The base game, landscape.
Rainbow Mantis Masters is a tropical fishing slot set in a colourful, sun-soaked reef. At the heart of the game is a rainbow mantis shrimp, an unlikely fishing hero whose powerful punch brings a playful twist to the underwater adventure.
I handled the game's art direction and visual design, including the characters, underwater world, symbols, logo and full game UI. I also created the sound design, prepared the development specifications, and rigged and animated both the mantis and the money fish in Spine.
The challenge was balancing the relaxed feeling of a tropical getaway with the excitement of a slot game. A colourful, laid-back world full of movement and playful action, without losing that carefree vacation atmosphere.
The base game, landscape.
Portrait.
Inspired by the real mantis shrimp and its powerful strike, the game's hero gets a colourful rainbow makeover. Instead of fishing with a rod, he punches the board to collect money fish, then eats his catch. His playful personality and signature punch give the game its own character.
With such a large symbol set, the challenge was making each one instantly recognisable without overwhelming the board. Distinct colours and shapes separate the symbols, while the low tier stays deliberately simple and muted to maintain a clear visual hierarchy.
The money fish carry visible cash values, setting them apart from regular symbols and making their role in the Mantis Collector feature immediately clear. A small Spine animation brings the fish to life on the board.
Base game — above and below the waterline in one frame.
Free spins — the same reef, fully underwater.
The reef is constantly in motion, with fish swimming past, corals gently moving and tropical details bringing life to every corner of the scene. The idea was to make the environment feel alive and relaxing at the same time, like a colourful underwater escape rather than a static game background.
The entry screen introduces the game's features against a bright tropical backdrop. The idea was to establish that relaxed, colourful atmosphere before the very first spin.
Landscape.
Portrait.
Landscape.
Portrait.
Free Spins take the entire game beneath the surface, shifting the sunny tropical setting into a deeper underwater world. The change in depth and lighting gives the bonus its own atmosphere, making the transition feel like a new chapter of the same tropical adventure.
Free spins, landscape.
Portrait.
A full free-spins round.
The Collector turns the mantis's signature punch into part of the gameplay. A powerful strike hits the board as the money fish are collected, with screen shake and impact effects giving the action weight. The separate Combo symbol adds multipliers to the collection, while the fish swimming into the mantis's mouth turns the reward into a playful interaction with the character.
The animation builds from a brief wind-up into a fast, powerful strike, followed by a recoil that gives the punch its weight. Combined with the effects on the board, it makes the collection feel like a satisfying moment of action rather than just a number being added to a total.
The animations were designed to keep the mantis expressive throughout the game, not just during the big moments. Subtle idle movements bring him to life between spins, while his punches, eating reactions and celebrations give each gameplay event its own character.
I wanted the sound design to feel like a tropical vacation, with relaxed, playful rhythms that bring a carefree summer atmosphere to the game. At the same time, the punches, collections and wins needed more energy and impact, creating a contrast between the laid-back mood and the excitement of the gameplay.
The Big Win builds around the mantis's signature punch, with each new win level bringing a stronger and more exaggerated hit. The escalating impacts, growing counter and bursts of coins build excitement until the final knockout, turning the win celebration into a playful display of the mantis's power.
Big win, landscape.
Big win, portrait.
