Comparison

Gambonanza vs Cross Arrow

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

Head to head
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

About

Cross Arrow

Features
Read full description

Can you make all arrows point the same way? Tap a cell to rotate its arrow. But every move also rotates the neighboring cells. Simple rules. Endless depth. Cross Arrow is a logic puzzle game built for players who enjoy thinking carefully, planning ahead, and finding elegant solutions to complex problems. How to play Tap any cell to rotate its arrow. Each tap also rotates the cells around it. Your goal is to align all arrows in the same direction. Every move affects the board — so think before you tap. Easy to learn. Difficult to master. The first puzzles teach you the mechanics in seconds. The later ones will challenge your logic, your patience, and your ability to think several moves ahead. Features • Thousands of handcrafted puzzles • Multiple grid sizes: 2x2, 3x3, 4x4 and beyond • Progressive difficulty across worlds • Minimalist design with no distractions • No time pressure — play at your own pace • No internet required Built for puzzle lovers If you enjoy logic puzzles, brain teasers, or strategy games, Cross Arrow will keep your mind engaged for hours. Each puzzle is a small challenge with a satisfying solution. Download Cross Arrow and start solving.

Screenshots

Gambonanza4 screens
Cross Arrow4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Cross Arrow at Free against Gambonanza's $5.99. Gambonanza's advantage is chart position (#7 vs unranked). On update cadence, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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

Cross Arrow is free to download; Gambonanza costs $5.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Gambonanza ships an update every 3 weeks, Cross Arrow every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 9 level
Gambonanza versus Cross Arrow: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterGambonanzaCross Arrow
Price$5.99Free — better
Rating4.9 (2.9K ratings) — better—
Positive reviews77.1% of reviews—
Number of ratings2.9K — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaid—
Best chart rank#7 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.0 — better15.1
Further details — not scored
Size155 MB31 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperStray Fawn StudioDiego Villarroel Zaballos

In-app purchases

None

Gambonanza

No in-app purchases

None

Cross Arrow

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Gambonanza free?
Gambonanza costs $5.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Cross Arrow free?
Cross Arrow is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Gambonanza or Cross Arrow have ads?
Neither Gambonanza nor Cross Arrow shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Gambonanza or Cross Arrow?
Gambonanza ships an update every 3 weeks, and Cross Arrow every 2 weeks. Most recently, Gambonanza was updated on October 30, 2026 and Cross Arrow on October 31, 2026.

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