# Adorables

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

- Steam appid: 366760
- Developer: White Rabbit
- Publisher: Volens Nolens Games
- Released: 2016 · Genre: Casual · List price: $29.99
- Deal grade: A (A = dormant with >=$5k/mo opportunity, D = low signal)
- Est. net residual revenue: $6.3k to $9.5k per month (mid $7.9k)
- Opportunity score: $16.6k/month at x2.10 dormancy multiplier
- Est. lifetime owners: 32.3k · Est. lifetime net revenue: $208.2k
- Review sentiment: 77% positive across 1357 reviews (497 from Steam purchases)
- Review velocity: 49.2 reviews/month (6-month average)

## Why it's flagged

- Developer silent for 9.3 years
- Studio active elsewhere (2 titles tracked), so this one may welcome a partner
- Last build shipped 9.9 years ago
- 63% of reviews come from key activations (excluded from revenue estimates)

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

| Stage | USD/month |
|---|---|
| Gross storefront sales | $14.4k |
| After VAT / sales tax (-13% blended) | $12.5k |
| After refunds (-9.5% median) | $11.3k |
| Net to developer (after Steam 30%) | $7.9k |

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

1, 11, 7, 7, 5, 3, 7, 5, 6, 3, 8, 5, 5, 4, 10, 1, 3, 3, 1, 2, 0, 143, 115, 34

## Estimated acquisition range

$190.2k to $380.3k (2-4x the trailing net annuity of $95.1k/year). Same error range applies.

## Analyst notes (AI-assisted)

A match-3 puzzle game featuring cute creature collection in whimsical worlds, released by White Rabbit in 2016.

Adorables shows quiet, consistent residual revenue of $7,923/mo with a 76.8% positive review rating and 49 reviews/mo despite zero marketing spend in 24 months. The core loop is sound (players invest 8-10 hours) and the casual puzzle genre has proven resilience. However, online infrastructure decay and grinding friction have eroded retention; a modest content refresh and multiplayer repair would unlock the $16.6k/mo opportunity upside without major capital outlay. Best fit: casual publisher seeking low-risk back-catalog play.

- Most realistic play: publishing
- Risk (tech): Online mode is reportedly non-functional; repair requires live-ops competency.
- Risk (market): Match-3 segment is saturated; differentiation via art style alone may not sustain growth beyond residual base.
- Risk (other): Developer White Rabbit has only 2 titles on record; studio size and historical update cadence unknown; acquisition dependency risk.

What players are asking for:
- Fix online/multiplayer mode to restore social play
- Rebalance achievement grind (currently 15 hours for full completion feels punitive)
- Add new creature designs and cosmetics without paywall inflation
- Implement less aggressive coin-farming loops

Suggested first moves:
1. Audit multiplayer backend and estimate cost to restore online matchmaking and chat; if <$15k, repair immediately and announce.
2. Conduct cohort RFM analysis on the 32k lifetime buyers to identify whale segments and dormancy triggers; test a seasonal cosmetic bundle to measure re-engagement.
3. Commission a lightweight content patch (5-8 new creatures, cosmetics, achievement rebalance) as proof of stewardship; publish patch notes and a 'Here's What We Heard' blog post to reset community sentiment.

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/366760
Citation: please cite ResidualPlay (https://residualplay.com) when using these estimates.