iOS Financial Simulation Game

Mobile app
High-polish iOS financial simulation where players trade gems and manage a living in-game economy
Published on
October 29, 2025
Main Metrics
$4,641
ARR
1,000
Customers
2025
Launched

$50,000

Asking Price
Already Sold
Main Metrics
$4,641
ARR
1,000
Customers
2025
Launched

Overview

<p><b>Startup description</b></p><p>My app is an iOS financial simulation game. It’s a deep, strategy-driven experience centered around trading, markets, and gem valuation, blending finance, storytelling, and design into a uniquely immersive mobile experience.</p><p>I started it to explore how complex financial systems could be gamified without losing realism or depth. Everything from the economy engine to the UI was built completely from scratch, with no templates or low-code tools.</p><p><b>Key Highlights:</b></p><ul><li>637K+ impressions, 123K page views, 16.3K downloads (100% organic)</li><li>$3.35K revenue in Q3 (~$1.2K last month)</li><li>4.8★ average rating globally (200+ reviews, 80+ written)</li><li>Zero paid user acquisition (only a small Apple Search Ads test, less than $100)</li><li>Highly defensible design – unique mechanics, strong depth, and polished UX that can’t be easily replicated</li><li>Built 100% in Swift &amp; SwiftUI, no external frameworks or templates.</li></ul><p>Launched in February 2025, the game began gaining traction organically through App Store Browse traffic in Q3. I’m selling because I’ll be starting a new job soon and won’t have the time to dedicate to scaling it further.</p><p><b>Team</b></p><p>Solo-dev built over a 2 year span.</p><p><b>Tech Stack</b></p><p>Built entirely in Swift and SwiftUI, using PlayFab for simple backend services and ElevenLabs for experimental voice integration.</p><p><b>Marketing and growth</b></p><p>Growth has been 100% organic, driven primarily by sustained App Store Browse traffic and word of mouth. No paid UA or influencer marketing has been used. The app maintains steady visibility through Apple’s organic discovery algorithms and a few Reddit posts that reached the iOS gaming and indie dev communities.</p><p><b>Revenue and profit</b></p><p>Since launching in February 2025, the app has generated $5.46K in total revenue ($4.6 net after Apple's 15% fee), with an average of $1.2K/month in recent months.</p><p>Recurring expenses are minimal:</p><ul><li>Web hosting: $15/month</li><li>ElevenLabs (optional voice features): $100/month — removable at buyer’s discretion.</li></ul><p>With ~95% profit margins and no paid marketing, the app operates lean and efficiently.</p><p><b>Return on investment</b></p><p>The app is already profitable with strong organic revenue and minimal overhead. Depending on the final sale price, the buyer can expect a relatively short payback period given current monthly performance and 95%+ margins. Any future updates or light marketing could accelerate ROI even further.</p><p><b>Startup assets<b></b></b></p><ul><li>Discord with 400+ members</li><li>Subreddit with 250+ members</li><li>Website + domain</li></ul><p><b>Risks</b></p><p>The main risk is that growth has been entirely organic, so future revenue depends on continued App Store visibility and user discovery. Without regular updates or marketing, downloads could plateau over time. However, this also means the app has proven sustainable without paid acquisition. Buyers can boost performance through light ASO, new content, or community engagement to accelerate growth.</p><p><b>Summary</b></p><p>My app offers a rare combination of defensibility, design polish, and traction. It’s already validated product–market fit without paid acquisition. The buyer is getting a turnkey, profitable foundation with strong ratings, loyal users, and clear room to scale through marketing or new content drops.</p></br>✅ $4,641 in Annual revenue✅ 1,000 customers✅ Business model: In-app purchases✅ Built with Swift, SwiftUI, ElevenLabs

$4,641

Annual Revenue

1,000

Number of Customers

Expenses

Web hosting: $15/month; ElevenLabs (optional voice features): $100/month — removable at buyer’s discretion.

Business Model

(4) non-consumable IAPs, ranging from $1.99-$4.99.

Target Audience

Players who enjoy tycoon, trading, strategy, and financial simulation games.

Asking Price Reasoning

The price reflects both profit and defensibility. At ~$1.2 K/mo with ~95 % margins, it’s valued around 2.5–3× annual profit. I believe it’s fair for a fully native, 4.8★ app with zero paid UA and steady organic growth.

Reason for Selling

Starting a new job - do not have the bandwidth.

Growth Opportunity

Significant upside through App Store Optimization, seasonal content updates, and light paid acquisition. Introducing new IAP tiers or cosmetic upgrades could further increase ARPU.

30 days free support from seller

Competitors

Competes loosely with games like Rebel Inc., Pocket City, and AdVenture Capitalist, though my app differentiates itself through realism, polish, and depth rather than idle mechanics.

Tech Stack

Swift, SwiftUI, ElevenLabs.

Traffic Metrics

Revenue Metrics

How it works

Main Metrics
$4,641
ARR
1,000
Customers
2025
Launched

$35,000

Asking Price
Already Sold
Founder Details
Read the story
Main Metrics
$4,641
ARR
1,000
Customers
2025
Launched

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