Mika Video games Invests $2 Million in Hybrid-Informal Recreation Set to Surpass Vegetation vs. Zombies
A gaming fund launched by Wargaming co-founder Nick Katselapov invests in Agonalea Video games, the Buenos Aires-based studio behind Punko.io, the hybrid-casual tower protection recreation that delivers the mid-core expertise gamers crave. With the product mannequin’s income surging 30%, Mika Video games continues its mission to again underfunded recreation builders.
Nicosia, Cyprus, April 10, 2025 — Mika Video games, a gaming funding firm planning to take a position $50 million in cellular recreation studios, has introduced its third funding in a 12 months — a $2 million seed spherical in Buenos Aires-based Agonalea Video games. Based by gaming veterans from Sensor Tower and Pixowl, the studio will use the funding to additional develop and publish its free-to-play hybrid-casual tower protection recreation, Punko.io, which was lately nominated for Greatest Cellular Recreation at gamescom latam BIG Competition 2025.
With Punko.io, Agonalea Video games delivers precisely what Vegetation vs. Zombies 3 failed to offer — true strategic depth, good long-term development, and, above all, enjoyable. Impressed by Habby’s signature product mannequin, Punko.io provides tower protection with deep mid-core roots as an alternative of dumbed-down mechanics, aggressive monetization, and harsh punishments. The twist? Gamers can strategically equip their important character with RPG objects from a dynamic stock, mixing the nostalgic appeal of basic flash tower protection with fashionable gameplay and glossy design.
“We are investing in Agonalea Games not just with capital, but with strategic support to help them build innovative, standout mobile games,” — mentioned Nick Katselapov, Founding father of Mika Video games. “Mid-core games are facing high engagement demands and a CPI often exceeding $10 and sometimes reaching $30. On the other hand, hyper-casual games struggle with long-term retention. This makes hybrid-casual a perfect blend, offering strong LTV at lower UA costs and making it one of the most profitable segments in mobile gaming.”
Punko.io integrates key mechanics from top-performing cellular hits, like Conflict Royale and Archero — plus the perfect parts of Vegetation vs. Zombies. This extremely participating combine is already delivering robust outcomes — beginning with an above-market retention fee, which is on par with hit titles like Sweet Сrush Saga and Brawl Stars.
Based in 2018 by Pedro Aira (ex-Sensor Tower) and Vanina Fregoti (ex-Pixowl), Agonalea Video games has already earned business recognition, together with profitable the Google Play LATAM Indie Recreation Fund 2022 and Cellular Recreation of the Yr within the Argentinian Videogames Expo (EVA) 2024. The Agonalea Video games group additionally performed a key function in creating profitable titles comparable to Peanuts: Snoopy’s City Story and Goosebumps: Horror City.
“At Agonalea Games, we build experiences that evoke childlike wonder and joy,” — mentioned Pedro Aira, co-founder of Agonalea Video games. “In a world where social media giants fight for every second of our attention, Punko.io flips the script, boldly declaring that today’s media consumers are the real zombies to battle. It’s not just a game — it’s a rebellious, strategic revolution that challenges the distractions of modern life and sets a new standard for the genre.”
This marks Mika Video games’ third funding, as the corporate continues to construct a portfolio of high-potential cellular recreation studios. Its present investments embody Guli Video games and Scorching Siberians. Backed by Boston-based VC agency Flint Capital, Mika Video games goals to deploy $50 million into gaming startups, serving to them scale past $1 million in month-to-month income, develop into self-sufficient, and enhance valuations with the last word aim of an IPO. In addition to capital, Mika Video games gives hands-on assist in enterprise processes, recreation design, monetization, advertising and marketing, and product technique.
The hybrid-casual gaming sector noticed vital development in 2023, with over 130 new releases — an almost 40% year-over-year enhance. Whereas 2024 was a difficult 12 months for cellular gaming — with downloads dropping 6% on the App Retailer and 11% on Google Play — hybrid-casual video games defied the pattern, posting a 30% income surge over the previous 12 months.
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About Mika Video games
Mika Video games is a Cyprus-based funding firm established in 2023. The corporate strategically invests in gaming studios with merchandise in smooth launch, offering leverage to scale them globally. It’s centered on free-to-play cellular video games which have the potential to have interaction gamers for years, making it genre-agnostic. At the moment, Mika Video games portfolio consists of two studios — Guli Video games and Scorching Siberians. The corporate is providing the required sources, together with time, cash, and experience, to navigate by the tedious smooth launch section and rework the sport right into a profitable enterprise.
