The Repairing Mantis

About

In "The Repairing Mantis," players navigate a surreal world as a praying mantis, confronting existential crises, making impactful decisions, and experiencing a disturbing, violent story with two possible endings. This eerie exploration game, lasting approximately 1 hour, features casual mechanics and a unique narrative filled with unsettling aesthetics and encounters with troubled animals. Players reflect on their choices and the game's themes long after the credits roll.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

97%

Audience ScoreBased on 67 reviews

story5 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

The game offers a unique and thought-provoking narrative that explores heavy themes such as depression, dreams, and existential dread.
Visually, the game is well-crafted with a fitting atmosphere that enhances the psychological horror experience.
The dialogue system is innovative, allowing players to choose NPC responses from their perspective, adding depth to interactions.

Performance issues are prevalent, with high CPU and GPU usage causing lag and freezing during gameplay.
The lack of a save system can be frustrating, making it difficult to progress after encountering technical problems.
Gameplay can feel confusing and aimless, with vague objectives that lead to aimless wandering rather than meaningful exploration.

story
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
33%
25%
The game's story is described as unique and engaging, featuring dark themes and a refreshing narrative that stands out in a landscape of repetitive storytelling in gaming. While some side characters may feel inconsequential, the main plot involving a mantis pursuing dreams is compelling, with well-crafted writing and an atmospheric setting that enhances the experience. Overall, players find the story intriguing and worth exploring further, despite some initial confusion regarding character relevance.
- “I'm sure the story is amazing once you get further into the game than I have, and I think it could be worth checking out because it really is some dark stuff in a way that a lot of other games don't do the same.”
- “It's refreshing to know that storytelling in gaming isn't dead.”
- “It is a wonderful story of a mantis going about and reaching their dreams... and helping others reach their dreams.”
- “I get that the extra characters are supposed to add to the atmosphere, but sometimes it's impossible to tell if an area is purely decorative (including NPCs that have one or two lines of dialogue only), or if it'll be what gets you further in the story.”
- “What I mean by this is, it feels like some of the 'side' characters don't really add anything to the atmosphere or story when they aren't the main focus of the objective you have.”
- “It's like a dark and morbid fable story; some scenes are genuinely repulsive, but the information it's trying to convey seems pretty upbeat.”
graphics
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
42%
25%
The graphics of the game are generally well-received, with many praising the unique aesthetic that effectively conveys a sense of despair, reminiscent of psychological horror themes. While some players experienced technical issues that affected their ability to enjoy the visuals, the overall design, including the nostalgic PS1-style graphics, is appreciated for its creativity and effort. However, occasional graphical glitches, like giant bubbles, detract from the otherwise solid visual experience.
- “The aesthetic and design perfectly capture the feeling of despair that hangs off your mind and body, like clinging tar or sloughing skin.”
- “The 32-bit visuals are a nice touch.”
- “The aesthetics work well to both soften and enhance the impact of the things that happen.”
- “I've seen others have had this issue as well, so I'm glad I'm not alone. I've tried lowering the graphics, resolution, turning off v-sync, etc., and none of it seems to work for me, so I can't play the game.”
- “I was baffled by this because it's a walking simulator with PS1-style graphics.”
- “That's the game mechanics, graphics, performance, and sound (or lack of) out of the way.”
emotional
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is widely praised for its ability to evoke deep feelings, ranging from motivation and warmth to heartbreak, with many players reporting a strong emotional response, including tears. The blend of touching narratives and humor creates a unique experience that resonates personally, making it a memorable and impactful journey. Overall, it is recommended for those who are prepared for an emotionally charged experience.
- “A very emotional experience.”
- “The ending is simply heartbreaking.”
- “Touching, personal, and thought-provoking experience.”
atmosphere
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game's atmosphere is described as unique and visually appealing, with a strong sense of anticipation and intriguing concepts, such as playing as a mantis. However, the presence of extraneous characters sometimes detracts from the experience, leaving players uncertain about their relevance to the story. Additionally, while the atmospheric elements are generally effective, excessive fogging is seen as a hindrance rather than an enhancement.
- “The main menu was so atmospheric that I felt excited to play, and I especially felt a lot of anticipation for what could happen.”
- “From what I've played, it has a unique atmosphere with unique ideas such as playing as a mantis and doing small quests for squirrels. Visually, it looks great, the writing is well done, and it's just a really interesting and unique game that I sadly can't experience.”
- “There's no need to concern yourself with jumpscares when the very nature and atmosphere of something is unnerving enough.”
- “I get that the extra characters are supposed to add to the atmosphere, but sometimes it's impossible to tell if an area is purely decorative (including NPCs that have one or two lines of dialogue only), or if it'll be what gets you further in the story.”
- “What I mean by this is, it feels like some of the 'side' characters don't really add anything to the atmosphere or story when they aren't the main focus of the objective you have.”
- “However, I think the amount of fogging is more of a hindrance than a benefit to the atmosphere.”
gameplay
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The gameplay is polarizing, with some players appreciating its unique interactive elements, such as engaging in morally questionable actions, while others find it unappealing. Overall, the mechanics, graphics, and performance contribute to a mixed reception, highlighting a divide in player enjoyment.
- “While it's not my cup of tea because of the gameplay, I know there are others who love this game, and I wish I could have felt the same way.”
- “That's the game mechanics, graphics, performance, and sound (or lack thereof) out of the way.”
- “Some of the interactive elements were pretty interesting, and by that I mean the game forces you to do very sketchy things like cutting flesh or hurting someone with interactive gameplay.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
100%
The game's optimization has been criticized for performance issues affecting mechanics, graphics, and sound, leading to a subpar experience for players.
- “The optimization in this game is top-notch, allowing for smooth gameplay even on lower-end systems.”
- “I appreciate how the developers have focused on optimization, making the game run seamlessly.”
- “First of all, performance.”
- “That's the game mechanics, graphics, performance, and sound (or lack of) out of the way.”
- “Performance issues.”
music
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The music in the game is minimal, with some users noting the absence of a soundtrack, while others appreciate the effective use of creepy music that enhances the atmosphere of the foggy island setting. Overall, the music contributes positively to the game's narrative experience.
- “There is no music, which is okay.”
- “It may not be the most visually striking low-poly game, but what it had with the foggy island and creepy music worked for the story.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Users report significant stability issues that can lead to frustrating experiences, particularly when troubleshooting problems that consume valuable time, potentially affecting refund eligibility.
- “It caused a big problem for me because, after all these issues, I felt forced to investigate the problem. By this point, I had already used most of the two hours I had for refund eligibility, and now I couldn't just continue where I left off after troubleshooting.”
- “The game crashes frequently, making it nearly impossible to enjoy the experience without constant interruptions.”
- “I encountered multiple bugs that not only disrupted gameplay but also made it frustrating to progress through the game.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game features genuinely funny moments that elicit unexpected laughter, such as the memorable alligator dream scene, which adds a unique and humorous touch to the overall experience.
- “Even better, the game also has some genuinely funny moments, which made me feel very bad for laughing. My god, that alligator dream!”