Sidekick Publishing announced two new games joining its catalog during gamescom 2026, expanding its focus on experiences built around high replayability and strong streaming potential. Cards & Cannons and Monster Mash were available as demos for the public in the Home of Indies area, presenting their concepts to visitors for the first time at an open event.

Nominated for Best Prototype at the German Computer Game Award 2026, Cards & Cannons combines real time tower defense with roguelite deckbuilding elements. The game moves away from the traditional structure based on static positions, allowing players to move cards during matches to shape the environment, build massive fortifications, command eccentric champions, and create combinations capable of taking on waves of enemies.

Luca Schmidt, Co Founder and Managing Director at Flamehead Games, highlighted the strong alignment between the studio and publisher: "We're super excited to bring Cards & Cannons to life with Sidekick. Their fresh, community-first approach is a perfect match for the game and for us as a fellow young studio from Berlin." The developer also emphasized the intention to involve the community throughout development, stating: “We're building a game with a lot of humour and energy, and we can't wait to deliver it with someone who shares our passion for creative and slightly ridiculous ideas. At gamescom, visitors can play the game publicly for the first time and get a first hand experience on what is coming. We want to build our game with the gaming community, so we’re looking forward to meeting everyone and hearing all their feedback!"

The initial reception of Cards & Cannons also caught the attention of Sidekick Publishing itself. Jasmin Oestreicher, Co-CEO and Co Founder of the publisher, explained that the visual style, attention to detail, humor, and distinctive approach to the genre were key factors behind the decision. "When we first played Cards & Cannons, we were instantly hooked. The visual style, attention to detail, the humor and fresh twist on a well-established genre made it one of those games we just didn't want to put down. We’re excited to bring this hands-on experience to a global audience."

Created by Christoph Minnameier, the developer behind Dungeons of Dreadrock, Monster Mash focuses on single screen races that combine the fast paced nature of speedrunners with accessible kart racing mechanics. The experience is designed to keep the action moving with virtually no downtime, allowing players and content creators to jump straight into matches. Test registrations are already available on Steam.

The partnership with Sidekick Publishing also represents an important step in Minnameier's career as a full time developer. The creator of Monster Mash stated: "Taking the leap into full-time game development was daunting, so finding a publisher was a huge relief. Sidekick is a partner on equal footing who aligns with my values and offers strategic guidance where I need it most. Together, we can elevate Monster Mash to a whole new level."

The project's concept was also highlighted by Oestreicher, who pointed to the combination of speed and kart racing mechanics as one of the factors that immediately attracted the publisher's attention. "Christoph’s vision of combining speedrunner-style pacing with a kart racer caught our attention immediately. Collaborating with him from those early stages has brought an incredible mix of creative energy and results-driven focus. Our workflow aligned naturally as we tested and fine-tuned the game together through behind-closed-doors playtests and internal sessions, focused on enhancing its overall potential for creators and fun for players alike. We are thrilled to see Monster Mash in the hands of players for the first time at gamescom 2026 and are keen to hear their feedback as we continue to work towards our first public playtest later this year!"