Best niches
All pricesPairs that hit $100k+ beyond the oddsFree until launch
Lens checkChanged recently. Standard: the yardstick. West-facing view: holds. Without the breakout: holds. Last 18 months: moves the answer.
Open free previewTicker: price and year-over-year change for 40 genres. Price is the median estimated first-year revenue of indie paid launches. The same figures are on the Genres page.
Genres 1 Oct
Of 264 genres with 30+ launches at any price, West-facing view, 154 beat the 1 in 16 base rate. Price moves the odds most: 1 in 192 under $5, 42 in 100 at $20 to $40.154 of 264 genres beat the 1 in 16 base rate.154 beat the base rate.
Cohort median $606
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.
Pairs that hit $100k+ beyond the oddsFree until launch
Lens checkChanged recently. Standard: the yardstick. West-facing view: holds. Without the breakout: holds. Last 18 months: moves the answer.
Open free previewThe West-facing view lens is computed across all prices only for now, so this list reads All prices. Pick Standard to read $10 to $20.
264 of 266 genres have 30+ launches at any price, West-facing view. Sorted by chance of $100k+, highest first.
| Rank# | Genre | Chance of $100k+ | Typical year | Top 1 in 10 | Launches | Markers | Pin | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All games at any price, West-facing viewthe base rate: the row to beat | 1 in 161,804 of 29,637 | $606 | not computed | 29,637 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Extraction Shooter47 in 100 earned $100k+, from 30 launches | 47 in 10014 hits | $68,810 | not computed | 30 | 1-hitSmall | Pin Extraction Shooter | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Organizing33 in 100 earned $100k+, from 30 launches | 33 in 10010 hits | $15,561 | not computed | 30 | Small | Pin Organizing | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Open World Survival Craft31 in 100 earned $100k+, from 107 launches | 31 in 10033 hits | $21,248 | not computed | 107 | none | Pin Open World Survival Craft | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | MMORPG25 in 100 earned $100k+, from 32 launches | 25 in 1008 hits | $16,665 | not computed | 32 | 1-hitSmallAudience | Pin MMORPG | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 5 | Rome23 in 100 earned $100k+, from 35 launches | 23 in 1008 hits | $2,262 | not computed | 35 | Small | Pin Rome | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 6 | World War II21 in 100 earned $100k+, from 67 launches | 21 in 10014 hits | $4,209 | not computed | 67 | none | Pin World War II | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 7 | Base Building20 in 100 earned $100k+, from 599 launches | 20 in 100120 hits | $3,683 | not computed | 599 | none | Pin Base Building | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 8 | Desktop Companion19 in 100 earned $100k+, from 67 launches | 19 in 10013 hits | $6,770 | not computed | 67 | Audience | Pin Desktop Companion | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 9 | Online Co-Op19 in 100 earned $100k+, from 777 launches | 19 in 100148 hits | $4,451 | not computed | 777 | none | Pin Online Co-Op | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 10 | Co-op19 in 100 earned $100k+, from 772 launches | 19 in 100146 hits | $3,936 | not computed | 772 | none | Pin Co-op | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 11 | Building18 in 100 earned $100k+, from 870 launches | 18 in 100154 hits | $2,831 | not computed | 870 | none | Pin Building | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 12 | Colony Sim17 in 100 earned $100k+, from 246 launches | 17 in 10043 hits | $2,630 | not computed | 246 | none | Pin Colony Sim | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 13 | FMV17 in 100 earned $100k+, from 121 launches | 17 in 10021 hits | $4,855 | not computed | 121 | Audience | Pin FMV | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 14 | Mechs17 in 100 earned $100k+, from 112 launches | 17 in 10019 hits | $5,153 | not computed | 112 | none | Pin Mechs | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 15 | Music17 in 100 earned $100k+, from 149 launches | 17 in 10025 hits | $1,778 | not computed | 149 | none | Pin Music | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 16 | Bikes17 in 100 earned $100k+, from 36 launches | 17 in 1006 hits | $1,415 | not computed | 36 | Small | Pin Bikes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 17 | Trains16 in 100 earned $100k+, from 73 launches | 16 in 10012 hits | $5,464 | not computed | 73 | none | Pin Trains | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 18 | Naval16 in 100 earned $100k+, from 49 launches | 16 in 1008 hits | $4,451 | not computed | 49 | Small | Pin Naval | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 19 | Open World16 in 100 earned $100k+, from 877 launches | 16 in 100142 hits | $2,185 | not computed | 877 | none | Pin Open World | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 20 | Cold War16 in 100 earned $100k+, from 31 launches | 16 in 1005 hits | $4,209 | not computed | 31 | Small | Pin Cold War | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 21 | Crafting16 in 100 earned $100k+, from 710 launches | 16 in 100114 hits | $2,448 | not computed | 710 | none | Pin Crafting | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 22 | Co-op Campaign16 in 100 earned $100k+, from 88 launches | 16 in 10014 hits | $2,428 | not computed | 88 | 1-hit | Pin Co-op Campaign | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 23 | Horses16 in 100 earned $100k+, from 51 launches | 16 in 1008 hits | $4,010 | not computed | 51 | none | Pin Horses | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 24 | Management15 in 100 earned $100k+, from 1,251 launches | 15 in 100192 hits | $3,638 | not computed | 1,251 | none | Pin Management | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 25 | City Builder15 in 100 earned $100k+, from 512 launches | 15 in 10078 hits | $2,225 | not computed | 512 | Audience | Pin City Builder | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 26 | Bullet Heaven15 in 100 earned $100k+, from 138 launches | 15 in 10021 hits | $7,376 | not computed | 138 | 1-hit | Pin Bullet Heaven | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 27 | Trading15 in 100 earned $100k+, from 152 launches | 15 in 10023 hits | $5,631 | not computed | 152 | 1-hit | Pin Trading | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 28 | Sandbox15 in 100 earned $100k+, from 1,352 launches | 15 in 100198 hits | $1,840 | not computed | 1,352 | none | Pin Sandbox | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 29 | Economy15 in 100 earned $100k+, from 631 launches | 15 in 10092 hits | $3,641 | not computed | 631 | none | Pin Economy | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 30 | Shop Keeper15 in 100 earned $100k+, from 179 launches | 15 in 10026 hits | $3,683 | not computed | 179 | none | Pin Shop Keeper | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 31 | Metroidvania14 in 100 earned $100k+, from 406 launches | 14 in 10058 hits | $3,031 | not computed | 406 | 1-hit | Pin Metroidvania | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 32 | Job Simulator14 in 100 earned $100k+, from 126 launches | 14 in 10018 hits | $8,351 | not computed | 126 | none | Pin Job Simulator | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 33 | Crime14 in 100 earned $100k+, from 220 launches | 14 in 10031 hits | $1,816 | not computed | 220 | 1-hit | Pin Crime | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 34 | Fishing14 in 100 earned $100k+, from 172 launches | 14 in 10024 hits | $2,223 | not computed | 172 | Audience | Pin Fishing | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 35 | Fighting13 in 100 earned $100k+, from 91 launches | 13 in 10012 hits | $2,428 | not computed | 91 | 1-hit | Pin Fighting | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 36 | Massively Multiplayer13 in 100 earned $100k+, from 69 launches | 13 in 1009 hits | $405 | not computed | 69 | none | Pin Massively Multiplayer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 37 | Cozy13 in 100 earned $100k+, from 646 launches | 13 in 10084 hits | $2,101 | not computed | 646 | none | Pin Cozy | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 38 | Lovecraftian13 in 100 earned $100k+, from 170 launches | 13 in 10022 hits | $4,048 | not computed | 170 | Audience | Pin Lovecraftian | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 39 | Life Sim13 in 100 earned $100k+, from 990 launches | 13 in 100128 hits | $2,225 | not computed | 990 | none | Pin Life Sim | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 40 | Heist13 in 100 earned $100k+, from 39 launches | 13 in 1005 hits | $1,780 | not computed | 39 | 1-hitSmall | Pin Heist | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 41 | Farming13 in 100 earned $100k+, from 47 launches | 13 in 1006 hits | $2,914 | not computed | 47 | 1-hitSmall | Pin Farming | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 42 | Roguelike Deckbuilder13 in 100 earned $100k+, from 290 launches | 13 in 10037 hits | $8,252 | not computed | 290 | 1-hit | Pin Roguelike Deckbuilder | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
13 in 100 earned $100k+, from 290 launches at any price, West-facing view. That is about 2.1 times the base rate. Base rate at any price, West-facing view: 1 in 16 (1,804 of 29,637 launches earned $100k+). Typical first year $8,252. Top 1 in 10 is not computed for lenses yet. Lens check, all pricesHolds in 3 of 3. Standard: the yardstick. West-facing view: holds. Without the breakout: holds. Last 18 months: holds.
Grey: under 30 launches at that price, written as a count. Odds compare best within one price. Best tag pairs inside, at any price, West-facing view
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| 43 | Vampires13 in 100 earned $100k+, from 79 launches | 13 in 10010 hits | $1,214 | not computed | 79 | none | Pin Vampires | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 44 | Resource Management13 in 100 earned $100k+, from 740 launches | 13 in 10093 hits | $2,136 | not computed | 740 | none | Pin Resource Management | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 45 | Capitalism13 in 100 earned $100k+, from 311 launches | 13 in 10039 hits | $2,630 | not computed | 311 | none | Pin Capitalism | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 46 | Mining12 in 100 earned $100k+, from 161 launches | 12 in 10020 hits | $1,516 | not computed | 161 | none | Pin Mining | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 47 | Gothic12 in 100 earned $100k+, from 74 launches | 12 in 1009 hits | $1,821 | not computed | 74 | 1-hit | Pin Gothic | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 48 | Souls-like12 in 100 earned $100k+, from 446 launches | 12 in 10054 hits | $1,214 | not computed | 446 | none | Pin Souls-like | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 49 | Driving12 in 100 earned $100k+, from 455 launches | 12 in 10055 hits | $1,011 | not computed | 455 | none | Pin Driving | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 50 | Farming Sim12 in 100 earned $100k+, from 382 launches | 12 in 10046 hits | $1,557 | not computed | 382 | Audience | Pin Farming Sim | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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.
Ticker: 30 upcoming games dated within 90 days, with wishlist rank, release date and followers. The same list is on the Upcoming page.