It IS subjective.
For a game of its kind it can have sold realy well yet not have sold enough to make up for a poor management and way too big of a debt.
It wouldn't change the reality of "it sold well" but still validate "it didn't sell well enough"
https://store.steampowered.com/app/588210/HELLION/
Looks like it sold incredibly well and was abandoned by the developers and is no longer for sale.
A weird example.