Stray Fawn and Sidekick Publishing are proud to announce a global co-publishing partnership for Gambonanza, the upcoming roguelike chess-builder from solo developer Paul Giovannini (Blukulélé Studio). Gambonanza is having a Public Playtest today at 4pm GMT / 5pm CET / 8am PST.
While Stray Fawn’s involvement with the title was previously known, the inclusion of Sidekick Publishing as a global co-publisher marks a major expansion for the project. In a significant update to the game’s roadmap, the partners have confirmed that Gambonanza will now launch simultaneously on PC and Mobile platforms later this year. To facilitate this multi-platform release, the team has enlisted the expertise of ATEO, who will handle the mobile ports. This collaboration represents the assembly of a strategic “dream team” across the European indie scene, reuniting partners with a previous history of
successful collaboration.
A Proven Indie-Alliance
This is not the first time these entities have shared the board. Sidekick and Stray Fawn previously worked together on the successful publishing of TerraScape in 2024. Furthermore, ATEO acts as a common technical thread, having recently collaborated with Sidekick on the mobile launch of Dwarves: Glory, Death and Loot, and with Stray Fawn on the mobile version of Dungeon Clawler. This collective experience ensures that Gambonanza benefits from a highly synchronized group of experts committed to bringing a new vision of chess to a global audience.
About Gambonanza: A Roguelike Chess Revolution
Gambonanza is a turn-based chess roguelike set on a condensed board where tactical risks yield high rewards. The game reimagines traditional chess as a strategy-packed adventure where victory requires capturing every piece on the board through synergistic play.
Key Features:
- Synergistic Gambits: Over 150 Gambits allow players to alter the properties of their run, such as supercharging specific pieces or forcing enemies to skip turns.
- Tactical Board Upgrades: Players can enhance the chessboard with golden squares, blessing tiles, and protective surfaces to gain a tactical edge.
- Dynamic Reserve System: A unique off-board storage system allows players to keep extra pieces in reserve, deploying them at pivotal moments to shift the balance of power.
- High-Impact Rounds: Smaller starting boards intensify the strategic tension, delivering quick yet deep gameplay sessions.
- Retro Aesthetic: The game features vibrant pixel art and a nostalgic CRT filter, complemented by a quirky atmosphere and mini-games inspired by slot machines, pachinko and Gachapon.
Playtest and Upcoming Demo
To coincide with this partnership announcement, a Public Playtest will be live today at 4pm GMT / 5pm CET / 8am PST on Steam. This phase allows the community to provide critical insights ahead of Steam Next Fest in late February. These insights will help refine the experience as the team prepares for a free Demo release (coming soon) and the full global launch across PC and Mobile later this year.
Executive Quotes
Paul Giovannini (Blukulélé):
“Sidekick immediately understood Gambonanza, both the game and the vision behind it. They just get it, making our collaboration ridiculously smooth and motivating. And now that another partner has joined the adventure, our very serious victory poses have somehow become even more dramatically hilarious!”
Sidekick Publishing:
“Bringing a classic board game like chess to both PC and mobile with such a clever, roguelike twist is an opportunity we are thrilled to be part of. This partnership allows us to reunite with our long-term friends at Stray Fawn and ATEO, building up on that existing foundation of trust. We are 100% committed to Paul’s vision for Gambonanza and are eager to apply our collective expertise to make it a global success.” – Jasmin Oestreicher, Co-CEO and Co-Founder at Sidekick Publishing
Stray Fawn:
“When one of my teammates discovered the Gambonanza trailer on YouTube, we were all blown away by its charm. Within hours, I reached out to Paul to ask about a possible collaboration. When he said yes, it escalated into a small party at the office. And now, we have another big moment to celebrate, as our long-time partners Ateo and Sidekick have joined in as well.” – Philomena Schwab, Co-Founder at Stray Fawn Studio
ATEO:
“Gambonanza is a Steam game screaming for a mobile port; its core loop hooks players instantly with the perfect balance of speed and depth. We knew we were working on something amazing when our lead developer disappeared for 80 hours, resurfacing only to dive into in-depth feedback with the creator, Paul. Uniting our separate partners on this single project has been, simply put, awesome for everyone involved.” – Sebastian Tobler, Co-Founder and General Manager at ATEO
Leave a Reply