Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead

CleverRaven · 2023 · $19.99 · Adventure · deal grade D

Measured on 2026-09-26 14:14 UTC, 9 days ago. The whole catalog is re-measured daily; a game that just launched can move fast between passes.

Estimated net residual revenue: $681 to $1.0k per month
Opportunity: $852 per month at x1.00 dormancy
Estimated lifetime owners: 21.4k
86% positive across 548 reviews · 6.8 reviews/month

Why it's flagged

Developer active, last post 1 months ago
Last discounted 3 months ago, 1 sales in the last 12 months

Analyst notes (AI-assisted)

Note written 2026-08-25; the live figures above take precedence over any numbers in it.

Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead is a post-apocalyptic roguelike survival game with deep character progression and sandbox mechanics.

CDDA occupies an unusual position: it generates $791.84/mo in residual revenue despite zero promotional activity in 12 months, 86% positive reviews, and a median playtime of 30 hours. However, the Steam version lags behind the free, daily-updated GitHub canonical build by 2+ months, creating a perception problem that drives players to the open-source distribution instead. The real value lies not in acquiring this specific Steam SKU, but in understanding why a studio hosting a thriving community project struggles to monetize it via Steam, and whether a publisher could rebuild trust through transparent update cadence or structured DLC. Most realistic play: publishing.

Risk: Core game exists as free, open-source GitHub build with daily updates; any Steam-exclusive strategy must explain why players should pay $19.99 when the canonical version is free and faster-moving.
Risk: Studio status flagged as 'fading' with no developer posts in 20 months and zero platform engagement; unclear whether CleverRaven/KorGgenT can sustain paid-version roadmap credibly.
Risk: Sentiment shifted -39.7 points; recent reviews (46.9% positive) show high churn from players burned by update lag, creating reputational debt that pricing alone cannot fix.

This case as Markdown · Estimates carry ±30-50% error per title.