Genres

Ticker: 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.

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on 30 Sep 2026

Genres 1 Oct

Of 232 genres with 10+ launches at $10 to $20, 89 beat the 19 in 100 base rate. Price moves the odds most: 1 in 192 under $5, 42 in 100 at $20 to $40.89 of 232 genres beat the 19 in 100 base rate.89 beat the base rate.

Cohort median $606

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.

The genre list

Best odds at my priceChance of $100k+, read within one price band.Now: FMV, 47 in 100. 166 match.Steady marketsHolds in every lens and no single game owns it.Now: FMV, 47 in 100. 125 match.Biggest typical yearWhat the middle launch earned, highest first.Now: FMV, $81,191 typical. 166 match.Biggest upsideWhat the top tenth earned at least.Now: Crime, $1.5M top 1 in 10. 129 match.Proven at scale100+ launches and above the base rate.Now: Cozy, 45 in 100. 45 match.Busiest marketsMost launches first: where the competition is.Now: Simulation, 1,006 launches. 166 match.
Hide one-hit markets40 outHide small samples103 out

232 of 266 genres have 10+ launches at $10 to $20. Sorted by chance of $100k+, highest first.

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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 19 in 100893 of 4,810 $9,226$248,075 4,810
1 47 in 100 earned $100k+, from 51 launches 47 in 10024 hits $81,191 $304,089 51 Audience Pin FMV
2 45 in 100 earned $100k+, from 131 launches 45 in 10059 hits $62,342 $971,575 131 none Pin Cozy
3 9 of 21 launches earned $100k+ 9 of 219 hits $43,313 $515,310 21 Small Pin Typing
4 9 of 22 launches earned $100k+ 9 of 229 hits $19,731 $1,440,409 22 1-hitSmall Pin Bullet Heaven
5 6 of 15 launches earned $100k+ 6 of 156 hits $68,810 $990,944 15 1-hitSmall Pin Extraction Shooter
6 37 in 100 earned $100k+, from 38 launches 37 in 10014 hits $40,062 $691,394 38 Small Pin Music
7 36 in 100 earned $100k+, from 64 launches 36 in 10023 hits $36,662 $862,682 64 none Pin Shop Keeper
8 35 in 100 earned $100k+, from 62 launches 35 in 10022 hits $47,961 $819,275 62 none Pin Open World Survival Craft
9 35 in 100 earned $100k+, from 177 launches 35 in 10062 hits $38,456 $901,536 177 none Pin Online Co-Op
10 34 in 100 earned $100k+, from 198 launches 34 in 10067 hits $27,523 $901,536 198 none Pin Co-op
11 5 of 15 launches earned $100k+ 5 of 155 hits $14,267 $371,199 15 Small Pin Bullet Time
12 4 of 12 launches earned $100k+ 4 of 124 hits $47,551 $1,793,374 12 1-hitSmall Pin Heist
13 33 in 100 earned $100k+, from 52 launches 33 in 10017 hits $26,042 $281,334 52 Audience Pin Lovecraftian
14 32 in 100 earned $100k+, from 258 launches 32 in 10083 hits $26,551 $565,502 258 none Pin Building
15 7 of 22 launches earned $100k+ 7 of 227 hits $17,001 $411,547 22 1-hitSmall Pin Swordplay
16 32 in 100 earned $100k+, from 85 launches 32 in 10027 hits $31,406 $1,021,709 85 1-hit Pin Automation
17 31 in 100 earned $100k+, from 267 launches 31 in 10084 hits $31,406 $395,032 267 none Pin Life Sim
18 31 in 100 earned $100k+, from 55 launches 31 in 10017 hits $42,987 $267,122 55 none Pin Wholesome
19 4 of 13 launches earned $100k+ 4 of 134 hits $4,735 $1,095,533 13 Small Pin Gambling
20 31 in 100 earned $100k+, from 388 launches 31 in 100119 hits $26,551 $520,165 388 none Pin Sandbox
21 30 in 100 earned $100k+, from 83 launches 30 in 10025 hits $13,923 $515,310 83 none Pin Dark Humor
22 30 in 100 earned $100k+, from 70 launches 30 in 10021 hits $24,284 $766,093 70 none Pin Inventory Management
23 6 of 20 launches earned $100k+ 6 of 206 hits $13,111 $399,402 20 1-hitSmallAudience Pin Time Travel
24 30 in 100 earned $100k+, from 57 launches 30 in 10017 hits $13,762 $1,455,227 57 1-hit Pin Crime
25 30 in 100 earned $100k+, from 360 launches 30 in 100107 hits $26,717 $409,789 360 none Pin Management
26 8 of 27 launches earned $100k+ 8 of 278 hits $14,570 $430,966 27 Small Pin Mining
27 29 in 100 earned $100k+, from 231 launches 29 in 10068 hits $28,409 $663,058 231 none Pin Base Building
28 29 in 100 earned $100k+, from 231 launches 29 in 10068 hits $24,288 $522,189 231 none Pin Crafting
29 5 of 17 launches earned $100k+ 5 of 175 hits $6,071 $267,425 17 Small Pin Dinosaurs
30 5 of 17 launches earned $100k+ 5 of 175 hits $10,525 $664,103 17 SmallAudience Pin Satire
31 29 in 100 earned $100k+, from 38 launches 29 in 10011 hits $27,922 $253,808 38 Small Pin Noir
32 29 in 100 earned $100k+, from 97 launches 29 in 10028 hits $17,851 $367,151 97 Audience Pin Cinematic
33 29 in 100 earned $100k+, from 42 launches 29 in 10012 hits $22,417 $863,593 42 Small Pin Boomer Shooter
34 4 of 14 launches earned $100k+ 4 of 144 hits $27,931 $346,102 14 Small Pin World War II
35 7 of 25 launches earned $100k+ 7 of 257 hits $37,640 $306,583 25 Small Pin Trains
36 5 of 18 launches earned $100k+ 5 of 185 hits $5,262 $369,985 18 1-hitSmall Pin Battle Royale
37 28 in 100 earned $100k+, from 40 launches 28 in 10011 hits $12,954 $514,093 40 Small Pin Vehicular Combat
38 27 in 100 earned $100k+, from 91 launches 27 in 10025 hits $22,359 $294,876 91 none Pin Capitalism
39 27 in 100 earned $100k+, from 201 launches 27 in 10055 hits $27,623 $402,463 201 none Pin Economy
40 27 in 100 earned $100k+, from 44 launches 27 in 10012 hits $18,458 $560,240 44 Small Pin Psychedelic
41 27 in 100 earned $100k+, from 33 launches 27 in 1009 hits $18,676 $262,309 33 Small Pin Dark Comedy
42 3 of 11 launches earned $100k+ 3 of 113 hits $33,598 $369,985 11 Small Pin Massively Multiplayer
43 27 in 100 earned $100k+, from 268 launches 27 in 10072 hits $16,088 $485,586 268 none Pin Action Roguelike
44 27 in 100 earned $100k+, from 45 launches 27 in 10012 hits $11,739 $452,968 45 Small Pin Spectacle fighter
45 27 in 100 earned $100k+, from 304 launches 27 in 10081 hits $20,964 $510,045 304 none Pin Open World
46 27 in 100 earned $100k+, from 83 launches 27 in 10022 hits $24,693 $271,766 83 none Pin Creature Collector
47 26 in 100 earned $100k+, from 102 launches 26 in 10027 hits $12,549 $411,669 102 none Pin Driving
48 5 of 19 launches earned $100k+ 5 of 195 hits $5,262 $1,455,227 19 Small Pin Conspiracy
49 26 in 100 earned $100k+, from 187 launches 26 in 10049 hits $23,677 $358,651 187 none Pin Resource Management
50 26 in 100 earned $100k+, from 124 launches 26 in 10032 hits $33,382 $558,583 124 1-hit Pin Roguelike Deckbuilder
51 25 in 100 earned $100k+, from 124 launches 25 in 10031 hits $9,310 $291,418 124 none Pin Investigation
52 25 in 100 earned $100k+, from 44 launches 25 in 10011 hits $7,892 $551,242 44 Small Pin Twin Stick Shooter
53 5 of 20 launches earned $100k+ 5 of 205 hits $8,679 $344,726 20 Small Pin Parody
54 3 of 12 launches earned $100k+ 3 of 123 hits $16,267 $971,575 12 1-hitSmall Pin Farming
55 3 of 12 launches earned $100k+ 3 of 123 hits $8,196 $232,920 12 SmallAudience Pin Underground
56 25 in 100 earned $100k+, from 126 launches 25 in 10031 hits $18,150 $363,650 126 none Pin Medieval
57 25 in 100 earned $100k+, from 151 launches 25 in 10037 hits $23,478 $292,264 151 1-hit Pin Metroidvania
58 24 in 100 earned $100k+, from 86 launches 24 in 10021 hits $21,570 $462,606 86 none Pin Cooking
59 24 in 100 earned $100k+, from 37 launches 24 in 1009 hits $16,996 $802,473 37 SmallAudience Pin Looter Shooter
60 24 in 100 earned $100k+, from 37 launches 24 in 1009 hits $34,003 $415,253 37 SmallAudience Pin Martial Arts
61 24 in 100 earned $100k+, from 359 launches 24 in 10087 hits $18,621 $332,634 359 none Pin Immersive Sim
62 7 of 29 launches earned $100k+ 7 of 297 hits $30,765 $172,629 29 Small Pin Science
63 24 in 100 earned $100k+, from 141 launches 24 in 10034 hits $10,665 $248,075 141 none Pin Detective
64 24 in 100 earned $100k+, from 448 launches 24 in 100108 hits $18,456 $485,586 448 none Pin Roguelite
65 6 of 25 launches earned $100k+ 6 of 256 hits $9,714 $319,385 25 Small Pin Gun Customization
66 24 in 100 earned $100k+, from 226 launches 24 in 10054 hits $18,938 $358,651 226 none Pin Survival
67 24 in 100 earned $100k+, from 143 launches 24 in 10034 hits $7,628 $430,966 143 none Pin Tower Defense
68 24 in 100 earned $100k+, from 480 launches 24 in 100113 hits $18,676 $415,727 480 none Pin Roguelike
69 24 in 100 earned $100k+, from 238 launches 24 in 10056 hits $11,231 $636,746 238 none Pin FPS
70 4 of 17 launches earned $100k+ 4 of 174 hits $14,417 $331,318 17 Small Pin Hacking
71 4 of 17 launches earned $100k+ 4 of 174 hits $5,787 $513,299 17 Small Pin Minigames
72 4 of 17 launches earned $100k+ 4 of 174 hits $5,849 $663,058 17 Small Pin Vampires
73 23 in 100 earned $100k+, from 43 launches 23 in 10010 hits $7,628 $416,920 43 1-hitSmall Pin Cats
74 23 in 100 earned $100k+, from 99 launches 23 in 10023 hits $19,025 $369,985 99 Audience Pin Farming Sim
75 23 in 100 earned $100k+, from 181 launches 23 in 10042 hits $18,428 $362,436 181 1-hitAudience Pin Card Battler
76 23 in 100 earned $100k+, from 203 launches 23 in 10047 hits $14,811 $305,217 203 none Pin Character Customization
77 6 of 26 launches earned $100k+ 6 of 266 hits $12,628 $244,659 26 1-hitSmall Pin Dragons
78 Asynchronous Multiplayer3 of 13 launches earned $100k+ 3 of 133 hits $27,623 $156,664 13 SmallAudience Pin Asynchronous Multiplayer

3 of 13 launches earned $100k+ at $10 to $20.

Base rate at $10 to $20: 19 in 100 (893 of 4,810 launches earned $100k+).

Typical first year $27,623; the top 1 in 10 earned at least $156,664.

Lens check, all pricesChanged recently. Standard: the yardstick. West-facing view: holds. Without the breakout: holds. Last 18 months: moves the answer.

  • SmallOnly 13 launches at $10 to $20: one or two games swing the odds.
  • AudienceAudience split: this genre reads differently for Western players. Typical earnings rise 25% in the West-facing view (games mostly reviewed outside China).
  • LuckOnly 3 games reached $100k+ here, so the odds may be luck.
Chance of $100k+ at every price (Standard lens)
PriceChanceLaunchesTypical
All prices10 in 10059$809
Under $50 of 22 launches22$66
$5 to $100 of 19 launches19$1,011
$10 to $203 of 13 launches13$27,623
$20 to $40too fewunder 10

Grey: under 30 launches at that price, written as a count. Odds compare best within one price.

Best tag pairs inside, at $10 to $20

No pair inside has 10+ launches and a hit in this view.

Open genre pageCheck this idea
79 3 of 13 launches earned $100k+ 3 of 133 hits $53,028 $181,349 13 Small Pin Horses
80 23 in 100 earned $100k+, from 213 launches 23 in 10049 hits $20,641 $363,650 213 1-hit Pin Deckbuilding
81 23 in 100 earned $100k+, from 171 launches 23 in 10039 hits $17,302 $296,262 171 1-hit Pin Dark Fantasy
82 23 in 100 earned $100k+, from 189 launches 23 in 10043 hits $13,053 $286,515 189 none Pin Hack and Slash
83 23 in 100 earned $100k+, from 88 launches 23 in 10020 hits $24,891 $183,373 88 none Pin Nature
84 23 in 100 earned $100k+, from 75 launches 23 in 10017 hits $10,017 $331,124 75 none Pin Military
85 23 in 100 earned $100k+, from 31 launches 23 in 1007 hits $35,622 $271,728 31 SmallAudience Pin Fishing
86 22 in 100 earned $100k+, from 224 launches 22 in 10050 hits $14,811 $415,727 224 Audience Pin Dungeon Crawler
87 4 of 18 launches earned $100k+ 4 of 184 hits $10,017 $309,618 18 1-hitSmall Pin Football (Soccer)
88 4 of 18 launches earned $100k+ 4 of 184 hits $12,144 $271,728 18 Small Pin Hunting
89 22 in 100 earned $100k+, from 145 launches 22 in 10032 hits $17,624 $313,313 145 Audience Pin City Builder
90 22 in 100 earned $100k+, from 128 launches 22 in 10028 hits $13,963 $240,450 128 none Pin Tactical
91 22 in 100 earned $100k+, from 69 launches 22 in 10015 hits $31,382 $510,045 69 1-hit Pin Trading
92 22 in 100 earned $100k+, from 46 launches 22 in 10010 hits $13,597 $513,299 46 Small Pin Idler
93 22 in 100 earned $100k+, from 46 launches 22 in 10010 hits $6,072 $353,337 46 1-hitSmallAudience Pin Robots
94 5 of 23 launches earned $100k+ 5 of 235 hits $8,681 $129,940 23 Small Pin Programming
95 22 in 100 earned $100k+, from 106 launches 22 in 10023 hits $3,035 $471,994 106 none Pin Third-Person Shooter
96 22 in 100 earned $100k+, from 37 launches 22 in 1008 hits $24,647 $267,122 37 Small Pin Job Simulator
97 21 in 100 earned $100k+, from 121 launches 21 in 10026 hits $18,695 $286,515 121 none Pin Souls-like
98 21 in 100 earned $100k+, from 1,006 launches 21 in 100216 hits $14,573 $294,876 1,006 none Pin Simulation
99 6 of 28 launches earned $100k+ 6 of 286 hits $8,154 $346,102 28 1-hitSmall Pin Co-op Campaign
100 6 of 28 launches earned $100k+ 6 of 286 hits $6,982 $173,874 28 SmallAudience Pin Philosophical
Show 25 moreShowing 100 of 232 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.

Releases

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