Genres

Every genre, screened by how often its indie launches earned $100k or more in their first year. Pick your price first: price moves the odds more than genre does.

Indie paid Steam launches 12 to 36 months old, data 3 Oct 2026. A hit is an estimated first year of $100k+. Earnings are sales on Steam after discounts and regional prices, before Steam's 30% cut, refunds and sales tax. About 58% of it reaches the developer. The revenue estimate is soft: about 5 to 8 in 100 launches overall.

Best niches

$10 to $20

Pairs with the best chance of $100k+, above the base rateFree until launch

Economy + Simulationabout 2.0 times the 18 in 100 base rate, could be luck36 in 100

1Economy + Simulation36 in 100117 launches 2Building + Simulation34 in 100122 launches 3Management + Simulation34 in 100204 launches 4Economy + Management33 in 100119 launches 5Action Roguelike + Roguelite31 in 100136 launches

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Best nichesFree until launchClick to unlockTag pairs that beat the odds

The genre list

Price $10 to $20

All prices1 in 17 hit $100k+Under $51 in 219 hit $100k+$5 to $101 in 30 hit $100k+$10 to $2018 in 100 hit $100k+$20 to $4040 in 100 hit $100k+

Base rate: indie paid launches 12 to 36 months old, 26,280 launches. Odds compare best within one price.

Lens Standard

Standard West-facing view Without the breakout Last 18 months

All indie paid launches 12 to 36 months old. Lenses are computed across all prices only so far, so a lens reads All prices.

Sample 100+

10+ launchesshow small samples 30+ launches 100+ launchesonly big markets

Hides anything measured on fewer launches.

$10 to $20 100+ launches Reset

Best odds at my priceChance of $100k+, read within one price band.Opens $10 to $20, Standard lens.Steady marketsHolds in every lens and no single game owns it.Loads the 30+ launches view.Biggest typical yearWhat the middle launch earned, highest first.Loads the 30+ launches view.Biggest upsideWhat the top tenth earned at least.Loads the 30+ launches view.Proven at scale100+ launches and above the base rate.Now: Cozy, 44 in 100. 38 match.Busiest marketsMost launches first: where the competition is.Loads the 30+ launches view.

Hide one-hit markets6 out Hide small samples0 out

75 of 256 genres have 100+ launches at $10 to $20. Sorted by chance of $100k+, lowest first.

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Genres at $10 to $20, sorted by chance of $100k+. The first row is the base rate.
Rank#	Genre	Chance of $100k+	Typical year	Top 1 in 10	Launches	Markers	Pin
	All games at $10 to $20the base rate: the row to beat	18 in 100758 of 4,301	$8,234	$217,858	4,301
1	VR1 in 24 earned $100k+, from 195 launches	1 in 248 hits	$2,650	$33,643	195	none	Pin VR
2	Hidden Object1 in 19 earned $100k+, from 173 launches	1 in 199 hits	$1,532	$41,277	173	none	Pin Hidden Object
3	Puzzle Platformer1 in 19 earned $100k+, from 131 launches	1 in 197 hits	$4,322	$51,139	131	Audience	Pin Puzzle Platformer
4	Party-Based RPG1 in 16 earned $100k+, from 127 launches	1 in 168 hits	$5,899	$72,146	127	none	Pin Party-Based RPG
5	3D Platformer1 in 11 earned $100k+, from 180 launches	1 in 1116 hits	$2,672	$85,014	180	none	Pin 3D Platformer
6	Sports1 in 11 earned $100k+, from 152 launches	1 in 1114 hits	$4,390	$72,554	152	none	Pin Sports
7	JRPG1 in 11 earned $100k+, from 171 launches	1 in 1116 hits	$4,022	$93,788	171	1-hitAudience	Pin JRPG
8	Magic1 in 11 earned $100k+, from 127 launches	1 in 1112 hits	$4,259	$99,462	127	none	Pin Magic
9	Tactical RPG10 in 100 earned $100k+, from 117 launches	10 in 10012 hits	$8,618	$103,323	117	none	Pin Tactical RPG
10	Arcade10 in 100 earned $100k+, from 346 launches	10 in 10036 hits	$3,292	$101,169	346	none	Pin Arcade
11	Romance12 in 100 earned $100k+, from 170 launches	12 in 10020 hits	$7,090	$119,162	170	none	Pin Romance
12	Shoot 'Em Up12 in 100 earned $100k+, from 106 launches	12 in 10013 hits	$5,630	$189,234	106	Audience	Pin Shoot 'Em Up
13	Puzzle12 in 100 earned $100k+, from 686 launches	12 in 10085 hits	$3,798	$130,392	686	Audience	Pin Puzzle
14	Choose Your Own Adventure12 in 100 earned $100k+, from 242 launches	12 in 10030 hits	$4,517	$145,060	242	Audience	Pin Choose Your Own Adventure
15	Visual Novel13 in 100 earned $100k+, from 434 launches	13 in 10055 hits	$7,469	$149,635	434	Audience	Pin Visual Novel
16	Real Time Tactics13 in 100 earned $100k+, from 115 launches	13 in 10015 hits	$3,677	$145,060	115	none	Pin Real Time Tactics
17	Collectathon13 in 100 earned $100k+, from 113 launches	13 in 10015 hits	$6,569	$154,485	113	1-hit	Pin Collectathon
18	Turn-Based Tactics14 in 100 earned $100k+, from 242 launches	14 in 10033 hits	$6,721	$133,311	242	none	Pin Turn-Based Tactics
19	Point & Click14 in 100 earned $100k+, from 249 launches	14 in 10034 hits	$3,377	$142,534	249	none	Pin Point & Click
20	Strategy RPG14 in 100 earned $100k+, from 131 launches	14 in 10018 hits	$8,302	$135,536	131	Audience	Pin Strategy RPG
21	Interactive Fiction14 in 100 earned $100k+, from 229 launches	14 in 10032 hits	$7,666	$165,201	229	Audience	Pin Interactive Fiction
22	2D Platformer14 in 100 earned $100k+, from 311 launches	14 in 10045 hits	$6,569	$179,642	311	none	Pin 2D Platformer
23	Action-Adventure14 in 100 earned $100k+, from 545 launches	14 in 10079 hits	$5,932	$144,629	545	none	Pin Action-Adventure
24	Post-apocalyptic15 in 100 earned $100k+, from 112 launches	15 in 10017 hits	$10,843	$193,708	112	none	Pin Post-apocalyptic
25	Survival Horror15 in 100 earned $100k+, from 117 launches	15 in 10018 hits	$10,843	$149,228	117	1-hit	Pin Survival Horror
26	Platformer15 in 100 earned $100k+, from 310 launches	15 in 10048 hits	$7,756	$252,165	310	1-hitAudience	Pin Platformer
27	Turn-Based Strategy16 in 100 earned $100k+, from 275 launches	16 in 10043 hits	$8,331	$202,699	275	none	Pin Turn-Based Strategy
28	Strategy16 in 100 earned $100k+, from 844 launches	16 in 100135 hits	$7,843	$182,742	844	none	Pin Strategy
29	Turn-Based Combat16 in 100 earned $100k+, from 185 launches	16 in 10030 hits	$8,618	$219,854	185	none	Pin Turn-Based Combat
30	RTS16 in 100 earned $100k+, from 111 launches	16 in 10018 hits	$10,586	$198,417	111	none	Pin RTS
31	1990's17 in 100 earned $100k+, from 109 launches	17 in 10018 hits	$8,729	$157,741	109	none	Pin 1990's
32	Time Management17 in 100 earned $100k+, from 144 launches	17 in 10024 hits	$7,135	$228,888	144	Audience	Pin Time Management
33	Dark Fantasy17 in 100 earned $100k+, from 143 launches	17 in 10024 hits	$11,334	$250,680	143	1-hit	Pin Dark Fantasy
34	Dating Sim17 in 100 earned $100k+, from 186 launches	17 in 10032 hits	$6,550	$214,822	186	Audience	Pin Dating Sim
35	Bullet Hell17 in 100 earned $100k+, from 126 launches	17 in 10022 hits	$7,849	$348,843	126	Audience	Pin Bullet Hell
36	Third-Person Shooter17 in 100 earned $100k+, from 103 launches	17 in 10018 hits	$3,038	$372,953	103	none	Pin Third-Person Shooter
37	RPG18 in 100 earned $100k+, from 786 launches	18 in 100138 hits	$8,454	$227,369	786	none	Pin RPG
38	Space19 in 100 earned $100k+, from 107 launches	19 in 10020 hits	$7,527	$189,234	107	none	Pin Space
39	Shooter19 in 100 earned $100k+, from 363 launches	19 in 10068 hits	$7,216	$247,645	363	none	Pin Shooter
40	Card Game19 in 100 earned $100k+, from 201 launches	19 in 10038 hits	$13,501	$270,510	201	none	Pin Card Game
41	Horror19 in 100 earned $100k+, from 345 launches	19 in 10066 hits	$9,724	$232,139	345	none	Pin Horror
42	Action RPG19 in 100 earned $100k+, from 281 launches	19 in 10054 hits	$7,717	$227,369	281	Audience	Pin Action RPG
43	Tactical19 in 100 earned $100k+, from 113 launches	19 in 10022 hits	$19,270	$244,943	113	none	Pin Tactical
44	Dungeon Crawler20 in 100 earned $100k+, from 204 launches	20 in 10040 hits	$12,625	$254,066	204	none	Pin Dungeon Crawler
45	Racing20 in 100 earned $100k+, from 112 launches	20 in 10022 hits	$4,470	$192,570	112	none	Pin Racing
46	Character Customization20 in 100 earned $100k+, from 191 launches	20 in 10038 hits	$13,176	$257,678	191	Audience	Pin Character Customization
47	Detective21 in 100 earned $100k+, from 106 launches	21 in 10022 hits	$9,645	$206,730	106	Audience	Pin Detective
48	Simulation21 in 100 earned $100k+, from 876 launches	21 in 100183 hits	$11,548	$289,238	876	none	Pin Simulation
49	Survival21 in 100 earned $100k+, from 206 launches	21 in 10044 hits	$18,573	$241,867	206	none	Pin Survival
50	Psychological Horror21 in 100 earned $100k+, from 205 launches	21 in 10044 hits	$15,887	$316,813	205	none	Pin Psychological Horror
51	Investigation21 in 100 earned $100k+, from 107 launches	21 in 10023 hits	$9,410	$261,863	107	none	Pin Investigation
52	Hack and Slash22 in 100 earned $100k+, from 180 launches	22 in 10039 hits	$14,890	$292,848	180	Audience	Pin Hack and Slash
53	Metroidvania22 in 100 earned $100k+, from 129 launches	22 in 10029 hits	$22,264	$313,975	129	1-hitAudience	Pin Metroidvania
54	Medieval23 in 100 earned $100k+, from 106 launches	23 in 10024 hits	$14,322	$344,301	106	none	Pin Medieval
55	Immersive Sim23 in 100 earned $100k+, from 312 launches	23 in 10071 hits	$14,472	$292,763	312	none	Pin Immersive Sim
56	FPS23 in 100 earned $100k+, from 219 launches	23 in 10051 hits	$8,437	$488,177	219	none	Pin FPS
57	Tower Defense23 in 100 earned $100k+, from 124 launches	23 in 10029 hits	$7,966	$427,167	124	none	Pin Tower Defense
58	Action Roguelike24 in 100 earned $100k+, from 243 launches	24 in 10059 hits	$13,214	$396,209	243	none	Pin Action Roguelike
59	Roguelike25 in 100 earned $100k+, from 410 launches	25 in 100102 hits	$16,055	$449,394	410	none	Pin Roguelike
60	Card Battler25 in 100 earned $100k+, from 148 launches	25 in 10037 hits	$17,887	$346,863	148	none	Pin Card Battler
61	Crafting25 in 100 earned $100k+, from 216 launches	25 in 10055 hits	$20,351	$294,097	216	none	Pin Crafting
62	Deckbuilding26 in 100 earned $100k+, from 168 launches	26 in 10043 hits	$18,545	$449,394	168	none	Pin Deckbuilding
63	Roguelite26 in 100 earned $100k+, from 381 launches	26 in 10098 hits	$18,216	$420,756	381	none	Pin Roguelite
64	City Builder26 in 100 earned $100k+, from 145 launches	26 in 10038 hits	$18,490	$359,391	145	none	Pin City Builder
65	Resource Management26 in 100 earned $100k+, from 152 launches	26 in 10040 hits	$23,362	$317,390	152	none	Pin Resource Management
66	Open World28 in 100 earned $100k+, from 270 launches	28 in 10075 hits	$19,479	$411,945	270	none	Pin Open World
67	Base Building30 in 100 earned $100k+, from 213 launches	30 in 10063 hits	$26,339	$460,726	213	none	Pin Base Building
68	Sandbox30 in 100 earned $100k+, from 360 launches	30 in 100107 hits	$22,688	$436,654	360	Audience	Pin Sandbox
69	Management30 in 100 earned $100k+, from 298 launches	30 in 10089 hits	$31,612	$366,715	298	none	Pin Management
70	Life Sim30 in 100 earned $100k+, from 233 launches	30 in 10071 hits	$28,398	$363,930	233	none	Pin Life Sim
71	Co-op31 in 100 earned $100k+, from 157 launches	31 in 10048 hits	$19,270	$774,181	157	none	Pin Co-op
72	Economy31 in 100 earned $100k+, from 161 launches	31 in 10050 hits	$32,655	$403,798	161	none	Pin Economy
73	Building31 in 100 earned $100k+, from 245 launches	31 in 10077 hits	$22,519	$466,495	245	none	Pin Building
74	Online Co-Op35 in 100 earned $100k+, from 142 launches	35 in 10050 hits	$34,532	$649,488	142	none	Pin Online Co-Op
75	Cozy44 in 100 earned $100k+, from 113 launches	44 in 10050 hits	$88,250	$726,119	113	Audience	Pin Cozy

Showing 75 of 75 genres

green beats the base ratecoral below it bar: the chance; amber tick: the base rate1-hit one game holds over half the moneySmall under 50 launches in this viewAudience reads differently for Western players

Under 30 launches or 5 hits a chance is written as a count ("3 of 12"), never as odds. Typical year is the middle launch's first-year earnings. Lenses, the one-hit share and the audience split are measured across all prices.