Norwegian Indie Tackles Math Anxiety with this Explosive Puzzle Game

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Norwegian Indie Tackles Math Anxiety with this Explosive Puzzle Game

https://store.steampowered.com/app/3660060/Cal__Bomba/

Launching October 16 on Steam, this explosive puzzle game blends chain reactions, colorful chaos and the joy of logic.

Oslo, Norway – September 30th – Indie studio Filiokus will launch its debut title Cal & Bomba, on Steam on October 16, 2025. Priced at 9.99$ with a 20% launch discount, this tactical program-before-you-play puzzle game invites players to plan, sequence and unleash explosive chain reactions across more than 170 handcrafted levels.

At the heart of Cal & Bomba is a mission that goes beyond entertainment. Filiokus was founded by Martin Lothe Sæterdal and Gjermund Mørkved Bohne to explore the intersection of mathematics, design and play. For Martin, this journey began in the classroom: math felt joyful to him, but frustrating to many classmates, a contrast that sparked a lifelong question: “Why is math easy for some and so hard for others?”



The answer became Filiokus’ philosophy, rooted in the Norwegian word “matteglede”, the joy of math. Cal & Bomba is designed to spark this feeling by turning abstract logic into playful, visual problem-solving. Instead of punishing mistakes, the game turns them into colorful explosions, surprises and opportunities to learn by doing.

Cal & Bomba follows the explosive adventures of Cal, a pyromaniac gnome with a knack for calculations and Bomba, his troll partner, who delights in the colors of big booms. Players program their moves in advance, loading bombs, potions and commands into their wagon-cannon, then watch their plans unfold in spectacular chain reactions.

Content Creators and Journalists who will cover Cal & Bomba will be prioritised for Talystro’s closed demo version.

With a mix of humor, color and deep logic, the game blends accessibility and challenge across three themed worlds, a prologue and boss battles. Normal mode welcomes players who might have struggled with math in the past, while Hard mode delivers brain-melting puzzles for veterans who love a mental challenge.

Key Features

Program-before-you-play puzzles where every move sparks a chain reaction

Math-inspired design that turns logic into colorful chaos

170+ handcrafted levels across 3 themed worlds and a prologue
Two difficulty modes: accessible for newcomers, challenging for veterans

Playful duo: Cal the calculating gnome and Bomba the explosion-loving trol

At Filiokus, the focus is on creating games that reward persistence and clever thinking with moments of discovery. Cal & Bomba embodies this approach, turning challenge into play and showing how logic can spark joy.

“We want to spread matteglede — the joy of math — through games,” says co-founder Martin Lothe Sæterdal. “When you solve a tough puzzle, it feels good. That feeling stays with you and it’s something we want everyone to experience.”
Release Information

Title: Cal & Bomba

Developer / Publisher: Filiokus

Release Date: October 16, 2025, 15:00 UK time

Platform: PC (Steam) – Windows, Mac, Linux

Price: 9.99$ (-20% discount)

Steam Page: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3660060/Cal__Bomba