Genres

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.

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192,217
on 3 Oct 2026

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

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.

The genre list

Best odds at my priceChance of $100k+, read within one price band.Now: Shop Keeper, 49 in 100. 156 match.Steady marketsHolds in every lens and no single game owns it.Now: Online Co-Op, 35 in 100. 67 match.Biggest typical yearWhat the middle launch earned, highest first.Now: Shop Keeper, $92,344 typical. 156 match.Biggest upsideWhat the top tenth earned at least.Now: Co-op, $774k top 1 in 10. 118 match.Proven at scale100+ launches and above the base rate.Now: Cozy, 44 in 100. 38 match.Busiest marketsMost launches first: where the competition is.Now: Simulation, 876 launches. 156 match.
Hide one-hit markets20 outHide small samples38 out

156 of 256 genres have 30+ launches at $10 to $20. Sorted by chance of $100k+, lowest first.

hackingNot in this view: under 30 launches at $10 to $20.
Text-Based 1 in 14 earned $100k+, from 97 launches at $10 to $20typical $5,940 none
2D Platformer 14 in 100 earned $100k+, from 311 launches at $10 to $20typical $6,569. Best of the pins none
Genres at $10 to $20, sorted by chance of $100k+. The first row is the base rate.
Rank#GenreChance of $100k+Typical yearTop 1 in 10LaunchesMarkersPin
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 1 of 37 launches earned $100k+ 1 of 371 hit $4,516 $84,277 37 Small Pin Aliens
2 2 of 49 launches earned $100k+ 2 of 492 hits $4,022 $41,962 49 Small Pin 4 Player Local
3 1 in 24 earned $100k+, from 195 launches 1 in 248 hits $2,650 $33,643 195 none Pin VR
4 1 in 19 earned $100k+, from 173 launches 1 in 199 hits $1,532 $41,277 173 none Pin Hidden Object
5 2 of 38 launches earned $100k+ 2 of 382 hits $2,854 $42,492 38 Small Pin Mystery Dungeon
6 1 in 19 earned $100k+, from 131 launches 1 in 197 hits $4,322 $51,139 131 Audience Pin Puzzle Platformer
7 3 of 52 launches earned $100k+ 3 of 523 hits $4,706 $53,415 52 1-hit Pin Grand Strategy
8 2 of 34 launches earned $100k+ 2 of 342 hits $878 $87,556 34 1-hitSmall Pin Match 3
9 1 in 16 earned $100k+, from 127 launches 1 in 168 hits $5,899 $72,146 127 none Pin Party-Based RPG
10 3 of 44 launches earned $100k+ 3 of 443 hits $1,916 $78,687 44 Small Pin Score Attack
11 3 of 42 launches earned $100k+ 3 of 423 hits $7,089 $56,658 42 Small Pin Dialogue Heavy
12 1 in 14 earned $100k+, from 97 launches 1 in 147 hits $5,940 $71,081 97 none Pinned Text-Based
13 3 of 38 launches earned $100k+ 3 of 383 hits $1,620 $96,704 38 Small Pin Incremental
14 3 of 37 launches earned $100k+ 3 of 373 hits $6,713 $81,785 37 Small Pin Grid-Based Movement
15 1 in 12 earned $100k+, from 84 launches 1 in 127 hits $7,998 $93,344 84 Audience Pin Precision Platformer
16 3 of 36 launches earned $100k+ 3 of 363 hits $5,047 $95,100 36 Small Pin Otome
17 1 in 11 earned $100k+, from 180 launches 1 in 1116 hits $2,672 $85,014 180 none Pin 3D Platformer
18 1 in 11 earned $100k+, from 55 launches 1 in 115 hits $6,802 $97,006 55 Audience Pin CRPG
19 1 in 11 earned $100k+, from 152 launches 1 in 1114 hits $4,390 $72,554 152 none Pin Sports
20 1 in 11 earned $100k+, from 97 launches 1 in 119 hits $4,980 $91,942 97 Audience Pin Logic
21 4 of 43 launches earned $100k+ 4 of 434 hits $8,302 $89,623 43 1-hitSmall Pin Action RTS
22 1 in 11 earned $100k+, from 171 launches 1 in 1116 hits $4,022 $93,788 171 1-hitAudience Pin JRPG
23 1 in 11 earned $100k+, from 127 launches 1 in 1112 hits $4,259 $99,462 127 none Pin Magic
24 4 of 42 launches earned $100k+ 4 of 424 hits $3,160 $67,771 42 Small Pin Space Sim
25 10 in 100 earned $100k+, from 117 launches 10 in 10012 hits $8,618 $103,323 117 none Pin Tactical RPG
26 10 in 100 earned $100k+, from 346 launches 10 in 10036 hits $3,292 $101,169 346 none Pin Arcade
27 11 in 100 earned $100k+, from 57 launches 11 in 1006 hits $4,827 $107,960 57 none Pin Comic Book
28 4 of 38 launches earned $100k+ 4 of 384 hits $15,236 $104,331 38 SmallAudience Pin Supernatural
29 12 in 100 earned $100k+, from 43 launches 12 in 1005 hits $1,341 $150,695 43 Small Pin 3D Fighter
30 12 in 100 earned $100k+, from 170 launches 12 in 10020 hits $7,090 $119,162 170 none Pin Romance
31 12 in 100 earned $100k+, from 50 launches 12 in 1006 hits $9,115 $113,701 50 none Pin Thriller
32 12 in 100 earned $100k+, from 99 launches 12 in 10012 hits $8,729 $111,568 99 none Pin LGBTQ+
33 12 in 100 earned $100k+, from 41 launches 12 in 1005 hits $3,236 $104,331 41 Small Pin Demons
34 12 in 100 earned $100k+, from 106 launches 12 in 10013 hits $5,630 $189,234 106 Audience Pin Shoot 'Em Up
35 12 in 100 earned $100k+, from 97 launches 12 in 10012 hits $3,677 $141,651 97 none Pin Board Game
36 12 in 100 earned $100k+, from 686 launches 12 in 10085 hits $3,798 $130,392 686 Audience Pin Puzzle
37 12 in 100 earned $100k+, from 242 launches 12 in 10030 hits $4,517 $145,060 242 Audience Pin Choose Your Own Adventure
38 13 in 100 earned $100k+, from 434 launches 13 in 10055 hits $7,469 $149,635 434 Audience Pin Visual Novel
39 13 in 100 earned $100k+, from 55 launches 13 in 1007 hits $7,507 $118,757 55 none Pin Flight
40 13 in 100 earned $100k+, from 115 launches 13 in 10015 hits $3,677 $145,060 115 none Pin Real Time Tactics
41 13 in 100 earned $100k+, from 83 launches 13 in 10011 hits $10,629 $175,925 83 none Pin Wargame
42 13 in 100 earned $100k+, from 113 launches 13 in 10015 hits $6,569 $154,485 113 1-hit Pin Collectathon
43 13 in 100 earned $100k+, from 60 launches 13 in 1008 hits $5,065 $270,510 60 none Pin 2D Fighter
44 14 in 100 earned $100k+, from 74 launches 14 in 10010 hits $8,103 $124,752 74 none Pin Top-Down Shooter
45 14 in 100 earned $100k+, from 242 launches 14 in 10033 hits $6,721 $133,311 242 none Pin Turn-Based Tactics
46 14 in 100 earned $100k+, from 249 launches 14 in 10034 hits $3,377 $142,534 249 none Pin Point & Click
47 14 in 100 earned $100k+, from 131 launches 14 in 10018 hits $8,302 $135,536 131 Audience Pin Strategy RPG
48 14 in 100 earned $100k+, from 43 launches 14 in 1006 hits $1,882 $172,937 43 Small Pin Runner
49 14 in 100 earned $100k+, from 229 launches 14 in 10032 hits $7,666 $165,201 229 Audience Pin Interactive Fiction
50 14 in 100 earned $100k+, from 56 launches 14 in 1008 hits $5,064 $150,340 56 Audience Pin Arena Shooter
51 14 in 100 earned $100k+, from 311 launches 14 in 10045 hits $6,569 $179,642 311 none Pinned 2D Platformer
52 14 in 100 earned $100k+, from 69 launches 14 in 10010 hits $12,870 $172,937 69 none Pin Cyberpunk
53 14 in 100 earned $100k+, from 545 launches 14 in 10079 hits $5,932 $144,629 545 none Pin Action-Adventure
54 15 in 100 earned $100k+, from 112 launches 15 in 10017 hits $10,843 $193,708 112 none Pin Post-apocalyptic
55 15 in 100 earned $100k+, from 117 launches 15 in 10018 hits $10,843 $149,228 117 1-hit Pin Survival Horror
56 15 in 100 earned $100k+, from 310 launches 15 in 10048 hits $7,756 $252,165 310 1-hitAudience Pin Platformer
57 16 in 100 earned $100k+, from 275 launches 16 in 10043 hits $8,331 $202,699 275 none Pin Turn-Based Strategy
58 16 in 100 earned $100k+, from 57 launches 16 in 1009 hits $5,175 $201,280 57 none Pin 1980s
59 16 in 100 earned $100k+, from 38 launches 16 in 1006 hits $11,837 $137,259 38 Small Pin Alternate History
60 16 in 100 earned $100k+, from 38 launches 16 in 1006 hits $19,272 $595,084 38 SmallAudience Pin Dystopian
61 16 in 100 earned $100k+, from 844 launches 16 in 100135 hits $7,843 $182,742 844 none Pin Strategy
62 16 in 100 earned $100k+, from 31 launches 16 in 1005 hits $3,387 $111,740 31 SmallAudience Pin Word Game
63 16 in 100 earned $100k+, from 68 launches 16 in 10011 hits $5,745 $132,774 68 none Pin Tabletop
64 16 in 100 earned $100k+, from 185 launches 16 in 10030 hits $8,618 $219,854 185 none Pin Turn-Based Combat
65 16 in 100 earned $100k+, from 111 launches 16 in 10018 hits $10,586 $198,417 111 none Pin RTS
66 16 in 100 earned $100k+, from 73 launches 16 in 10012 hits $3,670 $225,138 73 none Pin Zombies
67 16 in 100 earned $100k+, from 97 launches 16 in 10016 hits $11,256 $205,681 97 none Pin Souls-like
68 17 in 100 earned $100k+, from 109 launches 17 in 10018 hits $8,729 $157,741 109 none Pin 1990's
69 17 in 100 earned $100k+, from 144 launches 17 in 10024 hits $7,135 $228,888 144 Audience Pin Time Management
70 17 in 100 earned $100k+, from 60 launches 17 in 10010 hits $13,192 $265,278 60 Audience Pin Beat 'em up
71 17 in 100 earned $100k+, from 143 launches 17 in 10024 hits $11,334 $250,680 143 1-hit Pin Dark Fantasy
72 17 in 100 earned $100k+, from 95 launches 17 in 10016 hits $9,192 $221,998 95 none Pin Walking Simulator
73 17 in 100 earned $100k+, from 59 launches 17 in 10010 hits $11,426 $297,735 59 none Pin War
74 17 in 100 earned $100k+, from 53 launches 17 in 1009 hits $9,115 $179,279 53 Audience Pin Perma Death
75 17 in 100 earned $100k+, from 186 launches 17 in 10032 hits $6,550 $214,822 186 Audience Pin Dating Sim
Show 25 moreShowing 75 of 156 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.

Releases

Ticker: 30 upcoming games dated within 90 days, with wishlist rank, release date and followers. The same list is on the Upcoming page.