Sidekick Publishing and Stray Fawn have announced that that Gambonanza, the upcoming roguelike chess-builder from solo developer Paul Giovannini (Blukulélé) will take part in the upcoming Steam Next Fest, with a demo now live.
While launching simultaneously on PC and Mobile platforms later this year, Steam Next Fest is the first destination for players to demo Gambonanza. The demo offers players a taste of the strategy-packed adventure, where victory requires capturing every piece on the board through synergistic play.
Watch a trailer for Gambonanza in the player below:
The full game will feature over 150 Gambits which allow players to alter the properties of their run with a selection of Gambits inspired by real-life chess players including:
- The ROOOOOOK’s Gambit → GothamChess
- Hyper Bullet’s* Gambit → Andrew Tang (PenguinGM1) (*players have ~30–15 seconds for the entire game)
- Beth’s Gambit → The Queen’s Gambit (Netflix series)
- Anna’s Family Gambit → Anna Cramling
The public playtest earlier this month encouraged players to provide feedback ahead of Steam Next Fest. These insights proved valuable in supporting the refinement of the title ahead of the demo and full global launch across PC and Mobile later this year.
Sidekick Publishing is an indie game publisher from Germany, born out of creative agency INSTINCT3. Drawing on deep roots in gaming culture, community building, and influencer marketing, Sidekick blends traditional publishing expertise with a creator- & community-first approach.
The team focuses on bringing unique indie titles to market with tailored strategies that integrate community engagement, influencer collaborations, and bold creative campaigns from day one. In its first year, Sidekick has already delivered multiple successful launches and continues to expand its portfolio with a commitment to both creative excellence and creator & community-first approach. Sidekick’s publishing portfolio includes: Deadly Days: Roadtrip, Dwarves: Glory, Death and Loot, 9 Kings, Megaloot, Die in the Dungeon, Terrascape, Asgard’s Fall and Gambonanza.
