3 Honey Burst Spreading Wilds land on the grid. After each spin, each spreading wild expands into one adjacent honeycomb cell. The expansion continues throughout the free spins, meaning by the later spins the wilds can cover a significant portion of the grid.
The progressive coverage of spreading wilds across 5 spins is the main win driver in The Hive. The last two or three spins of the feature tend to produce the largest wins as the wilds cover more cells. The maximum single-session outcome of 378x the bet is achievable within this feature with a favourable initial wild placement and spread pattern.
There is no retrigger mechanic for the free spins round. Once the 5 spins are complete, you return to the base game with the honey meter reset to zero.
RTP and Volatility
The 96.97% RTP sits above the typical online slot average and is competitive within Betsoft's catalogue. It puts The Hive in similar territory to Fruit Zen (96.43% RTP) and above average for the wider Betsoft range.
Low volatility means the game pays frequently but in smaller amounts. The base game delivers regular small wins from the 30-payline structure, with the Worker Bee multipliers adding occasional uplifts. The free spins feature provides the best chance of a meaningful single-round return, but the 12 Drone appearances needed to fill the meter mean it takes patience to reach.
This profile suits players who prefer extended sessions over high-risk, high-reward play. If you are looking for a volatile Betsoft title with larger single-win potential, Good Girl Bad Girl (97.79% RTP, progressive jackpot) operates at a different end of the risk spectrum.
Mobile Performance
The Hive is built in HTML5 and plays in mobile browsers without any download. The hexagonal grid scales well to portrait and landscape orientations on iOS and Android. Touch controls work cleanly for bet adjustment, spin, and the autoplay function. The bee movement animations are smooth on modern handsets, though the visual complexity of the honeycomb grid is heavier than a simple 5x3 layout - older devices on slow connections may see slight load delays on first launch.
How It Compares
Within the Betsoft range, The Hive is one of the more mechanically inventive releases from the post-2019 period. The hexagonal grid and the honey meter progression system are genuine structural departures from the standard 5-reel formula. The 96.97% RTP is solid and the low volatility profile is consistent throughout.
The 378x maximum win is on the modest side compared to slots built for high-variance jackpot hunters, but it is appropriate for the low-volatility positioning. Players who enjoy nature-themed, gradually progressing slots similar to Birds! or Sugar Pop will find The Hive fits the same casual-play niche.
For a full look at what Betsoft offers across its catalogue, the Betsoft games page covers the full range including higher and lower volatility options.
Verdict
The Hive is a well-constructed low-volatility slot with a genuinely different grid format and a clear central mechanic. The honey meter gives every spin a secondary purpose beyond direct line wins - each Drone Bee appearance is meaningful regardless of whether that spin pays out. The Sticky Sweet Free Spins delivers the game's best returns via expanding wilds, though the 12-Drone trigger requirement means it arrives more slowly than typical scatter-based features. The 96.97% RTP and £0.10 minimum bet make it a reasonable option for longer sessions. It does not chase massive wins, but it does what a low-volatility slot should: keeps the session moving with steady engagement and a clear feature to build toward.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the RTP of The Hive slot?
The Hive has an RTP of 96.97%, which sits above the typical online slot average and is competitive within the Betsoft range.
How does the honey meter work in The Hive?
The honey meter sits beside the hexagonal grid and fills one level each time a Drone Bee appears on screen. The meter has 12 levels in total - when all 12 are filled, the Sticky Sweet Free Spins feature begins. The meter carries over between spins and does not reset until free spins are triggered.
What happens during the free spins feature in The Hive?
When the honey meter fills completely, you receive 5 free spins. At the start of the round, between 1 and 3 Honey Burst Spreading Wilds land on the grid. After each spin, each spreading wild expands into one adjacent honeycomb cell. The wilds continue expanding throughout all 5 spins, covering an increasing portion of the grid.
What are the three bee types in The Hive and what do they do?
There are three bee types: the Drone Bee fills the honey meter by one level per appearance; the Worker Bee adds stacking win multipliers to any payline it is aligned with; and the Queen Bee summons additional Drone and Worker Bees to the grid, accelerating both meter progress and multiplier accumulation. All bees move clockwise one cell per spin and disappear after 3 to 18 random spins.
What is the maximum win in The Hive?
The maximum win is 378x your stake, most commonly achievable during the Sticky Sweet Free Spins feature when spreading wilds cover a large portion of the hexagonal grid by the final spins.
What is the minimum bet in The Hive slot?
The minimum bet is £0.10 per spin. The maximum bet is £80 per spin.
Where to Play The Hive
We're currently updating our casino list for The Hive. In the meantime, browse our full casino reviews or check out current free spins offers.
The Hive RTP and Variance
The Hive has an RTP of 96.97%, which is above average. See our highest RTP slots for the best returning games. Low volatility means frequent smaller wins - your balance stays steadier and sessions last longer. See more low volatility slots.
At the minimum bet of £0.10 per spin, a £10 deposit gives you 100 spins with a statistical expected return of £9.70. Read our slot betting strategy guide for tips on managing your bankroll.