The Mantis Game, How To Play With Review and Strategy

Recently, my husband and I befriended our neighbors, and as fate would have it, they happened to be fellow board gamers.

So, when they gifted me the game Mantis for Christmas, I couldn’t wait to try the new game from the same folks who created Exploding Kittens.

What is the Mantis game?

Mantis is a card game that is described as having the simplicity of Uno and the depth of Gin Rummy. It’s appropriate for both kids and adults, as it’s super simple to learn.

In short, it’s a game of matching cards, determining probability and messing with your fellow players along the way.

There’s a bit of strategy involved, but the easiest explanation is that it’s a matching game.

Read Also: How Many Types of Board Games Are There? 20 Types, Explained

Okay, but why Mantis shrimp?

The game comes with a fun little comic by The Oatmeal that explains why the Mantis shrimp is their favorite animal.

Essentially, the human race has three types of color-receptive cones: Green blue and red. A Mantis shrimp has sixteen, which means it can see colors that we cannot even fathom.

But that’s not the only thing that makes them unique. The comic book takes us on a twisted turn, a dangerous journey, if you will, on how these alien offspring-looking creatures are also incredible hunters.

For example, they strike their prey with about 1,500 Newtons of force, which is a move so powerful that even if the shrimp “misses” its target, it still strikes due to the shockwave it creates.

So, that’s why the game of Mantis is considered the colorfully cutthroat card game of rainbows.

Is Mantis a good game?

Sure. Is it the best game I’ve ever played? Probably not. I wouldn’t say I could play for countless hours, but the game of Mantis falls into the family-friendly party game category. It is incredibly simple to teach.

The game has quick rounds of play, a feature I always appreciate.

It has a good competitive element without being a hidden traitor game or the use of hidden role cards. Plus, there’s just enough strategy involved to make it fun without being overbearing.

It has repeatable gameplay, as it can be a bit of an emotional rollercoaster at times.

I also like that the game uses a lot of colors, including red, orange, yellow, green, blue, pink and purple.

How do you play Mantis?

The Mantis game is quite easy to play. Let’s walk through the steps.

1. Set up

Shuffle four cards face up (white side up) in front of each player. The cards in front of each player are known as the tank. If any of the cards are the same color, stack them.

Then, choose a player to go first. The instruction manual does not specify who, so if people are being indecisive, you can always choose the youngest or oldest player.

Each player should leave a little room for a score pile. Then, place the rest of the cards in the middle of the table dark side up. You will not be holding any cards in this game.

2. Begin play (score and steal)

Players will take turns and proceed in a clockwise manner.

During a turn, a player will decide to score or steal. The act of scoring or stealing is essentially the whole turn.

When a player chooses to score, they take the top card of the draw pile and turn it over in their own tank. If the character on the white side matches the color of the characters in your tank, move them into your score pile.

This ends your turn. If it does not match, leave the card in your tank.

When a player chooses to steal, they will take the top card of the draw pile and turn it over in another player’s tank. If the color – or symbol for colorblind players – matches any of the characters already in their tank, move all the characters of that color, including the one you just turned over, into your tank.

That concludes the turn. If it does not match, leave it in the opponent’s tank. Successfully stealing does not move the cards in your score pile.

3. Play until someone wins

The first player who has ten or more cards in their score pile wins. If you’re in a two-player game, play until you have 15 cards in the score pile.

Scoring vs stealing in the game Mantis

Okay, so how do you know if you should steal or score? The back of the card will have three colors (accompanied by symbols for our colorblind friends) that include one of the colors on the front of the card.

In other words, you will have a 33.3% chance of matching based on the back of the cards.

So, if the player beside you has four blue mantis cards, and the card on top of the draw pile has the color blue, you may want to try to steal. Essentially, target the greatest chance of a match.

But remember, you must occasionally play to score if you want to win. Even if you successfully grab your other player’s cards, they go into your tank and not your score pile.

Read Also: The Chameleon Board Game: Rules, Review and How To Play

Additional rules for the game Mantis

If you run out of cards in the tank, simply keep playing and try to gain some on your next turn.

If the draw pile runs dry, the player with the most cards in the score pile will win. And if it is a tie, the player with the most cards in their tank will win.

How many people can play Mantis?

It’s a party game that can be played with ages 7 and up and only takes about 10 minutes to play. It accommodates 2-6 players.

If you’re playing with two players, play until you score 15 cards in your score pile instead of ten. Also, if you successfully steal in a two-player game, the rules say you gain those cards and take another turn.

As long as you keep matching the color in a steal, you can keep taking turns. Personally, I think that is a little overpowered.

Strategy tips for playing the game Mantis

So personally, I think the game plays a little better with at least 3-4 people. When I tried it with only two, it felt a little too simple.

It was a lot more fun when I tried it with four players.

In many of the games we played, the player who won achieved victory by letting a color pile become large and focusing on that pile.

Since you only need 10 to win, you can get more than halfway there with just one score.

How much is the Mantis game?

I think the game Mantis is the perfect addition for your next game night. The game is currently $19.99 on Amazon.

Other games by the brand include Throw Throw Burrito, A Game of Cat and Mouth, Bears vs Babies and Happy Salmon. Of course, Exploding Kittens is perhaps the most popular of the bunch.

Exploding Kittens has an expanded version of the game that can accommodate up to 10 players.

Have you played the Mantis card game? What did you think? Let me know in the comments below.