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.

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192,217
on 3 Oct 2026

Genres 3 Oct

Of 156 genres with 30+ launches at $10 to $20, 77 beat the 18 in 100 base rate. Price moves the odds most: 1 in 219 under $5, 40 in 100 at $20 to $40.77 of 156 genres beat the 18 in 100 base rate.77 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.

The genre list

Best odds at my priceChance of $100k+, read within one price band.Now: Shop Keeper, 49 in 100. 156 match.Steady marketsHolds in every lens and no single game owns it.Now: Online Co-Op, 35 in 100. 67 match.Biggest typical yearWhat the middle launch earned, highest first.Now: Shop Keeper, $92,344 typical. 156 match.Biggest upsideWhat the top tenth earned at least.Now: Co-op, $774k top 1 in 10. 118 match.Proven at scale100+ launches and above the base rate.Now: Cozy, 44 in 100. 38 match.Busiest marketsMost launches first: where the competition is.Now: Simulation, 876 launches. 156 match.
Hide one-hit markets20 outHide small samples38 out

156 of 256 genres have 30+ launches at $10 to $20. Sorted by chance of $100k+, highest first.

parodyNot in this view: under 30 launches at $10 to $20.
programmingNot in this view: under 30 launches at $10 to $20.
Time Management 17 in 100 earned $100k+, from 144 launches at $10 to $20typical $7,135. Best of the pins Audience
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 18 in 100758 of 4,301 $8,234$217,858 4,301
1 49 in 100 earned $100k+, from 37 launches 49 in 10018 hits $92,344 $655,133 37 1-hitSmall Pin Shop Keeper
2 48 in 100 earned $100k+, from 40 launches 48 in 10019 hits $74,499 $368,587 40 SmallAudience Pin FMV
3 44 in 100 earned $100k+, from 113 launches 44 in 10050 hits $88,250 $726,119 113 Audience Pin Cozy
4 35 in 100 earned $100k+, from 142 launches 35 in 10050 hits $34,532 $649,488 142 none Pin Online Co-Op
5 35 in 100 earned $100k+, from 57 launches 35 in 10020 hits $39,498 $682,937 57 Audience Pin Cooking
6 34 in 100 earned $100k+, from 35 launches 34 in 10012 hits $32,017 $573,348 35 Small Pin Music
7 33 in 100 earned $100k+, from 51 launches 33 in 10017 hits $21,885 $740,563 51 none Pin Inventory Management
8 33 in 100 earned $100k+, from 83 launches 33 in 10027 hits $33,396 $456,445 83 1-hit Pin Automation
9 32 in 100 earned $100k+, from 41 launches 32 in 10013 hits $22,478 $261,863 41 Small Pin Lovecraftian
10 31 in 100 earned $100k+, from 245 launches 31 in 10077 hits $22,519 $466,495 245 none Pin Building
11 31 in 100 earned $100k+, from 161 launches 31 in 10050 hits $32,655 $403,798 161 none Pin Economy
12 31 in 100 earned $100k+, from 94 launches 31 in 10029 hits $35,955 $687,081 94 Audience Pin Roguelike Deckbuilder
13 31 in 100 earned $100k+, from 157 launches 31 in 10048 hits $19,270 $774,181 157 none Pin Co-op
14 30 in 100 earned $100k+, from 233 launches 30 in 10071 hits $28,398 $363,930 233 none Pin Life Sim
15 30 in 100 earned $100k+, from 298 launches 30 in 10089 hits $31,612 $366,715 298 none Pin Management
16 30 in 100 earned $100k+, from 47 launches 30 in 10014 hits $10,039 $1,509,973 47 1-hitSmallAudience Pin Crime
17 30 in 100 earned $100k+, from 360 launches 30 in 100107 hits $22,688 $436,654 360 Audience Pin Sandbox
18 30 in 100 earned $100k+, from 213 launches 30 in 10063 hits $26,339 $460,726 213 none Pin Base Building
19 29 in 100 earned $100k+, from 38 launches 29 in 10011 hits $23,359 $949,501 38 Small Pin Boomer Shooter
20 29 in 100 earned $100k+, from 38 launches 29 in 10011 hits $32,840 $371,751 38 1-hitSmall Pin Martial Arts
21 29 in 100 earned $100k+, from 59 launches 29 in 10017 hits $36,777 $663,590 59 1-hit Pin Open World Survival Craft
22 29 in 100 earned $100k+, from 87 launches 29 in 10025 hits $14,174 $345,792 87 none Pin Driving
23 29 in 100 earned $100k+, from 70 launches 29 in 10020 hits $15,987 $371,283 70 none Pin Dark Humor
24 29 in 100 earned $100k+, from 42 launches 29 in 10012 hits $19,142 $432,096 42 1-hitSmall Pin Mythology
25 28 in 100 earned $100k+, from 88 launches 28 in 10025 hits $20,773 $362,051 88 Audience Pin Cinematic
26 28 in 100 earned $100k+, from 32 launches 28 in 1009 hits $20,985 $320,925 32 Small Pin Dark Comedy
27 28 in 100 earned $100k+, from 270 launches 28 in 10075 hits $19,479 $411,945 270 none Pin Open World
28 28 in 100 earned $100k+, from 54 launches 28 in 10015 hits $33,643 $386,359 54 none Pin Trading
29 27 in 100 earned $100k+, from 30 launches 27 in 1008 hits $20,152 $242,718 30 Small Pin Mechs
30 26 in 100 earned $100k+, from 152 launches 26 in 10040 hits $23,362 $317,390 152 none Pin Resource Management
31 26 in 100 earned $100k+, from 145 launches 26 in 10038 hits $18,490 $359,391 145 none Pin City Builder
32 26 in 100 earned $100k+, from 381 launches 26 in 10098 hits $18,216 $420,756 381 none Pin Roguelite
33 26 in 100 earned $100k+, from 74 launches 26 in 10019 hits $26,339 $252,787 74 1-hit Pin Capitalism
34 26 in 100 earned $100k+, from 168 launches 26 in 10043 hits $18,545 $449,394 168 none Pin Deckbuilding
35 25 in 100 earned $100k+, from 216 launches 25 in 10055 hits $20,351 $294,097 216 none Pin Crafting
36 25 in 100 earned $100k+, from 55 launches 25 in 10014 hits $9,989 $608,395 55 1-hit Pin Stealth
37 25 in 100 earned $100k+, from 79 launches 25 in 10020 hits $19,165 $366,444 79 1-hit Pin Creature Collector
38 25 in 100 earned $100k+, from 148 launches 25 in 10037 hits $17,887 $346,863 148 none Pin Card Battler
39 25 in 100 earned $100k+, from 40 launches 25 in 10010 hits $21,056 $359,337 40 Small Pin Spectacle fighter
40 25 in 100 earned $100k+, from 40 launches 25 in 10010 hits $8,054 $456,091 40 Small Pin Twin Stick Shooter
41 25 in 100 earned $100k+, from 410 launches 25 in 100102 hits $16,055 $449,394 410 none Pin Roguelike
42 24 in 100 earned $100k+, from 243 launches 24 in 10059 hits $13,214 $396,209 243 none Pin Action Roguelike
43 23 in 100 earned $100k+, from 124 launches 23 in 10029 hits $7,966 $427,167 124 none Pin Tower Defense
44 23 in 100 earned $100k+, from 77 launches 23 in 10018 hits $18,490 $317,390 77 none Pin Colony Sim
45 23 in 100 earned $100k+, from 219 launches 23 in 10051 hits $8,437 $488,177 219 none Pin FPS
46 23 in 100 earned $100k+, from 39 launches 23 in 1009 hits $14,305 $465,023 39 Small Pin Psychedelic
47 23 in 100 earned $100k+, from 61 launches 23 in 10014 hits $37,600 $168,317 61 none Pin Wholesome
48 23 in 100 earned $100k+, from 312 launches 23 in 10071 hits $14,472 $292,763 312 none Pin Immersive Sim
49 23 in 100 earned $100k+, from 106 launches 23 in 10024 hits $14,322 $344,301 106 none Pin Medieval
50 23 in 100 earned $100k+, from 40 launches 23 in 1009 hits $10,286 $242,718 40 Small Pin Robots
51 22 in 100 earned $100k+, from 129 launches 22 in 10029 hits $22,264 $313,975 129 1-hitAudience Pin Metroidvania
52 22 in 100 earned $100k+, from 81 launches 22 in 10018 hits $15,870 $171,139 81 none Pin Nature
53 22 in 100 earned $100k+, from 36 launches 22 in 1008 hits $12,154 $462,629 36 Small Pin Idler
54 22 in 100 earned $100k+, from 41 launches 22 in 1009 hits $5,772 $382,463 41 Small Pin Cats
55 Hack and Slash22 in 100 earned $100k+, from 180 launches 22 in 10039 hits $14,890 $292,848 180 Audience Pin Hack and Slash

22 in 100 earned $100k+, from 180 launches at $10 to $20. That is about 1.2 times the base rate.

Base rate at $10 to $20: 18 in 100 (758 of 4,301 launches earned $100k+).

Typical first year $14,890; the top 1 in 10 earned at least $292,848.

Lens check, all pricesAudience split. Standard: the base the others are compared with. West-facing view: moves the answer. Without the breakout: holds. Last 18 months: holds.

  • AudienceAudience split: this genre reads differently for Western players: the chance moves from 1 in 10 to 1 in 11 in the West-facing view (games mostly reviewed outside China). Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; for smaller games it is guessed from the name.
Chance of $100k+ at every price (Standard lens)
PriceChanceLaunchesTypical
All prices1 in 10829$801
Under $51 of 356 launches356$153
$5 to $101 in 22240$1,135
$10 to $2022 in 100180$14,890
$20 to $4058 in 10053$146,262

Grey: under 30 launches or 5 hits at that price, written as a count. Odds compare best within one price.

Best tag pairs inside, at $10 to $20

Open genre pageCheck this idea
56 22 in 100 earned $100k+, from 88 launches 22 in 10019 hits $25,147 $352,182 88 none Pin Farming Sim
57 21 in 100 earned $100k+, from 107 launches 21 in 10023 hits $9,410 $261,863 107 none Pin Investigation
58 21 in 100 earned $100k+, from 205 launches 21 in 10044 hits $15,887 $316,813 205 none Pin Psychological Horror
59 21 in 100 earned $100k+, from 206 launches 21 in 10044 hits $18,573 $241,867 206 none Pin Survival
60 21 in 100 earned $100k+, from 876 launches 21 in 100183 hits $11,548 $289,238 876 none Pin Simulation
61 21 in 100 earned $100k+, from 106 launches 21 in 10022 hits $9,645 $206,730 106 Audience Pin Detective
62 21 in 100 earned $100k+, from 68 launches 21 in 10014 hits $7,507 $386,359 68 none Pin Automobile Sim
63 21 in 100 earned $100k+, from 34 launches 21 in 1007 hits $12,889 $448,080 34 Small Pin Parkour
64 20 in 100 earned $100k+, from 69 launches 20 in 10014 hits $10,189 $310,598 69 1-hit Pin Military
65 20 in 100 earned $100k+, from 30 launches 20 in 1006 hits $13,432 $309,893 30 Small Pin Agriculture
66 20 in 100 earned $100k+, from 191 launches 20 in 10038 hits $13,176 $257,678 191 Audience Pin Character Customization
67 20 in 100 earned $100k+, from 112 launches 20 in 10022 hits $4,470 $192,570 112 none Pin Racing
68 20 in 100 earned $100k+, from 204 launches 20 in 10040 hits $12,625 $254,066 204 none Pin Dungeon Crawler
69 19 in 100 earned $100k+, from 113 launches 19 in 10022 hits $19,270 $244,943 113 none Pin Tactical
70 19 in 100 earned $100k+, from 31 launches 19 in 1006 hits $8,045 $244,395 31 1-hitSmall Pin Team-Based
71 19 in 100 earned $100k+, from 281 launches 19 in 10054 hits $7,717 $227,369 281 Audience Pin Action RPG
72 19 in 100 earned $100k+, from 345 launches 19 in 10066 hits $9,724 $232,139 345 none Pin Horror
73 19 in 100 earned $100k+, from 58 launches 19 in 10011 hits $23,095 $338,671 58 Audience Pin Auto Battler
74 19 in 100 earned $100k+, from 201 launches 19 in 10038 hits $13,501 $270,510 201 none Pin Card Game
75 19 in 100 earned $100k+, from 32 launches 19 in 1006 hits $9,712 $297,735 32 Small Pin 4X
76 19 in 100 earned $100k+, from 363 launches 19 in 10068 hits $7,216 $247,645 363 none Pin Shooter
77 19 in 100 earned $100k+, from 107 launches 19 in 10020 hits $7,527 $189,234 107 none Pin Space
78 18 in 100 earned $100k+, from 786 launches 18 in 100138 hits $8,454 $227,369 786 none Pin RPG
79 17 in 100 earned $100k+, from 103 launches 17 in 10018 hits $3,038 $372,953 103 none Pin Third-Person Shooter
80 17 in 100 earned $100k+, from 126 launches 17 in 10022 hits $7,849 $348,843 126 Audience Pin Bullet Hell
81 17 in 100 earned $100k+, from 63 launches 17 in 10011 hits $10,446 $359,037 63 none Pin Rhythm
82 17 in 100 earned $100k+, from 186 launches 17 in 10032 hits $6,550 $214,822 186 Audience Pin Dating Sim
83 17 in 100 earned $100k+, from 53 launches 17 in 1009 hits $9,115 $179,279 53 Audience Pin Perma Death
84 17 in 100 earned $100k+, from 59 launches 17 in 10010 hits $11,426 $297,735 59 none Pin War
85 17 in 100 earned $100k+, from 95 launches 17 in 10016 hits $9,192 $221,998 95 none Pin Walking Simulator
86 17 in 100 earned $100k+, from 143 launches 17 in 10024 hits $11,334 $250,680 143 1-hit Pin Dark Fantasy
87 17 in 100 earned $100k+, from 144 launches 17 in 10024 hits $7,135 $228,888 144 Audience Pinned Time Management
88 17 in 100 earned $100k+, from 60 launches 17 in 10010 hits $13,192 $265,278 60 Audience Pin Beat 'em up
89 17 in 100 earned $100k+, from 109 launches 17 in 10018 hits $8,729 $157,741 109 none Pin 1990's
90 16 in 100 earned $100k+, from 97 launches 16 in 10016 hits $11,256 $205,681 97 none Pin Souls-like
91 16 in 100 earned $100k+, from 73 launches 16 in 10012 hits $3,670 $225,138 73 none Pin Zombies
92 16 in 100 earned $100k+, from 185 launches 16 in 10030 hits $8,618 $219,854 185 none Pin Turn-Based Combat
93 16 in 100 earned $100k+, from 111 launches 16 in 10018 hits $10,586 $198,417 111 none Pin RTS
94 16 in 100 earned $100k+, from 68 launches 16 in 10011 hits $5,745 $132,774 68 none Pin Tabletop
95 16 in 100 earned $100k+, from 31 launches 16 in 1005 hits $3,387 $111,740 31 SmallAudience Pin Word Game
96 16 in 100 earned $100k+, from 844 launches 16 in 100135 hits $7,843 $182,742 844 none Pin Strategy
97 16 in 100 earned $100k+, from 57 launches 16 in 1009 hits $5,175 $201,280 57 none Pin 1980s
98 16 in 100 earned $100k+, from 38 launches 16 in 1006 hits $11,837 $137,259 38 Small Pin Alternate History
99 16 in 100 earned $100k+, from 38 launches 16 in 1006 hits $19,272 $595,084 38 SmallAudience Pin Dystopian
100 16 in 100 earned $100k+, from 275 launches 16 in 10043 hits $8,331 $202,699 275 none Pin Turn-Based Strategy
101 15 in 100 earned $100k+, from 310 launches 15 in 10048 hits $7,756 $252,165 310 1-hitAudience Pin Platformer
102 15 in 100 earned $100k+, from 117 launches 15 in 10018 hits $10,843 $149,228 117 1-hit Pin Survival Horror
103 15 in 100 earned $100k+, from 112 launches 15 in 10017 hits $10,843 $193,708 112 none Pin Post-apocalyptic
104 14 in 100 earned $100k+, from 545 launches 14 in 10079 hits $5,932 $144,629 545 none Pin Action-Adventure
105 14 in 100 earned $100k+, from 69 launches 14 in 10010 hits $12,870 $172,937 69 none Pin Cyberpunk
106 14 in 100 earned $100k+, from 311 launches 14 in 10045 hits $6,569 $179,642 311 none Pin 2D Platformer
107 14 in 100 earned $100k+, from 56 launches 14 in 1008 hits $5,064 $150,340 56 Audience Pin Arena Shooter
108 14 in 100 earned $100k+, from 229 launches 14 in 10032 hits $7,666 $165,201 229 Audience Pin Interactive Fiction
109 14 in 100 earned $100k+, from 43 launches 14 in 1006 hits $1,882 $172,937 43 Small Pin Runner
110 14 in 100 earned $100k+, from 131 launches 14 in 10018 hits $8,302 $135,536 131 Audience Pin Strategy RPG
111 14 in 100 earned $100k+, from 249 launches 14 in 10034 hits $3,377 $142,534 249 none Pin Point & Click
112 14 in 100 earned $100k+, from 242 launches 14 in 10033 hits $6,721 $133,311 242 none Pin Turn-Based Tactics
113 14 in 100 earned $100k+, from 74 launches 14 in 10010 hits $8,103 $124,752 74 none Pin Top-Down Shooter
114 13 in 100 earned $100k+, from 60 launches 13 in 1008 hits $5,065 $270,510 60 none Pin 2D Fighter
115 13 in 100 earned $100k+, from 113 launches 13 in 10015 hits $6,569 $154,485 113 1-hit Pin Collectathon
116 13 in 100 earned $100k+, from 83 launches 13 in 10011 hits $10,629 $175,925 83 none Pin Wargame
117 13 in 100 earned $100k+, from 115 launches 13 in 10015 hits $3,677 $145,060 115 none Pin Real Time Tactics
118 13 in 100 earned $100k+, from 55 launches 13 in 1007 hits $7,507 $118,757 55 none Pin Flight
119 13 in 100 earned $100k+, from 434 launches 13 in 10055 hits $7,469 $149,635 434 Audience Pin Visual Novel
120 12 in 100 earned $100k+, from 242 launches 12 in 10030 hits $4,517 $145,060 242 Audience Pin Choose Your Own Adventure
121 12 in 100 earned $100k+, from 686 launches 12 in 10085 hits $3,798 $130,392 686 Audience Pin Puzzle
122 12 in 100 earned $100k+, from 97 launches 12 in 10012 hits $3,677 $141,651 97 none Pin Board Game
123 12 in 100 earned $100k+, from 106 launches 12 in 10013 hits $5,630 $189,234 106 Audience Pin Shoot 'Em Up
124 12 in 100 earned $100k+, from 41 launches 12 in 1005 hits $3,236 $104,331 41 Small Pin Demons
125 12 in 100 earned $100k+, from 99 launches 12 in 10012 hits $8,729 $111,568 99 none Pin LGBTQ+
Show 25 moreShowing 125 of 156 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.