Stars in Shadow

Ashdar Games · 2017 · $24.99 · Indie · deal grade B

Measured on 2026-10-05 13:07 UTC. The whole catalog is re-measured daily; a game that just launched can move fast between passes.

• Estimated net residual revenue: $376 to $564 per month
• Opportunity: $612 per month at x1.30 dormancy
• Estimated lifetime owners: 40.3k
• 78% positive across 837 reviews · 3.5 reviews/month

Why it's flagged

• Developer active, last post 4 months ago
• Store page localized in only 1 language(s)
• Last discounted 0 months ago, 10 sales in the last 12 months
• Proven demand elasticity: x1.2 review velocity during past deep sales

Analyst notes (AI-assisted)

Note written 2026-09-10; the live figures above take precedence over any numbers in it.

A streamlined 4X space strategy game (2017) that channels Master of Orion 2's turn-based empire-building but with simplified mechanics and planet development.

Stars in Shadow occupies a quiet niche in the turn-based 4X market with solid lifetime reach and a devoted core that logs 100+ hours. The game earns modest but consistent residuals and maintains an 78% positive rating despite zero promotional activity in 12 months. Opportunity exists for a small publisher or IP holder seeking catalog depth or for a developer reviving dormant 4X titles, but the shallow tech tree and static late-game loop limit ceiling growth without meaningful content refresh. Most realistic play: watch.

• Risk: The 4X genre is crowded; players compare it directly to Master of Orion 2 and find it lighter, which attracts some but deters hardcore fans.
• Risk: Late-game balance issues reported in 2026 (missiles and fighters rendered useless) suggest the combat system may need retuning that original developers may not prioritize.
• Risk: Single-person studio with only one published title; no evidence of post-launch support beyond patches, limiting revival credibility.

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