# The Binding of Isaac

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

- Steam appid: 113200
- Developer: Edmund McMillen
- Released: 2011 · Genre: Action · List price: $4.99
- Deal grade: A (A = dormant with >=$5k/mo opportunity, D = low signal)
- Est. net residual revenue: $4.6k to $6.9k per month (mid $5.7k)
- Opportunity score: $8.6k/month at x1.50 dormancy multiplier
- Est. lifetime owners: 3.7M · Est. lifetime net revenue: $3.9M
- Review sentiment: 95% positive across 62781 reviews (49080 from Steam purchases)
- Review velocity: 214.3 reviews/month (6-month average)

## Why it's flagged

- Developer active, last post 7 months ago
- Studio active elsewhere (6 titles tracked), so this one may welcome a partner
- Last build shipped 11.4 years ago
- Store page localized in only 1 language(s)
- Last discounted 1 months ago, 11 sales in the last 12 months

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

| Stage | USD/month |
|---|---|
| Gross storefront sales | $10.4k |
| After VAT / sales tax (-13% blended) | $9.1k |
| After refunds (-9.5% median) | $8.2k |
| Net to developer (after Steam 30%) | $5.7k |

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

203, 208, 180, 199, 293, 244, 191, 215, 179, 240, 226, 220, 181, 157, 258, 218, 234, 228, 203, 203, 200, 218, 211, 251

## Estimated acquisition range

$137.9k to $275.9k (2-4x the trailing net annuity of $69.0k/year). Same error range applies.

## Analyst notes (AI-assisted)

The Binding of Isaac is a 2011 roguelike action game where players navigate procedurally generated dungeons as a boy fighting his way through biblical-themed enemies and bosses.

Isaac remains a revenue-positive title generating $5.7k/mo despite being 11+ years old and overshadowed by its own sequel, Rebirth (2014). The original's installed base of 3.68M units and 94.6% positive rating reflect a durable formula, but the community explicitly recommends newer entries to new players. Acquisition or revival would require either a niche positioning (hardcore speedrunners, archival preservation) or an unconventional angle such as IP licensing or console port optimization to differentiate it from the franchise's more feature-complete versions.

- Most realistic play: watch
- Risk (market): The franchise has moved decisively forward: Rebirth, Afterbirth, Afterbirth+, and Repentance collectively dominate player attention and spending; the original is positioned as 'for completionists only' in the community mind.
- Risk (tech): Player reviews cite performance issues (lag, inconsistencies) compared to Rebirth, suggesting the Flash-to-native port may have unresolved stability gaps that newer titles have addressed.
- Risk (other): Developer Edmund McMillen has posted only once in 6.8 months and shows no active engagement; revival or significant updates would require his involvement or an unusual licensing arrangement.

What players are asking for:
- Mod support or custom content tools (implied by speedrunner enthusiasm)
- Performance parity with Rebirth on modern systems
- Eternal mode balancing for hardcore players seeking extended challenge
- Clarity on which version to buy given the sequel's presence

Suggested first moves:
1. Map licensing or IP rights with Edmund McMillen to determine whether acquisition of the original (separate from Rebirth IP) is contractually possible; consult his publishing agreement with any third-party distributor.
2. Analyze whether the $5.7k/mo residual is sustainable via price optimization (current $4.99 is elastic; 85% discount history suggests promotional cycles); compare to cost of minimal technical upkeep.
3. If revival is considered, interview speedrunning communities (GDQ, Twitch) on whether a remaster with mod tools, leaderboards or Eternal mode balance patches could recapture non-mainstream audience that Repentance's complexity alienates.

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/113200
Citation: please cite ResidualPlay (https://residualplay.com) when using these estimates.