Montabi is a creature-collecting roguelike deckbuilder in which the player builds a team of creatures called Montabi and fights to protect a city from the local X Gang. At the beginning, players can choose from 22 starters, while more than 60 Montabi are available to collect and use in battles. Each evolutionary line has its own deck, so choosing different creatures changes which cards and strategies are available during a run.

Building a Montabi Team

Every Montabi has a specific set of skills that can be combined with the abilities of other team members. Training allows creatures to level up and eventually evolve into stronger forms. Evolution also unlocks new card abilities, expanding the options available when building a deck. Equipment and charms provide additional ways to modify a team, making it possible to create combinations around particular abilities or tactical roles.

Turn-Based Battles

Combat takes place on a 3×3 grid and uses turn-based card mechanics. Positioning matters because trainers and Montabi can have abilities that depend on where characters are placed. Players choose cards, move units when necessary, and combine attacks or support effects to defeat opposing teams. The selected trainer also changes how a run can be approached. Some trainers focus on positioning, while others can fight directly or strengthen Montabi through supportive abilities.

Core gameplay includes:

•         collecting more than 60 different Montabi;
•         choosing one of 22 available starters;
•         evolving creatures and drafting new skills;
•         building decks around different evolutionary lines;
•         using equipment and charms;
•         fighting on a tactical 3×3 grid;
•         encountering more than 30 randomized city events.

Progressing Through a Run

The trainer is an active part of battle rather than a character who stays outside the field. Protecting the trainer is important because the run ends if they are defeated. Damage also remains relevant between encounters, and cafés can be used to restore lost hit points before continuing. Randomized events around the city provide additional situations between battles and make individual runs differ from one another.

The main objective is to strengthen the team enough to confront the X Gang and its boss. Progress depends on collecting Montabi, deciding which creatures work well together, improving their decks through training and evolution, and managing equipment throughout the run. Because each Montabi line provides different cards, changing the team can significantly alter both the available deck and the tactics used in combat.