The Repairing Mantis

The Repairing Mantis is a short and surreal game in which we take on the role of a Mantis who wants to repair a bridge - the means in which we do this are incredibly bleak, which really is a consistent theme throughout the entire narrative. Everything is so dark and existential, I actually came away from this experience feeling pretty down. There are many content warnings around this game, so heed them well as it certainly isn't for the faint hearted - even if it is over in an hour. The developers successfully fill that time with an overwhelming barrage of gore, despair, and hopelessness. The minimalist environments, while thematically appropriate, don’t offer much visual stimulation, and the repetitive tasks can feel more like a test of endurance. Still, the oppressive atmosphere does a lot of heavy lifting. Even when I wasn’t enjoying the gameplay, I couldn’t deny that the experience held my attention. Certain scenes will likely stick with me for a long time. I’m left wishing Steam offered a neutral review option.

I'm on the verge of not recommending the game primarily due to lack of save feature, so be advised that this is the thing and you will just waste time, if for whatever reason you can't finish the game in one go. Other than that, I don't mind recommending it. Don't get me wrong, it's not a bad game. As I played it, it was ok. For some, it's gonna be quite heavy and disturbing. Reasonable so. If you play it, you know. The dev puts the warning about the content, you'll encounter, so you know what you're signing up for. I do wish we had more choices but I guess, I might be asking for too much. My main grip is that there's no save feature in the game. If you can't complete it in one go or, god forbid, your game bugs out and you need to restart, you'll have to start all over again from the very beginning. And sadly, I encountered the bug that absolutely broke the game for me. I had to quit and that's how I learnt that my progress is not gonna be saved. Quite devastating, not gonna lie, because I was trying to 100% it for the other ending. But I figured... I was late in the run (spent already 40 minutes in it), maybe one loop (two tops) away from the other ending and I'm not going throug…

Well that was VERY weird and messed up...

A neat little game about how dreams cause suffering but are necessary to remain hopeful.

This game really leave you with a void in your chest. The story is really cruel but in a way misterious enough to let you grasp the metaphore of it, or at least I got that feeling. An experience I suggest to play to anyone who doesn't stop at what's right in front of them and likes to think more of what's beyond the mere visible layer

The Repairing Mantis developed and published by Erupting Avocado is a short but haunting narrative experience that leans heavily into surrealism and psychological discomfort. Rather than presenting traditional horror built on sudden scares or combat-driven tension, the game constructs an atmosphere of unease through symbolism, strange dialogue, and an almost dreamlike sense of detachment. Players step into the role of a praying mantis on an isolated island, tasked with an unsettling mission that immediately signals the tone: repairing a bridge made from the flesh of flying squirrels. From this bizarre premise unfolds a meditation on despair, mortality, and existential questioning. The gameplay itself is intentionally minimalistic. Exploration occurs at a deliberate pace, with simple movement and interaction mechanics guiding players through fragmented encounters and conversations. There are no elaborate puzzles or complex systems; instead, the experience relies on environmental storytelling and dialogue exchanges to carry its emotional weight. The island setting feels claustrophobic despite its open spaces, with muted lighting, fog-drenched landscapes, and unsettling creature desi…