Monster Decoy | 囮モンスターデコイ

Welcome!

Thank you for visiting my new campaign - Monster Decoy!
Created by Game Designer Kotori, PhantomLab is a SOLO indie game unit based in Japan that has been designing tabletop and digital games since 2012. During these years, PhantomLab has released 14 tabletop games and 1 digital game, and I would like to share more of my games internationally.

I am happy to announce the launch of my 4th Kickstarter campaign. My previous games were Acornism (March 2024, funded 2154%), OrthoGnomes (January 2025, funded 562%), and Astraios: Starlight (July 2025, funded 1616%).

This time, I would like to introduce my board game Monster Decoy (囮: モンスターデコイ), which was released at Tokyo Game Market Spring 2019 and passed the first round of judging for the Game Market Awards 2019. Seven years later, it returns with new illustrations, upgraded components, and an improved UI to provide a better gameplay experience, allowing more people around the world to enjoy it.

RuleBooks（WIP)　

Miss Merc007: Preview

Circat：How to Play and Playthrough

The prototype of this version of Monster Decoy was showcased at Spiel’25, where it drew a lot of attention and curiosity from visitors.

Here are some of my other titles you can add onto you pledge.   

(A) Spot Me Gaffer! スポットミーガファー（Nagoya Board Game Rakuichi Family Dragon Award 2026 Second Prize/Tokyo Game Market 2026 Spring) 

Players: 1-4 players  Play time: 10 minutes+

Components:  Tiles x 64, Wooden pieces x 4, Cards x 18, Game Board x 5
Rulebooks included : Japanese & English

This is my latest game for Tokyo Game Market 2026 Spring, and was pre-released on March 28th at Nagoya Board Game Rakuichi 2026. 

More detailed information : https://phantomlabgames.com/gaffer/

(B) Astraios:Starlight アストライオススターライ （1616％ Funded, Tokyo Game Market 2025 Autumn) 

Players: 2-4 players  Play time: 20 minutes+

Components:  Glow-in-the-Dark Tiles x 60, Nebula Tokens x 32
Rulebooks included : English/Japanese/French/Italian/German/Chinese

More detailed information : https://phantomlabgames.com/luminaspell/

(C) Lumina Spell ルミナスペル （Tokyo Game Market 2025 Spring) 

Players: 2-4 players  Play time: 25 minutes+

Components:  Acrylic Tiles x 53, Cards x 18, Puzzle Board x 1
Rulebooks included : Japanese & English

More detailed information : https://phantomlabgames.com/luminaspell/

Players: 1-2 players  Play time: 15 minutes+
●Tiles x 36
●Wooden Markers x 72
●Scoreboard x 1
Rulebooks included :  English/Japanese/French/Italian/German/Chinese

More detailed information : https://phantomlabgames.com/heureka/

The name comes from "Eureka!", the famous exclamation of discovery, symbolizing those moments of realization and excitement. The "n" at the end represents the n-th power, highlighting the theme of the game is the POWER OF 2. In a way, it's like shouting "Eureka!" over and over as you uncover new possibilities and adapt to the game.

Heúrēkaⁿ is a tactical tile-laying puzzle game where numbers (patterns) on the four corners represent the main number in the center when multiplied together. 

What you need to do is place a tile adjacent to another tile with the same corner number in the 6x6 field. Mark your tile and the adjacent tile(s) with your marker(replace your opponent's marker) to claim your territory. Once both players have placed all their tiles, count the Power of each tile. The player with the higher total Power wins the game.

In the 2nd edition, the pieces are changed to wooden Pieces, a wider and thinner package same as Push Off, and updated Rules(such as drawing rules and player number reduced to 1-2 for more strategic playing)

It's a game that challenges both your right brain (creativity and pattern recognition) and left brain (logic and mathematical thinking). Whether you use one side or both, you’ll be training your mind in exciting ways as you uncover new strategies!

(F) OrthoGnomes オルソノームズ (562%funded)

Here is an ancient story passed down amongst gnomes.  A tale of the Fire God and the Ice God.  One governing the Light and the other Darkness.  Over centuries of boredom they used their powers in a game of wit.  If the Fire God won the world would heat up, and if the Ice God won the world would grow cold resulting in the seasons of summer and winter in this world. 

Control the seasons in this 2 player strategy game by deciding the fate of light and dark.  A 3D puzzle inspired by gnome mythology and played in only 6 moves!  

Place the blocks with various sides of light and darkness, to connect four of your colors only seen on the outside.  With 1 move the five perspectives change!

Players: 2 players  Play time: 15 minutes+

Standard Version 
●Wooden Blocks x 12
●Plastic Turn Table x1
Rulebooks included : English/Japanese

Deluxe Version
●Wooden Blocks x 12
●Wooden Turn Table x1
●Scoreboard x 1
●Wooden Meeples x 2
●Draw bag x 1
●SOLO Mode
Rulebooks included : English/Japanese/French/Italian/German/Chinese

More detailed information : https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/phantomlab/orthognomes

(G) PalinGnomes パリンノームズ 

"In a grassland far away that no one ever visits, there are cute gnomes who love to sing.
They gather and sing songs on the grasslands almost every day, and each tribe competes with their singing voice.  When it comes to singing there are strict rules about how to line up and where to stand. Only certain gnomes can stand near springs, they must line up in size order, some can stand near flowers, but flowers must be picked first..."

PalinGnomes is a puzzle game where you need to arrange various sized cute Gnomes following specific rules.  Like a Palindrome. There are many more rules you need to follow. Try to find a space for your gnomes so they can participate in their song.

Players: 2-4 players  Play time: 15-20 minutes

Components: Wooden Gnomes x 36, Wooden Markers x14, Map Tiles x9
Rulebooks included : English/Japanese/Chinese

More detailed information (in JP): https://phantomlabgames.com/palingnomes/

(H) FroGo

The Frogs Who Lost Their Way

"Four groups of frogs from different nations accidentally ended up at the wrong party.  As night falls and monsters begin to appear, they must hurry back to their castles before sunset!  Stack friend and foe alike to move swiftly across the board.  Read the flow of the game and anticipate your opponents' strategies to reach the castle."

Players take turns moving their pieces, aiming to guide them back to their respective castles. The first player to return all their pieces to their castle wins!

Players: 4 players  Play time: 25 minutes +
Components: Game board x1, Wooden Pieces x28
Rulebooks included : Japanese & English

More detailed information (in JP): https://phantomlabgames.com/frogo/

(I) Mammon Bourse (Stock Market Party Game)

The games will be sent from China by NextSmartShip (a fulfillment company) with a tracking number, taking about 2-4 weeks. For some countries (United States, European countries, Canada, New Zealand, Korea, China, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan and Hong Kong) VAT are included in the shipping price. For other countries VAT will NOT be included so backers may have to pay import fees to the delivery company when receiving the product. 

A tracking URL will be sent to your email address once your order has shipped. If you have any questions about the delivery status, you can contact the last-mile shipping company listed on the tracking page.

Please note that the shipping company does not provide compensation for lost packages after 60 days from shipment. If you have not received your package, please contact us within 60 days.

For detail shipping information, please check  here.

If you would like to support my games, please back it in this project.  Thank you!

Hi!
I am Kotori the game designer behind PhantomLab.   

I've worked on games of various genres and platforms for over 20 years, ranging from AAA games to console games for kids, PC and mobile games. 

In 2012, I founded PhantomLab as my indie game unit to release the games I designed. During this years, PhantomLab has already released 14 Tabletop Games and 1 Digital Game. I would like to continuously make games that not only provide entertainment but also encourage imagination, thinking and learning skills of the players. 

I consider game development to be my lifelong career.
I hope the games I design that people play will become nice memories and pass them on to the next generation. Your support to this project are my energy to keep moving. 

Follow PhantomLab here on Social Media : 

• X: https://x.com/PhantomLabGames
• Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/phantomlabgames/
• Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/PhantomLabGames
• Home Page: https://phantomlabgames.com/

https://potofu.me/rocinante0o

I would like to extend a special thanks to Chipstarion, Mandy, YAMABIKO, Azumix, Stéphane, Felix and Beatrice for helping us bring this project to life.

In memory of Erick Wujcik, the greatest Game Designer, your words are always my energy to keep going.

I would love to bring more of my games to an international audience.
If you are a publisher, distributor, or retailer interested in any of my game titles, please feel free to contact me at phantomlabgames@gmail.com.