Pokemon fans looking for a charming desktop companion game to play are in luck, as indie developer Mankibo revealed an upcoming free-to-play title called Working with Montabi that will launch in early 2027. Given that the Pokemon franchise is celebrating its 30th anniversary, the series has become an inspiration to developers looking to create monster collector games.
Although Pokemon is not the first media series to be considered a monster collector, the franchise’s emergence in the 1990s has shaped the genre into a worldwide phenomenon. Since Pokemon took the world by storm, other franchises such as Monster Rancher, Digimon, and Palworld have seen success by virtue of featuring critters that players can tame or befriend in different ways. The mobile gaming market has also become a lucrative platform for monster collector games, with titles like Pokemon GO and Nexomon: Extinction being popular choices.
Working with Montabi Is a Desktop Companion That May Appeal to Pokemon Fans
Given that Pokemon has not released a desktop companion title, one indie developer will soon offer fans a way to fill that niche. Mankibo and Akupara Games revealed that Working with Montabi, a spin-off of the deck builder game Montabi, will be available for free on Steam starting January 13. 2027. Although Steam contains various idle simulation games that players can have running in the background during work, Working with Montabi is a companion title that will show player avatars typing alongside the user. Occasionally, an adorable Montabi will visit the player’s virtual space and keep them company for a short time, giving players a chance to fill out the Pokedex-like bestiary called the Montapedia. As players fill out the Montapedia, some cosmetic options will be available for players to change up the appearance of their avatar and their space, including decorations, furniture, and clothing.
A demo of Working with Montabi is now available on Steam for Windows and macOS users to try out ahead of the game’s January launch. As players go about their work, some rare Montabi species will make an appearance, similar to Pokemon‘s rare encounters with legendary critters. Working with Montabi also offers a to-do list and other productivity tools to keep players on track with their work, along with some words of affirmation or encouragement throughout the day.
Rather than charge users any money to download and use Working with Montabi, developer Mankibo stated that players can instead show support by purchasing a Supporter Pack or Donation Pack once it officially launches. However, each pack’s prices and content were not fully revealed as of this writing. The game’s system requirements are minimal, as it requires just 512 MB of storage space. Given that the PC gaming market has an assortment of free games for players to try out, it remains to be seen how successful Working with Montabi will be in 2027.
As for the Pokemon franchise, The Pokemon Company is in the middle of a social media campaign that will conclude at the end of November. Currently, all signs point to a potential Pokemon announcement taking place on November 30. Although Pokemon has not stated what could happen at the end of November, time will tell what the company has in mind to grab players’ attention.
