It’s time to flip the world of monster taming games on its head with a look at some of the darker undertones. Yami Kids plans to explore this and more sometime in 2026, but first developer Yanako RPGs wants to secure more funds with the help of a new Kickstarter campaign.

The project launched this week with a funding goal of US$7,000. At the time of this writing, the campaign is fast approaching said goal, hovering at around $5,000 with 28 days remaining. You can pick up some of the vibes in the trailer below.

Yami Kids Kickstarter Launch Trailer

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Wrapped in a warm and familiar pixel art aesthetic, Yami Kids takes what makes monster taming games special and adds in a deeper narrative with more serious themes. Some of the mechanics incorporate the game’s day and night cycle, including the Shadow Duels that only occur at night.

The trailer above debuted along with the Kickstarter and shows off some of the Underworld action. Next up is the Overworld trailer, which debuts on September 7 at 9:00am PT. You can also check out an extended trailer as part of the Monster Taming Direct event.

Yano of Yanako RPGs cites Shin Megami Tensei: Demi Kids and Yu-Gi-Oh!! as “major inspirations” for Yami Kids. If the game gets fully funded—which it would be hard-pressed not to at this point—additional platforms like PlayStation, Xbox and Switch are among the stretch goals. Copies of the game currently start at $15 ($10 for limited early bird backers) as part of the Kickstarter.

Source: Press release