A new creature-collecting game is officially making its way to the Nintendo Switch 2, with Montabi set to receive a physical release on the platform. The new Switch 2 release combines elements of monster-catching, deck-building, and roguelikes for players to enjoy.
Monster-catching games have been a staple of the gaming industry since the Pokemon franchise first burst onto the scene in the late 1990s. The iconic monster-catching series from Game Freak sparked the rise of a multimedia empire that has become one of the biggest pop culture brands in the world, including the Pokemon video games, the Pokemon TCG, and a wealth of merchandise. Pokemon‘s success has inspired plenty of other creators to bring their own spin to monster-catching games, both with indie games like Temtem and Cassette Beasts and AAA games like Dragon Quest Monsters. Now, a cute and complex monster-catching game on Switch 2 is getting a new release.
Creature-Collecting Game Montabi Gets Physical Switch 2 Release
Indie studio Mankibo is partnering with Czech publisher Nejcraft to launch a physical version of Montabi. The game puts players in the shoes of a Montabi trainer trying to reclaim their stolen Montabi from the villainous Team X, progressing through the city along roguelike-style branching paths. Players can choose from 22 starter Montabi creatures and battle it out in turn-based grid combat, building decks of cards to power up their Montabi and unlock different attacks. Each starter Montabi has a unique deck with multiple evolutions, and the game features more than 500 different cards for deckbuilding. The physical release of Montabi is expected to arrive sometime in Q1 2027.
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Sign in to claim your place on the leaderboard!
Montabi combines a wealth of popular mechanics from other franchises to create its own unique experience. The game draws heavily on some of Pokemon‘s more popular aspects, including the assortment of Montabi creatures and its inclusion of deck-building as a major mechanic. Montabi features multiple trainers to choose from for its roguelike runs, with each having their own specialties and unique gimmicks that can affect how players build their decks. The grid-based combat also offers a significant spin on the classic turn-based combat, prioritizing tactical positioning of Montabi and attacks in battles.
The physical release of Montabi joins a wide array of monster-catching games for players to choose from on Switch 2. The Pokemon franchise serves as one of its biggest competitors on the platform, with the console already receiving two major games in Pokemon Legends: Z-A and spin-off Pokemon Pokopia. Capcom also debuted Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection on Switch 2 in early 2026, allowing players to tame and battle some of the Monster Hunter franchise’s most iconic beasts.
One of Montabi‘s biggest competitors is also scheduled to get a new release in 2027, with Pokemon gearing up for its next major games. Game Freak officially revealed Pokemon Winds and Waves during the 2026 Pokemon Day presentation, confirming that the tenth-generation games will launch in 2027. The next Pokemon games will whisk players to a tropical island region based on Southeast Asia, with The Pokemon Company already showing off Winds and Waves‘ trio of starter Pokemon. Monster-catching fans have no shortage of exciting games coming to Switch 2 in 2027, between Montabi‘s physical release and Pokemon Winds and Waves.
- Developer(s)
-
Mankibo
- Publisher(s)
-
Akupara Games
