# From The Darkness

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

- Steam appid: 1517340
- Developer: N4bA
- Released: 2021 · Genre: Adventure · List price: $6.99
- Deal grade: B (A = dormant with >=$5k/mo opportunity, D = low signal)
- Est. net residual revenue: $912 to $1.4k per month (mid $1.1k)
- Opportunity score: $2.4k/month at x2.10 dormancy multiplier
- Est. lifetime owners: 97.0k · Est. lifetime net revenue: $169.0k
- Review sentiment: 89% positive across 3525 reviews (3030 from Steam purchases)
- Review velocity: 26.2 reviews/month (6-month average)

## Why it's flagged

- No developer announcement on record, ever
- Studio active elsewhere (6 titles tracked), so this one may welcome a partner
- Last build shipped 5.5 years ago
- Store page localized in only 2 language(s)

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

| Stage | USD/month |
|---|---|
| Gross storefront sales | $2.1k |
| After VAT / sales tax (-13% blended) | $1.8k |
| After refunds (-9.5% median) | $1.6k |
| Net to developer (after Steam 30%) | $1.1k |

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

37, 29, 29, 34, 32, 37, 28, 39, 29, 30, 30, 41, 28, 17, 33, 24, 25, 30, 26, 27, 20, 24, 25, 35

## Estimated acquisition range

$27.4k to $54.7k (2-4x the trailing net annuity of $13.7k/year). Same error range applies.

## Analyst notes (AI-assisted)

A short-form horror adventure focused on atmospheric tension and puzzle-solving in a claustrophobic apartment setting.

From The Darkness has held steady residual revenue of $1,140/mo over 65 months on a $6.99 price point, accumulating $169K lifetime from ~97K units, with an 89% positive rating and consistent monthly review volume (26/mo). The title demonstrates durable appeal for indie horror audiences and suggests N4bA has developed reliable design discipline: the community praises atmosphere and pacing discipline ("no needless jumpscares"), but consistently notes the 1-2 hour runtime and puzzle clarity issues limit replay and word-of-mouth. This is a watch or light acquisition play if you are building indie horror catalog depth or seeking low-risk publishing for N4bA's third title; it is not a revival candidate without substantial creative intervention.

- Most realistic play: watch
- Risk (market): Extreme brevity (1-2 hours) caps engagement and organic marketing potential; players report satisfaction but not compulsion to replay or evangelize.
- Risk (tech): No discount history and zero sales in past 12 months suggest the title has plateaued; residual revenue may reflect terminal decay rather than stable audience.
- Risk (other): Puzzle design clarity issues mentioned in reviews; a second acquisition or publishing deal would require UX audit and likely light revision before wider promotion.

What players are asking for:
- Clearer objective signposting and door/navigation guidance mid-game
- More substantial ending or narrative payoff (several players felt the finale was anticlimactic)
- Expanded playtime or optional harder mode to increase replayability

Suggested first moves:
1. Audit N4bA's three-title catalog and studio trajectory; residual revenue, review velocity, and positive ratio suggest reliable indie developer worth monitoring for future publishing partnership.
2. If acquisition is considered, request telemetry on player retention and heatmaps of puzzle friction points; a lightweight update addressing navigation clarity could refresh visibility and sales without major resource outlay.
3. Model the impact of a small content bundle (e.g., From The Darkness + Trapped + third title) at a discounted tier to test whether multi-game bundle lifts LTV and review velocity in dormant catalog.

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/1517340
Citation: please cite ResidualPlay (https://residualplay.com) when using these estimates.