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 10+

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

Hides anything measured on fewer launches.

$10 to $20 Reset

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 markets36 out Hide small samples115 out

233 of 256 genres have 10+ launches at $10 to $20. Sorted by chance of $100k+, highest first.

Programming 6 of 22 earned $100k+ at $10 to $20$10k+ 14 of 22 launches Small

Class-Based 6 of 25 earned $100k+ at $10 to $20$10k+ 13 of 25 launches SmallAudience

Precision Platformer 14 in 100 earned $100k+, from 84 launches at $10 to $20$10k+ 50 in 100. Best of the pins Audience

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	Shop Keeper57 in 100 earned $100k+, from 37 launches	57 in 10021 hits	under 100	under 100	37	1-hitSmall	Pin Shop Keeper
2	Cozy51 in 100 earned $100k+, from 112 launches	51 in 10057 hits	$117,666	$968,158	112	Audience	Pin Cozy
3	Typing10 of 21 launches earned $100k+	10 of 2110 hits	under 100	under 100	21	Small	Pin Typing
4	FMV48 in 100 earned $100k+, from 40 launches	48 in 10019 hits	under 100	under 100	40	SmallAudience	Pin FMV
5	Cooking44 in 100 earned $100k+, from 57 launches	44 in 10025 hits	under 100	under 100	57	Audience	Pin Cooking
6	Bullet Heaven8 of 19 launches earned $100k+	8 of 198 hits	under 100	under 100	19	Small	Pin Bullet Heaven
7	Dice4 of 10 launches earned $100k+	4 of 104 hits	under 100	under 100	10	Small	Pin Dice
8	Faith4 of 10 launches earned $100k+	4 of 104 hits	under 100	under 100	10	Small	Pin Faith
9	Online Co-Op39 in 100 earned $100k+, from 142 launches	39 in 10056 hits	$46,042	$865,984	142	none	Pin Online Co-Op
10	Automation39 in 100 earned $100k+, from 83 launches	39 in 10032 hits	under 100	under 100	83	1-hit	Pin Automation
11	Music37 in 100 earned $100k+, from 35 launches	37 in 10013 hits	under 100	under 100	35	Small	Pin Music
12	Massively Multiplayer4 of 11 launches earned $100k+	4 of 114 hits	under 100	under 100	11	Small	Pin Massively Multiplayer
13	Inventory Management35 in 100 earned $100k+, from 51 launches	35 in 10018 hits	under 100	under 100	51	none	Pin Inventory Management
14	Roguelike Deckbuilder35 in 100 earned $100k+, from 94 launches	35 in 10033 hits	under 100	under 100	94	none	Pin Roguelike Deckbuilder
15	Building35 in 100 earned $100k+, from 245 launches	35 in 10085 hits	$30,025	$621,994	245	none	Pin Building
16	Co-op34 in 100 earned $100k+, from 157 launches	34 in 10054 hits	$25,693	$1,032,241	157	none	Pin Co-op
17	Life Sim34 in 100 earned $100k+, from 232 launches	34 in 10079 hits	$37,945	$485,241	232	none	Pin Life Sim
18	Management34 in 100 earned $100k+, from 297 launches	34 in 100100 hits	$41,499	$488,953	297	none	Pin Management
19	Economy34 in 100 earned $100k+, from 161 launches	34 in 10054 hits	$43,540	$538,397	161	none	Pin Economy
20	Base Building33 in 100 earned $100k+, from 213 launches	33 in 10071 hits	$35,118	$614,301	213	none	Pin Base Building
21	Cinematic33 in 100 earned $100k+, from 87 launches	33 in 10029 hits	under 100	under 100	87	Audience	Pin Cinematic
22	Vehicular Combat9 of 27 launches earned $100k+	9 of 279 hits	under 100	under 100	27	Small	Pin Vehicular Combat
23	Mining7 of 21 launches earned $100k+	7 of 217 hits	under 100	under 100	21	Small	Pin Mining
24	Gun Customization6 of 18 launches earned $100k+	6 of 186 hits	under 100	under 100	18	SmallAudience	Pin Gun Customization
25	Satire4 of 12 launches earned $100k+	4 of 124 hits	under 100	under 100	12	Small	Pin Satire
26	Sandbox33 in 100 earned $100k+, from 360 launches	33 in 100118 hits	$30,251	$582,205	360	none	Pin Sandbox
27	Resource Management32 in 100 earned $100k+, from 152 launches	32 in 10049 hits	$31,149	$423,187	152	none	Pin Resource Management
28	Swordplay7 of 22 launches earned $100k+	7 of 227 hits	under 100	under 100	22	1-hitSmall	Pin Swordplay
29	Lovecraftian32 in 100 earned $100k+, from 41 launches	32 in 10013 hits	under 100	under 100	41	Small	Pin Lovecraftian
30	Driving31 in 100 earned $100k+, from 87 launches	31 in 10027 hits	under 100	under 100	87	none	Pin Driving
31	Boomer Shooter31 in 100 earned $100k+, from 39 launches	31 in 10012 hits	under 100	under 100	39	Small	Pin Boomer Shooter
32	Farming4 of 13 launches earned $100k+	4 of 134 hits	under 100	under 100	13	1-hitSmall	Pin Farming
33	Tower Defense31 in 100 earned $100k+, from 124 launches	31 in 10038 hits	$10,626	$569,556	124	none	Pin Tower Defense
34	Open World Survival Craft31 in 100 earned $100k+, from 59 launches	31 in 10018 hits	under 100	under 100	59	1-hit	Pin Open World Survival Craft
35	Dark Humor30 in 100 earned $100k+, from 70 launches	30 in 10021 hits	under 100	under 100	70	none	Pin Dark Humor
36	Wholesome30 in 100 earned $100k+, from 60 launches	30 in 10018 hits	under 100	under 100	60	none	Pin Wholesome
37	Mechs30 in 100 earned $100k+, from 30 launches	30 in 1009 hits	under 100	under 100	30	Small	Pin Mechs
38	Asynchronous Multiplayer3 of 10 launches earned $100k+	3 of 103 hits	under 100	under 100	10	Small	Pin Asynchronous Multiplayer
39	Crime30 in 100 earned $100k+, from 47 launches	30 in 10014 hits	under 100	under 100	47	1-hitSmallAudience	Pin Crime
40	Capitalism30 in 100 earned $100k+, from 74 launches	30 in 10022 hits	under 100	under 100	74	1-hit	Pin Capitalism
41	City Builder30 in 100 earned $100k+, from 145 launches	30 in 10043 hits	$24,654	$479,187	145	Audience	Pin City Builder
42	Open World30 in 100 earned $100k+, from 270 launches	30 in 10080 hits	$25,972	$549,260	270	none	Pin Open World
43	Roguelite29 in 100 earned $100k+, from 381 launches	29 in 100112 hits	$24,288	$561,008	381	none	Pin Roguelite
44	Creature Collector29 in 100 earned $100k+, from 79 launches	29 in 10023 hits	under 100	under 100	79	1-hit	Pin Creature Collector
45	Stealth29 in 100 earned $100k+, from 55 launches	29 in 10016 hits	under 100	under 100	55	1-hit	Pin Stealth
46	Martial Arts29 in 100 earned $100k+, from 38 launches	29 in 10011 hits	under 100	under 100	38	1-hitSmall	Pin Martial Arts
47	Deckbuilding29 in 100 earned $100k+, from 168 launches	29 in 10048 hits	$24,727	$599,192	168	none	Pin Deckbuilding
48	Animals4 of 14 launches earned $100k+	4 of 144 hits	under 100	under 100	14	Small	Pin Animals
49	Conspiracy4 of 14 launches earned $100k+	4 of 144 hits	under 100	under 100	14	Small	Pin Conspiracy
50	Crafting28 in 100 earned $100k+, from 216 launches	28 in 10061 hits	$27,134	$392,129	216	none	Pin Crafting
51	Dark Comedy28 in 100 earned $100k+, from 32 launches	28 in 1009 hits	under 100	under 100	32	1-hitSmall	Pin Dark Comedy
52	Mythology28 in 100 earned $100k+, from 43 launches	28 in 10012 hits	under 100	under 100	43	1-hitSmall	Pin Mythology
53	Trading28 in 100 earned $100k+, from 54 launches	28 in 10015 hits	under 100	under 100	54	none	Pin Trading
54	Roguelike28 in 100 earned $100k+, from 410 launches	28 in 100113 hits	$21,406	$599,192	410	none	Pin Roguelike
55	Spectacle fighter28 in 100 earned $100k+, from 40 launches	28 in 10011 hits	under 100	under 100	40	Small	Pin Spectacle fighter
56	Twin Stick Shooter28 in 100 earned $100k+, from 40 launches	28 in 10011 hits	under 100	under 100	40	Small	Pin Twin Stick Shooter
57	Farming Sim27 in 100 earned $100k+, from 88 launches	27 in 10024 hits	under 100	under 100	88	none	Pin Farming Sim
58	Colony Sim27 in 100 earned $100k+, from 77 launches	27 in 10021 hits	under 100	under 100	77	none	Pin Colony Sim
59	Philosophical6 of 22 launches earned $100k+	6 of 226 hits	under 100	under 100	22	Small	Pin Philosophical
60	Programming6 of 22 launches earned $100k+	6 of 226 hits	under 100	under 100	22	Small	Pinned Programming
61	Time Travel6 of 22 launches earned $100k+	6 of 226 hits	under 100	under 100	22	1-hitSmall	Pin Time Travel
62	Heist3 of 11 launches earned $100k+	3 of 113 hits	under 100	under 100	11	Small	Pin Heist
63	Metroidvania27 in 100 earned $100k+, from 129 launches	27 in 10035 hits	$29,685	$418,633	129	1-hitAudience	Pin Metroidvania
64	Action Roguelike27 in 100 earned $100k+, from 244 launches	27 in 10066 hits	$17,627	$528,278	244	none	Pin Action Roguelike
65	Dinosaurs4 of 15 launches earned $100k+	4 of 154 hits	under 100	under 100	15	Small	Pin Dinosaurs
66	Card Battler27 in 100 earned $100k+, from 147 launches	27 in 10039 hits	$23,752	$459,301	147	none	Pin Card Battler
67	Psychological Horror26 in 100 earned $100k+, from 205 launches	26 in 10054 hits	$21,183	$422,417	205	none	Pin Psychological Horror
68	Medieval26 in 100 earned $100k+, from 107 launches	26 in 10028 hits	$19,088	$459,068	107	none	Pin Medieval
69	Fishing6 of 23 launches earned $100k+	6 of 236 hits	under 100	under 100	23	Small	Pin Fishing
70	Trading Card Game6 of 23 launches earned $100k+	6 of 236 hits	under 100	under 100	23	1-hitSmall	Pin Trading Card Game
71	Job Simulator7 of 27 launches earned $100k+	7 of 277 hits	under 100	under 100	27	Small	Pin Job Simulator
72	Immersive Sim26 in 100 earned $100k+, from 312 launches	26 in 10080 hits	$19,296	$390,351	312	none	Pin Immersive Sim
73	Psychedelic26 in 100 earned $100k+, from 39 launches	26 in 10010 hits	under 100	under 100	39	Small	Pin Psychedelic
74	Hack and Slash25 in 100 earned $100k+, from 182 launches	25 in 10046 hits	$19,586	$303,158	182	Audience	Pin Hack and Slash
75	Investigation25 in 100 earned $100k+, from 107 launches	25 in 10027 hits	$12,547	$349,150	107	none	Pin Investigation

Show 25 moreShowing 75 of 233 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.