
- BGG rank
- BGG #14,146
- BGG rating
- 6.1
Chitin: I
1977
Rules assistance for Chitin: I
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2 players
- 30 min
- 10+
- Complexity 1.8/5
For 2 players

Rules assistant for Chitin: I
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Chitin: I is a board game released in 1977 for 2 players, 30 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Howard Thompson and its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Grid Movement, and Hexagon Grid.
About the game
Microgame #2 in the Metagaming Microgames series. From the rulebook... "On a far planet, summer is ending. It is the time of harvest. And across the fields pour the Hymenoptera - intelligent insects with only one goal...more food for the hive. Chitin I is a tactical abstract from Metagaming's Hymenoptera game system. It simulates a battle between two hive cities struggling for greater shares of food - the harvest, or bodies of the enemy! Workers, fliers, basics, and the different types of warriors they command make Chitin I a detailed yet easy to learn game in a setting that may really exist...somewhere... Science Fiction fans and gamers alike will enjoy Chitin I."
Categories
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Metagaming
Questions and answers
Chitin: I supports 2 players according to the catalogue. This is the publisher’s listed player count, so the game is designed for exactly that number of participants. Variants for other group sizes, if any, are described in the rulebook of your edition, so check it before setting up a different configuration.
The listed playing time for Chitin: I is 30 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists Chitin: I for ages 10 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Chitin: I has a complexity rating of 1.8 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a light game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Chitin: I belongs to these categories: Wargame and Science Fiction. Its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Grid Movement, and Hexagon Grid. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of Chitin: I are: Howard Thompson. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists Chitin: I as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.