# The Darkside Detective

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

- Steam appid: 368390
- Developer: Spooky Doorway
- Publisher: Akupara Games
- Released: 2017 · Genre: Adventure · List price: $14.99
- Deal grade: B (A = dormant with >=$5k/mo opportunity, D = low signal)
- Est. net residual revenue: $1.4k to $2.1k per month (mid $1.8k)
- Opportunity score: $2.3k/month at x1.30 dormancy multiplier
- Est. lifetime owners: 206.1k · Est. lifetime net revenue: $664.2k
- Review sentiment: 94% positive across 5220 reviews (3748 from Steam purchases)
- Review velocity: 22.2 reviews/month (6-month average)

## Why it's flagged

- Developer active, last post 5 months ago
- Studio active elsewhere (3 titles tracked), so this one may welcome a partner
- Last build shipped 25 months ago

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

| Stage | USD/month |
|---|---|
| Gross storefront sales | $3.2k |
| After VAT / sales tax (-13% blended) | $2.8k |
| After refunds (-9.5% median) | $2.6k |
| Net to developer (after Steam 30%) | $1.8k |

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

32, 22, 68, 32, 29, 25, 22, 28, 28, 21, 28, 26, 22, 22, 13, 28, 22, 49, 21, 19, 14, 32, 18, 29

## Estimated acquisition range

$42.9k to $85.7k (2-4x the trailing net annuity of $21.4k/year). Same error range applies.

## Analyst notes (AI-assisted)

A pixel-art point-and-click adventure featuring two quirky detectives solving supernatural mysteries through witty dialogue and classic adventure-game puzzles.

The Darkside Detective has quietly built a loyal, engaged community (94% positive, 22 reviews/month) while generating $1,786/mo in residual revenue nearly 7 years post-launch. For a modest $665k lifetime haul, this IP shows durable appeal and low development drag; the real opportunity lies in sequel momentum (players explicitly clamoring for sequels) and franchise expansion into adjacent media (comic, narrative podcast, mobile spin-off). Best suited for publishers seeking to revive dormant indie IPs with proven fanbases and low revival overhead.

- Most realistic play: revival
- Risk (market): Point-and-click adventure genre skews niche; mainstream awareness is minimal and word-of-mouth growth appears plateaued after 25+ months in market.
- Risk (tech): No hint system mentioned in reviews as a friction point; QoL updates or a sequel would require careful UX design to avoid alienating puzzle purists.
- Risk (other): Developer Spooky Doorway is small (3 titles) with last public communication 5 months ago; continuity and bandwidth for post-launch support or sequel are unclear.

What players are asking for:
- Sequel or more cases (multiple reviewers mention anticipation for follow-up content)
- In-game hint system or optional puzzle aids (one reviewer noted reliance on guides as friction)
- Clarification on mystery logic (one case flagged as feeling random/unintuitive)

Suggested first moves:
1. Audit IP and publishing rights: confirm Spooky Doorway/Akupara Games ownership and identify any licensing blockers; reach out to developer to gauge interest in a sequel greenlight or co-publishing arrangement.
2. Conduct player survey via Steam community hub and Discord (if exists) to validate appetite for sequel vs. spin-offs (mobile, narrative media) and quantify addressable upside.
3. Prototype a mini-sequel or DLC case pack (4-6 hours of content) as a low-cost validation; at current $1,786/mo burn, even a modest 30% revenue lift would justify greenlight.

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/368390
Citation: please cite ResidualPlay (https://residualplay.com) when using these estimates.