# NUTS

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

- Steam appid: 768450
- Developer: Joon, Pol, Muutsch, Char & Torfi
- Publisher: Noodlecake
- Released: 2021 · Genre: Adventure · List price: $24.99
- Deal grade: B (A = dormant with >=$5k/mo opportunity, D = low signal)
- Est. net residual revenue: $1.6k to $2.3k per month (mid $1.9k)
- Opportunity score: $4.1k/month at x2.10 dormancy multiplier
- Est. lifetime owners: 27.9k · Est. lifetime net revenue: $174.1k
- Review sentiment: 88% positive across 1078 reviews (873 from Steam purchases)
- Review velocity: 12.5 reviews/month (6-month average)

## Why it's flagged

- Developer silent for 4.2 years
- Studio inactive: no public activity across 1 tracked titles
- Last build shipped 5.6 years ago
- Last discounted 1 months ago, 12 sales in the last 12 months
- Proven demand elasticity: x1.6 review velocity during past deep sales

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

| Stage | USD/month |
|---|---|
| Gross storefront sales | $3.5k |
| After VAT / sales tax (-13% blended) | $3.1k |
| After refunds (-9.5% median) | $2.8k |
| Net to developer (after Steam 30%) | $1.9k |

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

15, 18, 4, 11, 17, 12, 6, 9, 4, 9, 4, 16, 8, 7, 7, 9, 20, 41, 7, 13, 15, 16, 7, 17

## Estimated acquisition range

$46.7k to $93.5k (2-4x the trailing net annuity of $23.4k/year). Same error range applies.

## Analyst notes (AI-assisted)

A narrative-driven adventure game about a detective squirrel investigating a mysterious case, built on a charming art style and short-form storytelling.

NUTS has earned $174k lifetime on 27.9k units with strong 88% positive sentiment and sustained residual revenue of $1.9k/mo, but the solo developer studio appears inactive (49.9 months since last post). The game's compact scope, niche appeal, and recent pricing discipline (1-month sales cycle) suggest it could anchor a larger published catalog or serve as IP for a small-team revival with minimal capital required. Most interesting for publishers seeking catalog depth or developers exploring the detective-adventure niche.

- Most realistic play: publishing
- Risk (other): Developer studio status is inactive; acquiring publishing rights may require author contact through publisher intermediary (Noodlecake).
- Risk (market): Ultra-niche title (27.9k lifetime units) with low mainstream traction; expansion appeal is unproven.
- Risk (tech): Game is 67 months old with no dev updates in 50 months; engine compatibility and platform support carry unknown risk.

What players are asking for:
- Extension of the detective/investigative concept to other settings or characters
- Longer narrative or sequel content
- Platform expansion (console ports implied by art style)

Suggested first moves:
1. Confirm IP ownership and publishing rights status with Noodlecake; assess whether developer retains creative control or is entirely unavailable.
2. Analyze the 24-month velocity chart (range 4-41 sales/mo) to identify what triggered the April spike (41 units) and whether it correlates with discount or external mention.
3. Model a modest revival campaign (discount, console port, or story DLC) against the $1.9k/mo baseline to test whether 50-100% revenue lift is achievable without new development cost.

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/768450
Citation: please cite ResidualPlay (https://residualplay.com) when using these estimates.