Stray Fawn and Sidekick Publishing have officially announced a global co-publishing partnership for Gambonanza, the upcoming roguelike chess-builder from solo developer Paul Giovannini of Blukulélé Studio. The project has already been turning heads, with its original reveal trailer from March 2025 racking up over 560,000 views. Now, with a public playtest live on Steam and a broader publishing push underway, Gambonanza is shaping up to be one of the most intriguing indie strategy titles of the year.
While Stray Fawn’s involvement with the game was previously known, the addition of Sidekick Publishing as a global co-publisher marks a major step forward for the project. Alongside this announcement comes a significant roadmap update: Gambonanza is now confirmed to launch simultaneously on PC and mobile platforms later this year. To support the multi-platform release, the team has brought in ATEO, who will handle the mobile ports.
Together, the collaboration forms what’s being described as an indie “dream team” within the European development scene — one built on existing relationships and proven success.
A Proven Indie Alliance
This partnership isn’t starting from scratch. Sidekick Publishing and Stray Fawn previously worked together on the successful release of TerraScape in 2024. ATEO also serves as a familiar technical partner, having collaborated with Sidekick on the mobile launch of Dwarves: Glory, Death and Loot, and with Stray Fawn on the mobile version of Dungeon Clawler.
That shared history brings a level of synchronization and experience that should bode well for Gambonanza, especially as it expands beyond PC to reach a global mobile audience.
Gambonanza: A Roguelike Twist on Chess
At its core, Gambonanza is a turn-based roguelike that reimagines chess on a condensed board where high-risk tactics can lead to massive rewards. Instead of focusing on checkmate, victory comes from capturing every enemy piece, pushing players to think differently about positioning, sacrifice, and synergy.
The game blends classic strategy with roguelike progression, turning each run into a puzzle-packed challenge built around adaptation and clever play.
Key features include:
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Synergistic Gambits: Over 150 Gambits that modify each run, from powering up specific pieces to forcing enemies to skip turns
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Tactical Board Upgrades: Golden squares, blessing tiles, and protective surfaces that reshape how matches play out
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Dynamic Reserve System: An off-board storage mechanic that lets players deploy backup pieces at clutch moments
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High-Impact Rounds: Smaller boards that create faster, more intense strategic encounters
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Retro Presentation: Vibrant pixel art, a CRT-style filter, and a quirky atmosphere inspired by slot machines, pachinko, and Gachapon
Playtest Live Now, Demo Coming Soon
To celebrate the partnership announcement, a public playtest is now live on Steam, giving players an early chance to jump in and provide feedback. Community input during this phase will help shape the game ahead of Steam Next Fest in late February, with a free demo planned shortly after.
With a full PC and mobile launch planned for later this year, Gambonanza is steadily building momentum. If you’re into experimental strategy games with a fresh take on familiar mechanics, this is one indie release worth keeping firmly on your radar.