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 6 to 30 months old, data 1 Oct 2026. A hit is an estimated first year of $100k+. The revenue estimate is soft: about 5 to 8 in 100 launches overall.

Best niches

All prices

Pairs that hit $100k+ beyond the oddsFree until launch

Incremental + Resource Managementabout 8.3 times expected at its prices14 in 100

1Incremental + Resource Management14 in 100114 launches 2Idler + Resource Management13 in 100119 launches 3Incremental + Management11 in 100157 launches 4Incremental + Pixel Graphics1 in13214 launches 5Idler + Pixel Graphics1 in12262 launches

Lens checkHolds in 3 of 3. Standard: the yardstick. West-facing view: holds. Without the breakout: holds. Last 18 months: holds.

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The genre list

Price $10 to $20

All prices1 in 16 hit $100k+Under $51 in 200 hit $100k+$5 to $101 in 26 hit $100k+$10 to $2019 in 100 hit $100k+$20 to $4042 in 100 hit $100k+

Base rate: indie paid launches 6 to 30 months old, 29,637 launches. Odds compare best within one price.

Lens Last 18 months

Standard West-facing view Without the breakout Last 18 months

Only launches from the last 18 months. 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 Last 18 months 100+ launches Reset

The Last 18 months lens is computed across all prices only for now, so this list reads All prices. Pick Standard to read $10 to $20.

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: FMV, 25 in 100. 83 match.Busiest marketsMost launches first: where the competition is.Loads the 30+ launches view.

Hide one-hit markets19 out Hide small samples0 out

157 of 266 genres have 100+ launches at any price, Last 18 months. Sorted by chance of $100k+, highest first.

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Genres at any price, Last 18 months, 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 any price, Last 18 monthsthe base rate: the row to beat	1 in 161,804 of 29,637	$606	not computed	29,637
1	FMV25 in 100 earned $100k+, from 114 launches	25 in 10028 hits	$15,865	not computed	114	Audience	Pin FMV
2	Base Building21 in 100 earned $100k+, from 326 launches	21 in 10067 hits	$4,209	not computed	326	none	Pin Base Building
3	Co-op18 in 100 earned $100k+, from 428 launches	18 in 10079 hits	$3,641	not computed	428	none	Pin Co-op
4	Online Co-Op17 in 100 earned $100k+, from 439 launches	17 in 10073 hits	$3,641	not computed	439	none	Pin Online Co-Op
5	Building16 in 100 earned $100k+, from 482 launches	16 in 10076 hits	$2,790	not computed	482	none	Pin Building
6	Fishing15 in 100 earned $100k+, from 100 launches	15 in 10015 hits	$1,819	not computed	100	Audience	Pin Fishing
7	Open World15 in 100 earned $100k+, from 474 launches	15 in 10071 hits	$1,943	not computed	474	none	Pin Open World
8	Crafting14 in 100 earned $100k+, from 433 launches	14 in 10062 hits	$2,023	not computed	433	none	Pin Crafting
9	Military14 in 100 earned $100k+, from 163 launches	14 in 10023 hits	$1,294	not computed	163	none	Pin Military
10	Colony Sim13 in 100 earned $100k+, from 141 launches	13 in 10019 hits	$2,186	not computed	141	none	Pin Colony Sim
11	Cinematic13 in 100 earned $100k+, from 292 launches	13 in 10039 hits	$1,274	not computed	292	Audience	Pin Cinematic
12	City Builder13 in 100 earned $100k+, from 278 launches	13 in 10037 hits	$1,840	not computed	278	Audience	Pin City Builder
13	Sandbox13 in 100 earned $100k+, from 822 launches	13 in 100109 hits	$1,618	not computed	822	none	Pin Sandbox
14	Management13 in 100 earned $100k+, from 799 launches	13 in 100101 hits	$2,832	not computed	799	none	Pin Management
15	Metroidvania13 in 100 earned $100k+, from 232 launches	13 in 10029 hits	$2,901	not computed	232	1-hit	Pin Metroidvania
16	Gambling13 in 100 earned $100k+, from 104 launches	13 in 10013 hits	$909	not computed	104	none	Pin Gambling
17	Inventory Management12 in 100 earned $100k+, from 170 launches	12 in 10021 hits	$2,225	not computed	170	none	Pin Inventory Management
18	War12 in 100 earned $100k+, from 170 launches	12 in 10021 hits	$1,415	not computed	170	none	Pin War
19	Economy12 in 100 earned $100k+, from 424 launches	12 in 10052 hits	$2,428	not computed	424	none	Pin Economy
20	Roguelike Deckbuilder12 in 100 earned $100k+, from 188 launches	12 in 10023 hits	$8,699	not computed	188	1-hit	Pin Roguelike Deckbuilder
21	Capitalism12 in 100 earned $100k+, from 201 launches	12 in 10024 hits	$1,920	not computed	201	none	Pin Capitalism
22	Shop Keeper12 in 100 earned $100k+, from 151 launches	12 in 10018 hits	$2,369	not computed	151	none	Pin Shop Keeper
23	Resource Management12 in 100 earned $100k+, from 486 launches	12 in 10057 hits	$2,103	not computed	486	none	Pin Resource Management
24	Cozy12 in 100 earned $100k+, from 431 launches	12 in 10050 hits	$1,942	not computed	431	none	Pin Cozy
25	Mining11 in 100 earned $100k+, from 123 launches	11 in 10014 hits	$1,314	not computed	123	none	Pin Mining
26	Life Sim11 in 100 earned $100k+, from 609 launches	11 in 10069 hits	$1,920	not computed	609	none	Pin Life Sim
27	Investigation11 in 100 earned $100k+, from 263 launches	11 in 10029 hits	$1,133	not computed	263	none	Pin Investigation
28	Crime11 in 100 earned $100k+, from 129 launches	11 in 10014 hits	$1,214	not computed	129	1-hit	Pin Crime
29	Character Customization11 in 100 earned $100k+, from 459 launches	11 in 10049 hits	$1,211	not computed	459	none	Pin Character Customization
30	Souls-like11 in 100 earned $100k+, from 244 launches	11 in 10026 hits	$1,011	not computed	244	none	Pin Souls-like
31	RTS10 in 100 earned $100k+, from 277 launches	10 in 10029 hits	$787	not computed	277	Audience	Pin RTS
32	Tactical10 in 100 earned $100k+, from 273 launches	10 in 10028 hits	$809	not computed	273	none	Pin Tactical
33	Immersive Sim1 in 10 earned $100k+, from 864 launches	1 in 1086 hits	$1,274	not computed	864	none	Pin Immersive Sim
34	Survival1 in 10 earned $100k+, from 597 launches	1 in 1059 hits	$1,002	not computed	597	none	Pin Survival
35	Detective1 in 10 earned $100k+, from 308 launches	1 in 1030 hits	$1,445	not computed	308	none	Pin Detective
36	Noir1 in 10 earned $100k+, from 104 launches	1 in 1010 hits	$1,618	not computed	104	none	Pin Noir
37	Dark Fantasy1 in 11 earned $100k+, from 392 launches	1 in 1137 hits	$809	not computed	392	1-hit	Pin Dark Fantasy
38	Automation1 in 11 earned $100k+, from 266 launches	1 in 1125 hits	$1,618	not computed	266	1-hit	Pin Automation
39	Driving1 in 11 earned $100k+, from 249 launches	1 in 1123 hits	$809	not computed	249	none	Pin Driving
40	Medieval1 in 11 earned $100k+, from 403 launches	1 in 1136 hits	$607	not computed	403	none	Pin Medieval
41	Dark Humor1 in 11 earned $100k+, from 247 launches	1 in 1122 hits	$978	not computed	247	none	Pin Dark Humor
42	Farming Sim1 in 11 earned $100k+, from 229 launches	1 in 1120 hits	$1,131	not computed	229	Audience	Pin Farming Sim
43	Action RTS1 in 12 earned $100k+, from 117 launches	1 in 1210 hits	$606	not computed	117	1-hit	Pin Action RTS
44	FPS1 in 12 earned $100k+, from 790 launches	1 in 1267 hits	$606	not computed	790	none	Pin FPS
45	Dating Sim1 in 12 earned $100k+, from 348 launches	1 in 1229 hits	$1,698	not computed	348	Audience	Pin Dating Sim
46	Turn-Based Combat1 in 12 earned $100k+, from 388 launches	1 in 1232 hits	$1,335	not computed	388	none	Pin Turn-Based Combat
47	Deckbuilding1 in 12 earned $100k+, from 450 launches	1 in 1237 hits	$2,104	not computed	450	1-hit	Pin Deckbuilding
48	Dungeon Crawler1 in 12 earned $100k+, from 526 launches	1 in 1243 hits	$809	not computed	526	Audience	Pin Dungeon Crawler
49	Hack and Slash1 in 12 earned $100k+, from 465 launches	1 in 1238 hits	$1,010	not computed	465	none	Pin Hack and Slash
50	Looter Shooter1 in 12 earned $100k+, from 124 launches	1 in 1210 hits	$606	not computed	124	Audience	Pin Looter Shooter
51	Card Battler1 in 13 earned $100k+, from 392 launches	1 in 1331 hits	$1,113	not computed	392	1-hitAudience	Pin Card Battler
52	Post-apocalyptic1 in 13 earned $100k+, from 291 launches	1 in 1323 hits	$846	not computed	291	none	Pin Post-apocalyptic
53	Creature Collector1 in 13 earned $100k+, from 329 launches	1 in 1326 hits	$1,290	not computed	329	none	Pin Creature Collector
54	Nature1 in 13 earned $100k+, from 343 launches	1 in 1327 hits	$728	not computed	343	none	Pin Nature
55	Automobile Sim1 in 13 earned $100k+, from 168 launches	1 in 1313 hits	$623	not computed	168	Audience	Pin Automobile Sim
56	Zombies1 in 13 earned $100k+, from 251 launches	1 in 1319 hits	$685	not computed	251	Audience	Pin Zombies
57	Stealth1 in 13 earned $100k+, from 225 launches	1 in 1317 hits	$688	not computed	225	1-hit	Pin Stealth
58	Tactical RPG1 in 13 earned $100k+, from 252 launches	1 in 1319 hits	$1,214	not computed	252	none	Pin Tactical RPG
59	Wholesome1 in 13 earned $100k+, from 199 launches	1 in 1315 hits	$1,314	not computed	199	none	Pin Wholesome
60	Robots1 in 13 earned $100k+, from 134 launches	1 in 1310 hits	$303	not computed	134	1-hitAudience	Pin Robots
61	Beat 'em up1 in 14 earned $100k+, from 216 launches	1 in 1416 hits	$405	not computed	216	none	Pin Beat 'em up
62	Auto Battler1 in 14 earned $100k+, from 271 launches	1 in 1420 hits	$1,112	not computed	271	none	Pin Auto Battler
63	Party-Based RPG1 in 14 earned $100k+, from 258 launches	1 in 1419 hits	$728	not computed	258	Audience	Pin Party-Based RPG
64	Simulation1 in 14 earned $100k+, from 3,070 launches	1 in 14225 hits	$971	not computed	3,070	none	Pin Simulation
65	Wargame1 in 14 earned $100k+, from 234 launches	1 in 1417 hits	$808	not computed	234	none	Pin Wargame
66	RPG1 in 14 earned $100k+, from 2,257 launches	1 in 14162 hits	$607	not computed	2,257	none	Pin RPG
67	Roguelite1 in 14 earned $100k+, from 1,402 launches	1 in 1499 hits	$909	not computed	1,402	none	Pin Roguelite
68	Spectacle fighter1 in 14 earned $100k+, from 100 launches	1 in 147 hits	$810	not computed	100	none	Pin Spectacle fighter
69	Grand Strategy1 in 14 earned $100k+, from 130 launches	1 in 149 hits	$2,182	not computed	130	1-hit	Pin Grand Strategy
70	JRPG1 in 14 earned $100k+, from 333 launches	1 in 1423 hits	$1,617	not computed	333	none	Pin JRPG
71	Action RPG1 in 15 earned $100k+, from 696 launches	1 in 1548 hits	$425	not computed	696	none	Pin Action RPG
72	VR1 in 15 earned $100k+, from 249 launches	1 in 1517 hits	$809	not computed	249	none	Pin VR
73	Strategy RPG1 in 15 earned $100k+, from 339 launches	1 in 1523 hits	$607	not computed	339	none	Pin Strategy RPG
74	Interactive Fiction1 in 15 earned $100k+, from 817 launches	1 in 1555 hits	$787	not computed	817	none	Pin Interactive Fiction
75	Alternate History1 in 15 earned $100k+, from 106 launches	1 in 157 hits	$607	not computed	106	Audience	Pin Alternate History

Show 25 moreShowing 75 of 157 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 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.