Comparison

Block Chess vs Gambonanza

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Block Chess

Features
Read full description

Block Chess is a chess-like board game. It has a 8x8 board and each side has five different types of four-block pieces. The player is to place one piece on the board without side-by-side connecting his own pieces. The player who places the final piece wins the game!

About

Gambonanza

Experience a unique turn-based chess roguelike with a twist. Master tactical combos, invest winnings, and discover rule-bending abilities on a dynamic board. Face challenging bosses and explore endless strategic possibilities.

Highlights
  • Snackable, high-impact runs
  • 150+ rule-bending Gambits
  • Dynamic reserve system
  • Strategic board upgrades
  • Epic boss battles
  • Retro aesthetic and quirky ambiance
  • Mini-games for power boosts
Features
Read full description

Gambonanza is a turn-based chess roguelike set on a tiny board with huge stakes. Master tactical twists, invest your winnings, and discover rule-bending Gambits plus wild tile and piece combinations. Face off against challenging bosses and get lost in all the ways you can break traditional chess! But be careful, if you waste too many moves the board will crumble around you… FEATURES • Snackable, high-impact runs Play fast, punchy chess battles on smaller starting boards where every decision counts. • 150+ rule-bending Gambits Combine your chess pieces with Gambits to unlock devastating combos and strategic surprises. • Dynamic reserve system Store extra pieces off-board and deploy them at the perfect moment to swing the game. • Strategic board upgrades Enhance your chessboard with golden squares, blessing tiles, protective surfaces, and more! • Fight epic boss battles Take on big encounters that reward smart builds and punish strategic mistakes. • Retro aesthetic and quirky ambiance Immerse yourself in vibrant pixel art and the playful excitement of a fairground. • Mini-games for power boosts Test your luck and skill in challenges inspired by pachinko, slot machines, and Gachapon. WHY PLAY GAMBONANZA? Gambonanza takes the tactical clarity of chess and turns it into a roguelike playground: stack Gambits, sculpt the board, manage your reserves, and discover ridiculous combos that “shouldn’t work”… until they do. If you love smart strategy, replayable runs, and the thrill of breaking the rules (legally), this one’s for you. JOIN THE CHESS REVOLUTION! Download Gambonanza and start rewriting chess. ABOUT THE TEAM Gambonanza is developed by Blukulélé and published by Sidekick Publishing and Stray Fawn Publishing. Mobile Port by Ateo

Screenshots

Block Chess4 screens
Gambonanza4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Gambonanza at every 3 weeks against Block Chess's every 15 months. Gambonanza also leads on chart position (#6 vs unranked). Block Chess's advantage is price ($0.99 vs $5.99). On ads, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Block Chess costs $0.99 and Gambonanza $5.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Block Chess ships an update every 15 months, Gambonanza every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 19, 2026 and October 22, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 8 level
Block Chess versus Gambonanza: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBlock ChessGambonanza
Price$0.99 — better$5.99
Rating—4.9 (2.9K ratings) — better
Positive reviews—76.7% of reviews
Number of ratings—2.9K — better
Update frequencyEvery 15 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
Monetization—Paid
Best chart rank—#6 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.015.0
Further details — not scored
Size32 MB169 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperShen ZhongyuanStray Fawn Studio

In-app purchases

None

Block Chess

No in-app purchases

None

Gambonanza

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Block Chess free?
Block Chess costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Gambonanza free?
Gambonanza costs $5.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do Block Chess or Gambonanza have ads?
Neither Block Chess nor Gambonanza shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Block Chess or Gambonanza?
Block Chess ships an update every 15 months, and Gambonanza every 3 weeks. Most recently, Block Chess was updated on October 19, 2026 and Gambonanza on October 22, 2026.

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