Hive Blight: Preview of an Intriguing Insect-Based Autobattler

It's certainly not the first autobattler we've had the chance to play, but I must say that even if it's still a bit rough around the edges, I had fun trying out the first factions of Hive Blight. Set in a miniaturized world inhabited by insect clans, the game puts the player in command of an expedition tasked with confronting an inexorably advancing fungal blight, a corrupting force capable of deforming and subjugating any living creature. The atmosphere is one of a kingdom on the brink of collapse, a fragile ecosystem where ancient rivalries must be set aside in the face of a common enemy.

Hive Blight belongs to the roguelite autobattler genre: a combination that merges strategic planning with the typical replayability of ever-changing runs. Before each battle, the player chooses, upgrades, and deploys their units, while the actual battle unfolds automatically, letting the creatures fight according to their AI and innate abilities. Precisely for this reason, every decision made in the preparation phase is fundamental. The choice of synergies, battlefield positioning, the nature of upgrades collected along the way, and the overall balance of the team define the outcome of each clash.

Gimme Hive

In the game, you can (currently) choose three main clans, each characterized by a precise identity. The Vespadas embody pure offensive power, specializing in direct assaults and rapid debuffs inflicted on opponents. The Silent Cabbale, on the other hand, expresses its strength through ambush tactics, persistent poison, and more subtle maneuvers, ideal for slowly wearing down enemy troops. The Sweet Symphoney, finally, relies on a more mental and supportive approach, focused on healing, manipulation, control, and psychological reversal of the conflict. At the beginning of each game, choosing an alliance between two clans shapes the entire run, determining which units will be available and which combinations can emerge in battle.

The unit ecosystem is extremely varied and allows for very different approaches. Each insect possesses unique stats and peculiar abilities, giving rise to a growth system that goes beyond simple numerical enhancement. Units can radically change roles depending on assigned items, found trinkets, blessings obtained at altars, and risks accepted through mysterious potions encountered along the way. The roguelite structure heavily emphasizes experimentation: runs are never identical and invite the player to test ever-new combinations to discover unforeseen synergies, sometimes very powerful, other times difficult to control.

During exploration, you traverse blight-infested territories, with branching maps that impose continuous choices between risks and rewards. Each node can represent a regular combat, an elite encounter, a narrative encounter, an altar, a forge, or an improvised market where accumulated resources can be invested. Managing the internal economy — be it in the form of nectar, energy, or rare materials — becomes an additional strategic layer: investing too early can weaken subsequent phases, while accumulating without criteria risks losing momentum in the first battles.

One of the most fascinating aspects is the management of bosses, who conclude each chapter by offering encounters designed to test not only the group's power but also its cohesion. These are clashes that require careful reading of enemy mechanics and often force the player to rethink part of their formation to adapt to the pressure points identified by the enemy AI. Access to new items, new unit types, and ancestral powers found in sacred places allows for the creation of unique builds and the overcoming of even the most challenging trials.

There's still a lot of work to be done before the product can be considered fully satisfactory. From an aesthetic point of view, it's certainly pleasant, the perks are good, and the component that mixes creature selection with interesting synergies is solid, but the amalgamation and balancing reveal all the initial stiffness. However, frankly, I already feel comfortable recommending it if you love this genre; all the premises are there for assured future enjoyment, and you'll already spend a lot of time on it.