TaleMonster Games, an Istanbul studio founded by Peak Games veterans on a mission to bring depth and creativity back to casual puzzle games, has raised a $7 million Seed round led by General Catalyst, alongside a16z Speedrun, Arcadia, and Ludus Ventures.
TaleMonster was born from a simple idea: Today’s players have leveled up, and it’s time for their games to do the same.
“We’re a multidisciplinary founding team united by a shared obsession with product and a deep love for games,” said Irem Sumer, co-founder and CEO.
“We started TaleMonster because we saw something missing in the games we loved.
Casual games have become too predictable, too optimised, and not enough fun. We believe players deserve better: games that surprise, challenge, and evolve with them.”
The founding team brings deep experience from some of the most successful games in the space, including titles built at Peak Games, which was acquired by Zynga for $1.8 billion.
They combine years of experience building and scaling hit puzzle games, with a proven track record in crafting high-quality products end-to-end.
TaleMonster’s focus isn’t just on launching a single hit, but on building a team of passionate, curious people who can create multiple standout titles over time.
By creating an environment where great talent can thrive, the studio aims to develop not only games that last, but a culture that lasts just as long.
Their first title, Match Valley, proves they’re on the right track. Players spend an average of 52 minutes in the game each day.
According to Sumer:
“We’re building a team that grows with every title we release; sharp, curious, and unafraid to experiment. With this funding, we can go faster, think bigger, and keep raising the bar for what casual games can be.”
This seed round will help TaleMonster scale its vision: building rich, evergreen puzzle games that grow with their players.
“Mobile players have changed. They've grown sharper, more curious, and a lot harder to impress. They can tell when a game is built with care and when it’s not,” said Sumer.
“We want every game we build to feel like it respects your time, your attention, and your skill.”
They plan to use the funding to expand the team, accelerate development, and continue investing in reusable systems that support smarter game design, personalized experiences, and efficient content delivery to launch faster, learn quicker, and build a portfolio of games that players can return to over time.
