Best niches
$10 to $20Pairs with the best chance of $100k+, above the base rateFree until launch
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.
Genres 3 Oct
Of 76 genres with 100+ launches at $10 to $20, 40 beat the 20 in 100 base rate. Price moves the odds most: 1 in 238 under $5, 44 in 100 at $20 to $40.40 of 76 genres beat the 20 in 100 base rate.40 beat the base rate.
Typical launch, all prices, first year $552
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.
Pairs with the best chance of $100k+, above the base rateFree until launch
76 of 256 genres have 100+ launches at $10 to $20. Sorted by chance of $100k+, highest first.
| 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 | Cozy51 in 100 earned $100k+, from 112 launches | 51 in 10057 hits | $117,666 | $968,158 | 112 | Audience | Pin Cozy |
| 2 | Online Co-Op39 in 100 earned $100k+, from 142 launches | 39 in 10056 hits | $46,042 | $865,984 | 142 | none | Pin Online Co-Op |
| 3 | Building35 in 100 earned $100k+, from 245 launches | 35 in 10085 hits | $30,025 | $621,994 | 245 | none | Pin Building |
| 4 | Co-op34 in 100 earned $100k+, from 157 launches | 34 in 10054 hits | $25,693 | $1,032,241 | 157 | none | Pin Co-op |
| 5 | Life Sim34 in 100 earned $100k+, from 232 launches | 34 in 10079 hits | $37,945 | $485,241 | 232 | none | Pin Life Sim |
| 6 | Management34 in 100 earned $100k+, from 297 launches | 34 in 100100 hits | $41,499 | $488,953 | 297 | none | Pin Management |
| 7 | Economy34 in 100 earned $100k+, from 161 launches | 34 in 10054 hits | $43,540 | $538,397 | 161 | none | Pin Economy |
| 8 | Base Building33 in 100 earned $100k+, from 213 launches | 33 in 10071 hits | $35,118 | $614,301 | 213 | none | Pin Base Building |
| 9 | Sandbox33 in 100 earned $100k+, from 360 launches | 33 in 100118 hits | $30,251 | $582,205 | 360 | none | Pin Sandbox |
| 10 | Resource Management32 in 100 earned $100k+, from 152 launches | 32 in 10049 hits | $31,149 | $423,187 | 152 | none | Pin Resource Management |
| 11 | Tower Defense31 in 100 earned $100k+, from 124 launches | 31 in 10038 hits | $10,626 | $569,556 | 124 | none | Pin Tower Defense |
| 12 | City Builder30 in 100 earned $100k+, from 145 launches | 30 in 10043 hits | $24,654 | $479,187 | 145 | Audience | Pin City Builder |
| 13 | Open World30 in 100 earned $100k+, from 270 launches | 30 in 10080 hits | $25,972 | $549,260 | 270 | none | Pin Open World |
| 14 | Roguelite29 in 100 earned $100k+, from 381 launches | 29 in 100112 hits | $24,288 | $561,008 | 381 | none | Pin Roguelite |
| 15 | Deckbuilding29 in 100 earned $100k+, from 168 launches | 29 in 10048 hits | $24,727 | $599,192 | 168 | none | Pin Deckbuilding |
| 16 | Crafting28 in 100 earned $100k+, from 216 launches | 28 in 10061 hits | $27,134 | $392,129 | 216 | none | Pin Crafting |
| 17 | Roguelike28 in 100 earned $100k+, from 410 launches | 28 in 100113 hits | $21,406 | $599,192 | 410 | none | Pinned Roguelike |
| 18 | Metroidvania27 in 100 earned $100k+, from 129 launches | 27 in 10035 hits | $29,685 | $418,633 | 129 | 1-hitAudience | Pin Metroidvania |
| 19 | Action Roguelike27 in 100 earned $100k+, from 244 launches | 27 in 10066 hits | $17,627 | $528,278 | 244 | none | Pin Action Roguelike |
| 20 | Card Battler27 in 100 earned $100k+, from 147 launches | 27 in 10039 hits | $23,752 | $459,301 | 147 | none | Pin Card Battler |
| 21 | Psychological Horror26 in 100 earned $100k+, from 205 launches | 26 in 10054 hits | $21,183 | $422,417 | 205 | none | Pin Psychological Horror |
| 22 | Medieval26 in 100 earned $100k+, from 107 launches | 26 in 10028 hits | $19,088 | $459,068 | 107 | none | Pin Medieval |
| 23 | Immersive Sim26 in 100 earned $100k+, from 312 launches | 26 in 10080 hits | $19,296 | $390,351 | 312 | none | Pin Immersive Sim |
| 24 | Hack and Slash25 in 100 earned $100k+, from 182 launches | 25 in 10046 hits | $19,586 | $303,158 | 182 | Audience | Pin Hack and Slash |
| 25 | Investigation25 in 100 earned $100k+, from 107 launches | 25 in 10027 hits | $12,547 | $349,150 | 107 | none | Pin Investigation |
| 26 | FPS25 in 100 earned $100k+, from 220 launches | 25 in 10055 hits | $11,290 | $650,903 | 220 | none | Pin FPS |
| 27 | Character Customization25 in 100 earned $100k+, from 191 launches | 25 in 10047 hits | $17,568 | $343,571 | 191 | none | Pin Character Customization |
| 28 | Survival24 in 100 earned $100k+, from 206 launches | 24 in 10050 hits | $24,935 | $322,489 | 206 | none | Pin Survival |
| 29 | Simulation24 in 100 earned $100k+, from 874 launches | 24 in 100208 hits | $15,416 | $381,863 | 874 | none | Pin Simulation |
| 30 | Tactical23 in 100 earned $100k+, from 113 launches | 23 in 10026 hits | $25,693 | $327,565 | 113 | none | Pin Tactical |
| 31 | Dark Fantasy23 in 100 earned $100k+, from 145 launches | 23 in 10033 hits | $15,615 | $335,771 | 145 | 1-hit | Pin Dark Fantasy |
| 32 | Detective23 in 100 earned $100k+, from 106 launches | 23 in 10024 hits | $12,860 | $275,639 | 106 | Audience | Pin Detective |
| 33 | Horror22 in 100 earned $100k+, from 345 launches | 22 in 10076 hits | $12,981 | $309,518 | 345 | none | Pin Horror |
| 34 | Action RPG22 in 100 earned $100k+, from 281 launches | 22 in 10061 hits | $10,294 | $303,158 | 281 | none | Pin Action RPG |
| 35 | Space21 in 100 earned $100k+, from 107 launches | 21 in 10023 hits | $10,036 | $252,312 | 107 | none | Pin Space |
| 36 | Dungeon Crawler21 in 100 earned $100k+, from 205 launches | 21 in 10044 hits | $16,387 | $338,755 | 205 | none | Pin Dungeon Crawler |
| 37 | Shooter21 in 100 earned $100k+, from 363 launches | 21 in 10077 hits | $9,621 | $330,193 | 363 | none | Pin Shooter |
| 38 | Card Game21 in 100 earned $100k+, from 201 launches | 21 in 10042 hits | $18,010 | $360,680 | 201 | none | Pin Card Game |
| 39 | RTS21 in 100 earned $100k+, from 111 launches | 21 in 10023 hits | $14,115 | $264,556 | 111 | none | Pin RTS |
| 40 | Post-apocalyptic21 in 100 earned $100k+, from 112 launches | 21 in 10023 hits | $14,458 | $258,277 | 112 | none | Pin Post-apocalyptic |
| 41 | RPG20 in 100 earned $100k+, from 789 launches | 20 in 100160 hits | $11,268 | $303,279 | 789 | none | Pin RPG |
| 42 | Time Management20 in 100 earned $100k+, from 144 launches | 20 in 10029 hits | $9,514 | $305,184 | 144 | Audience | Pin Time Management |
| 43 | Turn-Based Combat20 in 100 earned $100k+, from 185 launches | 20 in 10037 hits | $11,496 | $293,138 | 185 | none | Pin Turn-Based Combat |
| 44 | Bullet Hell20 in 100 earned $100k+, from 126 launches | 20 in 10025 hits | $10,479 | $465,124 | 126 | Audience | Pin Bullet Hell |
| 45 | Racing20 in 100 earned $100k+, from 112 launches | 20 in 10022 hits | $5,960 | $256,760 | 112 | none | Pin Racing |
| 46 | Turn-Based Strategy20 in 100 earned $100k+, from 276 launches | 20 in 10054 hits | $11,113 | $270,265 | 276 | none | Pin Turn-Based Strategy |
| 47 | Third-Person Shooter19 in 100 earned $100k+, from 103 launches | 19 in 10020 hits | $4,056 | $497,270 | 103 | none | Pin Third-Person Shooter |
| 48 | Dating Sim19 in 100 earned $100k+, from 186 launches | 19 in 10036 hits | $8,738 | $287,297 | 186 | Audience | Pin Dating Sim |
| 49 | Strategy19 in 100 earned $100k+, from 845 launches | 19 in 100159 hits | $10,037 | $243,656 | 845 | none | Pin Strategy |
| 50 | Survival Horror18 in 100 earned $100k+, from 117 launches | 18 in 10021 hits | $14,458 | $198,970 | 117 | none | Pin Survival Horror |
| 51 | 1990's17 in 100 earned $100k+, from 109 launches | 17 in 10019 hits | $11,661 | $210,321 | 109 | none | Pin 1990's |
| 52 | Strategy RPG17 in 100 earned $100k+, from 132 launches | 17 in 10023 hits | $11,091 | $180,714 | 132 | none | Pin Strategy RPG |
| 53 | Real Time Tactics17 in 100 earned $100k+, from 115 launches | 17 in 10020 hits | $4,905 | $193,413 | 115 | none | Pin Real Time Tactics |
| 54 | Platformer17 in 100 earned $100k+, from 311 launches | 17 in 10054 hits | $10,197 | $318,870 | 311 | 1-hitAudience | Pin Platformer |
| 55 | Turn-Based Tactics17 in 100 earned $100k+, from 243 launches | 17 in 10042 hits | $8,519 | $178,090 | 243 | none | Pin Turn-Based Tactics |
| 56 | Action-Adventure16 in 100 earned $100k+, from 547 launches | 16 in 10089 hits | $7,909 | $192,839 | 547 | none | Pin Action-Adventure |
| 57 | LGBTQ+16 in 100 earned $100k+, from 100 launches | 16 in 10016 hits | $11,661 | $148,757 | 100 | none | Pin LGBTQ+ |
| 58 | Collectathon16 in 100 earned $100k+, from 113 launches | 16 in 10018 hits | $8,758 | $205,980 | 113 | 1-hit | Pin Collectathon |
| 59 | 2D Platformer16 in 100 earned $100k+, from 311 launches | 16 in 10049 hits | $8,758 | $239,522 | 311 | none | Pin 2D Platformer |
| 60 | Interactive Fiction15 in 100 earned $100k+, from 230 launches | 15 in 10035 hits | $10,240 | $220,268 | 230 | Audience | Pin Interactive Fiction |
| 61 | Shoot 'Em Up15 in 100 earned $100k+, from 106 launches | 15 in 10016 hits | $7,510 | $252,312 | 106 | Audience | Pin Shoot 'Em Up |
| 62 | Visual Novel15 in 100 earned $100k+, from 434 launches | 15 in 10064 hits | $9,963 | $199,513 | 434 | Audience | Pin Visual Novel |
| 63 | Puzzle14 in 100 earned $100k+, from 684 launches | 14 in 10098 hits | $5,070 | $173,428 | 684 | none | Pin Puzzle |
| 64 | Point & Click14 in 100 earned $100k+, from 249 launches | 14 in 10035 hits | $4,508 | $190,045 | 249 | none | Pin Point & Click |
| 65 | Tactical RPG14 in 100 earned $100k+, from 118 launches | 14 in 10016 hits | $11,496 | $137,764 | 118 | none | Pin Tactical RPG |
| 66 | Romance14 in 100 earned $100k+, from 170 launches | 14 in 10023 hits | $9,464 | $158,883 | 170 | none | Pin Romance |
| 67 | Choose Your Own Adventure13 in 100 earned $100k+, from 242 launches | 13 in 10032 hits | $6,023 | $193,413 | 242 | Audience | Pin Choose Your Own Adventure |
| 68 | JRPG13 in 100 earned $100k+, from 171 launches | 13 in 10022 hits | $5,365 | $125,051 | 171 | 1-hit | Pin JRPG |
| 69 | Magic12 in 100 earned $100k+, from 127 launches | 12 in 10015 hits | $5,689 | $132,616 | 127 | none | Pin Magic |
| 70 | Arcade12 in 100 earned $100k+, from 346 launches | 12 in 10040 hits | $4,391 | $134,893 | 346 | none | Pin Arcade |
| 71 | 3D Platformer10 in 100 earned $100k+, from 180 launches | 10 in 10018 hits | $3,562 | $113,352 | 180 | none | Pin 3D Platformer |
| 72 | Sports1 in 10 earned $100k+, from 152 launches | 1 in 1015 hits | $5,860 | $96,739 | 152 | none | Pin Sports |
| 73 | Party-Based RPG1 in 11 earned $100k+, from 127 launches | 1 in 1112 hits | $7,868 | $96,195 | 127 | none | Pin Party-Based RPG |
| 74 | Hidden Object1 in 14 earned $100k+, from 172 launches | 1 in 1412 hits | $2,044 | $55,036 | 172 | none | Pin Hidden Object |
| 75 | Puzzle Platformer1 in 15 earned $100k+, from 131 launches | 1 in 159 hits | $5,769 | $68,186 | 131 | Audience | Pin Puzzle Platformer |
| 76 | VR1 in 22 earned $100k+, from 195 launches | 1 in 229 hits | $3,534 | $44,858 | 195 | none | Pin VR |
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.
Ticker: 30 upcoming games dated within 90 days, with wishlist rank, release date and followers. The same list is on the Upcoming page.