Istanbul-based mobile game studio TaleMonster Games has secured $30 million in Series A funding to accelerate the growth of its debut title and expand its product pipeline. The round was led by Arcadia Gaming Partners and Andreessen Horowitz, with participation from Point72 Ventures and General Catalyst. The raise positions the young studio among the most notable gaming startups to emerge from the region in recent years.
Founding Story
TaleMonster Games was founded by five former colleagues who left their roles at Peak Games to pursue a shared vision of building deeper casual games. The company is led by CEO and co-founder İrem Sümer, a civil engineer by training who previously worked at Pfizer, Google, and Peak Games. The founding team resigned within the same week and committed fully to developing what would become their first title, Match Valley.
Early Funding and Development
The Series A follows a $7 million seed round completed earlier, which enabled the team to build and launch an initial version of the game. Sümer has said the company did not originally plan to raise capital so quickly, but strong performance metrics and inbound strategic interest accelerated the decision. According to the company, investor confidence was driven by early engagement data and the clarity of the studio’s long-term vision.
Building Match Valley
Development of Match Valley involved extensive research and rapid iteration during the company’s earliest months. The founders reportedly played hundreds of mobile games and tested multiple prototypes before settling on the final concept. The team worked long hours to design levels and systems that combined familiarity with innovation.
Market Traction
Match Valley blends classic match-based puzzle mechanics with hero characters and tower defence elements. The game launched with around 200 levels, but early player demand quickly exceeded available content. Sustained engagement, including long average daily playtimes, became a key signal of product-market fit for investors.
Investor Interest
Andreessen Horowitz partner Josh Lu first connected with the TaleMonster team after a direct LinkedIn message referencing his public interest in new game concepts. After reviewing the prototype, his team joined the round and later praised the founders for taking creative risks. In a funding announcement, Lu highlighted the studio’s commitment to originality and its willingness to challenge conventions in casual gaming.
Team and Culture
Since its founding, TaleMonster Games has grown from five co-founders to a distributed team of 32 employees. The studio operates across engineering, art, product management, level design, and marketing functions. Sümer has emphasized a preference for lean teams with high levels of ownership and responsibility.
Use of Funds and Roadmap
The newly raised capital will be used to scale Match Valley and support the development of a second game planned for release later this year. The company aims to expand content depth while maintaining the accessibility expected of casual mobile titles. TaleMonster has stated it will prioritize product quality over rapid headcount growth.
Industry Perspective
Sümer believes shifting player expectations are creating opportunities for innovation in the casual games market. She has noted that long-time mobile gamers are increasingly seeking richer mechanics and more meaningful progression systems. TaleMonster’s strategy is built around meeting these evolving demands at scale.
With strong early traction and backing from leading global investors, TaleMonster Games is positioning itself as a studio to watch in the mobile gaming sector. The company’s journey reflects a broader trend of experienced developers launching independent studios with ambitious creative goals. As Match Valley continues to scale and new titles enter development, TaleMonster’s next phase will test how far depth and accessibility can coexist in casual gaming.