# INMOST

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

- Steam appid: 938560
- Developer: Hidden Layer Games
- Publisher: Chucklefish
- Released: 2020 · Genre: Adventure · List price: $14.99
- Deal grade: B (A = dormant with >=$5k/mo opportunity, D = low signal)
- Est. net residual revenue: $2.7k to $4.0k per month (mid $3.3k)
- Opportunity score: $5.0k/month at x1.50 dormancy multiplier
- Est. lifetime owners: 177.1k · Est. lifetime net revenue: $570.7k
- Review sentiment: 91% positive across 7351 reviews (5904 from Steam purchases)
- Review velocity: 41.2 reviews/month (6-month average)

## Why it's flagged

- Developer active, last post 10 months ago
- Last build shipped 5.7 years ago
- Last discounted 1 months ago, 9 sales in the last 12 months
- Proven demand elasticity: x1.2 review velocity during past deep sales

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

| Stage | USD/month |
|---|---|
| Gross storefront sales | $6.0k |
| After VAT / sales tax (-13% blended) | $5.2k |
| After refunds (-9.5% median) | $4.7k |
| Net to developer (after Steam 30%) | $3.3k |

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

80, 134, 57, 72, 99, 63, 50, 32, 71, 44, 27, 78, 45, 49, 39, 43, 43, 46, 66, 47, 33, 24, 24, 53

## Estimated acquisition range

$79.6k to $159.2k (2-4x the trailing net annuity of $39.8k/year). Same error range applies.

## Analyst notes (AI-assisted)

A 2D puzzle-platformer with interconnected narratives across three playable characters, centered on themes of trauma, forgiveness and emotional catharsis.

INMOST is a quiet indie success that has stabilized at $3.3k/mo residual revenue against a $571k lifetime gross on 177k units. The 91% positive rating and visceral player testimony around emotional impact suggest durable word-of-mouth and replay value. For a mid-market publisher or indie fund, this represents a low-risk catalog hold with potential upside from a console port, narrative remake, or soundtrack/IP licensing play, though at current margins, acquisition economics are marginal unless bundled with a larger Hidden Layer Games portfolio.

- Most realistic play: watch
- Risk (market): Narrative-driven indie titles face declining discoverability on Steam; monthly velocity has halved since 2022 despite stable pricing and 90%+ sentiment.
- Risk (tech): Player reports of game-breaking fullscreen bugs suggest unresolved stability issues that may depress conversion in future sale windows.
- Risk (other): Heavy mental health themes (suicide, PTSD, trauma) create content-moderation and marketing friction in certain regions and advertising platforms.

What players are asking for:
- Console ports (Switch, PlayStation) to reach non-PC audiences
- Expanded behind-the-scenes content or developer commentary on narrative design
- Optimization fixes for fullscreen stability and modern GPU support

Suggested first moves:
1. Audit Hidden Layer Games' IP portfolio and publishing relationships with Chucklefish to determine if INMOST can be acquired as part of a larger studio or publishing catalog deal.
2. Conduct a console port cost-benefit analysis, particularly Nintendo Switch, to unlock a new revenue stream at minimal risk (41 reviews/mo suggests word-of-mouth potential on new platforms).
3. Explore selective licensing of the soundtrack and narrative IP to indie publishers, therapy/mental-health brands, or documentary projects aligned with its thematic content.

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/938560
Citation: please cite ResidualPlay (https://residualplay.com) when using these estimates.