Gambonanza Is the Chess Roguelike You Didn’t Expect

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Gambonanza is an indie game created by solo developer Blukulélé, a French creator who has spent more than a year building the project on their own. The game recently reached a major milestone by passing 60,000 wishlists on Steam, an impressive number for a title that has not yet released a public demo. So far, only a closed playtest held in June 2025 has been available, making this level of interest even more notable.

Gambonanza is a turn-based roguelike inspired by chess, but it bends almost every rule people expect from the classic board game. Matches take place on a very small board instead of the usual chess layout, which keeps games fast and tense. The goal is not checkmate, but total control. Victory comes from capturing every enemy piece. Waiting too long or wasting moves comes at a cost, as unused tiles begin to crumble and disappear, shrinking the board and forcing bold decisions.

Each run is short and designed to be replayed many times. When a run ends, earned rewards carry forward and can be spent to unlock new upgrades, systems and rule-breaking abilities. This structure makes every attempt feel meaningful while encouraging experimentation. No two runs play the same, and failure is part of the learning process rather than a setback.

The game introduces more than 150 special Gambits, many of which completely change how pieces behave. Pawns can turn into aggressive attackers, bishops can fire beams and certain effects can skip enemy turns or flood the board with bonuses. Some Gambits are hidden in the interface, rewarding curiosity and discovery.

One of Gambonanza’s biggest strengths is how easy it is to approach. Deep knowledge of chess is not required and the developer has made it clear that learning strict openings or endgame theory is not the focus. The heavy rule-bending and fast matches put fun first, allowing anyone to jump in and enjoy wild combinations without feeling lost.

The rapid rise in popularity comes from strong word of mouth rather than marketing tricks. Since its Steam page went live in early 2025, the game has gained attention through short clips, animated images and developer updates shared on social media. It was also highlighted at indie events, helping it reach a wider audience.

Gambonanza arrives at a time when roguelikes are thriving and unique ideas are rewarded. By mixing chess ideas with modern roguelike design, it offers something familiar but new. The strong wishlist count shows that even without a demo, clear vision and clever design can still stand out.