# Gambonanza — user reviews > 200 indexed App Store user reviews of Gambonanza by Stray Fawn Studio, rated 4.90/5 from 2,761 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gambonanza/id6747752407/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gambonanza/id6747752407.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 2,578 · 4★ 109 · 3★ 34 · 2★ 13 · 1★ 27 ## Newest reviews (14 of 200) ### 4/5 — Un seul défaut *2026-08-25* Par pitié ajoutez un mode portrait il manque que ça ### 4/5 — Fun game *2026-08-18, version 1.3.8* It’s fun but it’s trying too hard to be Balatro. The background, music, graphics, everything is so Balatro coded that I thought they were the same developers. I’ll update my review if they update their style but it’s just lazy and annoying. It’s a good game, you don’t have to copy balatro ### 4/5 — Dev read *2026-08-18* Delete my account ### 2/5 — Decepcionado faltando recurso para versão móbile *2026-08-15* A versão móbile não possui o sistema de graveyard, tornado assim as partidas mais difíceis é desbalanceadas em alguns modos de jogo **Developer response:** Muito obrigado por jogar Gambonanza nas duas plataformas! Estamos trabalhando em uma atualização para a versão mobile, que deve ficar disponível nas próximas semanas. Agradecemos pela paciência e pelo apoio! ### 3/5 — 버그가 많음 *2026-08-07* 전반적으로 게임은 재밌지만, 버그가 너무 많음. 보유중이지 않은 갬빗 효과가 적용되거나, 반대로 보유중인데 효과가 발동하지 않는 경우가 너무 자주 발생함. **Developer response:** 플레이해주셔서 감사합니다. 갬빗 활성화 문제에 대한 구체적인 내용을 알려주셔서 감사합니다. gambonanza@ateo.ch로 상황 및 활성화에 대한 더 자세한 내용을 보내주실 수 있을까요? 감사합니다. ### 3/5 — Good *2026-07-12, version 1.2.0* It’s was very enjoyable I loved it reminded me of balatro ### 5/5 — Easily one of the best indie games of 2026 *2026-06-19* Its Balatro but chess, what else do i need to say… ### 5/5 — It’s Balatro but with chess *2026-06-18, version 1.2.0* Now I can gamble with fake money on a game I’m even worse at than poker! ### 5/5 — PEAK *2026-06-14, version 1.2.0* here’s two suggestions. to make the game endless, you should add a custom gambits feature. also please make it so that you can enable both drag and tap to move with pieces. game’s doing good so far, keep it up! ### 5/5 — So unique I love it *2026-06-14, version 1.2.0* A amazing project and game ### 3/5 — It was at most mid tier the gambits are so generic and you can’t get combos like balatro *2026-06-13, version 1.2.0* Don’t buy this if you loved balatro instead I recommend slay the spire ### 2/5 — Great concept, way too buggy *2026-06-12* I was looking for an experience similar to Balatro (I have 600 hours on that game, and this seemed like a cool new take on the roguelite idea). However, it’s obvious how poor quality control was before this game was released. So many bugs that lead to you losing runs even if you did everything right - gambits not working properly, enemy being able to capture pieces it’s not supposed to be able to etc. I was enjoying playing this game so much until I experienced these, such a shame. **Developer response:** Thanks playing Gambonanza. We’re glad you were enjoying it. Gambits failing or enemies making invalid captures should not happen. Please send us details, screenshots, and your device information at gambonanza@ateo.ch so we can investigate these issues. We’re sorry they affected your runs. ### 4/5 — Great game, some ideas however *2026-06-10* I love the game, it’s fun and definitely helps you think outside the box. I can see how someone who is into chess can love this game and I as someone who isn’t that into chess does love it too! My biggest issues are the following however, minor but stand out to me. - No speed multiplier; I think if there was a multiplier it could help with games going quicker especially at work! (Sorry boss) - Pauses outside audio/plays over outside audio; I like to listen to music or podcasts and play games, it’s kind of a bother when these things get paused due to how the game runs - optimization; my phone gets very hot when playing this game, never an issue either other games other than cloverpit which I can pass off as graphically more complex, but I don’t know why that is the case with this game. - the game restarts when out of it for five seconds (exaggeration). I don’t like that if I’m out of the game for a bit too long the app force restarts itself Other than that, solid game but a 4/5 until these are addressed or fixed! ### 5/5 — Good game *2026-06-05, version 1.1.0* Wahoo! ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Refund *2026-07-18, version 1.2.0* Force close every time I open the app a waste of my time and money ### 1/5 — Can’t launch game *2026-07-06, version 1.2.0* Game crashes on initial loading screen with a frozen cloud spinning icon on iPhone 15 ### 1/5 — 비추 *2026-06-30* 발라트로 배낀건 알겠는데 굳이 잘 어울리지도 않는 체스에 섞은 이유를 잘 모르겠음 이도저도 아닌느낌 **Developer response:** 피드백 감사합니다. Gambonanza는 전통적인 체스 게임이라기보다 체스 요소를 결합한 덱빌딩 로그라이트로 설계되었습니다. 핵심은 전략을 계속 조정하며 보스와 다양한 상황에 대응하는 것입니다. 기대하신 경험과 달랐다면 아쉽습니다. ### 1/5 — L’app ne fonctionne plus *2026-06-28* L’app ne fonctionne plus **Developer response:** Bonjour, nous sommes désolés d’apprendre que l’application ne fonctionne pas correctement. Pourriez-vous nous envoyer quelques détails supplémentaires ? Le jeu plante-t-il au lancement, pendant une partie, ou ne démarre-t-il pas du tout ? Quel modèle d’appareil et quelle version d’iOS utilisez-vous ? Cela nous aidera à analyser le problème : dungeonclawler@ateo.ch ### 1/5 — Broken Settings *2026-06-11, version 1.1.0* there’s a setting to switch touch controls from “On Drag” to “On Touch”, so you just have to tap pieces and their destinations to play. This option doesn’t work, which sucks because I can’t drag my finger on my phone very well due to a disability. I can’t play this game even though I bought it because of this bug. I will change my review if it’s fixed ### 1/5 — Great game *2026-06-10* Game is cool but STOP asking me to review the app after every damn run jesus christ. I already paid for the app isn’t it enough? **Developer response:** Thanks for playing Gambonanza and for reporting this issue! Glad you like it. This review behaviour should not normally be possible, and it’s the first time we’ve encountered this bug. Could you please send us more details at gambonanza@ateo.ch? Screenshots, your device model, operating system version, and a brief description of what happened would help us investigate the issue. 🙏 ### 1/5 — Temu Balatro. *2026-05-13, version 1.0.13* This game sucks. The animation is nauseating. Stalemate isn’t even a thing here. No real warning of the boss level coming up. Too much text that is easy to ignore. ### 1/5 — 遊び方が完全にクソだ *2026-05-11* 日本人じゃないから日本語が変になっちゃうかもしれない、でもそのゲーム体験してため、ニックに移動したんだ、そのことをちゃんと伝えたくて まず、この作品のアートスタイルはほんとに良いのは間違いないし、デザインもスムーズなんだけど、ちょっとした表示バックがあるくらいかな。 ローグライクとしてBalatroのシステムを模倣した、ゲーム性は非常に低いです。チェスの枠組みを超えられてないし、ローグライク特用なパフを重なっていく爽快感もない。それにバスの設計もだめだね、ほとんどの効果が確率で発動するのタイプだし、内容も地味をあんまり変わらないんだよね。結局はどっちつらずで途中半端な作品だ。 期待してからこその長文レビューなんだ、アップデで良くなって欲しいけど、正直ここまで来ると大幅な変更が厳しいかな🫥 **Developer response:** レビューを書いていただき、本当にありがとうございます。特に日本語で書いてくださったこと、その労力に感謝しています。(ちなみに、私たちも日本語のネイティブスピーカーではないので、翻訳ツールを使って返信しています。テクノロジーって便利ですね。) いくつかの点について、少しだけ反論させてください。 「ほとんどの効果が確率で発動する」という点ですが、実はそうではありません。確定的に発動するギャンビット(gambit)も多く、シナジーの深さは私たちが特に誇りに思っている部分の一つです。組み合わせ次第で、盤面のすべてのマスを「protect」に変換したり、クイーンを無限に供給したりすることも可能です。 「ローグライク的な強化の積み重ね」については、おっしゃる通り、Balatroのような指数関数的に数値が膨れ上がる爽快感はありません。ただ、これは欠点ではなく意図的な設計です。Balatroから強くインスピレーションを受けているのは事実ですが、1:1のコピーを目指しているわけではありません。シナジーは指数的にではなく、横方向に広がっていく設計になっています。それが必ずしもシナジーの深さを損なうわけではない、と私たちは考えています。ただ違うだけです。Balatroのようなスケーリングを期待してプレイすると、確かに物足りなく感じるかもしれません。これは「期待とのズレ」としては正当な指摘ですが、「深さの欠如」とは少し違うと思います。 貴重なご意見、本当にありがとうございました。いつかまた、この視点で遊んでみていただけたら嬉しいです。 ### 1/5 — Garbage rip off *2026-05-08, version 1.0.13* Rip off of Balatro but no skill at all entirely luck based ### 1/5 — prometteur *2026-05-04* mais au final une IA debile et un jeu beaucoup trop facile. **Developer response:** L'IA prévisible, c'est voulu. Le défi vient de ton build, pas du fait de déjouer l'adversaire. Les difficultés plus élevées se débloquent après le premier boss, et c'est là que ça devient vraiment intéressant. Ça vaut le coup de pousser un peu plus loin! ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Do Harder *2026-09-05* Tag 2 seit ich es spiele, habe gewonnen mit allen Feldern als Schutzfeld😂, ich könnte nicht verlieren. Ich muss gestehen es macht es ein wenig langweiliger dass die Gegner so gut wie immer die gleichen start Positionen einnehmen. **Developer response:** Hi. Ok, alle Felder in Schutzfelder umwandeln ist natürlich praktisch unschlagbar. ;) Mit dem demnächst kommenden Update erscheinen einige neue Features, darunter auch eine verbesserte Gegner KI. Wir sind gespannt, ob Gambonanza damit für dich etwas herausfordernder wird. Danke dir fürs Spielen und für dein Feedback! ### 5/5 — MULTIPLAYER *2026-08-29, version 1.3.8* I love this game because I play chess and love this idea of a new concept and I want multiplayer Please. ### 5/5 — Definitely a Balatro like. *2026-08-24, version 1.3.8* I’m having a great time so far. Fun gameplay, cool bosses and the rules are fairly straightforward. Big Balatro vibes but I’m loving it! ### 5/5 — One of the BEST roguelikes ever *2026-07-31, version 1.3.8* Better than I thought it was going to be, lots of fun. If you like chess or want to make chess fun..l just buy it. What a steal! Worth 3 times the asking price! ### 5/5 — Wonderful Game *2026-07-25, version 1.2.0* I just love Roguelikes like these ### 5/5 — fun game *2026-07-18, version 1.2.0* fun game ### 5/5 — Horsey *2026-07-10, version 1.2.0* I love my horsey and my horsey love me ### 5/5 — Best game ever *2026-07-04, version 1.2.0* It’s super fun for long car rides and long plane flights with 0 adds ### 5/5 — 발라트로 보다 많이 하위호환 *2026-06-25* 발라트로는 네시간이고 다섯시간이고 미친듯이 해도 도전욕구가 생기는데 이 게임은 몇번 실패하다가 유령기물 만드는 타일 기물 기믹 이용만 하다보니까 금방 질리네요. 그래도 서너시간정도 재밌게해서 돈값은 한듯 ### 5/5 — Great Chess-ish Game!!! *2026-06-21* I was really keen on buying this game for ages, but was reluctant due to the price. After committing, I can say this is easily one of my favourite games. I love to just play for a few minutes here and there, and for how stressful it can get, it’s calming in its own retro kinda way:) I’d love to see the ability to tap the piece and then the tile your moving it to as a way to move the piece, instead of physically grabbing and sliding it. Especially as I come from a traditional chess background. Love the game, love the work. Highly recommend to anyone and everyone!!! **Developer response:** Thanks so much for the kind words and for playing. We’re honored that Gambonanza is one of your favorite games. We’ve noted your suggestion about tap-to-select move input and will keep it in mind for future updates. --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-09-13.*