Welcome to the first Golden Mantis Treasure Hunt! The slackers behind Skip Work Play Games love puzzles and treasure hunts, and we want to share the joy.
For our first quest we’ve hidden a token somewhere in Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, or New Mexico. The treasure itself is a cash prize, but we’re hesitant to leave thousands of dollars out in a public space, so you’ll have to find the token and exchange it for the prize.
The Prize
The guaranteed prize for the hunt is $2,000. However, as the number of participants increases, so will the prize. Prize growth levels will be announced on this site and through emailed announcements to participants.
Early Bird Discount and Bonuses
Want to be the first to receive your clue packet AND get discounted entry? Sign up and pay your entry fee before the hunt launches on August 22, 2025, and your discounted entry fee will be only $25.
But wait, there’s more! When it’s time for a hint, all participants receive the same hint, but voting by early bird entrants will determine which puzzle the hint applies to.
Ready to join the hunt?
Entry Fee
The standard entry fee is $30. No add-ons, specials, or buying clues. Just $30.
The Hunt
We’ll cut off early bird entry on Friday, August 22. Later that day, all early bird participants will be emailed the puzzle packet simultaneously. Future entrants will receive their puzzle packets via digital delivery at the time of payment.
Correct solutions to the first set of puzzles will lead you to a spot within easy walking distance of the hidden token. These are solvable completely virtually.
The second puzzle set pinpoints the exact location of the token. These can also be solved without leaving your house, though they may not make complete sense until you’re within the token’s locale.
A Few Promises
First, the hunt is targeted to end within three months. We encourage participants to share their feedback privately and in public forums. Hints will be disseminated at random intervals to keep the hunt progressing.
And as mentioned, all hints are available to all participants at no additional price. We like our games fair, and that means you can’t buy exclusive hints.
Finally, there’s a safeguard in the event the token goes missing. Since the prize increases with the number of entrants, whoever finds the token may be tempted to bide their time and let the prize increase. However, the prize locale includes a unique feature as secondary proof of a successful solve. If an entrant submits the correct backup proof before the token is produced, the entrant with the backup proof will win the prize.
No Poetry
Sure, we love a good poem. And many of the great treasure hunts out there involve interpreting someone’s poetry. This isn’t one of those hunts, though. There’s no poetry at all in this quest, unless you count the lyrics of the songs in the 1980s playlist puzzle.
