There has been news that has made people talk, and that is that within the indie video game scene, an anime horror title developed by two Russian creators has quickly climbed the Steam sales charts. We are talking about MiSide, a game that combines elements of psychological horror with anime aesthetics, which has captured the attention of millions of fans around the world since its launch on December 11, 2024. This title has achieved what few indie games manage to do: become one of the most popular titles globally in a matter of weeks, and according to some figures, this title could have generated millions of dollars in such a short time.
Indie anime horror hit MiSide that made millions in weeks
The video game on Steam known as MiSide, has been the talk of the town since it was released information about the profits it has had, this game, from the day of its release, immerses the player in a disturbing virtual world, where a protagonist is trapped in his own favorite video game. Accompanied by a seemingly sweet girl named Mita, he soon discovers that things are not what they seem, Mita’s innocent facade crumbles, revealing a dark and obsessive personality that will do everything possible to keep the player captive, this is how this premise is shown, combined with an oppressive atmosphere and a captivating visual aesthetic.
One of the most surprising aspects of MiSide’s success is its origin, developed by the small Russian studio AIHASTO and published by IndieArk, this game has proven that you don’t need a big budget or a large team to create a memorable gaming experience. The creators of MiSide have managed to combine elements of different genres, such as psychological horror, survival horror and anime aesthetics, to create a unique title that has managed to conquer and attract an audience that is looking for different content in video games.
The popularity of this game, has been seen in the figures that speak for themselves, according to information from Steamdb, MiSide in less than two weeks has received more than 35 thousand reviews on Steam, with 98% of them being positive, reaching peaks of more than 23,000 concurrent players, surpassing many AAA titles in this aspect. In addition, MiSide has managed to position itself among the best-selling games on Steam, despite the lack of official sales figures.
Estimates from VG Insights suggest revenues of $9.5 million from 878,000 copies sold, even Gamalytic’s more conservative figure of $8.7 million from 716,200 copies is impressive for a project developed by just two people. While MiSide’s game has been a huge success in Russia and China, it has also managed to captivate English-speaking players and players from other regions, this global popularity can be attributed to several factors, including:
- A winning combination of genres: The mix of psychological horror and anime aesthetics has attracted a wide and diverse audience.
- A captivating story: MiSide’s plot is intriguing and full of unexpected twists and turns, keeping players hooked.
- An immersive atmosphere: The sound design and soundtrack contribute to create an atmosphere of anguish and tension.
- A passionate community: Players have created a community around the game, sharing theories, fan art and videos.
The success of MiSide is proof that indie games have great potential and can compete with the big studios, this title has shown that with creativity, passion and a little luck, any developer can create a game that connects with millions of people.
