# Shadow Tactics: Aiko's Choice

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

- Steam appid: 1579380
- Developer: Mimimi Games
- Publisher: Daedalic Entertainment
- Released: 2021 · Genre: Indie · List price: $19.99
- Deal grade: B (A = dormant with >=$5k/mo opportunity, D = low signal)
- Est. net residual revenue: $1.8k to $2.7k per month (mid $2.3k)
- Opportunity score: $4.8k/month at x2.10 dormancy multiplier
- Est. lifetime owners: 126.4k · Est. lifetime net revenue: $630.2k
- Review sentiment: 93% positive across 4825 reviews (3951 from Steam purchases)
- Review velocity: 18.3 reviews/month (6-month average)

## Why it's flagged

- Developer silent for 3.1 years
- Studio active elsewhere (5 titles tracked), so this one may welcome a partner
- Last build shipped 4.8 years ago

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

| Stage | USD/month |
|---|---|
| Gross storefront sales | $4.1k |
| After VAT / sales tax (-13% blended) | $3.6k |
| After refunds (-9.5% median) | $3.3k |
| Net to developer (after Steam 30%) | $2.3k |

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

32, 29, 30, 31, 41, 30, 33, 28, 29, 23, 22, 33, 22, 22, 34, 24, 19, 23, 21, 23, 18, 19, 16, 13

## Estimated acquisition range

$54.8k to $109.7k (2-4x the trailing net annuity of $27.4k/year). Same error range applies.

## Markets by review language

- schinese: 43%
- brazilian: 2%
- french: 2%
- german: 5%
- russian: 5%
- spanish: 3%
- english: 35%
- koreana: 5%
- japanese: 1%

## Analyst notes (AI-assisted)

A 2021 isometric real-time tactics stealth game from Mimimi Games, serving as a standalone prequel to Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun.

Aiko's Choice has logged $630k lifetime net revenue on 126k units at a 93% positive rating, with $2.3k-2.7k residual monthly income and zero sales velocity in the last 12 months. The franchise carries strong nostalgia for classic Commandos/Desperados players and the core mechanics remain underserved in the indie market. However, Mimimi Games is still operating and likely retains full IP ownership; acquisition would require direct negotiation with the studio or publisher Daedalic. A revival campaign or publishing refresh targeting dormant wishlists is more realistic than catalog acquisition.

- Most realistic play: revival
- Risk (market): No sales detected in the last 12 months despite $2.3k-2.7k monthly residual revenue; the title has plateaued and is not gaining new audience attention.
- Risk (other): Developer last posted publicly 37 months ago; while the studio status shows 'operating', long silence raises questions about future support or willingness to refresh the title.
- Risk (other): Player perception of Aiko's Choice as 'DLC' rather than full sequel (6-hour campaign) may limit audience size relative to the original Shadow Tactics.

What players are asking for:
- Shadow Tactics 2 or direct sequel continuation
- More maps and challenge modes to extend replayability
- Cross-platform support (console ports implied by nostalgia for older franchises)

Suggested first moves:
1. Contact Mimimi Games directly to explore publishing refresh (console ports, regional marketing, bundle placement) without requiring full acquisition; they retain development goodwill.
2. Audit wishlists and regional gaps: Strong Chinese (1504 reviews) and Korean (178) signals suggest underexploited market potential in Asia; localization or regional discount campaigns could unlock dormant volume.
3. Evaluate franchise extension: if Daedalic or Mimimi are open to a spiritual successor or full-sized sequel, this $630k proven IP becomes a credible greenlight candidate with clear player appetite.

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/1579380
Citation: please cite ResidualPlay (https://residualplay.com) when using these estimates.