Gambonanza mixes chess-inspired tactics with roguelike deckbuilding, wearing its Balatro influences on its sleeve while trying to do enough different things to stand apart. The result can be electrifying when mechanics and randomness line up, but it doesn't always land with the same consistency.

  • Clear lineage: the game leans on the same chess-as-combat concept popularised by recent hits, but adds its own card-driven systems to change how encounters play out.
  • Tactical payoff: when decks, board positions and RNG sync, matches create satisfying strategic moments that feel greater than the sum of their parts.
  • Roguelike loop: progression and replayability come from repeated runs and deck tweaks, offering meaningful choices between attempts.
  • Rough edges: the experience can be uneven — parts of the design occasionally struggle to cohere, leading to frustrating swings in quality between sessions.
  • Worth a look: fans of experimental hybrids and players curious about where chess-deckbuilding can go will find interesting ideas here, even if everything isn’t perfectly polished yet.

Source: Rock Paper Shotgun

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