This is so charming. I can really feel a passion for bees coming through. Flying around, ordering honey through dance, jostling the workers bees all just felt really good. I think this would have been a strong contender if you were able to put a bit more time into the less interesting presentation bits, and lean a bit harder into the theme somehow.
Like SecretPocketCat, I failed to recognize in time that long travel distances would affect my efficiency so much. At 75 workers and my hive built out towards the top left, I was barely keeping ahead of honey production. I managed to technically survive the winter by hiding in a corner, but should have waited a bit longer for my girls to get some food and chill before I showed my face again. RIP queen.
A couple minor nitpicky things that sort of bugged me
I felt like the "job indicator" interrobang graphic thing didn't read very well. I think I "get it" but at the start of the game I was like "what is going on?" I think this is mostly down to me not noticing there was a tutorial happening at first.
Most of the little bits of animation and movement were great, except for the workers entering/exiting the hive. Maybe add an area just outside of the hive where we can't build, but can see the workers flying off in a sort of cone until they go off-screen?
Also, I see you've set the code license to "MIT" in itch, but I don't see a link to the source anywhere.
