Istanbul-based TaleMonster Games, founded by former leaders of Peak Games, has raised $30 million in Series A funding to push the boundaries of casual mobile gaming. The round was led by Arcadia Gaming Partners and Andreessen Horowitz, with participation from Point72 Ventures and General Catalyst.
Founded by a seasoned team behind global hits such as Toon Blast and Toy Blast, TaleMonster is on a mission to bring greater depth and creativity to the casual puzzle genre—an area long dominated by familiar design patterns.
The studio’s debut title, Match Valley, blends classic puzzle mechanics with elements borrowed from hero-based gameplay and tower defense. This hybrid approach has delivered standout early results, including industry-leading engagement metrics such as an average daily playtime of around 100 minutes.
“Our goal is to set new standards for what casual games can offer,” said İrem Sümer, co-founder and CEO of TaleMonster Games. “Today’s players are far more experienced. After years of playing mobile games, they’re looking for deeper, more meaningful experiences. We see a significant opportunity to meet this shift in expectations at scale.”
While the global casual gaming market now reaches over one billion players, true differentiation—especially in puzzle games—has become increasingly rare. TaleMonster aims to break away from repetitive formulas by creating category-defining games that are easy to pick up, yet rich enough to sustain long-term engagement.
Arcadia Gaming Partners founder and managing partner Akın Babayiğit highlighted the studio’s balanced performance: “At this stage, most companies excel in one or two metrics. TaleMonster stands out by performing strongly across multiple dimensions, successfully combining high retention with robust monetisation.”
From Andreessen Horowitz, partner Josh Lu added: “Choosing a different path in a category where most teams follow the same playbook takes real courage. TaleMonster never took the easy route—they’ve built a distinctive product and culture that isn’t afraid to challenge the industry.”
The founding team brings deep experience from Peak Games, which was acquired by Zynga for $1.8 billion, one of the largest exits in mobile gaming. With this new funding, TaleMonster plans to continue delivering surprising, innovative experiences that evolve alongside players.
“We’re a team united by product obsession and a deep love for games,” the founders said. “Our mission is to create games that surprise players, challenge them, and grow with them over time.”
With backing from top-tier global investors, TaleMonster Games is positioning itself as one of the most ambitious new studios aiming to take casual mobile gaming to its next chapter.
