golden mantis treasure hunt

SkipWorkPlayGames is launching the Golden Mantis Treasure Hunt on August 22, 2025! Are you ready?!

It’s always exciting to learn about new hunts and their creators! Today, we’re thrilled to shine a spotlight on the creator behind the Golden Mantis Treasure Hunt—a clever challenge that will surely captivate puzzle enthusiasts and treasure seekers. Somewhere out there is a hidden token. Who will be the first to solve the clues, find the token, and claim the treasure? It could be YOU! Let’s learn more about the Golden Mantis treasure hunt!

Six Questions with Dr. Usual:

  • 1Q) Please share what inspired you to create a treasure hunt! How can someone get involved in the Golden Mantis Treasure Hunt and What is the treasure?

I’ve always enjoyed puzzles, codes and ciphers, and unsolved mysteries. Years ago my aunt introduced me to Forrest Fenn’s hunt, and I was hooked quickly. But I like to create as much as I like to solve puzzles; I love building a challenge and watching people have fun beating it. So, I enlisted a couple of friends and decided to build the first Mantis Hunt. The complete information is at SkipWorkPlayGames.com – like many hunts, entrants receive a set of PDFs with puzzles that will lead someone to a small token. The token is hidden somewhere in Oklahoma, New Mexico, Texas, Louisiana, or Arkansas. The person who finds the token wins the cash prize, which is currently $2,000. If the number of entrants reaches certain levels, though, we’ll scale up the prize.

  • 2Q) On your website you mention releasing hints to keep the hunt progressing and being solved in a timely manner. That is awesome! However, will a searcher have all that is needed to solve the hunt with the initial release of hunt materials?

When the hunt launches on August 22, each early bird entrant will receive a package of puzzles; that and an internet connection is all you need to identify the token location. (Though there are some hints already sprinkled elsewhere.) We’ll keep an eye on the Mysterious Writings Discord channels and other places to gauge progress, and we’ll release hints on occasion to keep things moving. All hints will be available to all players; you can’t buy an advantage. Also, we’ll poll early bird entrants to decide which puzzle is the subject of each hint.

  • 3Q) What types of puzzles are included in the hunt (logic, visual, wordplay, ciphers)? What do you feel is the difficulty level – is advanced cipher knowledge needed? Do you feel someone new to the hobby can find the treasure?

I like to think of our puzzles as “concrete.” We have some ciphers, some visual puzzles, and other types, but the common denominator is that the answers are very definitive, not interpretive. Because of that concrete nature, I think new treasure hunters are on an even playing field with experienced folk. Advanced cryptology skills aren’t necessary; research and analytical skills will probably be more helpful. A bit of internet savvy will help, as will common cultural knowledge. The website has a sample puzzle (and a sample hint!) which reveals a coupon code for an entry discount.

  • 4Q) How much can be solved from home? Is an exact spot given in the puzzle that when going BOTG it’s just a matter of retrieving it?

The BOTG stage could easily be a matter of simple retrieval. The final puzzle identifies a spot within six feet of the token, and it’s possible someone will wait until being on-site to solve that one, but even that last puzzle can be completed in your living room.

  • 5Q) Is the treasure hidden near a trail? How far off a trail might a searcher need to venture to find the hidden token?

The token is in a very accessible place, open to the public, with terrain equivalent to a groomed trail in a state park. It doesn’t require swimming, climbing, rappelling, or any dangerous travel. I’d be comfortable letting my six year old nephew come along for the retrieval.

  • 6Q) What did you enjoy most about creating the hunt? Are you planning on creating others?

I particularly enjoy the challenge of creating puzzles that satisfy a complex set of criteria: they have to be challenging to solve, but not impossible, not easily breakable by an AI, and should be fun for the participants. Only one person will win the prize, so it’s important that the attempt is fun and fulfilling for as many people as possible. The team and I really want this to be the first of many hunts; if we can build an audience of people who enjoy this experience, we’ll look forward to building the next.

Join the adventures: Golden Mantis Treasure Hunt