Best niches
$10 to $20Pairs that hit $100k+ beyond the oddsFree 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 same figures are on the Genres page.
Genres 1 Oct
Of 83 genres with 100+ launches at $10 to $20, 45 beat the 19 in 100 base rate. Price moves the odds most: 1 in 192 under $5, 42 in 100 at $20 to $40.45 of 83 genres beat the 19 in 100 base rate.45 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
83 of 266 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 | 19 in 100893 of 4,810 | $9,226 | $248,075 | 4,810 | |||
| 1 | Cozy45 in 100 earned $100k+, from 131 launches | 45 in 10059 hits | $62,342 | $971,575 | 131 | none | Pin Cozy |
| 2 | Online Co-Op35 in 100 earned $100k+, from 177 launches | 35 in 10062 hits | $38,456 | $901,536 | 177 | none | Pin Online Co-Op |
| 3 | Co-op34 in 100 earned $100k+, from 198 launches | 34 in 10067 hits | $27,523 | $901,536 | 198 | none | Pin Co-op |
| 4 | Building32 in 100 earned $100k+, from 258 launches | 32 in 10083 hits | $26,551 | $565,502 | 258 | none | Pin Building |
| 5 | Life Sim31 in 100 earned $100k+, from 267 launches | 31 in 10084 hits | $31,406 | $395,032 | 267 | none | Pin Life Sim |
| 6 | Sandbox31 in 100 earned $100k+, from 388 launches | 31 in 100119 hits | $26,551 | $520,165 | 388 | none | Pin Sandbox |
| 7 | Management30 in 100 earned $100k+, from 360 launches | 30 in 100107 hits | $26,717 | $409,789 | 360 | none | Pin Management |
| 8 | Base Building29 in 100 earned $100k+, from 231 launches | 29 in 10068 hits | $28,409 | $663,058 | 231 | none | Pin Base Building |
| 9 | Crafting29 in 100 earned $100k+, from 231 launches | 29 in 10068 hits | $24,288 | $522,189 | 231 | none | Pin Crafting |
| 10 | Economy27 in 100 earned $100k+, from 201 launches | 27 in 10055 hits | $27,623 | $402,463 | 201 | none | Pin Economy |
| 11 | Action Roguelike27 in 100 earned $100k+, from 268 launches | 27 in 10072 hits | $16,088 | $485,586 | 268 | none | Pin Action Roguelike |
| 12 | Open World27 in 100 earned $100k+, from 304 launches | 27 in 10081 hits | $20,964 | $510,045 | 304 | none | Pin Open World |
| 13 | Driving26 in 100 earned $100k+, from 102 launches | 26 in 10027 hits | $12,549 | $411,669 | 102 | none | Pin Driving |
| 14 | Resource Management26 in 100 earned $100k+, from 187 launches | 26 in 10049 hits | $23,677 | $358,651 | 187 | none | Pin Resource Management |
| 15 | Roguelike Deckbuilder26 in 100 earned $100k+, from 124 launches | 26 in 10032 hits | $33,382 | $558,583 | 124 | 1-hit | Pin Roguelike Deckbuilder |
| 16 | Investigation25 in 100 earned $100k+, from 124 launches | 25 in 10031 hits | $9,310 | $291,418 | 124 | none | Pin Investigation |
| 17 | Medieval25 in 100 earned $100k+, from 126 launches | 25 in 10031 hits | $18,150 | $363,650 | 126 | none | Pin Medieval |
| 18 | Metroidvania25 in 100 earned $100k+, from 151 launches | 25 in 10037 hits | $23,478 | $292,264 | 151 | 1-hit | Pin Metroidvania |
| 19 | Immersive Sim24 in 100 earned $100k+, from 359 launches | 24 in 10087 hits | $18,621 | $332,634 | 359 | none | Pin Immersive Sim |
| 20 | Detective24 in 100 earned $100k+, from 141 launches | 24 in 10034 hits | $10,665 | $248,075 | 141 | none | Pin Detective |
| 21 | Roguelite24 in 100 earned $100k+, from 448 launches | 24 in 100108 hits | $18,456 | $485,586 | 448 | none | Pin Roguelite |
| 22 | Survival24 in 100 earned $100k+, from 226 launches | 24 in 10054 hits | $18,938 | $358,651 | 226 | none | Pin Survival |
| 23 | Tower Defense24 in 100 earned $100k+, from 143 launches | 24 in 10034 hits | $7,628 | $430,966 | 143 | none | Pin Tower Defense |
| 24 | Roguelike24 in 100 earned $100k+, from 480 launches | 24 in 100113 hits | $18,676 | $415,727 | 480 | none | Pin Roguelike |
| 25 | FPS24 in 100 earned $100k+, from 238 launches | 24 in 10056 hits | $11,231 | $636,746 | 238 | none | Pin FPS |
| 26 | Card Battler23 in 100 earned $100k+, from 181 launches | 23 in 10042 hits | $18,428 | $362,436 | 181 | 1-hitAudience | Pin Card Battler |
| 27 | Character Customization23 in 100 earned $100k+, from 203 launches | 23 in 10047 hits | $14,811 | $305,217 | 203 | none | Pin Character Customization |
| 28 | Deckbuilding23 in 100 earned $100k+, from 213 launches | 23 in 10049 hits | $20,641 | $363,650 | 213 | 1-hit | Pin Deckbuilding |
| 29 | Dark Fantasy23 in 100 earned $100k+, from 171 launches | 23 in 10039 hits | $17,302 | $296,262 | 171 | 1-hit | Pin Dark Fantasy |
| 30 | Hack and Slash23 in 100 earned $100k+, from 189 launches | 23 in 10043 hits | $13,053 | $286,515 | 189 | none | Pin Hack and Slash |
| 31 | Dungeon Crawler22 in 100 earned $100k+, from 224 launches | 22 in 10050 hits | $14,811 | $415,727 | 224 | Audience | Pin Dungeon Crawler |
| 32 | City Builder22 in 100 earned $100k+, from 145 launches | 22 in 10032 hits | $17,624 | $313,313 | 145 | Audience | Pin City Builder |
| 33 | Tactical22 in 100 earned $100k+, from 128 launches | 22 in 10028 hits | $13,963 | $240,450 | 128 | none | Pin Tactical |
| 34 | Third-Person Shooter22 in 100 earned $100k+, from 106 launches | 22 in 10023 hits | $3,035 | $471,994 | 106 | none | Pin Third-Person Shooter |
| 35 | Souls-like21 in 100 earned $100k+, from 121 launches | 21 in 10026 hits | $18,695 | $286,515 | 121 | none | Pin Souls-like |
| 36 | Simulation21 in 100 earned $100k+, from 1,006 launches | 21 in 100216 hits | $14,573 | $294,876 | 1,006 | none | Pinned Simulation |
| 37 | Survival Horror20 in 100 earned $100k+, from 135 launches | 20 in 10027 hits | $15,866 | $187,016 | 135 | none | Pin Survival Horror |
| 38 | Horror20 in 100 earned $100k+, from 397 launches | 20 in 10079 hits | $10,460 | $242,848 | 397 | none | Pin Horror |
| 39 | Psychological Horror20 in 100 earned $100k+, from 228 launches | 20 in 10045 hits | $16,691 | $233,568 | 228 | none | Pin Psychological Horror |
| 40 | Shooter20 in 100 earned $100k+, from 394 launches | 20 in 10077 hits | $8,418 | $319,385 | 394 | Audience | Pin Shooter |
| 41 | RTS19 in 100 earned $100k+, from 119 launches | 19 in 10023 hits | $13,660 | $281,739 | 119 | Audience | Pin RTS |
| 42 | Time Management19 in 100 earned $100k+, from 176 launches | 19 in 10034 hits | $6,798 | $184,557 | 176 | none | Pin Time Management |
| 43 | Action RPG19 in 100 earned $100k+, from 297 launches | 19 in 10057 hits | $8,741 | $235,997 | 297 | none | Pin Action RPG |
| 44 | Dating Sim19 in 100 earned $100k+, from 185 launches | 19 in 10035 hits | $7,891 | $237,886 | 185 | Audience | Pin Dating Sim |
| 45 | Collectathon19 in 100 earned $100k+, from 133 launches | 19 in 10025 hits | $10,928 | $227,091 | 133 | 1-hit | Pin Collectathon |
| 46 | RPG19 in 100 earned $100k+, from 881 launches | 19 in 100163 hits | $10,017 | $237,886 | 881 | none | Pin RPG |
| 47 | Card Game18 in 100 earned $100k+, from 245 launches | 18 in 10045 hits | $14,168 | $279,264 | 245 | none | Pin Card Game |
| 48 | Walking Simulator18 in 100 earned $100k+, from 109 launches | 18 in 10020 hits | $9,733 | $242,848 | 109 | none | Pin Walking Simulator |
| 49 | 1990's18 in 100 earned $100k+, from 126 launches | 18 in 10023 hits | $10,017 | $155,037 | 126 | none | Pin 1990's |
| 50 | Post-apocalyptic18 in 100 earned $100k+, from 132 launches | 18 in 10024 hits | $14,911 | $368,366 | 132 | none | Pin Post-apocalyptic |
| 51 | Turn-Based Combat18 in 100 earned $100k+, from 205 launches | 18 in 10037 hits | $13,600 | $206,109 | 205 | none | Pin Turn-Based Combat |
| 52 | Racing17 in 100 earned $100k+, from 144 launches | 17 in 10025 hits | $5,099 | $208,876 | 144 | none | Pin Racing |
| 53 | Bullet Hell17 in 100 earned $100k+, from 140 launches | 17 in 10024 hits | $9,106 | $483,733 | 140 | 1-hit | Pin Bullet Hell |
| 54 | Interactive Fiction17 in 100 earned $100k+, from 270 launches | 17 in 10045 hits | $11,231 | $229,178 | 270 | none | Pin Interactive Fiction |
| 55 | Platformer17 in 100 earned $100k+, from 337 launches | 17 in 10056 hits | $7,285 | $281,987 | 337 | 1-hit | Pinned Platformer |
| 56 | Strategy16 in 100 earned $100k+, from 978 launches | 16 in 100161 hits | $9,226 | $209,685 | 978 | none | Pin Strategy |
| 57 | Space16 in 100 earned $100k+, from 119 launches | 16 in 10019 hits | $8,418 | $188,807 | 119 | none | Pin Space |
| 58 | Turn-Based Strategy16 in 100 earned $100k+, from 304 launches | 16 in 10048 hits | $9,410 | $180,307 | 304 | Audience | Pin Turn-Based Strategy |
| 59 | Strategy RPG15 in 100 earned $100k+, from 144 launches | 15 in 10022 hits | $9,106 | $138,451 | 144 | none | Pin Strategy RPG |
| 60 | Action-Adventure15 in 100 earned $100k+, from 572 launches | 15 in 10087 hits | $5,767 | $157,541 | 572 | none | Pin Action-Adventure |
| 61 | Point & Click15 in 100 earned $100k+, from 287 launches | 15 in 10043 hits | $3,339 | $171,634 | 287 | none | Pin Point & Click |
| 62 | Visual Novel15 in 100 earned $100k+, from 460 launches | 15 in 10067 hits | $7,366 | $177,879 | 460 | none | Pin Visual Novel |
| 63 | Tactical RPG14 in 100 earned $100k+, from 127 launches | 14 in 10018 hits | $9,106 | $148,738 | 127 | none | Pin Tactical RPG |
| 64 | Turn-Based Tactics14 in 100 earned $100k+, from 269 launches | 14 in 10038 hits | $9,310 | $141,679 | 269 | Audience | Pin Turn-Based Tactics |
| 65 | Puzzle14 in 100 earned $100k+, from 775 launches | 14 in 100107 hits | $4,553 | $151,799 | 775 | none | Pin Puzzle |
| 66 | Choose Your Own Adventure13 in 100 earned $100k+, from 254 launches | 13 in 10034 hits | $4,553 | $173,636 | 254 | none | Pin Choose Your Own Adventure |
| 67 | Shoot 'Em Up13 in 100 earned $100k+, from 107 launches | 13 in 10014 hits | $5,262 | $195,922 | 107 | none | Pin Shoot 'Em Up |
| 68 | 2D Platformer13 in 100 earned $100k+, from 317 launches | 13 in 10041 hits | $6,193 | $174,231 | 317 | none | Pin 2D Platformer |
| 69 | LGBTQ+13 in 100 earned $100k+, from 110 launches | 13 in 10014 hits | $11,003 | $166,519 | 110 | none | Pin LGBTQ+ |
| 70 | Romance13 in 100 earned $100k+, from 181 launches | 13 in 10023 hits | $7,691 | $138,114 | 181 | none | Pin Romance |
| 71 | Sports12 in 100 earned $100k+, from 173 launches | 12 in 10021 hits | $4,007 | $118,201 | 173 | Audience | Pin Sports |
| 72 | Real Time Tactics12 in 100 earned $100k+, from 117 launches | 12 in 10014 hits | $3,886 | $118,418 | 117 | Audience | Pin Real Time Tactics |
| 73 | Logic12 in 100 earned $100k+, from 110 launches | 12 in 10013 hits | $6,576 | $124,151 | 110 | none | Pin Logic |
| 74 | 3D Platformer11 in 100 earned $100k+, from 208 launches | 11 in 10023 hits | $3,157 | $156,119 | 208 | none | Pin 3D Platformer |
| 75 | Arcade11 in 100 earned $100k+, from 384 launches | 11 in 10041 hits | $3,643 | $106,057 | 384 | none | Pin Arcade |
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.