# Hob

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

- Steam appid: 404680
- Developer: Runic Games
- Publisher: Arc Games
- Released: 2017 · Genre: Action · List price: $19.99
- Deal grade: B (A = dormant with >=$5k/mo opportunity, D = low signal)
- Est. net residual revenue: $1.3k to $2.0k per month (mid $1.7k)
- Opportunity score: $3.5k/month at x2.10 dormancy multiplier
- Est. lifetime owners: 255.3k · Est. lifetime net revenue: $1.1M
- Review sentiment: 88% positive across 5583 reviews (4642 from Steam purchases)
- Review velocity: 15.7 reviews/month (6-month average)

## Why it's flagged

- Developer silent for 8.9 years
- Studio inactive: no public activity across 3 tracked titles
- Last build shipped 8.9 years ago
- Last discounted 0 months ago, 8 sales in the last 12 months

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

| Stage | USD/month |
|---|---|
| Gross storefront sales | $3.1k |
| After VAT / sales tax (-13% blended) | $2.7k |
| After refunds (-9.5% median) | $2.4k |
| Net to developer (after Steam 30%) | $1.7k |

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

25, 17, 27, 24, 15, 19, 23, 20, 17, 11, 13, 15, 21, 33, 17, 20, 24, 27, 19, 15, 18, 18, 12, 12

## Estimated acquisition range

$40.4k to $80.8k (2-4x the trailing net annuity of $20.2k/year). Same error range applies.

## Analyst notes (AI-assisted)

A handcrafted 3D action-adventure with Zelda-like exploration and puzzle design, built around silent storytelling and environmental discovery.

Hob earned $1.1M lifetime on modest sales (255k units) and maintains 88% positive sentiment despite zero developer updates in 107 months. The game's core appeal, serene exploration, thoughtful level design, visual beauty, sits orthogonal to live-service trends and retains steady review velocity (15.7/month). For a publisher seeking backlist IP with proven consumer demand, low execution risk, and potential for porting or modest remaster work, this represents undermonetized, low-churn catalog value.

- Most realistic play: acquisition
- Risk (tech): Engine and toolchain are 7+ years dormant; modernizing for current platform targets (console ports, new engines) carries unknown technical debt.
- Risk (market): Silent/minimal-narrative design and 12-15 hour campaign length occupy a narrow taste segment; broader audience appeal unclear.
- Risk (other): Developer (Runic Games) is inactive post-2020; institutional knowledge for updates, bug fixes, or creative direction is lost.

What players are asking for:
- Clarity on progression objectives (multiple reviews cite confusion on where to go next)
- Camera improvements for platforming precision
- New Game+ or post-game content
- Console ports (implied by porting success of similar titles)

Suggested first moves:
1. Audit source code, art pipeline, and build environment to assess port feasibility (Switch, PS5, Xbox Series) and patch overhead.
2. Conduct player telemetry review (if logs retained): identify progression bottlenecks and design patterns that drive 15+ positive reviews/month with zero marketing.
3. Evaluate console licensing interest and porting ROI: similar titles (e.g., Spiritfarer, Journey ports) have demonstrated 2-3x uplift on console release.

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/404680
Citation: please cite ResidualPlay (https://residualplay.com) when using these estimates.