Gambonanza Interview – Grandmaster Blukulélé Talks Inspiration, Community & More

Featuring a tiny board with big stakes, Blukulélé‘s turn-based chess roguelike Gambonanza recently launched on Steam to great success – over 70,000 copies sold in five days!

From inspiration to community, we recently talked with Gambonanza Grandmaster Blukulélé about this Roguelike-Chess match made in heaven…

Gambonanza Interview – Grandmaster Blukulélé Talks Inspiration, Community & More

Gamers Heroes

I love the turn-based chess roguelike concept of Gambonanza!

What were some of the inspirations behind this project?

Blukulélé

Thank you so much, really glad you like it!

Gambonanza actually started from The Queen’s Gambit. I got completely hooked by the show, so I jumped into Chess.com… and got destroyed.

First game, crushed. Second game, crushed. Third game… same story 😅

And I remember thinking: how can this game feel so cool in the show, but so frustrating when I play it?

That frustration is what sparked everything. I wanted to make my version of chess, one where you can actually feel that excitement and power, even if you’re not good at the game.

At the same time, I was playing a ton of Balatro, and it really clicked something in my head as a dev.

Taking a well-known game and twisting it into something chaotic and modern… I loved that idea.

So Gambonanza is basically that mix: my frustration with chess + the madness of Balatro.

A chaotic, fast-paced and accessible version of chess where you break the rules, bend them, and create your own way to win.

Gamers Heroes

I saw that Gambonanza was shortlisted at SXSW Sydney 2025 – congratulations!

What were some of your favorite experiences around the event?

Blukulélé

It honestly felt completely surreal, I still can’t really believe it happened!

One of my favorite memories from the event is a small anecdote: the game was available on a single PC, like many other games there. But at some point, one of the organizers messaged me saying that Gambonanza was so popular they actually brought their own personal laptop just so more people could play it.

That was incredible to hear!

It was also the very first time people got their hands on the game, so I was extremely nervous.

Seeing players fully engaged, reacting, having fun, it meant so much to me!

At the same time, it definitely put some pressure on my shoulders, because I really wanted to live up to their expectations!

Gamers Heroes

When it came to the Gambonanza playtests leading up to launch, what was the best piece of feedback you received?

Blukulélé

Honestly, the biggest thing I learned is how passionate and dedicated the community can be!

At the beginning, I was actually a bit scared. Showing a game like this while it’s still unfinished is pretty intimidating… especially a chaotic one like Gambonanza where things can go in so many unexpected directions.

But they helped me find so many bugs!!

There are thousands of possible interactions and synergies, and as a solo dev, it’s just impossible to test everything. They were there, constantly breaking the game in ways I never could, reporting issues, pointing out small frustrations, helping me polish every corner of it.

The game wouldn’t be what it is today without them, not even close. And now, it’s become part of how I make games.

I need that feedback loop.

I still have a clear vision of where I want to go, but I rely on the community to help shape it and make it understandable and enjoyable.

Working like this is honestly such a great feeling!

Gamers Heroes

I also saw that there are official Twitter/X, Bluesky, and Discord channels, along with an upcoming Twitch extension!

What are some of your favorite community stories around Gambonanza?

Blukulélé

Yeah, there’s a lot going on right now! 

Honestly, my favorite moments are when a player jumps into the Discord and shares a completely insane combo they discovered, something I never even thought about.

That’s just magical to me. Being surprised by your own game… especially as the creator, it’s such a special feeling.

It really makes Gambonanza feel alive. I don’t see it as something fixed, I see it as something organic, almost like it has a life of its own, constantly surprising me.

There’s one story I really love, even if it’s a bit tricky to explain.

There’s a boss in the game that hides your pieces, you can’t tell which one is which. And there’s also a Gambit that gives you the piece you have the most of in your stock, and it shows the icon of that piece.

So one player came up with this clever workaround: they emptied their stock, then placed their pieces one by one, using the Gambit to reveal the icon each time… basically figuring out all their pieces despite the boss’s power.

I could have patched it out, but honestly, it was too smart. The player outplayed me there 😄

That interaction deserved to exist. It’s clever, it’s creative, and it’s exactly the kind of thing I love.

And things like this are happening all the time right now, especially since release.

Players keep sharing their runs, their discoveries, their crazy ideas… I absolutely love it.

(The player is placing its pieces one by one in its stock on the left and check the Gambit icon on the right to figure out which piece is which against M3CH4GNUS C4RL5EN)

One can get Gambonanza via its official Steam page, along with the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store.

For those feeling social, be sure to follow the official Twitter/X and Bluesky social media channels.

An official Discord channel is also available for those looking to join the conversation.

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