# The Silver Case

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

- Steam appid: 476650
- Developer: GRASSHOPPER MANUFACTURE INC.
- Released: 2016 · Genre: Adventure · List price: $19.99
- Deal grade: B (A = dormant with >=$5k/mo opportunity, D = low signal)
- Est. net residual revenue: $1.8k to $2.7k per month (mid $2.3k)
- Opportunity score: $4.8k/month at x2.10 dormancy multiplier
- Est. lifetime owners: 68.4k · Est. lifetime net revenue: $293.8k
- Review sentiment: 89% positive across 1192 reviews (1052 from Steam purchases)
- Review velocity: 21.3 reviews/month (6-month average)

## Why it's flagged

- Developer silent for 6.4 years
- Studio active elsewhere (9 titles tracked), so this one may welcome a partner
- Last build shipped 9.0 years ago
- Store page localized in only 2 language(s)
- Last discounted 0 months ago, 6 sales in the last 12 months

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

| Stage | USD/month |
|---|---|
| Gross storefront sales | $4.2k |
| After VAT / sales tax (-13% blended) | $3.6k |
| After refunds (-9.5% median) | $3.3k |
| Net to developer (after Steam 30%) | $2.3k |

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

9, 18, 9, 6, 14, 20, 7, 14, 8, 11, 15, 21, 15, 20, 24, 14, 20, 34, 16, 27, 26, 23, 17, 19

## Estimated acquisition range

$55.0k to $110.0k (2-4x the trailing net annuity of $27.5k/year). Same error range applies.

## Analyst notes (AI-assisted)

A surreal, narrative-driven visual novel from Suda51 about a detective solving interconnected crime cases across Tokyo.

The Silver Case sits at 89% positive (1,192 reviews) with $2,291/mo in residual revenue despite zero marketing push in 76 months. The 68k lifetime units and $294k lifetime net suggest a stable, cult-beloved title that has exhausted casual discovery but retains passionate replay and word-of-mouth. For a publisher or platform looking to expand a Suda51 catalog or revive dormant indie prestige titles, this is a low-risk, high-ceiling play: modest ongoing baseline with proven cultural resonance among game-literate players.

- Most realistic play: revival
- Risk (market): Visual novel genre has structural ceiling; 68k units in 9 years suggests the addressable audience for this specific tone and density is inherently small.
- Risk (other): Developer (Grasshopper) is active but has not posted in 76 months; ownership and rights clarity on back catalog require confirmation.
- Risk (tech): Film Window engine is proprietary and dated; porting or updating would require original codebase access and possible engine work.

What players are asking for:
- Sequel or spiritual successor confirmation (Travis Strikes Again reference creates expectation)
- Wider franchise integration or spin-off media (anime, print) to build on cult following
- Modern UI/quality-of-life pass (resolution scaling, accessibility) without touching story
- Localization into additional languages (currently 2)

Suggested first moves:
1. Confirm IP and engine ownership with Grasshopper; secure rights to port to modern engines (Unreal, Unity) if revival involves re-release.
2. Conduct soft market test: bundle with Travis Strikes Again or use as campaign anchor for 'Suda51 essentials' anthology on console and mobile; measure uptick vs. organic 21 reviews/mo baseline.
3. Explore licensed adaptation (manga, anime short, zine) with cult publisher (e.g., Fantagraphics, Image) to build reach among narrative-first audiences without diluting original.

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/476650
Citation: please cite ResidualPlay (https://residualplay.com) when using these estimates.