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Game
Game2026
Montabi
Developer Mankibo
Tame, collect, fight! Assemble an unstoppable team of unique Montabi in this Creature-Collector Roguelike Deckbuilder. Master their awesome abilities, synergize their strategic strengths and save the city in tactical turn-based combat! From the Steam store page
166 reactions from 3 sources (Steam reviews, Bluesky, Mastodon) · newest Nov 2, 2026 · last updated Nov 5, 2026 · How this works
Audience score
95
LovedLoved
115 positive · 6 negative
95% range 90–98%
| Source | + | − | = |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam reviews | 115 | 6 | 0 |
| Bluesky * | 19 | 0 | 24 |
| Mastodon * | 0 | 0 | 2 |
* shown, not counted in the score (label accuracy below our 85% bar or not yet audited).
Steam's own rating
Very Positive
123 of 129 reviews positive (all languages, per Valve)
What players are saying
95% recommend · 115 yes, 6 no
Counted from the reviewers’ own thumbs up/down on the 121 English Steam reviews we collected, not by the AI. Valve’s all-language rating: Very Positive (161 of 170 positive).
Players praise the deep gameplay and strategic variety. [1][2] Many highlight the unique creature-collecting and deckbuilding blend. [1][3][4] Some reviewers note balance issues and a steep learning curve. [5][6][7]
Liked
Representative posts
- [1]
First off all, Congrats to @boydozan and the Mankibo team on the project's release, the game we’ve all been waiting for is finally out. Based on the trailer and demo, personally find it very compelling. It features a blend of roguelike and deck-building mechanics (reminiscent of the underrated gem Slay the Spire) combined with "Montabi" card-battling and trainer elements (like Pokémon or Digimon). It really hook my …
- [2]
Been playing this game non-stop. I'm one of the playtester... And I could attest that this game will suck your time and life XD. It's just mind boggling how much content there it is. At first, it's a little bit confusing to play, because there's so much effect and Montabi to choose from. And every Montabi has really distinct playstyle and effect. After several play, I just get the gist of the game, and found some …
- [9]
I bought this because "creature collector + deckbuilder" sounded interesting. I stayed because the combat is way deeper than I expected. What really sets Montabi apart is that every Montabi has its own deck. Instead of managing one giant deck like most deckbuilders, you're building a team of Montabi, each with their own cards and playstyle. Every new teammate changes your strategy, and you're constantly thinking …
- [3]
Montabi is a combination of two genres I never imagined would work together: a roguelike deckbuilder like Slay the Spire, combined with creature collecting. It’s a really fresh twist because you can tame monsters, and every monster you capture comes with its own unique deck. As a result, both you and your Montabi have separate decks. As the trainer, you have your own deck, while each Montabi has its own set of …
- [4]
Best Deckbuilder, Creator Collector game out there!! Countless of team synergies and combinations. Gotta catch them all!
Summarised from 34 of the 160 public posts collected about this game; every point cites the posts behind it ([n] opens the post) and the split is counted from the posts’ own ratings. Updated Oct 13, 2026. How summaries are made
RottenBot@rottenbot · automated account
95% of the 121 Steam reviewers we collected recommend Montabi. The complaint that keeps coming up: balance issues with overpowered combos. Deal-breaker or nitpick?
Reactions
60 of 166 · most liked firstFirst off all, Congrats to @boydozan and the Mankibo team on the project's release, the game we’ve all been waiting for is finally out. Based on the trailer and demo, personally find it very compelling. It features a blend of roguelike and deck-building mechanics (reminiscent of the underrated gem Slay the Spire) combined with "Montabi" card-battling and trainer elements (like Pokémon or Digimon). It really hook my attention, especially with my favorite Montabi, "Ruffen" and "Hydo" and their…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Been playing this game non-stop. I'm one of the playtester... And I could attest that this game will suck your time and life XD. It's just mind boggling how much content there it is. At first, it's a little bit confusing to play, because there's so much effect and Montabi to choose from. And every Montabi has really distinct playstyle and effect. After several play, I just get the gist of the game, and found some breaking combo that I don't see it at the first time. It's pretty exciting when…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →So, I ended up with 3 games that I can fully endorse: - Sojourn Past - Monster Alchemy - Montabi Brief reviews of each game down the thread. There are games I attempted to play, but it didn't click, no controller support (how?), or too much stuttering for my deck (mind you I can play FF XIII).
positive · AI labelView post →As a fan of tactical combat, roguelikes, and creature collectors, there's a lot to like here, and at a high level, this genre combination is executed quite well. However, the devil is in the details, and I can't recommend this game in its current state strictly because of balance (or lack thereof). I appreciate the developers' philosophy that not every powerful combo needs to be nerfed into the ground, however it's a bit too easy to assemble near-deterministic turn 1 or 2 kills with some…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Better start shufflin' — 'Montabi,' the new creature-collector card-battler from developer Mankibo (@mankibo.bsky.social) and publisher Akupara Games (@akuparagames.bsky.social) launches later this summer on PC and XBOX → #gaming #news #gamingnews #summergamefest #indiegames #gamedev
neutral · AI labelView post →In our game, positioning is key! As Trainer, you can move Montabi and reposition enemy to set up the most effective turn. #ScreenshotSaturday #indiegame
neutral · AI labelView post →There’s a first time for everything. The journey begins with our first game, Montabi… and it’s joining the Debut Festival🌟 Become a trainer and fight alongside your team of city monsters in our demo! ➡️ store.steampowered.com/app/3750130/... #DebutFest #indiegame
neutral · AI labelView post →Montabi [Asian English Import] NSW / NSW 2 [Game on Cart] is now in stock at VGP! 💿 tinyurl.com/ywankzfy NSW: $54.99 / 39.99 USD NSW2: $59.99 / 42.99 USD 📦All orders ship in a box ➕Enjoy Free Shipping when you spend $75 / 55 USD
neutral · AI labelView post →All 22 Montabi in our monster taming roguelike deckbuilder game! They’re inspired by animals, food, to everyday urban objects… and each one can evolve twice👾 Which one’s your favorite?
neutral · AI labelView post →Working together with the mankis🐒 Montabi demo 0.2 update done, now we’re jumping back to the full game! #gamedev #indiegame #indiedev
neutral · AI labelView post →(This review has been edited for spelling, formatting, and to more clearly express my frustrations with the game-design. I also turned off comments as someone had repeatedly accused me of lying when this is simply an honest review of my experience with Montabi - the person in question also had several hours more gametime and so falls under the "Expert's Curse" below) I really enjoyed the art style, the music, and the overall concept. I REALLY want to love this game. I am aware over 70 people…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Our indie game MONTABI is all about: 🃏 Team deckbuilding ♟️ Turn-based tactics 👾 Monster taming 🏙️ Vibrant city map
neutral · AI labelView post →TL;DR Clearly inspired by Slay the Spire, but Montabi stands alone by its own merits. There are some fantastic ideas; runs are a good length; and the developers are exceptionally open to feedback and truly strive to make the game better. 10/10 highly recommend, and I intend to keep playing for many more hours (hoping for new content as well!). If you like grid-based tactics games, deck-builders, creature-collectors, and/or games like Slay the Spire and Across the Obelisk, definitely jump into…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Happy release day for Montabi a creature collecting Roguelike deckbuilder. Tame, collect, fight! In this tactical turn-based combat game! #Montabi #NintendoSwitch2 #Nintendo #Switch2
neutral · AI labelView post →We’re bringing Montabi to Level Up KL 🚀 Super excited to connect with the community, attend the SEA Game Awards, and many more✨ #LevelUpKL #indiegame #montabi
neutral · AI labelView post →our indie game: - inspired by Slay the Spire, Pokemon, MegaMan Battle Network - monster taming roguelike deckbuilder in a city - battle with your team of Montabi on 3x3 grid - each Montabi has distinct decks and evolutions - 570+ cards and 200+ items to experiment with - just released last week
neutral · AI labelView post →Favorite June 2026 Nextfest demos: - Demi And The Fractured Dream (Wind Waker-like) - ReStory: Chill Electronics Repair Shop (cleaning/repair sim) - Slayblade (Beyblade-inspired RPG) - Montabi (roguelike deckbuilder mongame) - Tales of Tuscany (silly RPG) - Poly Fighter (roguelike fighting game)
positive · AI labelView post →Creating a deckbuilding game means LOTS of skill cards. Here’s a look at one of our cards from sketch to final illustration! 🐺🩸 #montabi #indiegame
neutral · AI labelView post →Montabi is coming to IGX 2025💥 Visit us at Indonesia Game Devs Arena game station and battle with your team of city monsters!🎮 #indonesiagameexpo #gameevent #indiegame
neutral · AI labelView post →Montabi = game Mankibo = dev
neutral · AI labelView post →Montabi is part of MIX + Kinda Funny Spring Game Showcase 2026! Catch our new trailer and announcement on March 9th. Get ready to battle together with your team of city monsters😺🔥 Thank you @themix.bsky.social & @kindafunnyvids.bsky.social for having us!
neutral · AI labelView post →This game is such a clear labour of love. I feel like I'm able to find a way to break the game every run, which feels great. The event nodes almost always offer an exciting choice, unlike most deckbuilders. Easy recommend for any strategy fans. I'd love for movement abilities to default target the tile you're on, rather than a random tile around you. I wish you could get another rare at level 15 (or a mini passive, or a draft from 5 rares). But minor things amongst an excellent package.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →+ as a deckbuilder and turn based tactics this game is everything i ever wanted. on my first run i built around tonkey who ramps up more damage every time they move, and by the second act i had a proper build for dealing tons of damage by turn 2 and it felt fun trying to build up as fast as possible while dealing with enemy attacks + lots of clever ways to build your team around the carry, e.g. since i was using tonkey i was weak to bleed and it would kill my team (and in fact almost did), so…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Huge congrats to @mankibo.bsky.social for the launch of Montabi today!!! From the first pitch I saw years ago to the released game today, it is a testament to the team’s resilience and determination. Honored to have played a small part supporting it at XBOX and proud to play it today as a fan ❤️
positive · AI labelView post →Damn, I appreciate the art, polishness and somehow the soundtrack of the game, I really felt that the world of Montabi is well design and has so much to explore. PLEASE MAKE THIS A COLLECTIBLE TOYS! Montabi monster design are also soo damn uniqueee! Can't wait to play a fish in a plastic bag, gotta be smacking some ass I bet! But nevertheless the gameplay is also well thought out! Deff unique in a roguelike deckbuilder!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →For this week's Remastered, I used Beast of Reincarnation to reflect on Game Freak's Gear Project titles and how they reveal more about the developers at Game Freak than Pokémon does. Plus, a giveaway for Montabi, a new Pokémon-inspired roguelike: www.remastered.blog/beast-of-rei...
neutral · AI labelView post →Game name: Montabi🐱 Type: Strategy, roguelike deckbuilder, creature collector🃏 Inspired by: Slay the Spire, Pokemon, Mega Man Battle Network🎮 Release date: August 6 (IN 2 DAYSSS😱)
neutral · AI labelView post →We just launched our first ever demo yesterday! There’s no better time to start your run and experience Montabi😺💥 Played the demo? Don’t forget to give a review to help us make the full game even better. Head to Steam now! ➡️ store.steampowered.com/app/3750130/...
neutral · AI labelView post →This is our 3 years journey of making a creature collection IP. From sketches to launching Montabi and creating its spinoff, with more to come. What kind of game would you like to see with Montabi next?
neutral · AI labelView post →Montabi is fantastic and gameplay is far deeper than it initially looks. Brilliant launch and looking forward to more content being added going forward.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Assemble an unstoppable team of unique Montabi in this creature-collector roguelike deckbuilder. Master their awesome abilities, synergize their strategic strengths and save the city in tactical turn-based combat! Learn more on Montabi in our full review: somanygames.co.uk/review/monta...
neutral · AI labelView post →Best game ever! i m one of the playtester. fun card with taming aspect. visually appealing my type of game. the battle satisfying with nice vfx and sfx. just fully discovered 'cheapway" tactic and oh i love building it up till it one shooted the enemies lol. cool music too! cant wait to progress more deep in to it.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →👨👩👧👦"EVERYONE deserves to have fun"🎮️ See how inclusivity is in the Mankibo DNA and what that means to their upcoming game, Montabi! @playmontabi.bsky.social @mankibo.bsky.social
neutral · AI labelView post →Montabi is a roguelike deck building monster-taming game with so much potential. The combination of monsters with distinct playstyles and the grid-based system that comes together really well to create fun combats. The meta-structure of the game draws a lot of inspiration from Slay the Spire.
positive · AI labelView post →Something EXCITING is coming real soon👀 If monsters, cards, and tactics are your thing… Keep an eye out for Montabi in MIX Spring Game Showcase! 📅 March 9th, 10 AM PST
neutral · AI labelView post →Super hyped to see @retromation.bsky.social playing our new demo for Montabi!! Thank you for checking out our vibrant monster taming roguelike deckbuilder game🔥 youtu.be/IL-7YpIAbX8?...
neutral · AI labelView post →Montabi is one of the Top 40 finalists for SEA Game Awards at Level Up KL ✨ Vote for Montabi and various awesome games in the Audience Choice Award here! ➡️ mdec.my/levelupkl/se...
neutral · AI labelView post →🔴BIG STREAM🔴 Going to be doing a Summer Game Fest Watchalong! 5PM EST! Then we will be checking out Indie games on the #Pitchyagame Showcase! Then after that? DEMOS! including #PaperKlay #Teeto and #Montabi and anything else we see during the showcase! All of this Tonight on my Twitch Channel! 💪🕹️
neutral · AI labelView post →Are you looking for games to play during Steam Creature Collector Fest?🦊 Our game Montabi is currently open for a limited-time playtest! If you’re like monster taming and roguelike deckbuilder, we’d love to hear your feedback to help improve the game💓 ➡️ store.steampowered.com/app/3141630/...
neutral · AI labelView post →This game is Mewgenics if it wasn't ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ and farting all the time and actually wanted you to have fun and didn't actively hate you as a person. There is a lot I love about this game, and am happy I got it full price. I think it's worth it, and I think that, if you like turn-based strategy games with roguelike and deckbuilding elements, you'll like this. It runs on a grid-based system like Megaman: Battle Network, while you control your Montabi's and their action points, decks, attacks,…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →TL;DR: You have an incredible amount of variety, choices, and control over the battlefield, giving you vastly more agency over victory or loss than other deckbuilders. Montabi has quickly become one of my all time favorites in the roguelike deckbuilder genre. I've played a lot of deckbuilders, OG Slay the Spire, modded Slay the Spire, Vault of the Void, Indie's Lies, Across the Obelisk, Roguebook, many lesser-known ones - and recently Slay the Spire II. Especially coming from Slay the Spire…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Balancing needs work.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Hello~ Friday time, and @playmontabi.bsky.social 's Montabi full release date is here! Time to play this, with help of Wishly, our beloved Calikoi! Stream at 17:45 UTC+7 / 18:45 SGT / 11:45 AM UTC~ Sea you soon~ #FirstLook #RogueLikeRun #FioStreamInfo
neutral · AI labelView post →Thank you for joining Montabi community playtest! Your support really motivates us to make the game even more fun. Some of you even spent so many hours playing unbalanced content and giving thoughtful feedback. Looking forward to next playtest with improved content! 🩷
neutral · AI labelView post →💥Montabi Devlog - January 2026💥 Happy new year! We wrapped up 2025 with demo 0.2.1 and are now focused on the full game: implementing all Montabi evolution lines, enemies, difficulty, and more. Also lots of playtests and balancing ahead! More details below👇 store.steampowered.com/news/app/314...
neutral · AI labelView post →Montabi is one of the finalists for the Best Indie Game Award at @gdwc.bsky.social 2025 Summer Season!! We’re so honored to be listed alongside amazing indie games from around the world. Best of luck to all the finalists!!!💖
neutral · AI labelView post →Ever wanted to be friends with Nyanus? You're in luck! Our friends at @playmontabi.bsky.social's new desktop companion game "Working with Montabi" has a demo out featuring him as a crossover character! #kumitantei Download the demo: store.steampowered.com/app/4943050/...
neutral · AI labelView post →This is the first true success of a party-based roguelike deckbuilder. The Montabi characters are straightforward enough, generally focusing on one concept each, usually split into a couple possible gimmicks to develop into during a run. That means that it isn't overwhelming to manage up to six decks during a run, with runs being a bit under two hours long. Instead, the depth comes from the interplay of your Trainer, whose deck has a bit wider variety of possible effects, and the combination…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I've been wanting a break from Slay the Sprire 2 and this game is a fresh new take on deck building and strategy with an appealing design. The gameplay loop is fun and feels similar to STS 2 with an emphasis on movement which I really enjoy. The art is charming and has a bit of a retro feel to it. I'm having a blast! Best purchase I've made in the past month!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I bought this because "creature collector + deckbuilder" sounded interesting. I stayed because the combat is way deeper than I expected. What really sets Montabi apart is that every Montabi has its own deck. Instead of managing one giant deck like most deckbuilders, you're building a team of Montabi, each with their own cards and playstyle. Every new teammate changes your strategy, and you're constantly thinking about how each deck complements the others. It turns team building into a…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →wow I did not expect to love this game so muchh. Montabi is literally my first deckbuilding game and I found myself playing it again and again. Like there are sooo much combo and skills to try and explore. This game is crazy addicting, can't wait to grind more I hope Montabi can get big and have updates for new rosters in the future!! Please have a playable bird Montabi!!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Helped playtest a lot of the game and GOD it is so good. Really can't put in to words the depth this game has and the sheer amount of content that it offers you. You can play for 100+ hours and not find everything, hell not even find 50% of what the game has to offer (if you suck at deckbuilders like I do lol). Tons of difficulties, Montabi to collect, and cards to gather, a must play.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Montabi store.steampowered.com/app/3141630/... SHRIMP GAME: OVERKRILL store.steampowered.com/app/4122690/... Cat Me If You Can store.steampowered.com/app/4501780/... Arcane Eats store.steampowered.com/app/3528960/...
neutral · AI labelView post →💥Montabi Devlog - December 2025💥 After demo 0.2 update a few days ago, we’re back to full game development: 13 Montabi evolution lines, revamp implementations, and difficulty system. Also, a possible community playtest. More details below! store.steampowered.com/news/app/314...
neutral · AI labelView post →Congratulations to the winners of GDWC 2025 Summer Season!🎉 It’s an honor that Montabi made it as one of the finalists for Best Indie Game with an awesome lineup. Huge thanks to @gdwc.bsky.social for organizing this event! Watch the full announcement here! ➡️ www.youtube.com/live/EHrblGZ...
neutral · AI labelView post →Additionally during Akupara Direct by @akuparagames.bsky.social, @playmontabi.bsky.social (Indonesia) announced their second project about desktop companion game takes place in Montabi universe. Check out Working with Montabi on Steam!
neutral · AI labelView post →Montabi is a delightful little roguelike game with a fun twist: positioning your team during a card-based battle! Read my review at the Analog Stick here: medium.com/analog-stick... #indiegame #roguelike #strategygame
positive · AI labelView post →What a great week for indie games; ReStory, Iron Nest, Ostranauts, Montabi, Sovereign Tower, Fields of Mistria, and the playtest for Probably Stolen (which feels like a full game already) are all amazing
positive · AI labelView post →Its not just about making a deck, its also invite you to play with different team combination, and unleash lot of possible combos and synergies. As digimon fans this feel hit close to home
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →You can play as sushi and a washing machine - 10/10
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
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