Wanderburg and Gambonanza Celebrate Steam Next Fest Milestone Success
Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2026 12:49 pm
Sidekick Publishing Celebrates Double Steam Next Fest Success with Wanderburg and Gambonanza Wishlist Milestones
BERLIN, Germany – March 3, 2026 – Following an exciting week of Steam Next Fest activity and massive player engagement, Sidekick Publishing is thrilled to announce that two of its most anticipated titles, Wanderburg and Gambonanza, set new wishlist and player count milestones. Both games received an overwhelming consensus of "Very Positive" player feedback, cementing their status as breakout indie hits for your radar.
Wanderburg: The "Castle-on-Wheels" Sensation
Developed by Randwerk, an indie game studio based in Berlin operating under the German cooperative company model (and first to do so), Wanderburg solidified itself as a top ranked game during the festival. The minimalist open-world roguelike, inspired by Mortal Engines, saw explosive player growth:
Wishlist Surge: Total Steam wishlists now stand at over 380,000
Player Count Milestone: Over 190,000 unique players tried the demo during the Steam Next Fest
#7 Top 50 Most Played: Wanderburg consistently ranked among the Top 10 most played demos, landing at #7 in the top 50 at close of festival
Community Acclaim: The demo currently holds a 89% “Very Positive” rating with over 600 user reviews
In response to this momentum, Sidekick and Randwerk will keep the demo live for everyone to enjoy. Recent updates just before the weekend also introduced a brand-new unlockable captain: Dieter the Drunk.
The roguelike chess-builder from solo developer Paul Giovannini (Blukulélé) also hit major milestones during its Steam Next Fest debut:
Wishlist Milestone: The game accumulated ~42,000 new wishlists during the fest, bringing its total to over 135,000
Player Engagement: 74,000 players tried the demo, resulting in a 91% “Very Positive” rating from 380 reviews
#24 Top 50 Most Played: Gambonanza closed its festival ranking at #24 in the top 50 most-played demos
Official Launch Date: During the IGN Showcase last week, it was revealed that Gambonanza 1.0 will launch on May 1st, 2026
Platforms: The game will launch simultaneously on Steam, iOS, and Google Play
Premium Mobile Experience: The mobile version will be a price-premium title with no in-game purchases or ads
Wanderburg: note for Press and Creators, there will be exclusive hands-on sessions through March and April, with news on the official release date coming soon. Demo keys available on request.
About Sidekick
Sidekick Publishing is an indie game publisher from Germany, born out of creative agency INSTINCT3. Drawing on deep roots in gaming culture, community building, and influencer marketing, Sidekick blends traditional publishing expertise with a creator- & community-first approach.
The team focuses on bringing unique indie titles to market with tailored strategies that integrate community engagement, influencer collaborations, and bold creative campaigns from day one. In its first year, Sidekick has already delivered multiple successful launches and continues to expand its portfolio with a commitment to both creative excellence and creator & community-first approach. Sidekick’s publishing portfolio includes: Deadly Days: Roadtrip, Dwarves: Glory, Death and Loot, Gambonanza, 9 Kings, Megaloot, Die in the Dungeon, Terrascape, Asgard's Fall and Wanderburg.
BERLIN, Germany – March 3, 2026 – Following an exciting week of Steam Next Fest activity and massive player engagement, Sidekick Publishing is thrilled to announce that two of its most anticipated titles, Wanderburg and Gambonanza, set new wishlist and player count milestones. Both games received an overwhelming consensus of "Very Positive" player feedback, cementing their status as breakout indie hits for your radar.
Wanderburg: The "Castle-on-Wheels" Sensation
Developed by Randwerk, an indie game studio based in Berlin operating under the German cooperative company model (and first to do so), Wanderburg solidified itself as a top ranked game during the festival. The minimalist open-world roguelike, inspired by Mortal Engines, saw explosive player growth:
Wishlist Surge: Total Steam wishlists now stand at over 380,000
Player Count Milestone: Over 190,000 unique players tried the demo during the Steam Next Fest
#7 Top 50 Most Played: Wanderburg consistently ranked among the Top 10 most played demos, landing at #7 in the top 50 at close of festival
Community Acclaim: The demo currently holds a 89% “Very Positive” rating with over 600 user reviews
In response to this momentum, Sidekick and Randwerk will keep the demo live for everyone to enjoy. Recent updates just before the weekend also introduced a brand-new unlockable captain: Dieter the Drunk.
The roguelike chess-builder from solo developer Paul Giovannini (Blukulélé) also hit major milestones during its Steam Next Fest debut:
Wishlist Milestone: The game accumulated ~42,000 new wishlists during the fest, bringing its total to over 135,000
Player Engagement: 74,000 players tried the demo, resulting in a 91% “Very Positive” rating from 380 reviews
#24 Top 50 Most Played: Gambonanza closed its festival ranking at #24 in the top 50 most-played demos
Official Launch Date: During the IGN Showcase last week, it was revealed that Gambonanza 1.0 will launch on May 1st, 2026
Platforms: The game will launch simultaneously on Steam, iOS, and Google Play
Premium Mobile Experience: The mobile version will be a price-premium title with no in-game purchases or ads
Wanderburg: note for Press and Creators, there will be exclusive hands-on sessions through March and April, with news on the official release date coming soon. Demo keys available on request.
About Sidekick
Sidekick Publishing is an indie game publisher from Germany, born out of creative agency INSTINCT3. Drawing on deep roots in gaming culture, community building, and influencer marketing, Sidekick blends traditional publishing expertise with a creator- & community-first approach.
The team focuses on bringing unique indie titles to market with tailored strategies that integrate community engagement, influencer collaborations, and bold creative campaigns from day one. In its first year, Sidekick has already delivered multiple successful launches and continues to expand its portfolio with a commitment to both creative excellence and creator & community-first approach. Sidekick’s publishing portfolio includes: Deadly Days: Roadtrip, Dwarves: Glory, Death and Loot, Gambonanza, 9 Kings, Megaloot, Die in the Dungeon, Terrascape, Asgard's Fall and Wanderburg.