Army of Frogs Board Game – Connect Your Frog Army Strategy Game | From Hive Creator

Rally Your Frogs Into One Mighty Army

Army of Frogs is an engaging 2-4 player abstract strategy game from John Yianni, the acclaimed creator of Hive. Like Hive, this board-less game creates its playing surface as you play, using premium Bakelite hexagonal frog tiles. Your mission: connect all your frogs into one continuous group through tactical maneuvering, strategic placement, and clever jumping moves. With a small pond and an increasing frog population, territorial battles become intense as players race to rally their army while disrupting opponents’ plans.

Number of Players: 2-4 players
Recommended Age: 7 years and up
Average Game Time: 45 minutes
Game Type: Abstract strategy, tile placement, connection game
Designer: John Yianni (creator of Hive)
Released: 2007

The Frog Territory Battle

In Army of Frogs, players compete to control limited pond territory by connecting their colored frogs into one unified army. Each turn, you’ll move an existing frog, place a new one, and draw a replacement—creating dynamic gameplay where the island of frogs constantly shifts and changes. Frogs jump over each other in straight lines, allowing clever players to reach surprising positions that opponents didn’t anticipate. The first player to connect at least seven of their frogs into one continuous group wins the territorial battle!

What Makes Army of Frogs Special?

Army of Frogs stands out as one of the few abstract strategy games that plays excellently with four players. While most connection games work best with two, this frog-themed contest maintains strategic depth and engaging gameplay across three or four participants. The random frog draw mechanic adds an element of unpredictability—you might draw your own color or an opponent’s, creating interesting tactical decisions about placement and timing.

The premium Bakelite frog tiles feature embossed, molded frog figures that make them easy to pick up and move during play. Like Hive’s iconic pieces, these chunky stones have satisfying weight and tactile appeal. The board-less design means you can play anywhere—on tables, floors, outdoor surfaces—with the playing area expanding organically as frogs are added.

How to Play Army of Frogs

Setup:

1. Each player chooses a color and takes the corresponding color indicator disc
2. Place all 40 frog tiles (10 of each color) into the provided drawstring bag and mix
3. Each player randomly draws 2 frogs from the bag to start their hand
4. The starting player places one frog in the center of the table to begin the island

Turn Structure (Three Mandatory Actions):

Action 1 – Move (if possible):

• Move one of your own colored frogs already on the island
• Frogs jump in straight lines over adjacent frogs to the next empty space
• Multiple jumps allowed in one turn—hop across the entire island if the path is clear!
• Cannot land where you started
• Skip this action if you have no frogs on the island or cannot make legal moves

Action 2 – Add:

• Place one frog from your hand onto the island
• Must touch at least one other frog already in play
• Can be any color frog (yours or opponents’)

Action 3 – Draw:

• Draw one new frog randomly from the bag
• Add it to your visible hand (both frogs in your hand remain face-up for all to see)

Winning the Game:

Be the first player to connect ALL your frogs of your color into one continuous group—with at least seven of your frogs on the island. Frogs must be adjacent (touching sides) to count as connected. The winning group can be any shape—linear, clustered, sprawling—as long as all your frogs form one unified army.

Strategic Elements

Jump Planning: Frogs can make multiple jumps in one turn, allowing long-distance repositioning. Plan jump paths that reach optimal positions.

Opponent Disruption: You can (and should!) place opponents’ frogs in disadvantageous positions when you draw their colors. Block their connections strategically.

Hand Management: With only two frogs visible in your hand at all times, plan which to play first based on current island configuration.

Territorial Control: Guard key areas of the pond. Prevent opponents from connecting while building your own army pathways.

Blocking vs. Building: Balance defensive moves (separating opponent frogs) with offensive moves (connecting your own).

Color Distribution: Since all colors mix in the bag, sometimes you’ll draw mostly your own frogs—other times, you’ll draw opponents’ colors. Adapt your strategy.

Jump Chains: Plan multi-hop moves that position frogs optimally while opponents can’t predict your full movement range.

Spatial Awareness: Track which frogs are isolated and which are clustering. Work systematically to eliminate gaps in your army.

Why Choose Army of Frogs?

From the Creator of Hive: John Yianni’s proven design expertise ensures quality strategic gameplay with elegant mechanics.

Works Great With 4 Players: Rare for abstract strategy games—Army of Frogs maintains excellent gameplay with three or four players, not just two.

No Board Required: Play anywhere on any flat surface. The frogs create their own dynamic playing field.

Premium Bakelite Components: Same high-quality material as Hive. Chunky, durable tiles with embossed frog figures.

Easy to Learn, Strategic Depth: Simple rules explain in minutes, but tactical positioning creates engaging challenge.

Portable Design: Comes with drawstring bag for easy transport. Perfect for travel, game nights, or outdoor play.

Family-Friendly: Accessible for ages 7+ while offering enough strategy to engage adults.

Dynamic Gameplay: The island constantly shifts as players add and move frogs. No two games look alike.

Skill Development: Builds strategic planning, spatial awareness, and problem-solving abilities.

Quick Setup: Grab the bag, draw frogs, and start playing. Minimal preparation needed.

What’s in the Box

40 Premium Bakelite Hexagonal Frog Tiles:

• 10 frogs in each of 4 distinct colors
• Colors typically: Red, Yellow, Blue, Green (or similar vibrant colors)
• Each tile embossed with molded frog figure
• Raised frog design allows easy pickup and movement
• High-quality, durable Bakelite construction (same material as Hive)
• Satisfying weight and tactile feel
• Hexagonal shape for clean connections

4 Color Indicator Discs:

• One disc per player color
• Bakelite construction matching frog tiles
• Placed in front of each player to show their color
• Helpful reminder since hands contain mixed colors

1 Drawstring Cloth Bag:

• Used for random frog selection during gameplay
• Doubles as storage and transport solution
• Durable fabric construction
• Essential game component, not just packaging

Illustrated Rules Leaflet:

• Clear setup instructions
• Turn structure explanation
• Movement rules with examples
• Winning conditions
• Strategic tips

The embossed frog figures on each tile make them distinctively easy to handle—you can grip them from the top and move them smoothly across the playing surface without disturbing adjacent frogs. The Bakelite material ensures these pieces will last for years of hopping good fun!

Best Player Count

Army of Frogs officially plays 2-4 players, but player count significantly affects gameplay:

4 Players (Recommended): The ideal player count. More chaos, more interference, more tactical opportunities. The game shines brightest with a full pond of competing frog armies.

3 Players (Great): Excellent gameplay with good balance between strategic planning and opponent disruption.

2 Players (Okay): Functional but less dynamic. Some players find it too easy to separate frog groups with only two players competing. Works better if both players are experienced.

Who Will Love Army of Frogs?

This strategic connection game is perfect for Hive fans wanting the designer’s other work, families with children 7+, abstract strategy enthusiasts, players who enjoy connection games, groups seeking 4-player abstract strategy, tactical thinkers who love positional play, fans of board-less modular games, board game collectors, anyone who appreciates premium Bakelite components, and players wanting games with adorable amphibian themes. If you enjoy games where tactical positioning matters and the board state constantly evolves, Army of Frogs will have you hopping with excitement.

Official North American Distributor – Authentic Gen42 Games Product