Do not let the soft pastel hummingbirds fool you. Hover, a board game that looks like a cosy afternoon in the garden, plays like a knife fight over nectar, and it has been one of the surprise crowdfunding hits of the season. The game is live on Kickstarter from designer Victor Shiu and publisher Ibis Tea, with the campaign running until 19 June 2026.
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Start organising for freeHover is a duelling game for 2 to 4 players that runs 30 to 60 minutes. Each player is a hummingbird racing to build a nest and win a mate before anyone else. You gather energy from flowers and feeders, collect twigs and spider silk to build your nest, and raise your beauty to turn heads. The twist is the confrontation: rivals can be dragged into energy-bidding fights, with a showier bird gaining the upper hand, and the game ends in a tense courting call where players secretly bid energy against each other's distractions and a roll of a custom die.
It is the asymmetry that sets it apart from the nature-themed engine-builders it superficially resembles. Different hummingbird species have their own strengths, and the designer leans on real hummingbird behaviour for the nastier bits, which is both charming and a little alarming once you realise how territorial the real birds are.
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Find events near youBackers can grab the base game for $39 (around £29), a version with the expansion modules for $69 (£52), or a deluxe collector's set with upgraded components for $89 (£67). The campaign blew past its funding goal early and is now in its final stretch. If a beautiful game with a vicious streak sounds like your group's idea of a good evening, this is one to watch.
Sources: Kickstarter | GeekDad | Wargamer
