Stray Fawn and Sidekick Publishing Assemble Indie "Dream Team" for Global Launch of GAMBONANZA [Press Release]
ZURICH, CH / BERLIN, DE / PARIS, FR - 26th January 2026 - 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). The original trailer reveal from Blukulélé back in March 2025 has wracked up a whopping 560k views! Coming soon to PC and Mobile platforms, a public playtest is now live on Steam.
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 is now live 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.
