MANTIS - Grab & Game
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Two rules. A thousand vengeances. A friendship seriously at risk.
What it's about
The most ruthless game you can hang on your keychain
Mantis: Grab & Game comes from the minds of the same creators of Exploding Kittens — and the surreal illustrations of The Oatmeal. The travel version of Mantis brings the same emotional charge of the original in a compact, hangable format, impossible to ignore in your backpack.
The mechanism is disarmingly simple: you have two choices, and only two. Steal a card from an opponent hoping it matches one of yours. Or Score the already matched cards in your possession. That's it. In ten minutes someone has done the right thing and someone else is already taking revenge.
The back of each card shows three possible colors — one of them is the true one. That small piece of partial information is everything: the difference between the winning move and the most regretted action of the evening.
From the gaming experience
The mantis shrimp sees seven colors where you see three. Mantis works exactly like this: each card hides more than it shows — and whoever reads the uncertainty best wins.
The secret of Mantis in one line
In ten minutes, you go from the euphoria of a stolen stack to the despair of seeing it snatched away in turn. It's the most compact emotional roller coaster in the history of card games.
From the gaming experience
Mantis: Grab & Game
FrogScore · FroGames editorial rating · based on rules, international reviews, and play sessionsHow it really works
Four concepts, no learning curve
7 colors, one question
Each card belongs to one of the seven mantis shrimp colors. Do you want to match it with yours or steal it from others? Choose — and bear the consequences.
The back that (almost) lies to you
Each card shows three possible colors on the back. One is the true one. A one in three chance of making the right move — or giving points to opponents.
Steal or Score
You steal: you take a card from an opponent and hope it matches one of yours. You score: you convert your pairs into points. Every action has its risk — and its revenge.
First to 10 wins
The first to score 10 cards wins the game. Simple. Except your cards can disappear at any moment at the hands of anyone at the table.
In ten minutes someone is smiling, someone has already started reshuffling. With Mantis, it always happens like this.
🎲ComponentsTravel size · all in your pocket
📖RulebookEnglish · Official PDF
A game in five moments
What happens at the table
Not the rules. The experience.
Cards dealt, plan already in mind
Four cards each, all visible on the table. In five seconds, you've already seen who has the most interesting pile to steal. The game hasn't even started, and you're already calculating.
The first theft
Someone chooses to steal. They flip the card — wrong color. It goes into the opponent's pile, which now has even more cards. Everyone laughs. The victim doesn't. For now.
The pile that changes hands
A six-card pile changes hands three times in the same round. Everyone wants it, no one can keep it. There's something profoundly unfair and magnificent about it.
The moment you realize you're winning
Eight cards scored. Two are missing. Everyone knows it, everyone looks at you, everyone has already decided they won't let you score. The next three turns are the most intense of the evening.
Someone wins. Shuffle immediately.
The game ends in ten minutes. The winner celebrates, the others don't even have time to be disappointed — they're already asking to play again. The cards are already in hand.
How to play
The flow of each turn
Two possible actions. One choice per turn. That's all — but that choice is never as simple as it seems.
Each card in the deck shows three colors on the back. Only one matches the front. You use this partial information to decide what to do.
Steal: you flip a card from the deck, and if it matches an opponent's pile, you take their entire pile. Score: you convert the pairs in front of you into secure points.
If the theft goes wrong, the card goes into your pile — and opponents see it. If you've scored, those points are safe. Until the end of the game, at least.
The first player to reach 10 cards in their scoring area wins immediately. The game usually lasts ten minutes. Usually.
Why it's different from others
Six reasons to always keep it in your pocket
Partial information that creates suspense
The back of the card doesn't lie but doesn't tell everything. That one-in-three probability is the source of every cheer and every quiet curse in the game.
Only two choices, infinite tension
Stealing is risky but builds large piles. Scoring is safe but makes you a target. Neither option is always right — the context changes everything.
Piles change hands like waves
A large pile is both a treasure and a danger. The bigger it gets, the more everyone wants to steal it. Keeping it is as hard as building it.
Travel size, attachable
Mantis: Grab & Game fits in your pocket, clips to your backpack, and can be pulled out anytime. You don't need a table — you just need someone willing to lose.
From 7 years old to grandparents
The rules are explained in less than a minute. No reading, calculations, or prior knowledge needed. If you can count and want to win, you can play.
Every game is a different story
It lasts ten minutes, and no two games are alike. The card distribution changes everything — and the human factor (who betrays whom) adds the unpredictable element you can't plan for.
How it ends
One way to win, one to lose gracefully
Not everyone can win. But everyone can get revenge — and they usually do in the next game.
Victory
- Be the first to reach 10 cards in your scoring area
- Scored cards are safe — no one can steal them anymore
- The game ends immediately on your turn
When you lose
- Someone scored 10 cards before you
- Your theft went wrong and you filled the wrong pile
- There's no elimination — everyone loses together, in the end
Mantis: Grab & Game is one of the most immediate and satisfying card games of recent years. You learn it in a minute, and you never really stop playing it.
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQ about Mantis: Grab & Game
What makes Mantis different from other fast card games?
The partial information on the back of the cards. It's not pure luck — you can make calculations, choose when to risk and when to consolidate. That small informational asymmetry transforms a matching game into something with real decision-making tension. Plus: the mechanism of stealable piles creates a social dynamic that almost no filler game has.
Is it worth it compared to the original Mantis version?
It depends on what you're looking for. The Grab & Game version has fewer cards (60 instead of 105) and is optimized for 2-4 players in a travel format. If you want the tabletop version for six people with all variations, the original is more complete. If you're looking for something to always carry with you, this is the right choice.
Is it suitable for young children?
Yes, from 7 years old and up it works very well. It doesn't require reading (the cards are just colors and illustrations), doesn't require complex calculations, and the short duration keeps attention high. Children are often also the most ruthless players when stealing.
Can you play with two players?
Yes, it works. With two players, the experience is more tactical and direct — every move is clearly aimed at the other. With 3-4 players, the variable of who to attack and who to let grow is added, making the game more chaotic and fun in a different way.
Are there expansions or different versions?
The original Mantis version supports up to 6 players and includes 105 cards with additional illustrations. Mantis: Grab & Game is the compact travel version for 2-4 players. The basic rules are identical — only the number of cards and the format change.
Is it available in Italian?
The cards have no text — they are just illustrations and colors. The included rulebook is in English, but the instructions are so brief and visual that you don't need to know the language to play. They can be explained verbally in less than a minute.
Mantis: Grab & Game is a competitive card game for 2–4 players (ages 7+, approx. 10 minutes duration). Published by Exploding Kittens, illustrated by Matthew Inman (The Oatmeal). Main mechanic: set collection with stealing and risk management. Each player manages piles of colored cards, trying to match colors, stealing from opponents, or scoring secure points. Attachable travel version of Mantis, the rainbow card game inspired by the mantis shrimp. Compact format, 60 cards, English rulebook included. Ideal party game and gateway for families, children, and adults. Available on FroGames.it.
MANTIS - Grab & Game
Frequently Asked Questions
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