TaleMonster Games Raises $7 Million to Redefine Casual Puzzle Gaming

TaleMonster Games, an Istanbul-based studio founded by veterans from Peak Games, has successfully raised $7 million in funding to advance its mission of revitalizing casual puzzle games. The funding round was led by General Catalyst, with participation from A16z Speedrun, Arcadia, and Ludus Ventures. This capital injection will accelerate the development of their debut titles, including the innovative match-3 game Match Valley, and support ongoing investments in the creative and technical foundations necessary to craft a new generation of casual puzzle games.

The founding team, composed of five cofounders including CEO Irem Sumer, brings multidisciplinary expertise from both artistic and technical disciplines. Having spent years at Peak Games, a company acquired by Zynga for $1.8 billion, they recognized a shift in mobile gamers’ expectations. Players have evolved, becoming more skilled and discerning, yet casual games have remained largely predictable and optimized for short bursts rather than deep engagement.

TaleMonster’s vision is to create games that respect players’ time, skills, and attention by delivering experiences that surprise, challenge, and evolve alongside the player. Their first title, Match Valley, exemplifies this approach by combining classic match-3 mechanics with tower defense elements, offering a unique gameplay experience that has resulted in impressive engagement metrics, including a 50% day-one retention rate and an average daily playtime of 52 minutes.

The studio’s strategy extends beyond launching a single hit game; they aim to build a sustainable culture and a portfolio of evergreen puzzle games that grow with their audience. By investing in reusable systems, smarter game design, personalized player experiences, and efficient content delivery, TaleMonster is positioned to iterate quickly, learn from player feedback, and continuously raise the bar for casual mobile gaming.

The company’s diverse founding team, including two women, is notable in an industry often criticized for lack of diversity. With a current team of 17 spread across multiple cities and plans to double in size, TaleMonster is leveraging Türkiye’s growing gaming ecosystem, which benefits from strong university programs and a supportive culture for game development careers.

Despite challenges in mobile gaming, such as changes in ad targeting due to privacy regulations, TaleMonster remains optimistic about the future. Their commitment to innovation and quality positions them well to capture the attention of increasingly sophisticated mobile gamers who demand more from casual games.

General Catalyst’s investment highlights confidence in TaleMonster’s fresh vision for casual gaming, emphasizing unexpected twists, evolving gameplay, and challenges that scale with player skill. This backing aligns with a broader trend of supporting studios that prioritize player engagement and long-term retention over short-term optimization.

TaleMonster’s approach reflects a significant shift in mobile game development, focusing on depth, creativity, and respect for the player’s evolving skills. Their success with Match Valley and strategic use of funding to build a robust development pipeline positions them as a studio to watch in the casual puzzle genre.