Argentina studio Agonalea Games raises $2m to shake up tower defence genre
Stay Informed
Get Industry News In Your Inbox…
Sign Up Today
Argentina-based studio Agonalea Games has raised $2 million from investment firm Mika Games in a seed funding round.
The funds will go toward further developing and publishing its hybridcasual tower defence game Punko.io.
In a press release, the company took aim at the shortcomings of another tower defence title, Plants vs. Zombies 3, over its strategic depth and long-term progression.
Punko.io is said to take inspiration from hybridcasual specialist Habby’s product model, fusing tower defence with deep mid-core roots, “instead of dumbed-down mechanics, aggressive monetisation, and harsh punishments”.
“Flips the script”
Agonalea Games was founded in 2018 by gaming veterans from market intelligence firm Sensor Tower and mobile games studio Pixowl.
The raise marks Mika Games’ third investment from its $50m fund, following deals with Guli Games and Hot Siberians.
“At Agonalea Games, we build experiences that evoke childlike wonder and joy,” said Agonalea Games co-founder Pedro Aira.
“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.”
Mike Games founder Nick Katselapov added: “We are investing in Agonalea Games not just with capital, but with strategic support to help them build innovative, standout mobile games.
“Midcore games are facing high engagement demands and a CPI often exceeding $10 and sometimes reaching $30.
“On the other hand, hypercasual 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.”
We spoke with Agonalea Games co-founder Pedro Aira last year about how Punko.io aims to be part of a new wave of hybridcasual titles redefining mobile gaming.
