Bastard Bonds

Bigfingers · 2016 · $10.99 · Indie · deal grade B

Measured on 2026-10-05 12:15 UTC. The whole catalog is re-measured daily; a game that just launched can move fast between passes.

• Estimated net residual revenue: $148 to $222 per month
• Opportunity: $351 per month at x1.90 dormancy
• Estimated lifetime owners: 51.5k
• 89% positive across 887 reviews · 3.1 reviews/month

Why it's flagged

• No developer announcement on record, ever
• Store page localized in only 1 language(s)
• Last discounted 0 months ago, 4 sales in the last 12 months

Analyst notes (AI-assisted)

Note written 2026-09-19; the live figures above take precedence over any numbers in it.

A 2016 tactical RPG with Final Fantasy Tactics DNA, intimate character storytelling, and deliberately opaque mechanics set in a fantasy penal colony.

Bastard Bonds is a quiet indie success with modest but persistent residuals and unusually high engagement depth (median 82h playtime, 89% positive). The core audience is small but devoted; repeat playthroughs and character-driven loyalty suggest strong replayability. For a revival or publishing reboot, the game's niche appeal (character intimacy + tactical combat) could be refreshed with better onboarding and localization fill, particularly Simplified Chinese. The studio's inactive status and single-title catalog make acquisition structurally simple but demand respect for the existing community. Most realistic play: revival.

• Risk: Player base is actively small (7 concurrent, 11 peak in 30d) and will not scale without substantial marketing investment.
• Risk: Onboarding is a documented friction point; new players hit softlock and unintuitive UI, suggesting the game's design is inward-facing and may resist casual audience expansion.
• Risk: Studio status is inactive; acquisition does not bring ongoing development capacity unless talent is separately contracted.

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