# Little Inferno

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

- Steam appid: 221260
- Developer: Tomorrow Corporation
- Released: 2012 · Genre: Adventure · List price: $14.99
- Deal grade: A (A = dormant with >=$5k/mo opportunity, D = low signal)
- Est. net residual revenue: $3.1k to $4.6k per month (mid $3.8k)
- Opportunity score: $7.1k/month at x1.85 dormancy multiplier
- Est. lifetime owners: 681.9k · Est. lifetime net revenue: $2.2M
- Review sentiment: 95% positive across 13744 reviews (9092 from Steam purchases)
- Review velocity: 47.5 reviews/month (6-month average)

## Why it's flagged

- Developer silent for 16 months
- Studio quiet across its whole catalog
- Last build shipped 3.7 years ago

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

| Stage | USD/month |
|---|---|
| Gross storefront sales | $6.9k |
| After VAT / sales tax (-13% blended) | $6.0k |
| After refunds (-9.5% median) | $5.5k |
| Net to developer (after Steam 30%) | $3.8k |

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

49, 41, 39, 60, 137, 76, 34, 71, 78, 56, 69, 95, 49, 41, 60, 67, 119, 100, 41, 50, 35, 38, 40, 81

## Estimated acquisition range

$91.8k to $183.7k (2-4x the trailing net annuity of $45.9k/year). Same error range applies.

## Analyst notes (AI-assisted)

A meditative indie puzzle-adventure about burning objects in a fireplace, built by Tomorrow Corporation as a spiritual successor to World of Goo.

Little Inferno has generated $2.2M lifetime revenue on 682k units with a 95% positive rating, yet earns only $3.8k/mo residually with no sales momentum in the past 12 months. The title appeals to a niche but devoted audience seeking cozy, low-stress gameplay; however, at 12 years old, it faces price-sensitivity complaints and has fallen off the discovery radar. The game's primary value lies in its backlist stability and potential licensing or bundling partnerships rather than aggressive monetization or revival.

- Most realistic play: watch
- Risk (market): Zero sales recorded in the past 12 months suggests the title has exhausted its addressable market on Steam; organic discovery and word-of-mouth are minimal.
- Risk (tech): No developer activity for 16 months; porting, optimization or platform expansion will require external studio investment.
- Risk (other): Price point ($14.99) is frequently cited as unjustified relative to playtime and depth; value perception limits acquisition appeal.

What players are asking for:
- Volume/audio controls (explicitly cited in negative reviews)
- Longer gameplay or more content depth to justify $15 price
- Cross-platform or mobile release to reach broader casual audience

Suggested first moves:
1. Audit Tomorrow Corporation's IP rights and franchise intentions; confirm whether the studio views Little Inferno as available for acquisition, bundling or legacy licensing.
2. Explore bundling with cozy/puzzle game collections (Nintendo Switch eShop, Game Pass, Apple Arcade) to reach price-sensitive casual audiences at lower friction.
3. Conduct lightweight mobile port feasibility study; the game's minimalist mechanics and art style may suit iOS/Android, where price expectations and discovery differ sharply from Steam.

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/221260
Citation: please cite ResidualPlay (https://residualplay.com) when using these estimates.