# Minute of Islands

> ResidualPlay case file: an overlooked Steam game still earning residual revenue. Estimates carry a ±30-50% error range per title.

- Steam appid: 1049710
- Developer: Studio Fizbin
- Publisher: Assemble Entertainment
- Released: 2021 · Genre: Adventure · List price: $19.99
- Deal grade: B (A = dormant with >=$5k/mo opportunity, D = low signal)
- Est. net residual revenue: $781 to $1.2k per month (mid $976)
- Opportunity score: $2.0k/month at x2.10 dormancy multiplier
- Est. lifetime owners: 22.6k · Est. lifetime net revenue: $112.8k
- Review sentiment: 77% positive across 998 reviews (707 from Steam purchases)
- Review velocity: 7.8 reviews/month (6-month average)

## Why it's flagged

- Developer silent for 2.2 years
- Studio active elsewhere (5 titles tracked), so this one may welcome a partner
- Last build shipped 5.1 years ago
- Last discounted 1 months ago, 9 sales in the last 12 months

## Where a gross dollar goes (monthly, at current velocity)

| Stage | USD/month |
|---|---|
| Gross storefront sales | $1.8k |
| After VAT / sales tax (-13% blended) | $1.5k |
| After refunds (-9.5% median) | $1.4k |
| Net to developer (after Steam 30%) | $976 |

## Monthly review counts, oldest to newest (24 months)

6, 9, 6, 8, 9, 3, 8, 8, 4, 9, 9, 12, 8, 6, 4, 5, 4, 14, 5, 7, 8, 6, 9, 12

## Estimated acquisition range

$23.4k to $46.9k (2-4x the trailing net annuity of $11.7k/year). Same error range applies.

## Analyst notes (AI-assisted)

Minute of Islands is a hand-drawn narrative adventure about restoring islands using bio-technology, built around exploration and environmental storytelling.

A modest 2021 indie with strong artistic direction (77% positive, 998 reviews) earning ~$976/mo residually across a small but engaged audience. The core tension between beautiful presentation and slow, unskippable pacing has trapped the title in a niche despite mainstream distribution potential. For publishers seeking quiet catalog plays in the adventure segment, this represents profitable floor with modest revival upside if pacing and chapter-select pain points are addressed.

- Most realistic play: publishing
- Risk (market): Narrative-adventure fatigue and slow-burn gameplay may not expand beyond current 22k-unit ceiling without significant design revision.
- Risk (tech): Hand-drawn assets are non-trivial to modify or expand; any remaster or expanded content would require returning Studio Fizbin to active development.
- Risk (other): Developer silent for 26 months suggests either low prioritization or bandwidth constraints, raising questions about post-acquisition support.

What players are asking for:
- Chapter select and replayability options to revisit locations without full restart
- Skippable or faster-paced cutscenes and camera pans
- Improved jump mechanics and tighter platforming feel
- Quality-of-life: faster character walk speed, dockable boat sequences

Suggested first moves:
1. Audit Studio Fizbin's current capacity and willingness to patch core UX pain points (chapter select, scene skips, walk speed) on a 4-6 week sprint; cost/benefit will determine viability.
2. Model a modest regional marketing push in underperforming territories (APAC, Eastern Europe) where 29% key share and 7.8 reviews/mo suggest untapped audience; test with a 20-30% seasonal discount.
3. Explore licensing the soundtrack and art separately while holding the game; music has strong community signal and may fund a remaster or companion title.

Generated 2026-08-20 from public signals and player reviews. Directional, not diligence.

## Methodology

Units are estimated from Steam-purchase reviews times a release-cohort multiplier (Boxleiter method, 20-75x by year). Revenue uses an effective price (lifetime discounts and regional pricing) and nets out VAT (~13%), refunds (~9.5%) and Steam's 30% cut: roughly 55% of gross reaches the developer.

Source: https://residualplay.com/game/1049710
Citation: please cite ResidualPlay (https://residualplay.com) when using these estimates.