The Mantis
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The Mantis is a short indie psychological horror game designed with a retro PlayStation 1 (PSX) visual style. Set during a quiet night shift at a convenience store, players take on routine clerk duties - stocking shelves and cleaning floors - while being stalked in the dark by a human-faced mantis monster.

How to Play The Mantis

Night Shift Duties in The Mantis

Gameplay in The Mantis blends mundane convenience store chores with sudden atmospheric horror triggers. To survive your shift, you must complete tasks step by step:

  • Begin your shift by organizing inventory and using cleaning tools to tidy up dirty floor areas around the aisles.
  • Carry black garbage bags out to the store's dumpster located in the dark alleyway behind the building.
  • When the power cuts out and leaves the store pitch black, navigate through dark hallways to find the breaker box and flip the main power switch back on.

How to Control

  • W, A, S, D: Move your character around the store.
  • Mouse: Look around and aim your flashlight.
  • E: Interact with objects. You will press E to pick up the garbage bag or flip the power breaker.
  • Shift: Sprint to escape danger.

Tips Against The Mantis Creature

  • The human-faced mantis stalks the store from the shadows. Creaking doors or subtle rustling sounds indicate the creature is near.
  • Use your flashlight to navigate dark aisles during blackouts, but be prepared to turn and run if you spot the creature.
  • Keep clear escape paths toward exit doors whenever working on chores near backrooms or dumpsters.

If you enjoy weird antagonists and unsettling retro horror atmospheres, you can also check out The Freak Circus for similar indie titles.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is The Mantis a free game?

The Mantis is completely free to play directly inside modern web browsers without downloading large installation files.

Is The Mantis a multiplayer horror game?

This game is strictly a single-player horror experience where you face the terrifying stalker monster completely alone.

How long does it take to beat The Mantis?

The Mantis is a short indie horror title that can easily be completed in a single 10-15 minutes gaming session.