Best niches
$10 to $20Pairs with the best chance of $100k+, above the base rateFree until launch
Ticker: price and year-over-year change for 40 genres. Price is the median estimated first-year revenue of indie paid launches. The change shows for genres with 100+ launches. The same figures are on the Genres page.
Genres 3 Oct
Of 156 genres with 30+ launches at $10 to $20, 77 beat the 18 in 100 base rate. Price moves the odds most: 1 in 219 under $5, 40 in 100 at $20 to $40.77 of 156 genres beat the 18 in 100 base rate.77 beat the base rate.
Typical launch, all prices, first year $540
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.
Pairs with the best chance of $100k+, above the base rateFree until launch
156 of 256 genres have 30+ launches at $10 to $20. Sorted by chance of $100k+, lowest first.
| 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 | Aliens1 of 37 launches earned $100k+ | 1 of 371 hit | $4,516 | $84,277 | 37 | Small | Pin Aliens |
| 2 | 4 Player Local2 of 49 launches earned $100k+ | 2 of 492 hits | $4,022 | $41,962 | 49 | Small | Pin 4 Player Local |
| 3 | VR1 in 24 earned $100k+, from 195 launches | 1 in 248 hits | $2,650 | $33,643 | 195 | none | Pin VR |
| 4 | Hidden Object1 in 19 earned $100k+, from 173 launches | 1 in 199 hits | $1,532 | $41,277 | 173 | none | Pin Hidden Object |
| 5 | Mystery Dungeon2 of 38 launches earned $100k+ | 2 of 382 hits | $2,854 | $42,492 | 38 | Small | Pin Mystery Dungeon |
| 6 | Puzzle Platformer1 in 19 earned $100k+, from 131 launches | 1 in 197 hits | $4,322 | $51,139 | 131 | Audience | Pin Puzzle Platformer |
| 7 | Grand Strategy3 of 52 launches earned $100k+ | 3 of 523 hits | $4,706 | $53,415 | 52 | 1-hit | Pin Grand Strategy |
| 8 | Match 32 of 34 launches earned $100k+ | 2 of 342 hits | $878 | $87,556 | 34 | 1-hitSmall | Pin Match 3 |
| 9 | Party-Based RPG1 in 16 earned $100k+, from 127 launches | 1 in 168 hits | $5,899 | $72,146 | 127 | none | Pin Party-Based RPG |
| 10 | Score Attack3 of 44 launches earned $100k+ | 3 of 443 hits | $1,916 | $78,687 | 44 | Small | Pin Score Attack |
| 11 | Dialogue Heavy3 of 42 launches earned $100k+ | 3 of 423 hits | $7,089 | $56,658 | 42 | Small | Pin Dialogue Heavy |
| 12 | Text-Based1 in 14 earned $100k+, from 97 launches | 1 in 147 hits | $5,940 | $71,081 | 97 | none | Pin Text-Based |
| 13 | Incremental3 of 38 launches earned $100k+ | 3 of 383 hits | $1,620 | $96,704 | 38 | Small | Pin Incremental |
| 14 | Grid-Based Movement3 of 37 launches earned $100k+ | 3 of 373 hits | $6,713 | $81,785 | 37 | Small | Pin Grid-Based Movement |
| 15 | Precision Platformer1 in 12 earned $100k+, from 84 launches | 1 in 127 hits | $7,998 | $93,344 | 84 | Audience | Pin Precision Platformer |
| 16 | Otome3 of 36 launches earned $100k+ | 3 of 363 hits | $5,047 | $95,100 | 36 | Small | Pin Otome |
| 17 | 3D Platformer1 in 11 earned $100k+, from 180 launches | 1 in 1116 hits | $2,672 | $85,014 | 180 | none | Pin 3D Platformer |
| 18 | CRPG1 in 11 earned $100k+, from 55 launches | 1 in 115 hits | $6,802 | $97,006 | 55 | Audience | Pin CRPG |
| 19 | Sports1 in 11 earned $100k+, from 152 launches | 1 in 1114 hits | $4,390 | $72,554 | 152 | none | Pin Sports |
| 20 | Logic1 in 11 earned $100k+, from 97 launches | 1 in 119 hits | $4,980 | $91,942 | 97 | Audience | Pin Logic |
| 21 | Action RTS4 of 43 launches earned $100k+ | 4 of 434 hits | $8,302 | $89,623 | 43 | 1-hitSmall | Pin Action RTS |
| 22 | JRPG1 in 11 earned $100k+, from 171 launches | 1 in 1116 hits | $4,022 | $93,788 | 171 | 1-hitAudience | Pin JRPG |
| 23 | Magic1 in 11 earned $100k+, from 127 launches | 1 in 1112 hits | $4,259 | $99,462 | 127 | none | Pin Magic |
| 24 | Space Sim4 of 42 launches earned $100k+ | 4 of 424 hits | $3,160 | $67,771 | 42 | Small | Pin Space Sim |
| 25 | Tactical RPG10 in 100 earned $100k+, from 117 launches | 10 in 10012 hits | $8,618 | $103,323 | 117 | none | Pin Tactical RPG |
| 26 | Arcade10 in 100 earned $100k+, from 346 launches | 10 in 10036 hits | $3,292 | $101,169 | 346 | none | Pin Arcade |
| 27 | Comic Book11 in 100 earned $100k+, from 57 launches | 11 in 1006 hits | $4,827 | $107,960 | 57 | none | Pinned Comic Book |
| 28 | Supernatural4 of 38 launches earned $100k+ | 4 of 384 hits | $15,236 | $104,331 | 38 | SmallAudience | Pin Supernatural |
| 29 | 3D Fighter12 in 100 earned $100k+, from 43 launches | 12 in 1005 hits | $1,341 | $150,695 | 43 | Small | Pin 3D Fighter |
| 30 | Romance12 in 100 earned $100k+, from 170 launches | 12 in 10020 hits | $7,090 | $119,162 | 170 | none | Pin Romance |
| 31 | Thriller12 in 100 earned $100k+, from 50 launches | 12 in 1006 hits | $9,115 | $113,701 | 50 | none | Pin Thriller |
| 32 | LGBTQ+12 in 100 earned $100k+, from 99 launches | 12 in 10012 hits | $8,729 | $111,568 | 99 | none | Pin LGBTQ+ |
| 33 | Demons12 in 100 earned $100k+, from 41 launches | 12 in 1005 hits | $3,236 | $104,331 | 41 | Small | Pin Demons |
| 34 | Shoot 'Em Up12 in 100 earned $100k+, from 106 launches | 12 in 10013 hits | $5,630 | $189,234 | 106 | Audience | Pin Shoot 'Em Up |
| 35 | Board Game12 in 100 earned $100k+, from 97 launches | 12 in 10012 hits | $3,677 | $141,651 | 97 | none | Pin Board Game |
| 36 | Puzzle12 in 100 earned $100k+, from 686 launches | 12 in 10085 hits | $3,798 | $130,392 | 686 | Audience | Pin Puzzle |
| 37 | 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 |
| 38 | Visual Novel13 in 100 earned $100k+, from 434 launches | 13 in 10055 hits | $7,469 | $149,635 | 434 | Audience | Pin Visual Novel |
| 39 | Flight13 in 100 earned $100k+, from 55 launches | 13 in 1007 hits | $7,507 | $118,757 | 55 | none | Pin Flight |
| 40 | Real Time Tactics13 in 100 earned $100k+, from 115 launches | 13 in 10015 hits | $3,677 | $145,060 | 115 | none | Pin Real Time Tactics |
| 41 | Wargame13 in 100 earned $100k+, from 83 launches | 13 in 10011 hits | $10,629 | $175,925 | 83 | none | Pin Wargame |
| 42 | Collectathon13 in 100 earned $100k+, from 113 launches | 13 in 10015 hits | $6,569 | $154,485 | 113 | 1-hit | Pin Collectathon |
| 43 | 2D Fighter13 in 100 earned $100k+, from 60 launches | 13 in 1008 hits | $5,065 | $270,510 | 60 | none | Pin 2D Fighter |
| 44 | Top-Down Shooter14 in 100 earned $100k+, from 74 launches | 14 in 10010 hits | $8,103 | $124,752 | 74 | none | Pin Top-Down Shooter |
| 45 | Turn-Based Tactics14 in 100 earned $100k+, from 242 launches | 14 in 10033 hits | $6,721 | $133,311 | 242 | none | Pin Turn-Based Tactics |
| 46 | Point & Click14 in 100 earned $100k+, from 249 launches | 14 in 10034 hits | $3,377 | $142,534 | 249 | none | Pin Point & Click |
| 47 | Strategy RPG14 in 100 earned $100k+, from 131 launches | 14 in 10018 hits | $8,302 | $135,536 | 131 | Audience | Pin Strategy RPG |
| 48 | Runner14 in 100 earned $100k+, from 43 launches | 14 in 1006 hits | $1,882 | $172,937 | 43 | Small | Pinned Runner |
| 49 | Interactive Fiction14 in 100 earned $100k+, from 229 launches | 14 in 10032 hits | $7,666 | $165,201 | 229 | Audience | Pin Interactive Fiction |
| 50 | Arena Shooter14 in 100 earned $100k+, from 56 launches | 14 in 1008 hits | $5,064 | $150,340 | 56 | Audience | Pin Arena Shooter |
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.
Ticker: 30 upcoming games dated within 90 days, with wishlist rank, release date and followers. The same list is on the Upcoming page.