Mannequin

Mannequin is a multiplayer VR shooter that puts a fresh spin on the prop-hunt genre, blending asymmetrical 2v3 team-based gameplay with immersive first-person action. Players take on roles as either hunters or mannequins, leveraging motion controls and strategic communication to outwit opponents in a tense, hide-and-seek-style battle. Developed by Fast Travel Games AB, the game emphasizes teamwork and balance, offering a unique social experience in virtual reality with support for 2-6 players across Windows and Meta Quest platforms.

Mannequin: A Bold but Flawed Experiment in VR Asymmetry

Introduction: A Game of Frozen Tension

Mannequin (2024), developed by Fast Travel Games, is a daring attempt to reinvent the asymmetrical multiplayer shooter in virtual reality. Blending elements of Prop Hunt, Dead by Daylight, and Among Us, it pits two elite Agents against three shape-shifting alien Mannequins in a high-stakes game of deception, stealth, and sudden violence. The premise is simple yet compelling: in a world where time has frozen, Mannequins disguise themselves as motionless human statues, while Agents must hunt them down using limited tech—all while risking catastrophic mistakes.

At its best, Mannequin is a tense, strategic dance of wits, where every frozen pose and every misfired shot could mean victory or defeat. At its worst, it’s a frustratingly imbalanced experience, where the asymmetrical 2v3 structure often feels stacked against the outnumbered Agents. Yet, despite its flaws, Mannequin stands as one of the most inventive VR multiplayer games in recent years—a title that, with refinement, could redefine competitive VR gameplay.

This review will dissect Mannequin’s development, narrative, mechanics, and legacy, assessing whether it succeeds as a groundbreaking VR experience or stumbles under the weight of its own ambition.

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Development History & Context: Fast Travel Games’ VR Gamble

The Studio Behind the Game

Fast Travel Games, a Swedish VR specialist, has carved a niche in immersive storytelling with titles like Apex Construct (2018) and Wraith: The Oblivion – Afterlife (2021). Known for atmospheric, single-player experiences, Mannequin marks their first foray into competitive multiplayer—a risky pivot for a studio accustomed to narrative-driven design.

The game was announced in September 2023, with a cinematic trailer teasing its eerie, time-frozen world. Development leveraged Unreal Engine 5, ensuring high-fidelity visuals and smooth VR performance. The team emphasized social deduction and teamwork, aiming to create a VR game that thrived on communication rather than lone-wolf heroics.

The VR Multiplayer Landscape in 2024

Mannequin entered a crowded but underserved market. While VR shooters like Pavlov VR and Population: ONE dominate the competitive scene, asymmetrical multiplayer remains rare. The closest comparisons are Secret Neighbor (2019) and Midnight Ghost Club (2023), but neither fully capitalized on VR’s potential for physical deception.

Fast Travel Games saw an opportunity: What if Prop Hunt met Dead by Daylight in VR? The result is a game where players must physically pose as statues, using their full body to blend in—a mechanic impossible in traditional flat-screen gaming.

Technological Constraints & Design Choices

VR multiplayer faces inherent challenges:
– Motion Sickness: Mannequin mitigates this with optional vignettes and smooth locomotion.
– Player Base Fragmentation: With VR adoption still niche, matchmaking can be slow.
– Balance in Asymmetry: The 2v3 structure was likely chosen to encourage teamwork, but critics argue it skews too heavily toward the Mannequins.

The game launched in Early Access on May 1, 2024, before a full release on June 20, 2024, priced at $9.99—a reasonable ask for a multiplayer VR title, though some reviewers (like Gameplay Benelux) noted it felt “a bit expensive” for its current content.

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Narrative & Thematic Deep Dive: A Thin Story with Thick Atmosphere

The Premise: Time Frozen, Trust Shattered

Mannequin’s lore is minimal but effective:

“The world has stopped. Time is frozen. All attempts to make contact with the aliens have failed. Special Agents have been deployed to neutralize the threat once and for all. Humans call the aliens: Mannequins.”

The setup is classic sci-fi horror:
– The Mannequins are extraterrestrial invaders who can freeze time and mimic human forms.
– The Agents are elite operatives armed with EMF scanners and EMP guns, tasked with purging the alien threat.

Themes: Deception, Paranoia, and the Uncanny

While the story is barebones, the themes resonate:
1. The Uncanny Valley: Mannequins exploit the eerie stillness of frozen humans, forcing Agents to question every statue.
2. Trust & Betrayal: Agents must rely on instinct—shooting a human jams their gun, leaving them vulnerable.
3. Power Dynamics: The Mannequins’ ability to freeze Agents with a touch inverts traditional shooter hierarchies.

Missed Opportunities in Storytelling

Critics (including TheGamer) lament the lack of deeper lore. The maps—generic tech facilities and frozen disaster zones—could have been enriched with environmental storytelling. Imagine:
– Frozen mid-conversation NPCs hinting at the invasion.
– Audio logs explaining the time-freeze phenomenon.
– Visual cues (e.g., cracked statues revealing Mannequin forms).

As it stands, Mannequin prioritizes gameplay over narrative, which may disappoint players seeking immersion beyond mechanics.

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Gameplay Mechanics & Systems: A Cat-and-Mouse Masterclass (With Flaws)

Core Gameplay Loop: Hide, Hunt, or Die

Each match is a best-of-five showdown:
– Mannequins must destroy three energy extractors or eliminate both Agents.
– Agents must kill all Mannequins before the extractors are destroyed.

Mannequin Abilities:

• Pose & Blend: Use VR controllers to strike realistic statuesque poses.
• Dash & Freeze: Sprint toward Agents and freeze them with a touch.
• Energy Extractors: Capturing these grants buffs (speed, shields, or Agent visibility).

Agent Abilities:

• EMF Scanner: Detects nearby Mannequins (but triggers false positives near humans).
• EMP Gun: Six-shot weapon; misfires jam the gun.
• Gauss Detector: A limited-use grenade that reveals Mannequins in its radius.

The Balance Problem: 2v3 Asymmetry

The 2v3 structure is Mannequin’s most controversial design choice. Critics argue:
– Mannequins have the advantage: Three players vs. two, with instant-kill melee attacks.
– Agents are overwhelmed: Defending three extractors with only two players is nearly impossible.
– Solution? Many suggest a 3v3 mode to even the playing field.

TheGamer’s Stacey Henley compares it to “Dead by Daylight if there were three Killers instead of one.” The imbalance is palpable, though Fast Travel Games has promised patches to refine team dynamics.

Innovative Mechanics

Despite its flaws, Mannequin introduces fresh ideas:
1. Physical Deception: Unlike Prop Hunt, where players hide as objects, Mannequin demands full-body acting—tilting your head, adjusting your stance—to sell the illusion.
2. Risk vs. Reward Scanning: Agents must decide when to scan (revealing Mannequins but wasting ammo) or shoot (risking a jam).
3. No Respawns: Death is permanent until the next round, raising tension.

UI & Controls: Intuitive but Limited

• Motion Controls: Smooth locomotion, snap turning, and artificial crouch are well-implemented.
• Voice Chat: Team-only communication prevents eavesdropping, but public matches can suffer from uncooperative players.
• Lobby System: Includes a dance-off mode, a fun but unnecessary distraction.

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World-Building, Art & Sound: A Frozen Nightmare

Visual Design: Minimalism as a Strength

Mannequin’s art style is stark and functional:
– Frozen Human Statues: Dozens populate each map, creating a sea of potential threats.
– Industrial Aesthetic: Cold blues, flickering lights, and frozen chaos (e.g., a scientist mid-fall) enhance the uncanny atmosphere.
– Limited Detail: Some textures feel rushed, but the simplicity aids gameplay—fewer distractions mean easier Mannequin-spotting.

Sound Design: The Sound of Silence (and Sudden Terror)

Audio is Mannequin’s secret weapon:
– Ambient Noise: Distant machinery hums, doors creak—subtle cues that mask Mannequin movement.
– Gun Jams: The click of a misfired shot is a heart-stopping moment.
– Dash Sounds: A Mannequin’s sudden sprint is audible, giving Agents a split-second warning.

Atmosphere: A Masterclass in Tension

The game’s greatest achievement is its oppressive, paranoid mood. Every frozen face could be a Mannequin; every shadow might hide a dash. The lack of music amplifies the dread—silence is the real antagonist.

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Reception & Legacy: A Promising but Polarizing Debut

Critical Reception: “Flawed but Fun”

Mannequin holds a 72% average critic score (MobyGames) and 76% positive Steam reviews. Praise focuses on:
✅ Innovative VR mechanics (posing, scanning, instant-kill touches).
✅ Tense, strategic gameplay that rewards teamwork.
✅ Strong atmosphere and sound design.

Criticisms include:
❌ Imbalanced 2v3 matches favoring Mannequins.
❌ Repetitive maps and lack of post-launch content.
❌ Thin narrative and underwhelming visual polish.

The VR Realm (75%) called it “a twist on prop-hunt that’s best with friends,” while 6DOF (70%) noted “lack of randomized NPC placement hampers long-term appeal.”

Commercial Performance & Community

• Player Base: Small but dedicated, with 9 players tracking it on MobyGames and steady Steam activity.
• Mod Support: Uses mod.io, hinting at future community maps.
• Future Updates: Fast Travel Games has patched balance issues, but the game’s longevity depends on continued support.

Influence on VR Multiplayer

Mannequin could inspire future asymmetrical VR games by proving:
1. Physical deception (posing, body language) works in VR.
2. Minimalist design can enhance tension.
3. Teamwork is key—VR shooters don’t have to be lone-wolf experiences.

However, its balance issues may caution developers against extreme asymmetry.

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Conclusion: A Bold Experiment That Needs Refinement

Mannequin is a flawed gem—a game with brilliant ideas hampered by execution problems. Its asymmetrical 2v3 structure is its biggest weakness, often making matches feel unfair. Yet, its innovative mechanics, eerie atmosphere, and physical deception set it apart in the VR landscape.

Final Verdict: 7.5/10 – “A Promising but Unbalanced Thrill”

• Play It If: You love VR multiplayer, enjoy social deduction, and have a group of friends to balance the teams.
• Skip It If: You dislike asymmetrical games, prefer deep narratives, or hate losing to overwhelming odds.

Mannequin isn’t a masterpiece, but it’s a crucial step forward for VR multiplayer. With patches, more maps, and a potential 3v3 mode, it could evolve into something extraordinary. For now, it’s a tense, frustrating, and occasionally brilliant experiment—one that proves VR can offer more than just shooting galleries.

Final Thought: If Fast Travel Games irons out the balance issues, Mannequin could become a VR classic. As it stands, it’s a bold, imperfect, and utterly unique addition to the medium.

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Would you pose as a statue… or hunt the hunters? The choice is yours.