# Them and Us

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

- Steam appid: 915600
- Developer: TendoGames Co., Ltd.
- Released: 2021 · Genre: Action · List price: $39.99
- Deal grade: B (A = dormant with >=$5k/mo opportunity, D = low signal)
- Est. net residual revenue: $1.9k to $2.9k per month (mid $2.4k)
- Opportunity score: $3.3k/month at x1.35 dormancy multiplier
- Est. lifetime owners: 38.2k · Est. lifetime net revenue: $381.0k
- Review sentiment: 75% positive across 1637 reviews (1194 from Steam purchases)
- Review velocity: 9.7 reviews/month (6-month average)

## Why it's flagged

- Developer silent for 17 months
- Studio quiet across its whole catalog
- Last build shipped 17 months ago

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

| Stage | USD/month |
|---|---|
| Gross storefront sales | $4.4k |
| After VAT / sales tax (-13% blended) | $3.8k |
| After refunds (-9.5% median) | $3.4k |
| Net to developer (after Steam 30%) | $2.4k |

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

18, 17, 13, 8, 15, 15, 6, 11, 10, 11, 11, 13, 23, 10, 12, 10, 15, 12, 13, 11, 9, 11, 6, 8

## Estimated acquisition range

$57.8k to $115.7k (2-4x the trailing net annuity of $28.9k/year). Same error range applies.

## Analyst notes (AI-assisted)

Them and Us is a 2021 indie survival horror game built on fixed-camera RE-inspired mechanics with atmospheric puzzle design.

This title generates $2.4k/mo residual revenue from a modest 38k-unit lifetime base, suggesting a stable core audience that appreciates old-school survival horror craft. The 74.8% positive ratio and player requests for sequels indicate genuine franchise potential, but developer silence (17+ months) and studio fade status suggest the IP may be available for acquisition or continuation by a publisher with horror credentials. Best suited for a publisher seeking to revive dormant mid-tier horror IP or an acquirer building a catalog of cult-classic adjacent titles.

- Most realistic play: acquisition
- Risk (tech): Linux/Proton compatibility issues documented in reviews; DX9/DX11 switching required, suggesting engine or porting oversight that may resurface on other platforms.
- Risk (market): Game currently discounted 75% off MSRP; no deep sales tracked recently, indicating weak demand signals despite steady residual revenue.
- Risk (other): Developer communication absent for 17+ months; studio status flagged as fading with only one title in catalog, raising questions about IP stewardship and support.

What players are asking for:
- Sequel or prequel to expand the universe
- Improvements to inventory and UI quality-of-life
- Better pacing in late-game content (otherworld sections criticized as tonal break)
- Cross-platform stability, especially Linux support

Suggested first moves:
1. Verify IP ownership status and contact TendoGames directly to explore acquisition or licensing terms; determine if developer will sell or if rights are encumbered.
2. Audit code repository and platform logs to assess technical debt (Linux compatibility, DX versions) and estimate cost to stabilize and port to new platforms or engines.
3. Commission a post-mortem design analysis of the narrative pivot at mid-game and prototype a streamlined sequel concept that preserves the early-game survival horror purity players loved; validate interest via survey of existing community.

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/915600
Citation: please cite ResidualPlay (https://residualplay.com) when using these estimates.