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 6 to 7.5 in 100 launches overall.

Best niches

$10 to $20

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

Building + Life Simabout 3.1 times the 20 in 100 base rate63 in 100

1Building + Life Sim63 in 10030 launches 2Casual + Cozy60 in 10050 launches 3Cozy + Relaxing59 in 10054 launches 4Cozy + Simulation56 in 10036 launches 5Cinematic + Story Rich55 in 10031 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 15 hit $100k+Under $51 in 238 hit $100k+$5 to $101 in 28 hit $100k+$10 to $2020 in 100 hit $100k+$20 to $4044 in 100 hit $100k+

Base rate: indie paid launches 12 to 36 months old, 26,291 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 30+

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

Hides anything measured on fewer launches.

$10 to $20 30+ launches

Best odds at my priceChance of $100k+, read within one price band.Now: Shop Keeper, 57 in 100. 156 match.Steady marketsHolds in every lens and no single game owns it.Now: Online Co-Op, 39 in 100. 68 match.Biggest typical yearWhat the middle launch earned, highest first.Now: Cozy, $117,666 typical. 156 match.Biggest upsideWhat the top tenth earned at least.Now: Co-op, $1M top 1 in 10. 118 match.Proven at scale100+ launches and above the base rate.Now: Cozy, 51 in 100. 40 match.Busiest marketsMost launches first: where the competition is.Now: Simulation, 874 launches. 156 match.

Hide one-hit markets12 out Hide small samples+38 if off

156 of 256 genres have 30+ launches at $10 to $20. 118 match the search and chips. 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	20 in 100878 of 4,304	$10,978	$287,297	4,304
1	VR1 in 22 earned $100k+, from 195 launches	1 in 229 hits	$3,534	$44,858	195	none	Pin VR
2	Puzzle Platformer1 in 15 earned $100k+, from 131 launches	1 in 159 hits	$5,769	$68,186	131	Audience	Pin Puzzle Platformer
3	Hidden Object1 in 14 earned $100k+, from 172 launches	1 in 1412 hits	$2,044	$55,036	172	none	Pin Hidden Object
4	Grand Strategy4 of 52 launches earned $100k+	4 of 524 hits	under 100	under 100	52	1-hit	Pin Grand Strategy
5	Text-Based1 in 12 earned $100k+, from 97 launches	1 in 128 hits	under 100	under 100	97	none	Pin Text-Based
6	Party-Based RPG1 in 11 earned $100k+, from 127 launches	1 in 1112 hits	$7,868	$96,195	127	none	Pin Party-Based RPG
7	Sports1 in 10 earned $100k+, from 152 launches	1 in 1015 hits	$5,860	$96,739	152	none	Pin Sports
8	3D Platformer10 in 100 earned $100k+, from 180 launches	10 in 10018 hits	$3,562	$113,352	180	none	Pin 3D Platformer
9	CRPG11 in 100 earned $100k+, from 56 launches	11 in 1006 hits	under 100	under 100	56	Audience	Pin CRPG
10	Arcade12 in 100 earned $100k+, from 346 launches	12 in 10040 hits	$4,391	$134,893	346	none	Pin Arcade
11	Magic12 in 100 earned $100k+, from 127 launches	12 in 10015 hits	$5,689	$132,616	127	none	Pin Magic
12	Thriller12 in 100 earned $100k+, from 50 launches	12 in 1006 hits	under 100	under 100	50	none	Pin Thriller
13	Logic12 in 100 earned $100k+, from 97 launches	12 in 10012 hits	under 100	under 100	97	Audience	Pin Logic
14	JRPG13 in 100 earned $100k+, from 171 launches	13 in 10022 hits	$5,365	$125,051	171	1-hit	Pin JRPG
15	Choose Your Own Adventure13 in 100 earned $100k+, from 242 launches	13 in 10032 hits	$6,023	$193,413	242	Audience	Pin Choose Your Own Adventure
16	2D Fighter13 in 100 earned $100k+, from 60 launches	13 in 1008 hits	under 100	under 100	60	none	Pin 2D Fighter
17	Romance14 in 100 earned $100k+, from 170 launches	14 in 10023 hits	$9,464	$158,883	170	none	Pin Romance
18	Tactical RPG14 in 100 earned $100k+, from 118 launches	14 in 10016 hits	$11,496	$137,764	118	none	Pin Tactical RPG
19	Comic Book14 in 100 earned $100k+, from 57 launches	14 in 1008 hits	under 100	under 100	57	none	Pin Comic Book
20	Point & Click14 in 100 earned $100k+, from 249 launches	14 in 10035 hits	$4,508	$190,045	249	none	Pin Point & Click
21	Precision Platformer14 in 100 earned $100k+, from 84 launches	14 in 10012 hits	under 100	under 100	84	Audience	Pin Precision Platformer
22	Puzzle14 in 100 earned $100k+, from 684 launches	14 in 10098 hits	$5,070	$173,428	684	none	Pin Puzzle
23	Visual Novel15 in 100 earned $100k+, from 434 launches	15 in 10064 hits	$9,963	$199,513	434	Audience	Pin Visual Novel
24	Shoot 'Em Up15 in 100 earned $100k+, from 106 launches	15 in 10016 hits	$7,510	$252,312	106	Audience	Pin Shoot 'Em Up
25	Interactive Fiction15 in 100 earned $100k+, from 230 launches	15 in 10035 hits	$10,240	$220,268	230	Audience	Pin Interactive Fiction
26	Wargame16 in 100 earned $100k+, from 83 launches	16 in 10013 hits	under 100	under 100	83	Audience	Pin Wargame
27	2D Platformer16 in 100 earned $100k+, from 311 launches	16 in 10049 hits	$8,758	$239,522	311	none	Pin 2D Platformer
28	1980s16 in 100 earned $100k+, from 57 launches	16 in 1009 hits	under 100	under 100	57	none	Pin 1980s
29	Collectathon16 in 100 earned $100k+, from 113 launches	16 in 10018 hits	$8,758	$205,980	113	1-hit	Pin Collectathon
30	Cyberpunk16 in 100 earned $100k+, from 69 launches	16 in 10011 hits	under 100	under 100	69	none	Pin Cyberpunk
31	LGBTQ+16 in 100 earned $100k+, from 100 launches	16 in 10016 hits	$11,661	$148,757	100	none	Pin LGBTQ+
32	Action-Adventure16 in 100 earned $100k+, from 547 launches	16 in 10089 hits	$7,909	$192,839	547	none	Pin Action-Adventure
33	Board Game16 in 100 earned $100k+, from 98 launches	16 in 10016 hits	under 100	under 100	98	none	Pin Board Game
34	Zombies16 in 100 earned $100k+, from 73 launches	16 in 10012 hits	under 100	under 100	73	none	Pin Zombies
35	Turn-Based Tactics17 in 100 earned $100k+, from 243 launches	17 in 10042 hits	$8,519	$178,090	243	none	Pin Turn-Based Tactics
36	Platformer17 in 100 earned $100k+, from 311 launches	17 in 10054 hits	$10,197	$318,870	311	1-hitAudience	Pin Platformer
37	Real Time Tactics17 in 100 earned $100k+, from 115 launches	17 in 10020 hits	$4,905	$193,413	115	none	Pin Real Time Tactics
38	Strategy RPG17 in 100 earned $100k+, from 132 launches	17 in 10023 hits	$11,091	$180,714	132	none	Pin Strategy RPG
39	1990's17 in 100 earned $100k+, from 109 launches	17 in 10019 hits	$11,661	$210,321	109	none	Pin 1990's
40	Top-Down Shooter18 in 100 earned $100k+, from 74 launches	18 in 10013 hits	under 100	under 100	74	none	Pin Top-Down Shooter
41	Arena Shooter18 in 100 earned $100k+, from 56 launches	18 in 10010 hits	under 100	under 100	56	Audience	Pin Arena Shooter
42	Walking Simulator18 in 100 earned $100k+, from 95 launches	18 in 10017 hits	under 100	under 100	95	none	Pin Walking Simulator
43	Survival Horror18 in 100 earned $100k+, from 117 launches	18 in 10021 hits	$14,458	$198,970	117	none	Pin Survival Horror
44	Beat 'em up18 in 100 earned $100k+, from 60 launches	18 in 10011 hits	under 100	under 100	60	Audience	Pin Beat 'em up
45	Strategy19 in 100 earned $100k+, from 845 launches	19 in 100159 hits	$10,037	$243,656	845	none	Pin Strategy
46	Tabletop19 in 100 earned $100k+, from 68 launches	19 in 10013 hits	under 100	under 100	68	none	Pin Tabletop
47	Dating Sim19 in 100 earned $100k+, from 186 launches	19 in 10036 hits	$8,738	$287,297	186	Audience	Pin Dating Sim
48	Third-Person Shooter19 in 100 earned $100k+, from 103 launches	19 in 10020 hits	$4,056	$497,270	103	none	Pin Third-Person Shooter
49	Turn-Based Strategy20 in 100 earned $100k+, from 276 launches	20 in 10054 hits	$11,113	$270,265	276	none	Pin Turn-Based Strategy
50	Racing20 in 100 earned $100k+, from 112 launches	20 in 10022 hits	$5,960	$256,760	112	none	Pin Racing
51	Bullet Hell20 in 100 earned $100k+, from 126 launches	20 in 10025 hits	$10,479	$465,124	126	Audience	Pin Bullet Hell
52	Turn-Based Combat20 in 100 earned $100k+, from 185 launches	20 in 10037 hits	$11,496	$293,138	185	none	Pin Turn-Based Combat
53	War20 in 100 earned $100k+, from 60 launches	20 in 10012 hits	under 100	under 100	60	none	Pin War
54	Time Management20 in 100 earned $100k+, from 144 launches	20 in 10029 hits	$9,514	$305,184	144	Audience	Pin Time Management
55	RPG20 in 100 earned $100k+, from 789 launches	20 in 100160 hits	$11,268	$303,279	789	none	Pin RPG
56	Souls-like20 in 100 earned $100k+, from 98 launches	20 in 10020 hits	under 100	under 100	98	none	Pin Souls-like
57	Post-apocalyptic21 in 100 earned $100k+, from 112 launches	21 in 10023 hits	$14,458	$258,277	112	none	Pin Post-apocalyptic
58	Rhythm21 in 100 earned $100k+, from 63 launches	21 in 10013 hits	under 100	under 100	63	none	Pin Rhythm
59	RTS21 in 100 earned $100k+, from 111 launches	21 in 10023 hits	$14,115	$264,556	111	none	Pin RTS
60	Perma Death21 in 100 earned $100k+, from 53 launches	21 in 10011 hits	under 100	under 100	53	Audience	Pin Perma Death
61	Card Game21 in 100 earned $100k+, from 201 launches	21 in 10042 hits	$18,010	$360,680	201	none	Pin Card Game
62	Shooter21 in 100 earned $100k+, from 363 launches	21 in 10077 hits	$9,621	$330,193	363	none	Pin Shooter
63	Dungeon Crawler21 in 100 earned $100k+, from 205 launches	21 in 10044 hits	$16,387	$338,755	205	none	Pin Dungeon Crawler
64	Space21 in 100 earned $100k+, from 107 launches	21 in 10023 hits	$10,036	$252,312	107	none	Pin Space
65	Action RPG22 in 100 earned $100k+, from 281 launches	22 in 10061 hits	$10,294	$303,158	281	none	Pin Action RPG
66	Flight22 in 100 earned $100k+, from 55 launches	22 in 10012 hits	under 100	under 100	55	none	Pin Flight
67	Horror22 in 100 earned $100k+, from 345 launches	22 in 10076 hits	$12,981	$309,518	345	none	Pin Horror
68	Nature23 in 100 earned $100k+, from 80 launches	23 in 10018 hits	under 100	under 100	80	none	Pin Nature
69	Detective23 in 100 earned $100k+, from 106 launches	23 in 10024 hits	$12,860	$275,639	106	Audience	Pin Detective
70	Dark Fantasy23 in 100 earned $100k+, from 145 launches	23 in 10033 hits	$15,615	$335,771	145	1-hit	Pin Dark Fantasy
71	Tactical23 in 100 earned $100k+, from 113 launches	23 in 10026 hits	$25,693	$327,565	113	none	Pin Tactical
72	Military23 in 100 earned $100k+, from 69 launches	23 in 10016 hits	under 100	under 100	69	1-hit	Pin Military
73	Automobile Sim24 in 100 earned $100k+, from 68 launches	24 in 10016 hits	under 100	under 100	68	none	Pin Automobile Sim
74	Simulation24 in 100 earned $100k+, from 874 launches	24 in 100208 hits	$15,416	$381,863	874	none	Pin Simulation
75	Survival24 in 100 earned $100k+, from 206 launches	24 in 10050 hits	$24,935	$322,489	206	none	Pin Survival
76	Character Customization25 in 100 earned $100k+, from 191 launches	25 in 10047 hits	$17,568	$343,571	191	none	Pin Character Customization
77	FPS25 in 100 earned $100k+, from 220 launches	25 in 10055 hits	$11,290	$650,903	220	none	Pin FPS
78	Auto Battler25 in 100 earned $100k+, from 60 launches	25 in 10015 hits	under 100	under 100	60	none	Pin Auto Battler
79	Investigation25 in 100 earned $100k+, from 107 launches	25 in 10027 hits	$12,547	$349,150	107	none	Pin Investigation
80	Hack and Slash25 in 100 earned $100k+, from 182 launches	25 in 10046 hits	$19,586	$303,158	182	Audience	Pin Hack and Slash
81	Immersive Sim26 in 100 earned $100k+, from 312 launches	26 in 10080 hits	$19,296	$390,351	312	none	Pin Immersive Sim
82	Medieval26 in 100 earned $100k+, from 107 launches	26 in 10028 hits	$19,088	$459,068	107	none	Pin Medieval
83	Psychological Horror26 in 100 earned $100k+, from 205 launches	26 in 10054 hits	$21,183	$422,417	205	none	Pin Psychological Horror
84	Card Battler27 in 100 earned $100k+, from 147 launches	27 in 10039 hits	$23,752	$459,301	147	none	Pin Card Battler
85	Action Roguelike27 in 100 earned $100k+, from 244 launches	27 in 10066 hits	$17,627	$528,278	244	none	Pin Action Roguelike
86	Metroidvania27 in 100 earned $100k+, from 129 launches	27 in 10035 hits	$29,685	$418,633	129	1-hitAudience	Pin Metroidvania
87	Farming Sim27 in 100 earned $100k+, from 88 launches	27 in 10024 hits	under 100	under 100	88	none	Pin Farming Sim
88	Colony Sim27 in 100 earned $100k+, from 77 launches	27 in 10021 hits	under 100	under 100	77	none	Pin Colony Sim
89	Roguelike28 in 100 earned $100k+, from 410 launches	28 in 100113 hits	$21,406	$599,192	410	none	Pin Roguelike
90	Trading28 in 100 earned $100k+, from 54 launches	28 in 10015 hits	under 100	under 100	54	none	Pin Trading
91	Crafting28 in 100 earned $100k+, from 216 launches	28 in 10061 hits	$27,134	$392,129	216	none	Pin Crafting
92	Deckbuilding29 in 100 earned $100k+, from 168 launches	29 in 10048 hits	$24,727	$599,192	168	none	Pin Deckbuilding
93	Stealth29 in 100 earned $100k+, from 55 launches	29 in 10016 hits	under 100	under 100	55	1-hit	Pin Stealth
94	Creature Collector29 in 100 earned $100k+, from 79 launches	29 in 10023 hits	under 100	under 100	79	1-hit	Pin Creature Collector
95	Roguelite29 in 100 earned $100k+, from 381 launches	29 in 100112 hits	$24,288	$561,008	381	none	Pin Roguelite
96	Open World30 in 100 earned $100k+, from 270 launches	30 in 10080 hits	$25,972	$549,260	270	none	Pin Open World
97	City Builder30 in 100 earned $100k+, from 145 launches	30 in 10043 hits	$24,654	$479,187	145	Audience	Pin City Builder
98	Capitalism30 in 100 earned $100k+, from 74 launches	30 in 10022 hits	under 100	under 100	74	1-hit	Pin Capitalism
99	Dark Humor30 in 100 earned $100k+, from 70 launches	30 in 10021 hits	under 100	under 100	70	none	Pin Dark Humor
100	Wholesome30 in 100 earned $100k+, from 60 launches	30 in 10018 hits	under 100	under 100	60	none	Pin Wholesome

Show 18 moreShowing 100 of 118 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.