Block Chess vs Gambonanza
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Block Chess
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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!
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.
- 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
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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
Verdict
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
Block Chess costs $0.99 and Gambonanza $5.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
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.
| Parameter | Block Chess | Gambonanza |
|---|---|---|
| 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 frequency | Every 15 months | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | — | Paid |
| Best chart rank | — | #6 — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 32 MB | 169 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Shen Zhongyuan | Stray Fawn Studio |
In-app purchases
Block Chess
No in-app purchases
Gambonanza
No in-app purchases









