Hi everyone!

We’re Mankibo, an indie game developer, and we’d love to share the story of how Montabi evolved into the game it is today.

🐾 The Original Montabi: A Monster Duel Sport Inspired by Monster Rancher

As some of you may know, when we first launched Montabi here on Itch.io, it was a monster duel sports-themed game inspired by childhood classics like Monster Rancher. You would raise Montabi creatures, train them, and build bonds through minigames and daily activities. It was a passion project rooted in our love for the monster games we grew up with.

But after releasing the early version and gathering feedback, we heard a few recurring concerns:

• The game becomes boring fairly quickly

• The visuals give the impression of a 2D fighting game

• Monster Rancher mechanics were quite niche, especially in the Western market

So… we decided to pivot.

🎴 The Pivot: Embracing the Deckbuilder Side

In early 2024, we reimagined Montabi from the ground up—not just in gameplay, but in genre, strategy, and scale.

We shifted toward a creature collector roguelike deckbuilder, blending the excitement of monster taming with the tactical depth of deck-based combat. It was a bold change, but one we felt truly excited about.

Why this direction?

• We love games like Slay the Spire, Pokémon, and Monster Sanctuary

• We saw strong interest in creature collector games, but also demand for more strategic, replayable gameplay

• We realized each Montabi could have unique skills, roles, and evolutions that unlock rich tactical combinations

• We wanted each run to feel fresh, strategic, and full of discovery

The result is a new Montabi that holds onto the charm of our original vision but delivers deeper systems, greater variety, and long-term replayability.

🚧 What’s New?

• Turn-based street battles on a grid-based system

• Deckbuilding mechanics powered by Montabi skills, Trainer powers, and collectible Charms

• Multiple evolution paths with shifting roles and unique playstyles

• Tons of build possibilities, strategic movement, and creative combos

And yes—many of the original Montabi creatures have returned, now redesigned for this evolved gameplay style!

🦊 Wishlist Now on Steam!

We’re incredibly excited to share that Montabi is now available to Wishlist on Steam!

We’re also thrilled to be partnering with Akupara Games to bring Montabi to even more players around the world.

Thank you to everyone who supported us during our early monster duel days, and welcome to all the new friends joining us now. Whether you're into monster raising or strategic roguelikes, we hope Montabi has something special for you.

Stay tuned for more updates, and feel free to follow us here on Itch or join the community on Discord!

With love,
The Mankibo Team