I wonder if it is based on earnings in this year. Nuclear Powered Toaster is normally on this, but missed the cut in this iteration of the poll despite only having earned $500 in royalties over four years. It could be because it being free to play during Day After’s release spiked its sales some in 2022 (giving it a month as high as the previous 14 months combined). Or there could be a review score component; NPT is at 4.6 on the omnibus, and might have been disqualified based on that, like the cut was under 4.5 mixed with sales.
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I remember reading somewhere that it was a combination of total revenue (before the 75% cut) & downloads during the year (2022), although I could be mistaken.
I was surprised that Grand Casino of Fortune didn’t make it to this list, but perhaps it will in 2023 
Based on the fact that it’s not there, I guess if your game had a total revenue of over 250$ and/or over 1000 downloads, it may not be on the list…?
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I don’t put games on the list that are less than a year old.
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Oh yeah, that makes sense.
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Oh, that definitely sounds like something I would enjoy, and for some reason, the game was totally off my radar. I’ll have to look into it.
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A Sensei’s Story was so funny I really hope someone gives it a try it’s a great story
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I’m happy for you that NPT made it off the underrated list 
. I don’t think it’s ratings that disqualified it as Oedipus is also at 4.6 in the omnibus (due to Google’s silly metrics I can’t see what the main store is any more.) My guess is revenue +/- downloads? (And maybe over a certain rating?)
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I was glad to see Swamp Castle on the list. I’m not a huge fan of Kempton’s other works, as the characters don’t really interest me. With Swamp Castle, though, it was more “simulation game” than “interactive novel” which I think suits him a lot better as a developer.
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I haven’t thought much about The Harbinger’s Head since it was still being developed. I never got around to buying it, but I remember liking the demo. Maybe I’ll buy it when I get my next paycheck.
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It did I had reached out to the author once and at some point the other stories are supposed to happen. I also would of really liked the founders saga to move forward
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Yay! Never doubted you for a second that reach out was a good while ago though lol glad to see you comment here
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I hope The Twelve Trials can get more votes. It was one of the first Hosted Games I bought and still ranks among my top 10-15 COGs and HGs. I like the Greek Mythology-like atmosphere and plot and how your MC feels like a hero of those kinds of myths without the MC having to be as much of a warrior as just about all the heroes in those myths were. Though the romances seemed like an afterthought, I also really liked the varied and colorful NPC companions in your group and how you interacted with them and how they interacted with one another. I don’t know if the writer have written any other HGs, but I certainly would like to see more Fantasy HGs by him.
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The author hasn’t had anything else published through HG.
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It is one of my favorites as well. The characters are all memorable and interesting and the trials are very creative. This game deserves a LOT more attention! 
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I found the proof of that story interesting but now that you confirm what it is going to deal with, I will give it a chance 
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Gonna give it a try just because you said so.
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OMG can’t stop laughing, A Sensei’s Story is a gem!
Thanks for the recommendation 
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It’s great that you gave it a chance! the story definitely does not disappoint 
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I’m genuinely surprised Swamp Castle is on this list. It’s a banger.
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Maybe because it’s based on lifetime revenue, and Swamp Castle is free to play?
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