# Chasing Tails ~A Promise in the Snow~

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

- Steam appid: 1555110
- Developer: the last evil wizard
- Publisher: Nupu Neko Dev
- Released: 2021 · Genre: Adventure · List price: $7.99
- Deal grade: A (A = dormant with >=$5k/mo opportunity, D = low signal)
- Est. net residual revenue: $2.2k to $3.3k per month (mid $2.8k)
- Opportunity score: $5.8k/month at x2.10 dormancy multiplier
- Est. lifetime owners: 135.1k · Est. lifetime net revenue: $269.2k
- Review sentiment: 92% positive across 4643 reviews (4222 from Steam purchases)
- Review velocity: 55.3 reviews/month (6-month average)

## Why it's flagged

- Developer silent for 3.6 years
- Studio inactive: no public activity across 1 tracked titles
- Last build shipped 4.2 years ago

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

| Stage | USD/month |
|---|---|
| Gross storefront sales | $5.0k |
| After VAT / sales tax (-13% blended) | $4.4k |
| After refunds (-9.5% median) | $3.9k |
| Net to developer (after Steam 30%) | $2.8k |

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

248, 173, 127, 136, 154, 133, 65, 81, 56, 58, 65, 84, 67, 31, 86, 80, 67, 62, 56, 54, 69, 59, 36, 58

## Estimated acquisition range

$66.1k to $132.3k (2-4x the trailing net annuity of $33.1k/year). Same error range applies.

## Markets by review language

- german: 1%
- russian: 35%
- spanish: 3% (game NOT localized in this language)
- english: 17%
- koreana: 2%
- japanese: 0% (game NOT localized in this language)
- schinese: 37%
- brazilian: 5%
- french: 0% (game NOT localized in this language)

## Analyst notes (AI-assisted)

A short visual novel blending yuri romance, light horror, and comedy with branching storylines and multiple endings.

Chasing Tails has built genuine affection in a tight niche audience (92% positive, 4,622 reviews, median 55/mo still arriving) and sustains $2.7k–3.3k/mo residual revenue 50 months post-launch with zero marketing spend. The game is dormant but not decaying; it performs exceptionally well at deep discounts (currently 85% off at $1.19), suggesting price elasticity that a revival campaign or modest localization could unlock. For a small publisher or revival-focused acquirer, this represents low-risk catalog income with existing IP ownership and a stable, passionate community.

- Most realistic play: revival
- Risk (market): VN genre remains small and seasonal; player reviews flag 'nothing special' and 'limited artwork' suggesting ceiling for organic growth.
- Risk (tech): One reviewer reports a crash (freeze unresponsive to input); bug reports or platform drift could harm retention if unaddressed.
- Risk (other): Developer (The Last Evil Wizard) shows 'ghost' status with no posts for 42+ months; acquiring IP may require title search or dormant-rights clearance.

What players are asking for:
- Expanded fox character route and more romance/relationship depth (multiple reviews)
- Content warnings or toggle for consent-sensitive moments (peeping-tom framing criticized as problematic comedy)
- Bug fixes for intermittent crashes and input-freeze issues
- Additional artwork or visual polish to raise production feel

Suggested first moves:
1. Audit IP chain and developer contact status; confirm rights ownership and negotiate minimal royalty or buyout to clear catalog for revival campaign.
2. Perform lightweight QA pass targeting reported crashes (input-freeze) and compile a content-sensitivity guide for prospective players around consent themes.
3. Test A/B pricing and bundling strategy: current 85% discount ($1.19) clearly drives reviews (55/mo average); a limited-time $0.99–2.99 tier or seasonal bundle with similar VN titles could validate volume upside against $2.7k–3.3k/mo baseline.

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/1555110
Citation: please cite ResidualPlay (https://residualplay.com) when using these estimates.