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.

Settings
Text size
Game Market DataBuild what sells
Live games
192,217
on 3 Oct 2026

Genres 3 Oct

Of 253 genres with 30+ launches at any price, West-facing view, 137 beat the 1 in 17 base rate. Price moves the odds most: 1 in 219 under $5, 40 in 100 at $20 to $40.137 of 253 genres beat the 1 in 17 base rate.137 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.

Best niches

All prices

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

Base Building + Multiplayerabout 2.3 times expected at its prices, could be luck44 in 100
1Base Building + Multiplayer44 in 10045 launches2Crafting + Multiplayer44 in 10048 launches3Online Co-Op + Roguelike43 in 10040 launches4Base Building + Open World Survival Craft39 in 10054 launches5Character Customization + Open World39 in 10062 launches

Lens checkOne-hit market. Standard: the base the others are compared with. West-facing view: holds. Without the breakout: moves the answer. Last 18 months: holds.

Open free preview
Best nichesFree until launchClick to unlockTag pairs that beat the odds

The genre list

The 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.

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.Now: Colony Sim, 20 in 100. 72 match.Biggest typical yearWhat the middle launch earned, highest first.Now: Shop Keeper, $20,791 typical. 253 match.Biggest upsideWhat the top tenth earned at least.Not computed for lenses yet.Proven at scale100+ launches and above the base rate.Now: Open World Survival Craft, 31 in 100. 95 match.Busiest marketsMost launches first: where the competition is.Now: Puzzle, 5,057 launches. 253 match.
Hide one-hit markets47 outHide small samples21 out

253 of 256 genres have 30+ launches at any price, West-facing view. Sorted by chance of $100k+, highest first.

Parody 1 in 18 earned $100k+, from 129 launches at any price, West-facing viewtypical $373 none
Programming 1 in 18 earned $100k+, from 91 launches at any price, West-facing viewtypical $1,222 none
Text-Based 1 in 37 earned $100k+, from 549 launches at any price, West-facing viewtypical $737 none
Genres at any price, West-facing view, sorted by chance of $100k+. The first row is the base rate.
Rank#GenreChance of $100k+Typical yearTop 1 in 10LaunchesMarkersPin
All games at any price, West-facing viewthe base rate: the row to beat 1 in 171,546 of 26,280 $540not computed 26,280
1 31 in 100 earned $100k+, from 108 launches 31 in 10033 hits $18,843 not computed 108 1-hit Pin Open World Survival Craft
2 28 in 100 earned $100k+, from 69 launches 28 in 10019 hits $20,791 not computed 69 1-hit Pin Shop Keeper
3 21 in 100 earned $100k+, from 554 launches 21 in 100119 hits $3,119 not computed 554 none Pin Base Building
4 20 in 100 earned $100k+, from 217 launches 20 in 10044 hits $2,870 not computed 217 none Pin Colony Sim
5 19 in 100 earned $100k+, from 626 launches 19 in 100119 hits $4,860 not computed 626 none Pin Online Co-Op
6 19 in 100 earned $100k+, from 817 launches 19 in 100153 hits $2,486 not computed 817 none Pin Building
7 18 in 100 earned $100k+, from 115 launches 18 in 10021 hits $6,509 not computed 115 none Pin Trading
8 18 in 100 earned $100k+, from 658 launches 18 in 100118 hits $3,712 not computed 658 none Pin Co-op
9 18 in 100 earned $100k+, from 819 launches 18 in 100146 hits $1,914 not computed 819 none Pin Open World
10 18 in 100 earned $100k+, from 74 launches 18 in 10013 hits $8,109 not computed 74 none Pin Trains
11 18 in 100 earned $100k+, from 97 launches 18 in 10017 hits $3,791 not computed 97 none Pin Mechs
12 17 in 100 earned $100k+, from 477 launches 17 in 10083 hits $1,986 not computed 477 none Pin City Builder
13 17 in 100 earned $100k+, from 623 launches 17 in 100104 hits $2,192 not computed 623 none Pin Crafting
14 17 in 100 earned $100k+, from 469 launches 17 in 10078 hits $4,046 not computed 469 none Pin Economy
15 16 in 100 earned $100k+, from 73 launches 16 in 10012 hits $2,128 not computed 73 none Pin World War II
16 16 in 100 earned $100k+, from 31 launches 16 in 1005 hits $1,530 not computed 31 Small Pin Dice
17 16 in 100 earned $100k+, from 87 launches 16 in 10014 hits $7,362 not computed 87 none Pin Job Simulator
18 16 in 100 earned $100k+, from 106 launches 16 in 10017 hits $4,824 not computed 106 Audience Pin FMV
19 16 in 100 earned $100k+, from 974 launches 16 in 100156 hits $3,747 not computed 974 none Pin Management
20 15 in 100 earned $100k+, from 1,172 launches 15 in 100181 hits $1,914 not computed 1,172 Audience Pin Sandbox
21 15 in 100 earned $100k+, from 218 launches 15 in 10033 hits $7,776 not computed 218 Audience Pin Roguelike Deckbuilder
22 15 in 100 earned $100k+, from 485 launches 15 in 10071 hits $2,301 not computed 485 Audience Pin Cozy
23 14 in 100 earned $100k+, from 285 launches 14 in 10041 hits $2,564 not computed 285 1-hit Pin Automation
24 14 in 100 earned $100k+, from 42 launches 14 in 1006 hits $4,051 not computed 42 Small Pin Naval
25 14 in 100 earned $100k+, from 35 launches 14 in 1005 hits $3,203 not computed 35 1-hitSmall Pin Social Deduction
26 14 in 100 earned $100k+, from 113 launches 14 in 10016 hits $1,339 not computed 113 none Pin Mining
27 14 in 100 earned $100k+, from 128 launches 14 in 10018 hits $7,555 not computed 128 none Pin Bullet Heaven
28 14 in 100 earned $100k+, from 545 launches 14 in 10076 hits $1,889 not computed 545 none Pin Resource Management
29 14 in 100 earned $100k+, from 195 launches 14 in 10027 hits $1,351 not computed 195 1-hitAudience Pin Crime
30 14 in 100 earned $100k+, from 58 launches 14 in 1008 hits $510 not computed 58 none Pin Tanks
31 14 in 100 earned $100k+, from 80 launches 14 in 10011 hits $2,361 not computed 80 none Pin Fighting
32 14 in 100 earned $100k+, from 59 launches 14 in 1008 hits $306 not computed 59 none Pin Massively Multiplayer
33 14 in 100 earned $100k+, from 74 launches 14 in 10010 hits $2,194 not computed 74 none Pin 4X
34 13 in 100 earned $100k+, from 135 launches 13 in 10018 hits $1,723 not computed 135 Audience Pin Fishing
35 13 in 100 earned $100k+, from 355 launches 13 in 10047 hits $2,716 not computed 355 1-hitAudience Pin Metroidvania
36 13 in 100 earned $100k+, from 46 launches 13 in 1006 hits $4,856 not computed 46 Small Pin Animals
37 13 in 100 earned $100k+, from 324 launches 13 in 10042 hits $1,607 not computed 324 none Pin Farming Sim
38 13 in 100 earned $100k+, from 186 launches 13 in 10024 hits $1,417 not computed 186 none Pin Inventory Management
39 13 in 100 earned $100k+, from 847 launches 13 in 100108 hits $1,915 not computed 847 none Pin Life Sim
40 13 in 100 earned $100k+, from 142 launches 13 in 10018 hits $3,377 not computed 142 none Pin Lovecraftian
41 13 in 100 earned $100k+, from 143 launches 13 in 10018 hits $1,020 not computed 143 none Pin Music
42 13 in 100 earned $100k+, from 390 launches 13 in 10049 hits $957 not computed 390 none Pin Driving
43 12 in 100 earned $100k+, from 75 launches 12 in 1009 hits $2,430 not computed 75 1-hit Pin Co-op Campaign
44 12 in 100 earned $100k+, from 244 launches 12 in 10029 hits $2,194 not computed 244 1-hit Pin Capitalism
45 12 in 100 earned $100k+, from 93 launches 12 in 10011 hits $1,530 not computed 93 Audience Pin Gun Customization
46 4 of 34 launches earned $100k+ 4 of 344 hits $1,531 not computed 34 Small Pin Heist
47 11 in 100 earned $100k+, from 370 launches 11 in 10041 hits $1,012 not computed 370 none Pin Souls-like
48 11 in 100 earned $100k+, from 91 launches 11 in 10010 hits $1,277 not computed 91 none Pin Transportation
49 11 in 100 earned $100k+, from 193 launches 11 in 10021 hits $2,042 not computed 193 1-hit Pin Grand Strategy
50 11 in 100 earned $100k+, from 46 launches 11 in 1005 hits $2,555 not computed 46 1-hitSmall Pin Farming
51 11 in 100 earned $100k+, from 344 launches 11 in 10037 hits $706 not computed 344 1-hit Pin Stealth
52 11 in 100 earned $100k+, from 419 launches 11 in 10045 hits $1,011 not computed 419 none Pin Tactical
53 11 in 100 earned $100k+, from 448 launches 11 in 10048 hits $1,205 not computed 448 Audience Pin Cinematic
54 11 in 100 earned $100k+, from 271 launches 11 in 10029 hits $1,383 not computed 271 none Pin War
55 10 in 100 earned $100k+, from 535 launches 10 in 10056 hits $2,411 not computed 535 none Pin Deckbuilding
56 10 in 100 earned $100k+, from 86 launches 10 in 1009 hits $1,113 not computed 86 none Pin Pirates
57 10 in 100 earned $100k+, from 67 launches 10 in 1007 hits $2,276 not computed 67 none Pin Minigames
58 10 in 100 earned $100k+, from 125 launches 10 in 10013 hits $706 not computed 125 none Pin Destruction
59 10 in 100 earned $100k+, from 248 launches 10 in 10025 hits $1,175 not computed 248 Audience Pin Cooking
60 1 in 10 earned $100k+, from 263 launches 1 in 1026 hits $847 not computed 263 1-hit Pin Military
61 1 in 10 earned $100k+, from 452 launches 1 in 1044 hits $1,002 not computed 452 none Pin Post-apocalyptic
62 1 in 10 earned $100k+, from 299 launches 1 in 1029 hits $1,845 not computed 299 none Pin Wholesome
63 1 in 10 earned $100k+, from 155 launches 1 in 1015 hits $1,248 not computed 155 none Pin Noir
64 3 of 31 launches earned $100k+ 3 of 313 hits $1,616 not computed 31 1-hitSmall Pin Diplomacy
65 1 in 10 earned $100k+, from 973 launches 1 in 1094 hits $1,021 not computed 973 none Pin Survival
66 1 in 10 earned $100k+, from 166 launches 1 in 1016 hits $911 not computed 166 1-hit Pin Mythology
67 1 in 10 earned $100k+, from 826 launches 1 in 1079 hits $877 not computed 826 Audience Pin Character Customization
68 1 in 10 earned $100k+, from 430 launches 1 in 1041 hits $1,149 not computed 430 none Pin Investigation
69 1 in 11 earned $100k+, from 84 launches 1 in 118 hits $1,723 not computed 84 Audience Pin Class-Based
70 1 in 11 earned $100k+, from 284 launches 1 in 1127 hits $827 not computed 284 none Pin Automobile Sim
71 1 in 11 earned $100k+, from 792 launches 1 in 1175 hits $892 not computed 792 Audience Pin Hack and Slash
72 1 in 11 earned $100k+, from 74 launches 1 in 117 hits $1,411 not computed 74 none Pin Gothic
73 1 in 11 earned $100k+, from 107 launches 1 in 1110 hits $1,065 not computed 107 none Pin Vehicular Combat
74 1 in 11 earned $100k+, from 75 launches 1 in 117 hits $1,263 not computed 75 none Pin Western
75 4 of 43 launches earned $100k+ 4 of 434 hits $3,794 not computed 43 Small Pin Horses
76 4 of 43 launches earned $100k+ 4 of 434 hits $612 not computed 43 Small Pin Medical Sim
77 1 in 11 earned $100k+, from 141 launches 1 in 1113 hits $1,882 not computed 141 1-hit Pin Team-Based
78 1 in 11 earned $100k+, from 351 launches 1 in 1132 hits $1,089 not computed 351 none Pin Dark Humor
79 3 of 33 launches earned $100k+ 3 of 333 hits $451 not computed 33 1-hitSmall Pin Motorbike
80 1 in 11 earned $100k+, from 466 launches 1 in 1142 hits $1,291 not computed 466 none Pin Card Battler
81 1 in 11 earned $100k+, from 556 launches 1 in 1150 hits $1,180 not computed 556 1-hit Pin Dark Fantasy
82 1 in 11 earned $100k+, from 1,281 launches 1 in 11114 hits $1,339 not computed 1,281 none Pin Immersive Sim
83 1 in 11 earned $100k+, from 859 launches 1 in 1175 hits $1,012 not computed 859 none Pin Dungeon Crawler
84 1 in 12 earned $100k+, from 115 launches 1 in 1210 hits $862 not computed 115 1-hit Pin Martial Arts
85 1 in 12 earned $100k+, from 166 launches 1 in 1214 hits $1,012 not computed 166 Audience Pin Dystopian
86 1 in 12 earned $100k+, from 1,875 launches 1 in 12158 hits $1,190 not computed 1,875 none Pin Roguelite
87 1 in 12 earned $100k+, from 4,193 launches 1 in 12351 hits $941 not computed 4,193 none Pin Simulation
88 1 in 12 earned $100k+, from 120 launches 1 in 1210 hits $425 not computed 120 1-hit Pin Swordplay
89 4 of 48 launches earned $100k+ 4 of 484 hits $1,277 not computed 48 Small Pin Superhero
90 3 of 36 launches earned $100k+ 3 of 363 hits $1,011 not computed 36 Small Pin Asynchronous Multiplayer
91 3 of 36 launches earned $100k+ 3 of 363 hits $144 not computed 36 1-hitSmall Pin MOBA
92 1 in 12 earned $100k+, from 217 launches 1 in 1218 hits $957 not computed 217 none Pin Boomer Shooter
93 1 in 12 earned $100k+, from 169 launches 1 in 1214 hits $1,339 not computed 169 none Pin Dark Comedy
94 1 in 12 earned $100k+, from 157 launches 1 in 1213 hits $886 not computed 157 none Pin Alternate History
95 1 in 12 earned $100k+, from 1,259 launches 1 in 12104 hits $545 not computed 1,259 none Pin FPS
96 1 in 12 earned $100k+, from 344 launches 1 in 1228 hits $1,149 not computed 344 none Pin Tactical RPG
97 1 in 12 earned $100k+, from 74 launches 1 in 126 hits $1,072 not computed 74 none Pin Vampires
98 1 in 12 earned $100k+, from 87 launches 1 in 127 hits $794 not computed 87 none Pin Gambling
99 1 in 12 earned $100k+, from 461 launches 1 in 1237 hits $765 not computed 461 none Pin RTS
100 1 in 13 earned $100k+, from 565 launches 1 in 1345 hits $506 not computed 565 none Pin Medieval
101 1 in 13 earned $100k+, from 467 launches 1 in 1337 hits $1,003 not computed 467 Audience Pin Detective
102 1 in 13 earned $100k+, from 1,939 launches 1 in 13152 hits $1,065 not computed 1,939 none Pin Roguelike
103 1 in 13 earned $100k+, from 450 launches 1 in 1335 hits $1,070 not computed 450 1-hit Pin Creature Collector
104 1 in 13 earned $100k+, from 585 launches 1 in 1345 hits $1,149 not computed 585 none Pin Turn-Based Combat
105 1 in 13 earned $100k+, from 171 launches 1 in 1313 hits $337 not computed 171 none Pin Typing
106 1 in 13 earned $100k+, from 66 launches 1 in 135 hits $780 not computed 66 none Pin Steampunk
107 1 in 13 earned $100k+, from 186 launches 1 in 1314 hits $568 not computed 186 none Pin Spectacle fighter
108 1 in 13 earned $100k+, from 80 launches 1 in 136 hits $1,097 not computed 80 none Pin Conspiracy
109 3 of 40 launches earned $100k+ 3 of 403 hits $1,427 not computed 40 Small Pin Naval Combat
110 1 in 13 earned $100k+, from 228 launches 1 in 1317 hits $421 not computed 228 none Pin Robots
111 1 in 14 earned $100k+, from 522 launches 1 in 1438 hits $552 not computed 522 none Pin Nature
112 1 in 14 earned $100k+, from 3,125 launches 1 in 14225 hits $729 not computed 3,125 none Pin RPG
113 1 in 14 earned $100k+, from 142 launches 1 in 1410 hits $573 not computed 142 1-hit Pin eSports
114 1 in 14 earned $100k+, from 1,240 launches 1 in 1487 hits $496 not computed 1,240 Audience Pin Action RPG
115 1 in 14 earned $100k+, from 943 launches 1 in 1466 hits $945 not computed 943 none Pin Turn-Based Strategy
116 1 in 14 earned $100k+, from 315 launches 1 in 1422 hits $941 not computed 315 none Pin Cyberpunk
117 1 in 14 earned $100k+, from 387 launches 1 in 1427 hits $675 not computed 387 none Pin Wargame
118 1 in 15 earned $100k+, from 116 launches 1 in 158 hits $688 not computed 116 none Pin Agriculture
119 1 in 15 earned $100k+, from 496 launches 1 in 1534 hits $1,916 not computed 496 Audience Pin Dating Sim
120 4 of 59 launches earned $100k+ 4 of 594 hits $458 not computed 59 none Pin Faith
121 1 in 15 earned $100k+, from 314 launches 1 in 1521 hits $2,298 not computed 314 none Pin LGBTQ+
122 1 in 15 earned $100k+, from 855 launches 1 in 1557 hits $751 not computed 855 none Pin Turn-Based Tactics
123 1 in 15 earned $100k+, from 180 launches 1 in 1512 hits $807 not computed 180 none Pin Philosophical
124 1 in 15 earned $100k+, from 75 launches 1 in 155 hits $153 not computed 75 1-hit Pin Ninja
125 1 in 15 earned $100k+, from 212 launches 1 in 1514 hits $1,075 not computed 212 Audience Pin CRPG
126 1 in 15 earned $100k+, from 91 launches 1 in 156 hits $605 not computed 91 none Pin Satire
127 1 in 15 earned $100k+, from 1,657 launches 1 in 15108 hits $705 not computed 1,657 none Pin Action Roguelike
128 1 in 16 earned $100k+, from 93 launches 1 in 166 hits $564 not computed 93 1-hit Pin Trading Card Game
129 1 in 16 earned $100k+, from 528 launches 1 in 1634 hits $2,024 not computed 528 none Pin Romance
130 1 in 16 earned $100k+, from 94 launches 1 in 166 hits $623 not computed 94 1-hit Pin Dragons
131 1 in 16 earned $100k+, from 796 launches 1 in 1650 hits $638 not computed 796 none Pin Card Game
132 1 in 16 earned $100k+, from 80 launches 1 in 165 hits $827 not computed 80 none Pin Dinosaurs
133 3 of 48 launches earned $100k+ 3 of 483 hits $236 not computed 48 Small Pin Outbreak Sim
134 1 in 16 earned $100k+, from 855 launches 1 in 1653 hits $919 not computed 855 1-hit Pin Survival Horror
135 1 in 16 earned $100k+, from 4,305 launches 1 in 16262 hits $472 not computed 4,305 none Pin Strategy
136 1 in 17 earned $100k+, from 363 launches 1 in 1722 hits $1,350 not computed 363 none Pin Party-Based RPG
137 1 in 17 earned $100k+, from 640 launches 1 in 1738 hits $658 not computed 640 Audience Pin Time Management
138 1 in 17 earned $100k+, from 575 launches 1 in 1733 hits $707 not computed 575 none Pin VR
139 1 in 18 earned $100k+, from 443 launches 1 in 1825 hits $421 not computed 443 none Pin Zombies
140 1 in 18 earned $100k+, from 2,989 launches 1 in 18168 hits $1,021 not computed 2,989 none Pin Horror
141 1 in 18 earned $100k+, from 659 launches 1 in 1837 hits $268 not computed 659 none Pin Space
142 1 in 18 earned $100k+, from 394 launches 1 in 1822 hits $297 not computed 394 Audience Pin Beat 'em up
143 1 in 18 earned $100k+, from 2,001 launches 1 in 18110 hits $1,261 not computed 2,001 none Pin Psychological Horror
144 1 in 18 earned $100k+, from 91 launches 1 in 185 hits $1,222 not computed 91 none Pinned Programming
145 1 in 18 earned $100k+, from 2,375 launches 1 in 18130 hits $329 not computed 2,375 none Pin Shooter
146 1 in 18 earned $100k+, from 128 launches 1 in 187 hits $574 not computed 128 1-hit Pin Voxel
147 1 in 18 earned $100k+, from 165 launches 1 in 189 hits $255 not computed 165 none Pin Looter Shooter
148 1 in 18 earned $100k+, from 129 launches 1 in 187 hits $373 not computed 129 none Pinned Parody
149 1 in 19 earned $100k+, from 111 launches 1 in 196 hits $567 not computed 111 none Pin Science
150 1 in 19 earned $100k+, from 648 launches 1 in 1935 hits $510 not computed 648 none Pin 1990's
Show 25 moreShowing 150 of 253 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.