Montabi – A New Kind of Creature Craze

At Indonesia Game Developer eXchange (IGDX), where prototypes and pitches fill the hallways, Boy Dozan of Mankibo Games isn’t showing a flashy demo — just quiet confidence. The studio’s upcoming title, Montabi, already has publishers watching closely. A creature-collector roguelike deckbuilder, it aims to fuse the childhood joy of monster training with the grown-up thrill of tactical card play.

“It’s like Pokémon meets Slay the Spire,” Dozan explained. “You tame creatures called Montabi, build decks from their skills, and fight through a city under threat. Each run feels different — the same team can play completely new depending on your card draws.”

Depth beneath the Cute

Every Montabi has a distinct playstyle and three evolutionary stages, offering dozens of strategic permutations. As tamers, players command a team of three creatures on a grid, combining positioning, gadgets, and buffs to outthink opponents.

“We didn’t want a simple elemental chart,” Dozan says. “It’s about tactics and synergy, not memorising which type beats another. Each Montabi has personality through its moves.”

With over 60 creatures planned, evolving them unlocks new skills to draft and more tactical options. Between battles, players can rest at cafés, upgrade decks, or unlock charms that modify abilities — all part of the roguelike loop where each run can last about an hour. Want to see everything? You best get taming and fighting.

An Inclusive Studio with Big Ambitions

Founded in Indonesia and working with Akupara Games as publisher, Mankibo Games is a seven-person studio determined to build a supportive, accessible workplace. “I wanted to create a company that doesn’t just chase profit,” Dozan reflects. “My last studio was acquired in 2018. This time I want a sustainable team that gives chances to people who usually don’t get them.”

Accessibility has become a guiding principle. “Even though we’re small, we think about colour-blind players and different needs. It’s difficult, but it matters,” he adds.

Most of the team are young graduates mentored by Dozan, unified by the dream of putting Indonesian design on the global map. “If we can survive and keep everyone learning, that’s already success.”

Southeast Asian Roots, Global Vision

While the creatures span fantastical designs, their origins loosely draw from the world’s biodiversity. “We imagined a Montabi world inspired by real biogeography,” he explains. “Some creatures feel like they come from Japan, others from Thailand or Singapore. It makes the universe more relatable to players here.”

Montabi is planned for PC, Switch, and Xbox in 2026, with PlayStation under consideration. The project itself was first pitched at IGDX 2024 — where Mankibo struck the deal with Akupara — proving how far Indonesia’s accelerator scene has come in connecting local talent to global partners.

And that continues at IGDX 2025 as Dozan said: “Before, I could only reach local media,” he says. “Now I can talk to people from Singapore, Thailand, everywhere. That’s what makes this event special.”

For Mankibo Games, Montabi isn’t just another monster battler. It’s proof that Indonesia’s next generation of developers can craft experiences that are as strategic, stylish, and heartfelt as anything on the world stage, and you can try it for yourself via demo now available on Steam.