---
title: "Montabi Launch Trailer Celebrates Nintendo Switch 2 and Switch Release"
url: "https://www.nintendoreporters.com/en/news/nintendo-switch-2/montabi-launch-trailer-celebrates-nintendo-switch-2-and-switch-release/"
description: "Montabi has recently made its debut on Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch, and publisher Akupara Games and developer Mankibo are celebrating the occasion with a new launch trailer."
author: "Patrick Dankers"
published at: "2026-08-20 16:17:55"
image: "https://www.nintendoreporters.com/storage/files/montabi-launch-trailer-celebrates-nintendo-switch-2-and-switch-release.jpeg"
markdown url: "https://www.nintendoreporters.com/en/news/nintendo-switch-2/montabi-launch-trailer-celebrates-nintendo-switch-2-and-switch-release.md"
---

Montabi Launch Trailer Celebrates Nintendo Switch 2 and Switch Release | Nintendo Switch 2 News | NintendoReporters

 [![Montabi Launch Trailer Celebrates Nintendo Switch 2 and Switch Release](https://www.nintendoreporters.com/storage/files/montabi-launch-trailer-celebrates-nintendo-switch-2-and-switch-release.jpeg "Montabi Launch Trailer Celebrates Nintendo Switch 2 and Switch Release")](https://www.nintendoreporters.com/storage/files/montabi-launch-trailer-celebrates-nintendo-switch-2-and-switch-release.jpeg)**Summary:**

Montabi has recently made its debut on Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch, and publisher Akupara Games and developer Mankibo are celebrating the occasion with a new launch trailer. The colorful creature-collector combines monster taming with roguelike deckbuilding, giving players an adventure where building a strong team is just as important as putting together the right hand of cards. Rather than relying on a traditional battlefield, encounters unfold across a tactical 3×3 grid where positioning can completely change how a battle develops.

Players head into the city with a trainer and a growing collection of Montabi, each carrying its own abilities and strategic possibilities. Creatures can be trained and evolved into stronger forms, gaining new moves and card abilities along the way. Equipment and charms provide additional ways to shape a run, while the game’s different trainers introduce their own approaches to combat and team building. Protecting the trainer is particularly important, as losing them brings the entire run to an end.

There is also plenty of variety to explore. Montabi features 22 starters, with every evolutionary line bringing its own deck, while more than 500 cards provide a substantial pool of abilities and combinations to discover. With its mixture of creature collecting, card strategy, evolution, tactical positioning, and roguelike unpredictability, Montabi gives players plenty of reasons to keep experimenting after a failed run. The game is available now for Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch through the Nintendo eShop.

---

## [](#montabi-launch-trailer-celebrates-its-nintendo-switch-debut)Montabi launch trailer celebrates its Nintendo Switch debut

Montabi has officially entered the Nintendo ecosystem, with the creature-collector roguelike deckbuilder now available on both Nintendo Switch 2 and the original Nintendo Switch. Akupara Games and Mankibo are marking the release with a launch trailer that gives players another look at the strange creatures, colorful city streets, tactical battles, and card-based systems awaiting them. It is a combination that sounds familiar when each ingredient is considered separately, but Montabi mixes those ingredients in a way that gives the adventure its own identity. You are collecting creatures, certainly, but simply finding your favorites is only the beginning. Every addition to the team can affect how your deck operates, where you position characters during battle, and which strategies become viable. That makes the launch trailer more than a parade of cute monsters. It serves as a snapshot of a game where nearly every creature you meet can become another tool in an increasingly complicated tactical puzzle.

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[Link](https://www.nintendoreporters.com/en/news/nintendo-switch-2/montabi-launch-trailer-celebrates-nintendo-switch-2-and-switch-release/)

### [](#creature-collecting-sits-at-the-heart-of-every-montabi-run)Creature collecting sits at the heart of every Montabi run

The basic objective in Montabi is easy to understand: build a capable team, push through dangerous parts of the city, and stop the troublemakers standing in your way. Getting there is where things become considerably more interesting. Montabi are not simply collectibles that sit in a menu after being caught. Each creature brings individual abilities that can influence how the entire team performs, meaning the creatures you recruit gradually determine what kind of strategy you can realistically pursue. A new Montabi might fill a weakness that has been bothering you for several encounters, or it might introduce an entirely different combination that sends your original plan flying out the window. Equipment and charms add yet another layer to these decisions. In a roguelike, adaptability is often more valuable than stubbornly following one plan, and Montabi clearly encourages players to work with whatever opportunities appear during a run rather than expecting the same perfect setup every time.

### [](#taming-montabi-directly-shapes-the-deck-you-build)Taming Montabi directly shapes the deck you build

Creature collecting and deckbuilding are tightly connected in Montabi, which is one of the game’s most interesting ideas. Taming a new creature effectively gives you access to another collection of tactical possibilities because every Montabi comes with its own skills. Building a team therefore resembles assembling several smaller decks that need to cooperate rather than simply choosing the creatures with the biggest numbers. One Montabi might work brilliantly alongside another because their abilities create a natural chain of actions, while a different pairing could leave awkward gaps in your strategy. That makes experimentation important. You may begin a run convinced that one particular combination is unbeatable, only to stumble across a pairing that works much better than expected. Equipment and charms can then strengthen those relationships further. The result is a system where catching creatures is not busywork between battles. Recruitment is one of the central ways you build the strategy that carries you through the city.

#### [](#evolution-unlocks-stronger-forms-and-additional-abilities)Evolution unlocks stronger forms and additional abilities

Training a Montabi does more than increase its effectiveness. As creatures grow, they can evolve into stronger forms while unlocking new moves and additional card abilities. That means evolution can alter the strategic value of a creature rather than functioning purely as a visual upgrade. A Montabi that begins a run filling a relatively simple role can develop into something much more important once new options become available. Those changes matter because every additional ability can influence the decisions you make when a new hand of cards appears. Do you continue using a familiar sequence that has worked throughout the run, or take advantage of a newly unlocked move that could create a stronger combination? These little crossroads are where deckbuilders tend to become addictive. There is always another possibility dangling just out of reach. Montabi uses evolution to feed that feeling, giving players a reason to invest in individual creatures while still thinking about how each upgrade fits into the larger team.

### [](#tactical-33-battles-make-positioning-part-of-every-decision)Tactical 3×3 battles make positioning part of every decision

Cards are only part of the equation once combat begins. Montabi places battles on a 3×3 tactical grid, turning character placement into another resource that players need to manage carefully. Positioning can affect which abilities are useful, how efficiently a team can respond to an opponent, and whether a promising combination actually works when it is needed. This prevents battles from becoming a simple exercise in playing the strongest card available. You need to think about where everyone is standing and what might happen after the current move. It is a little like playing a compact board game while simultaneously managing a deck of abilities. One poor placement can interfere with a carefully planned turn, while a clever adjustment can open the door to a much stronger response. Because every Montabi has its own capabilities, changing even one member of the team can alter how you approach the grid and which positions you value most.

#### [](#different-trainers-can-dramatically-reshape-your-strategy)Different trainers can dramatically reshape your strategy

Your creatures are not the only important part of a run. Montabi also lets players choose between different trainers, each designed around a particular style of play. That choice can influence how you think about positioning, aggression, support, and the overall rhythm of a battle. Some players may prefer carefully arranging the team so every Montabi occupies the ideal spot, while others will naturally gravitate toward a more aggressive approach. There are also ways to focus more heavily on strengthening the creatures around you. This trainer system helps make repeated runs feel less rigid because you are not always solving the same tactical problem with a different collection of monsters. Changing trainers can alter the assumptions you bring into battle from the opening encounter. If you have become comfortable with one style, choosing somebody different can force you to reconsider which Montabi you value, which cards you prioritize, and how much risk you are willing to accept.

##### [](#keeping-your-trainer-safe-adds-another-layer-of-pressure)Keeping your trainer safe adds another layer of pressure

There is an important catch attached to the trainer system: if your trainer is defeated, the run ends. The game compares the trainer’s importance to the king in chess, and the comparison makes immediate sense. You can have powerful pieces surrounding the board, but everything collapses if the one character you absolutely need to protect is taken out. That rule introduces tension into decisions that might otherwise seem straightforward. Throwing everything into an aggressive attack could finish an opponent quickly, but leaving the trainer exposed may turn that bold move into a spectacular mistake. Suddenly, defensive positioning matters just as much as dealing damage. It also means players cannot treat the trainer as a passive avatar sitting safely outside the action. Keeping that character protected becomes part of the puzzle throughout every encounter, especially when a run has progressed far enough that losing all of your accumulated upgrades would sting a little more than usual.

## [](#twenty-two-starters-and-more-than-500-cards-offer-plenty-to-experiment-with)Twenty-two starters and more than 500 cards offer plenty to experiment with

Montabi gives players 22 different starters to experiment with, and each evolutionary line has its own deck. That alone creates a large number of possible starting directions before equipment, charms, additional recruits, trainers, and random discoveries are even considered. Add more than 500 cards to the mix and the number of potential combinations quickly grows into something that would be difficult to exhaust after only a handful of runs. The appeal is not necessarily about seeing every card once. What matters is discovering how those cards interact when placed inside different team compositions. An ability that feels unremarkable in one setup could become remarkably useful when paired with the right Montabi or trainer. That sort of discovery is the fuel that keeps a deckbuilder moving. Players are encouraged to test odd combinations, take chances on unfamiliar creatures, and occasionally embrace a strategy that looks questionable until several pieces suddenly click together.

### [](#roguelike-progression-encourages-players-to-keep-changing-their-approach)Roguelike progression encourages players to keep changing their approach

The roguelike structure gives all of these systems room to collide in unpredictable ways. No run is expected to unfold exactly like the previous one, so players need to adjust as new cards, Montabi, equipment, and opportunities appear. That unpredictability turns failure into part of the learning process rather than simply an obstacle between the player and the ending. A run might fall apart because the team lacked enough defensive options, because the trainer was placed in danger, or because several useful abilities never came together at the right moment. The next attempt provides an opportunity to approach those same problems differently. Perhaps you choose another starter, experiment with another trainer, or build around a creature that you previously overlooked. This is where Montabi’s mixture of genres makes sense. Creature collecting provides recognizable personalities to chase, deckbuilding supplies combinations to master, tactical positioning creates immediate decisions, and roguelike structure keeps rearranging the pieces before everything becomes too predictable.

#### [](#montabi-is-now-available-through-the-nintendo-eshop)Montabi is now available through the Nintendo eShop

Montabi is available now on Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch, giving players on both Nintendo platforms access to Mankibo’s unusual mixture of creature collecting and tactical deckbuilding. The release arrives with a sizeable selection of creatures and cards already waiting to be tested, meaning there is plenty to explore for players who enjoy pulling systems apart and discovering unusual combinations. The launch trailer offers a convenient introduction to the game’s personality, but the real appeal is likely to come from seeing how its mechanics interact during repeated runs. Picking a starter is only the opening decision. From there, every new Montabi, card, evolution, charm, piece of equipment, and grid position can influence what happens next. If the idea of collecting creatures sounds appealing but you also want something that demands more tactical planning than a traditional monster battler, Montabi brings those two interests together in a particularly interesting way on Nintendo’s current systems.

##### [](#conclusion)Conclusion

Montabi arrives on Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch with a clear hook: take the familiar thrill of collecting and evolving creatures, then build a roguelike deckbuilder around them. The 3×3 battle grid ensures cards are not the only thing demanding your attention, while trainers introduce another strategic variable and an important weakness that must be protected. With 22 starters, unique decks tied to evolutionary lines, and more than 500 cards available, there is substantial room to keep trying different combinations rather than settling into one routine. That variety should be particularly appealing to players who enjoy learning through experimentation and do not mind watching a promising plan occasionally collapse in spectacular fashion. Akupara Games and Mankibo’s launch trailer marks the game’s arrival on Nintendo hardware, while the Nintendo eShop now gives Switch 2 and Switch owners the opportunity to start assembling their own Montabi teams.

##### [](#faqs)FAQs

- **What type of game is Montabi?**
    - Montabi is a creature-collector roguelike deckbuilder with tactical turn-based battles. Players tame Montabi, assemble teams, build strategies around cards and abilities, and fight across a 3×3 grid while progressing through different runs.
- **Is Montabi available on Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch?**
    - Yes. Montabi has been released for both Nintendo Switch 2 and the original Nintendo Switch and is available through the Nintendo eShop.
- **How many starter Montabi are available?**
    - Players can choose from 22 starters. Each evolutionary line has its own deck, giving different starters distinct strategic possibilities and encouraging players to try different team combinations across multiple runs.
- **How many cards are included in Montabi?**
    - Montabi features more than 500 cards. These cards combine with different creatures, trainers, equipment, charms, and evolving abilities to create a large number of potential strategies.
- **What happens if the trainer is defeated?**
    - If your trainer is defeated during battle, the run ends. Protecting the trainer is therefore an essential part of combat, much like protecting the king in chess while using the rest of your team to control the battlefield.

##### [](#sources)Sources

- [Montabi launch trailer – creature-collector roguelike deckbuilder out on Nintendo Switch 2 and Switch](https://nintendoeverything.com/montabi-launch-trailer/), Nintendo Everything, August 10, 2026
- [Montabi Releasing on August 6th!](https://www.akuparagames.com/2026/06/06/montabi-releasing-on-august-6th/), Akupara Games, June 6, 2026
- [Montabi adds Switch 2, Switch versions](https://www.gematsu.com/2026/07/montabi-adds-switch-2-switch-versions), Gematsu, July 9, 2026
- [Montabi Launches Today on Switch, Xbox, and PC](https://monstervine.com/2026/08/montabi-launch-switch-xbox-pc/), MonsterVine, August 7, 2026
- [Montabi Review](https://rpgamer.com/review/montabi-review/), RPGamer, August 6, 2026

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