# Sudoku Mansion

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

**Measured on 2026-08-30 07:44 UTC.** The whole Steam catalog is re-measured daily; a game that just launched can move a lot between passes.

- Steam appid: 5005590
- Developer: Vault Door Studios
- Released: 2026 · Genre: Casual · List price: $14.99
- Deal grade: A (A = dormant with >=$5k/mo opportunity, D = low signal)
- Est. net residual revenue: $3.9k to $5.9k per month (mid $4.9k)
- Opportunity score: $6.4k/month at x1.30 dormancy multiplier
- Est. lifetime owners: 1.6k · Est. lifetime net revenue: $7.8k
- Review sentiment: 97% positive across 39 reviews (39 from Steam purchases)
- Review velocity: 39.0 reviews/month (6-month average)

## Why it's flagged

- Developer active, last post 0 months ago
- Last build shipped 0 months ago
- Store page localized in only 1 language(s)

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

| Stage | USD/month |
|---|---|
| Gross storefront sales | $8.9k |
| After VAT / sales tax (-13% blended) | $7.7k |
| After refunds (-9.5% median) | $7.0k |
| Net to developer (after Steam 30%) | $4.9k |

## Estimated acquisition range

$117.6k to $235.2k (2-4x the trailing net annuity of $58.8k/year). Same error range applies.

## Markets by review language

- german: 3% (game NOT localized in this language)
- english: 71% (game NOT localized in this language)
- japanese: 3% (game NOT localized in this language)
- schinese: 24% (game NOT localized in this language)

Localization gap: 100% of measured reviews are written in languages the game does not support (top: english). Localizing is likely immediate market expansion.

## Analyst notes (AI-assisted)

_Note written 2026-08-29 from that day's data; the figures in the header are live and supersede any numbers here._

A narrative-driven variant sudoku puzzle game with Metroidvania-style progression that unlocks increasingly complex logic mechanics across interconnected grid rooms.

Sudoku Mansion occupies a narrow but passionate niche: puzzle enthusiasts who follow the 'Sudokuvania' subgenre (Sudokuvania: Digits of Despair, Super Sudokoid) and variant sudoku communities. The title launched mere weeks ago with exceptional sentiment (97% positive) and a mid-tier owner base generating solid four-figure monthly residuals. The risk is severe: the addressable market is tiny, the game is technically niche to the point of excluding casual sudoku players, and competitor titles offer free or browser-based alternatives. Revival or acquisition makes sense only if the buyer already owns sudoku IP or has a publishing relationship with the variant sudoku audience; otherwise, this is a watch title for organic growth.

- Most realistic play: watch
- Risk (market): The variant sudoku audience is small and already served by free or low-cost browser alternatives (Sudoku Pad, Cracking the Cryptic, Sudokuvania series); paid premium positioning may hit a ceiling.
- Risk (market): One review explicitly notes the game does not include the popular letter-variant format used by competing titles, which may limit appeal within the niche.
- Risk (other): Skill floor is expert-level: the developer's own messaging and player feedback confirm late-game content requires advanced solving techniques, likely excluding intermediate and casual audiences.

What players are asking for:
- Ability to import or convert puzzles from free competitor titles (Sudokuvania 1/2, Super Sudokoid) into the Mansion engine
- Optional hint or nudge system for stuck players without spoiling logic chains
- Letter-based variant formats alongside current grid-only approach
- Steam Deck controller support improvements

Suggested first moves:
1. Monitor monthly residuals and review velocity over the next 6-9 months to establish whether the owner base is stabilizing or eroding; a title this young and niche typically shows its true trajectory after Q2.
2. Contact the developer to understand licensing of competitor puzzle sets and commercial arrangements with Sudoku Pad or Cracking the Cryptic communities; cross-promotion or content partnerships could unlock growth without acquisition risk.
3. If planning a puzzle catalog consolidation, evaluate whether acquiring Sudoku Mansion adds meaningful IP defensibility or audience reach versus investing in the free-to-play browser space or licensing existing solver networks.

Generated 2026-08-29 from public signals and player reviews. Directional, not diligence.

## Methodology

Units are estimated from Steam-purchase reviews times a release-cohort multiplier, 40-75x by year. Cohorts from 2020 on are calibrated against 182 sales milestones announced by developers; older ones follow the published Boxleiter tables. 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/5005590
Citation: please cite ResidualPlay (https://residualplay.com) when you publish or quote these estimates.