Norm-defying Chinese indie title Sultan’s Game hits 250,000 Steam sales in debut week

Chinese indie game Sultan’s Game reached 250,000 sales on Steam in its first week, developer Double Cross Studio announced on Tuesday, sharing a celebratory illustration and revealing plans for long-term updates at the same time. Since its March 31 launch, the game has quickly become a trending topic among Chinese gamers.

Why it matters: Set in an ancient Middle Eastern sultanate, the strategy role-playing game weaves together themes of power struggle, desire, and human nature, exploring sensitive themes such as “sexual power” and “same-sex emotions.” It breaks away from the conservative narratives of most Chinese games and stands out as the first notable domestic single-player title from China this year.

Details: Sultan’s Game combines card-based strategy, role-playing, and narrative adventure elements. Developed by Double Cross and published by 2P Games, the new title is priced at RMB 80 ($10.88) in the China region, with a discounted launch price of RMB 72 ($9.80) for the first two weeks.

• In a fictional medieval palace, players take on the role of a minister serving the sultan, who is forced into a brutal card game devised by a mysterious sorceress. After falling under her spell, the sultan commands the player to draw one card each week from four categories – “Lust,” “Luxury,” “Conquest,” and “Slaughter” – and complete the subsequent task within seven days. 
• Drawing inspiration from the storytelling style of One Thousand and One Nights, the game features branching narratives where every choice matters, as interactions with certain NPCs can influence the ending or unlock hidden storylines. The game offers multiple endings based on player choices, including becoming a trusted minister, orchestrating a rebellion against the Sultan, or summoning dark forces.
• The game has earned positive reviews from players for its 1.4 million-word script and more than 50 distinct endings, with a current Steam rating of “Very Positive” (a 90% approval rate).
• The game includes gay romantic storylines, with flirting and relationships between male characters among the storylines, which some Chinese players consider controversial. In an interview with TechNode, a player going by the in-game name of Light Shadow said he was fine with the male character interactions, but criticized the game’s biggest issue as the repetitive nature of daily events. Players are required to frequently click through similar tasks, such as patrolling, training, and trading, with little variation and no automation options, he explained.
• “The mix of random and fixed events, along with the freedom to shape your character, really boosts the replay value,” the player added. “But the high-level card tasks are way too tough. If you draw an impossible one early on, it can really ruin the experience.”

Context: Market intelligence firm Sensor Tower released its 2024 ranking of the top 50 global mobile app publishers by revenue on Tuesday, with several Chinese companies making the list. 

• Tencent secured the top spot for the third consecutive year, driven by hit titles such as Honor of Kings and PUBG Mobile, along with value-added services in the WeChat ecosystem. The multiplayer online battle arena game Honor of Kings alone brought in $2.42 billion in mobile revenue for Tencent last year. 
• NetEase ranked seventh thanks to popular games such as Eggy Party, while miHoYo came in 15th, propelled by its anime-style games such as Genshin Impact and Honkai: Star Rail.