# Botany Manor

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

- Steam appid: 1425350
- Developer: Balloon Studios
- Publisher: Whitethorn Games
- Released: 2024 · Genre: Adventure · List price: $24.99
- Deal grade: A (A = dormant with >=$5k/mo opportunity, D = low signal)
- Est. net residual revenue: $4.2k to $6.3k per month (mid $5.2k)
- Opportunity score: $8.6k/month at x1.65 dormancy multiplier
- Est. lifetime owners: 32.5k · Est. lifetime net revenue: $237.5k
- Review sentiment: 95% positive across 1542 reviews (1016 from Steam purchases)
- Review velocity: 28.7 reviews/month (6-month average)

## Why it's flagged

- Developer silent for 23 months
- Studio quiet across its whole catalog
- Last build shipped 28 months ago
- Last discounted 0 months ago, 9 sales in the last 12 months
- Proven demand elasticity: x1.5 review velocity during past deep sales

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

| Stage | USD/month |
|---|---|
| Gross storefront sales | $9.5k |
| After VAT / sales tax (-13% blended) | $8.3k |
| After refunds (-9.5% median) | $7.5k |
| Net to developer (after Steam 30%) | $5.2k |

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

10, 33, 29, 16, 20, 22, 18, 29, 35, 10, 31, 39, 33, 13, 12, 11, 39, 26, 47, 23, 26, 27, 23, 26

## Estimated acquisition range

$125.7k to $251.3k (2-4x the trailing net annuity of $62.8k/year). Same error range applies.

## Analyst notes (AI-assisted)

A cozy, single-player puzzle-exploration game where players decipher plant-growing conditions by collecting environmental clues in a Victorian manor.

Botany Manor is a quiet performer with genuine quality signals: 95% positive reviews, strong ecosystem presence (multiplatform, tracked by IsThereAnyDeal), and a niche but engaged community. At $237.5k lifetime revenue from 32k units in 28 months, it's earning $5.2k/mo residually. The title is held back by consistent complaints about length-to-price ratio and minor UX friction (journal access, inventory limits). For a mid-market publisher or studio seeking a proven catalogue asset with expansion potential, this represents low-risk IP in a resilient cozy-games category.

- Most realistic play: acquisition
- Risk (market): Cozy puzzle-adventure segment is crowded; player acquisition cost likely high relative to $24.99 price unless bundled or repositioned.
- Risk (other): Developer (Balloon Studios) shows fading studio status with only one title; succession or post-acquisition support dependency unclear.
- Risk (other): Content-length criticism is structural, not fixable by post-launch patches; DLC expansion or sequel would be required to address core complaint.

What players are asking for:
- Longer gameplay or more plants to grow (mentioned in 6+ reviews)
- Journal/clue reference system accessible without backtracking
- Ability to hold more than one inventory item at a time
- Sequel or DLC with expanded content

Suggested first moves:
1. Audit Balloon Studios' IP rights and publishing contract (Whitethorn Games) to confirm acquisition feasibility; confirm any sequel/spin-off agreements.
2. Model a winter-holiday bundle repositioning at $12.99-14.99 or a 'Cozy Season Pass' spanning this + 2-3 similar titles; test elasticity at 1.46 with aggressive discounting.
3. Commission rapid audit of low-friction UX wins (clue journal QoL, inventory system) as post-acquisition patch to lift Steam rating from 95% to 97%+ and reduce refund friction at full price.

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/1425350
Citation: please cite ResidualPlay (https://residualplay.com) when using these estimates.