# The Citadel

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

- Steam appid: 1378290
- Developer: doekuramori
- Released: 2020 · Genre: Action · List price: $14.99
- Deal grade: A (A = dormant with >=$5k/mo opportunity, D = low signal)
- Est. net residual revenue: $3.9k to $5.9k per month (mid $4.9k)
- Opportunity score: $10.3k/month at x2.10 dormancy multiplier
- Est. lifetime owners: 77.1k · Est. lifetime net revenue: $248.4k
- Review sentiment: 93% positive across 3068 reviews (2570 from Steam purchases)
- Review velocity: 61.2 reviews/month (6-month average)

## Why it's flagged

- Developer silent for 4.6 years
- Studio quiet across its whole catalog
- Last build shipped 4.6 years ago
- Store page localized in only 1 language(s)
- Last discounted 0 months ago, 7 sales in the last 12 months
- Proven demand elasticity: x1.6 review velocity during past deep sales

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

| Stage | USD/month |
|---|---|
| Gross storefront sales | $8.9k |
| After VAT / sales tax (-13% blended) | $7.8k |
| After refunds (-9.5% median) | $7.0k |
| Net to developer (after Steam 30%) | $4.9k |

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

16, 15, 10, 9, 50, 179, 55, 90, 38, 143, 63, 90, 55, 35, 47, 46, 113, 110, 26, 72, 68, 59, 59, 83

## Estimated acquisition range

$118.2k to $236.5k (2-4x the trailing net annuity of $59.1k/year). Same error range applies.

## Analyst notes (AI-assisted)

A 2020 indie boomer shooter that pairs tactical gunplay with surreal anime-gore aesthetics, still earning ~$4.9k/mo residually.

The Citadel sits in a quiet pocket of the boomer shooter revival with one of the strongest gun-feel implementations on Steam (per player consensus) and a 93% positive rating, yet has seen zero developer engagement in 54+ months and only 7 sales in the past year. The $248k lifetime net and $4.9k/mo residual suggest durable, low-maintenance catalog value for a publisher focused on cult indie or tactical-action IP; the real opportunity lies in whether doekuramori (now apparently inactive) retains sequel rights or if a revival/remaster targeting Steam Deck stability and graphical polish could unlock the "overlooked gem" segment.

- Most realistic play: acquisition
- Risk (tech): Multiple player reports of crashes on level transitions and consistent Steam Deck menu-input issues suggest underlying engine or input-handling debt that would require dev support or rebuild.
- Risk (market): Boomer shooter saturation has intensified since 2020 (Ultrakill, Dusk, Boltgun); the sequel Beyond Citadel exists and is reportedly "leagues better," fragmenting player attention.
- Risk (other): Studio status marked "ghost" with zero posts in 54+ months and only one title on record; IP ownership chain and source-code custody are unclear.

What players are asking for:
- Steam Deck compatibility fix (menu cursor selection, controller input mapping)
- Expanded graphical variety (players note repetitive color palette and textures)
- Level-design clarity improvements and mini-map quality

Suggested first moves:
1. Confirm IP ownership, source-code access, and whether doekuramori retains rights or has transferred them; contact last known studio contact or IGDB/crunchyroll-hq leads if any.
2. Audit engine crash logs and Steam Deck telemetry to assess fix scope; a 2-3 week stabilization patch could unlock passive sales uplift given current elasticity (1.57) and the 50% discount window showing velocity spikes.
3. Evaluate Beyond Citadel's IP and sales profile; if doekuramori owns both, a "complete edition" bundle or coordinated catalogue push could arrest the sequel cannibalization and justify a modest revival marketing spend targeting tactical-FPS audiences.

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/1378290
Citation: please cite ResidualPlay (https://residualplay.com) when using these estimates.