Chitin: I

About this board game

Chitin I is a two-player tactical abstract game, playable in about 30 minutes, in which two hive cities struggle for food and survival. Released in 1977, it is Microgame #2 in Metagaming’s Microgames series.

On a far planet, summer is ending and the harvest season has arrived. Across the fields march the Hymenoptera: intelligent insects driven by one goal—bringing more food back to the hive.

In Chitin I, each player commands one of two rival hive cities. The conflict is not simply about gathering crops; the harvest can also mean the bodies of the enemy. Players battle for greater shares of the available food while directing a varied insect force.

• Workers contribute to the hive’s struggle for food.
• Fliers add another dimension to the insect forces.
• Basics form part of each hive city’s forces.
• Warriors, including different types, carry out the fighting under command.

This combination gives the game a detailed setting while keeping its core concept easy to learn. Its tactical abstract design focuses attention on the contest between the two hive cities, with the science-fiction setting providing an unusual backdrop for the struggle.

Chitin I belongs to the Hymenoptera game system and offers a compact experience for two players. Its intelligent insects, competing hives, and battle over food create a distinctive premise for science-fiction fans and gamers alike.