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, 83 beat the 20 in 100 base rate. Price moves the odds most: 1 in 238 under $5, 44 in 100 at $20 to $40.83 of 156 genres beat the 20 in 100 base rate.83 beat the base rate.

Typical launch, all prices, first year $552

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.

The genre list

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: Shop Keeper, $123,125 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 markets20 outHide small samples38 out

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

asynchronous-multiplayerNot in this view: under 30 launches at $10 to $20.
programmingNot in this view: under 30 launches at $10 to $20.
Puzzle 14 in 100 earned $100k+, from 684 launches at $10 to $20typical $5,070. Best of the pins none
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 20 in 100878 of 4,304 $10,978$287,297 4,304
1 57 in 100 earned $100k+, from 37 launches 57 in 10021 hits $123,125 $873,511 37 1-hitSmall Pin Shop Keeper
2 51 in 100 earned $100k+, from 112 launches 51 in 10057 hits $117,666 $968,158 112 Audience Pin Cozy
3 48 in 100 earned $100k+, from 40 launches 48 in 10019 hits $99,332 $491,449 40 SmallAudience Pin FMV
4 44 in 100 earned $100k+, from 57 launches 44 in 10025 hits $52,664 $910,583 57 Audience Pin Cooking
5 39 in 100 earned $100k+, from 142 launches 39 in 10056 hits $46,042 $865,984 142 none Pin Online Co-Op
6 39 in 100 earned $100k+, from 83 launches 39 in 10032 hits $44,527 $608,593 83 1-hit Pin Automation
7 37 in 100 earned $100k+, from 35 launches 37 in 10013 hits $42,689 $764,464 35 Small Pin Music
8 35 in 100 earned $100k+, from 51 launches 35 in 10018 hits $29,181 $987,028 51 none Pin Inventory Management
9 Roguelike Deckbuilder35 in 100 earned $100k+, from 94 launches 35 in 10033 hits $47,941 $916,108 94 none Pin Roguelike Deckbuilder

35 in 100 earned $100k+, from 94 launches at $10 to $20. That is about 1.7 times the base rate.

Base rate at $10 to $20: 20 in 100 (878 of 4,304 launches earned $100k+).

Typical first year $47,941; the top 1 in 10 earned at least $916,108.

Lens check, all pricesHolds in 3 of 3. Standard: the base the others are compared with. West-facing view: holds. Without the breakout: holds. Last 18 months: holds.

No warning markers: no single game holds half the money, the sample is 50+ launches and the West-facing view does not move the answer.

Chance of $100k+ at every price (Standard lens)
PriceChanceLaunchesTypical
All prices18 in 100230$9,059
Under $50 of 53 launches53$567
$5 to $104 of 77 launches77$8,484
$10 to $2035 in 10094$47,941
$20 to $40too fewunder 10

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
10 35 in 100 earned $100k+, from 245 launches 35 in 10085 hits $30,025 $621,994 245 none Pin Building
11 34 in 100 earned $100k+, from 157 launches 34 in 10054 hits $25,693 $1,032,241 157 none Pin Co-op
12 34 in 100 earned $100k+, from 232 launches 34 in 10079 hits $37,945 $485,241 232 none Pin Life Sim
13 34 in 100 earned $100k+, from 297 launches 34 in 100100 hits $41,499 $488,953 297 none Pin Management
14 34 in 100 earned $100k+, from 161 launches 34 in 10054 hits $43,540 $538,397 161 none Pin Economy
15 33 in 100 earned $100k+, from 213 launches 33 in 10071 hits $35,118 $614,301 213 none Pin Base Building
16 33 in 100 earned $100k+, from 87 launches 33 in 10029 hits $27,697 $482,734 87 Audience Pin Cinematic
17 33 in 100 earned $100k+, from 360 launches 33 in 100118 hits $30,251 $582,205 360 none Pin Sandbox
18 32 in 100 earned $100k+, from 152 launches 32 in 10049 hits $31,149 $423,187 152 none Pin Resource Management
19 32 in 100 earned $100k+, from 41 launches 32 in 10013 hits $29,971 $349,150 41 Small Pin Lovecraftian
20 31 in 100 earned $100k+, from 87 launches 31 in 10027 hits $18,907 $461,581 87 none Pin Driving
21 31 in 100 earned $100k+, from 39 launches 31 in 10012 hits $31,145 $1,266,001 39 Small Pin Boomer Shooter
22 31 in 100 earned $100k+, from 124 launches 31 in 10038 hits $10,626 $569,556 124 none Pin Tower Defense
23 31 in 100 earned $100k+, from 59 launches 31 in 10018 hits $49,037 $884,787 59 1-hit Pin Open World Survival Craft
24 30 in 100 earned $100k+, from 70 launches 30 in 10021 hits $21,316 $496,422 70 none Pin Dark Humor
25 30 in 100 earned $100k+, from 60 launches 30 in 10018 hits $50,134 $224,423 60 none Pin Wholesome
26 30 in 100 earned $100k+, from 30 launches 30 in 1009 hits $26,870 $324,733 30 Small Pin Mechs
27 30 in 100 earned $100k+, from 47 launches 30 in 10014 hits $13,385 $2,013,297 47 1-hitSmallAudience Pin Crime
28 30 in 100 earned $100k+, from 74 launches 30 in 10022 hits $35,118 $337,049 74 1-hit Pin Capitalism
29 30 in 100 earned $100k+, from 145 launches 30 in 10043 hits $24,654 $479,187 145 Audience Pin City Builder
30 30 in 100 earned $100k+, from 270 launches 30 in 10080 hits $25,972 $549,260 270 none Pin Open World
31 29 in 100 earned $100k+, from 381 launches 29 in 100112 hits $24,288 $561,008 381 none Pin Roguelite
32 29 in 100 earned $100k+, from 79 launches 29 in 10023 hits $25,553 $488,593 79 1-hit Pin Creature Collector
33 29 in 100 earned $100k+, from 55 launches 29 in 10016 hits $13,319 $811,677 55 1-hit Pin Stealth
34 29 in 100 earned $100k+, from 38 launches 29 in 10011 hits $43,786 $495,669 38 1-hitSmall Pin Martial Arts
35 29 in 100 earned $100k+, from 168 launches 29 in 10048 hits $24,727 $599,192 168 none Pin Deckbuilding
36 28 in 100 earned $100k+, from 216 launches 28 in 10061 hits $27,134 $392,129 216 none Pin Crafting
37 28 in 100 earned $100k+, from 32 launches 28 in 1009 hits $27,980 $427,901 32 1-hitSmall Pin Dark Comedy
38 28 in 100 earned $100k+, from 43 launches 28 in 10012 hits $18,393 $576,622 43 1-hitSmall Pin Mythology
39 28 in 100 earned $100k+, from 54 launches 28 in 10015 hits $44,858 $516,035 54 none Pin Trading
40 28 in 100 earned $100k+, from 410 launches 28 in 100113 hits $21,406 $599,192 410 none Pin Roguelike
41 28 in 100 earned $100k+, from 40 launches 28 in 10011 hits $28,074 $479,116 40 Small Pin Spectacle fighter
42 28 in 100 earned $100k+, from 40 launches 28 in 10011 hits $10,739 $608,121 40 Small Pin Twin Stick Shooter
43 27 in 100 earned $100k+, from 88 launches 27 in 10024 hits $33,529 $469,576 88 none Pin Farming Sim
44 27 in 100 earned $100k+, from 77 launches 27 in 10021 hits $24,654 $423,187 77 none Pin Colony Sim
45 27 in 100 earned $100k+, from 129 launches 27 in 10035 hits $29,685 $418,633 129 1-hitAudience Pin Metroidvania
46 27 in 100 earned $100k+, from 244 launches 27 in 10066 hits $17,627 $528,278 244 none Pin Action Roguelike
47 27 in 100 earned $100k+, from 147 launches 27 in 10039 hits $23,752 $459,301 147 none Pin Card Battler
48 26 in 100 earned $100k+, from 205 launches 26 in 10054 hits $21,183 $422,417 205 none Pin Psychological Horror
49 26 in 100 earned $100k+, from 107 launches 26 in 10028 hits $19,088 $459,068 107 none Pin Medieval
50 26 in 100 earned $100k+, from 312 launches 26 in 10080 hits $19,296 $390,351 312 none Pin Immersive Sim
51 26 in 100 earned $100k+, from 39 launches 26 in 10010 hits $19,074 $620,030 39 Small Pin Psychedelic
52 25 in 100 earned $100k+, from 182 launches 25 in 10046 hits $19,586 $303,158 182 Audience Pin Hack and Slash
53 25 in 100 earned $100k+, from 107 launches 25 in 10027 hits $12,547 $349,150 107 none Pin Investigation
54 25 in 100 earned $100k+, from 220 launches 25 in 10055 hits $11,290 $650,903 220 none Pin FPS
55 25 in 100 earned $100k+, from 60 launches 25 in 10015 hits $31,149 $724,652 60 none Pin Auto Battler
56 25 in 100 earned $100k+, from 40 launches 25 in 10010 hits $13,714 $324,733 40 Small Pin Robots
57 25 in 100 earned $100k+, from 32 launches 25 in 1008 hits $12,949 $396,980 32 Small Pin 4X
58 25 in 100 earned $100k+, from 191 launches 25 in 10047 hits $17,568 $343,571 191 none Pin Character Customization
59 24 in 100 earned $100k+, from 41 launches 24 in 10010 hits $7,696 $509,951 41 Small Pin Cats
60 24 in 100 earned $100k+, from 206 launches 24 in 10050 hits $24,935 $322,489 206 none Pin Survival
61 24 in 100 earned $100k+, from 874 launches 24 in 100208 hits $15,416 $381,863 874 none Pin Simulation
62 24 in 100 earned $100k+, from 38 launches 24 in 1009 hits $26,063 $793,445 38 SmallAudience Pin Dystopian
63 24 in 100 earned $100k+, from 68 launches 24 in 10016 hits $10,014 $516,035 68 none Pin Automobile Sim
64 23 in 100 earned $100k+, from 69 launches 23 in 10016 hits $13,585 $414,131 69 1-hit Pin Military
65 23 in 100 earned $100k+, from 113 launches 23 in 10026 hits $25,693 $327,565 113 none Pin Tactical
66 23 in 100 earned $100k+, from 145 launches 23 in 10033 hits $15,615 $335,771 145 1-hit Pin Dark Fantasy
67 23 in 100 earned $100k+, from 106 launches 23 in 10024 hits $12,860 $275,639 106 Audience Pin Detective
68 23 in 100 earned $100k+, from 80 launches 23 in 10018 hits $21,186 $228,185 80 none Pin Nature
69 22 in 100 earned $100k+, from 36 launches 22 in 1008 hits $16,221 $616,838 36 Small Pin Idler
70 22 in 100 earned $100k+, from 345 launches 22 in 10076 hits $12,981 $309,518 345 none Pin Horror
71 22 in 100 earned $100k+, from 55 launches 22 in 10012 hits $10,014 $158,342 55 none Pin Flight
72 22 in 100 earned $100k+, from 281 launches 22 in 10061 hits $10,294 $303,158 281 none Pin Action RPG
73 21 in 100 earned $100k+, from 107 launches 21 in 10023 hits $10,036 $252,312 107 none Pin Space
74 21 in 100 earned $100k+, from 205 launches 21 in 10044 hits $16,387 $338,755 205 none Pin Dungeon Crawler
75 21 in 100 earned $100k+, from 363 launches 21 in 10077 hits $9,621 $330,193 363 none Pin Shooter
76 21 in 100 earned $100k+, from 38 launches 21 in 1008 hits $15,783 $183,012 38 Small Pin Alternate History
77 21 in 100 earned $100k+, from 201 launches 21 in 10042 hits $18,010 $360,680 201 none Pin Card Game
78 21 in 100 earned $100k+, from 53 launches 21 in 10011 hits $12,169 $239,039 53 Audience Pin Perma Death
79 21 in 100 earned $100k+, from 111 launches 21 in 10023 hits $14,115 $264,556 111 none Pin RTS
80 21 in 100 earned $100k+, from 63 launches 21 in 10013 hits $13,928 $478,716 63 none Pin Rhythm
81 21 in 100 earned $100k+, from 34 launches 21 in 1007 hits $17,186 $597,440 34 Small Pin Parkour
82 21 in 100 earned $100k+, from 112 launches 21 in 10023 hits $14,458 $258,277 112 none Pin Post-apocalyptic
83 20 in 100 earned $100k+, from 98 launches 20 in 10020 hits $15,211 $274,242 98 none Pin Souls-like
84 20 in 100 earned $100k+, from 789 launches 20 in 100160 hits $11,268 $303,279 789 none Pin RPG
85 20 in 100 earned $100k+, from 144 launches 20 in 10029 hits $9,514 $305,184 144 Audience Pin Time Management
86 20 in 100 earned $100k+, from 185 launches 20 in 10037 hits $11,496 $293,138 185 none Pin Turn-Based Combat
87 20 in 100 earned $100k+, from 60 launches 20 in 10012 hits $15,234 $396,980 60 none Pin War
88 20 in 100 earned $100k+, from 30 launches 20 in 1006 hits $17,909 $413,191 30 Small Pin Agriculture
89 20 in 100 earned $100k+, from 126 launches 20 in 10025 hits $10,479 $465,124 126 Audience Pin Bullet Hell
90 20 in 100 earned $100k+, from 112 launches 20 in 10022 hits $5,960 $256,760 112 none Pin Racing
91 20 in 100 earned $100k+, from 276 launches 20 in 10054 hits $11,113 $270,265 276 none Pin Turn-Based Strategy
92 19 in 100 earned $100k+, from 103 launches 19 in 10020 hits $4,056 $497,270 103 none Pin Third-Person Shooter
93 19 in 100 earned $100k+, from 186 launches 19 in 10036 hits $8,738 $287,297 186 Audience Pin Dating Sim
94 19 in 100 earned $100k+, from 31 launches 19 in 1006 hits $10,731 $325,860 31 1-hitSmall Pin Team-Based
95 19 in 100 earned $100k+, from 68 launches 19 in 10013 hits $7,664 $177,032 68 none Pin Tabletop
96 19 in 100 earned $100k+, from 845 launches 19 in 100159 hits $10,037 $243,656 845 none Pin Strategy
97 19 in 100 earned $100k+, from 32 launches 19 in 1006 hits $4,516 $148,986 32 SmallAudience Pin Word Game
98 18 in 100 earned $100k+, from 38 launches 18 in 1007 hits $20,315 $139,108 38 Small Pin Supernatural
99 18 in 100 earned $100k+, from 60 launches 18 in 10011 hits $17,589 $353,705 60 Audience Pin Beat 'em up
100 18 in 100 earned $100k+, from 117 launches 18 in 10021 hits $14,458 $198,970 117 none Pin Survival Horror
101 18 in 100 earned $100k+, from 95 launches 18 in 10017 hits $12,262 $295,997 95 none Pin Walking Simulator
102 18 in 100 earned $100k+, from 56 launches 18 in 10010 hits $6,760 $200,453 56 Audience Pin Arena Shooter
103 18 in 100 earned $100k+, from 74 launches 18 in 10013 hits $10,817 $166,336 74 none Pin Top-Down Shooter
104 17 in 100 earned $100k+, from 109 launches 17 in 10019 hits $11,661 $210,321 109 none Pin 1990's
105 17 in 100 earned $100k+, from 132 launches 17 in 10023 hits $11,091 $180,714 132 none Pin Strategy RPG
106 17 in 100 earned $100k+, from 115 launches 17 in 10020 hits $4,905 $193,413 115 none Pin Real Time Tactics
107 17 in 100 earned $100k+, from 311 launches 17 in 10054 hits $10,197 $318,870 311 1-hitAudience Pin Platformer
108 17 in 100 earned $100k+, from 243 launches 17 in 10042 hits $8,519 $178,090 243 none Pin Turn-Based Tactics
109 16 in 100 earned $100k+, from 73 launches 16 in 10012 hits $4,893 $300,183 73 none Pin Zombies
110 16 in 100 earned $100k+, from 98 launches 16 in 10016 hits $4,905 $188,868 98 none Pin Board Game
111 16 in 100 earned $100k+, from 547 launches 16 in 10089 hits $7,909 $192,839 547 none Pin Action-Adventure
112 16 in 100 earned $100k+, from 100 launches 16 in 10016 hits $11,661 $148,757 100 none Pin LGBTQ+
113 16 in 100 earned $100k+, from 69 launches 16 in 10011 hits $17,160 $230,920 69 none Pin Cyberpunk
114 16 in 100 earned $100k+, from 113 launches 16 in 10018 hits $8,758 $205,980 113 1-hit Pin Collectathon
115 16 in 100 earned $100k+, from 57 launches 16 in 1009 hits $6,901 $268,373 57 none Pin 1980s
116 16 in 100 earned $100k+, from 311 launches 16 in 10049 hits $8,758 $239,522 311 none Pin 2D Platformer
117 16 in 100 earned $100k+, from 83 launches 16 in 10013 hits $14,178 $234,908 83 Audience Pin Wargame
118 15 in 100 earned $100k+, from 230 launches 15 in 10035 hits $10,240 $220,268 230 Audience Pin Interactive Fiction
119 15 in 100 earned $100k+, from 106 launches 15 in 10016 hits $7,510 $252,312 106 Audience Pin Shoot 'Em Up
120 15 in 100 earned $100k+, from 434 launches 15 in 10064 hits $9,963 $199,513 434 Audience Pin Visual Novel
121 15 in 100 earned $100k+, from 41 launches 15 in 1006 hits $4,322 $139,108 41 Small Pin Demons
122 14 in 100 earned $100k+, from 684 launches 14 in 10098 hits $5,070 $173,428 684 none Pinned Puzzle
123 14 in 100 earned $100k+, from 84 launches 14 in 10012 hits $10,665 $124,458 84 Audience Pin Precision Platformer
124 14 in 100 earned $100k+, from 249 launches 14 in 10035 hits $4,508 $190,045 249 none Pin Point & Click
125 14 in 100 earned $100k+, from 57 launches 14 in 1008 hits $6,448 $143,947 57 none Pin Comic Book
126 14 in 100 earned $100k+, from 43 launches 14 in 1006 hits $2,509 $230,583 43 Small Pin Runner
127 14 in 100 earned $100k+, from 36 launches 14 in 1005 hits $6,737 $126,800 36 Small Pin Otome
128 14 in 100 earned $100k+, from 118 launches 14 in 10016 hits $11,496 $137,764 118 none Pin Tactical RPG
129 14 in 100 earned $100k+, from 170 launches 14 in 10023 hits $9,464 $158,883 170 none Pin Romance
130 13 in 100 earned $100k+, from 60 launches 13 in 1008 hits $6,761 $360,680 60 none Pin 2D Fighter
131 13 in 100 earned $100k+, from 242 launches 13 in 10032 hits $6,023 $193,413 242 Audience Pin Choose Your Own Adventure
132 13 in 100 earned $100k+, from 171 launches 13 in 10022 hits $5,365 $125,051 171 1-hit Pin JRPG
133 12 in 100 earned $100k+, from 97 launches 12 in 10012 hits $6,643 $122,589 97 Audience Pin Logic
134 12 in 100 earned $100k+, from 50 launches 12 in 1006 hits $12,169 $151,602 50 none Pin Thriller
135 12 in 100 earned $100k+, from 127 launches 12 in 10015 hits $5,689 $132,616 127 none Pin Magic
136 4 of 34 launches earned $100k+ 4 of 344 hits $1,172 $116,742 34 1-hitSmall Pin Match 3
137 12 in 100 earned $100k+, from 43 launches 12 in 1005 hits $1,789 $200,926 43 Small Pin 3D Fighter
138 12 in 100 earned $100k+, from 43 launches 12 in 1005 hits $11,091 $119,497 43 1-hitSmall Pin Action RTS
139 12 in 100 earned $100k+, from 346 launches 12 in 10040 hits $4,391 $134,893 346 none Pin Arcade
140 11 in 100 earned $100k+, from 44 launches 11 in 1005 hits $2,560 $104,916 44 Small Pin Score Attack
141 4 of 37 launches earned $100k+ 4 of 374 hits $6,021 $112,421 37 Small Pin Aliens
142 4 of 37 launches earned $100k+ 4 of 374 hits $8,951 $109,047 37 Small Pin Grid-Based Movement
143 11 in 100 earned $100k+, from 56 launches 11 in 1006 hits $9,080 $129,341 56 Audience Pin CRPG
144 4 of 38 launches earned $100k+ 4 of 384 hits $2,163 $128,938 38 Small Pin Incremental
145 10 in 100 earned $100k+, from 180 launches 10 in 10018 hits $3,562 $113,352 180 none Pin 3D Platformer
146 1 in 10 earned $100k+, from 152 launches 1 in 1015 hits $5,860 $96,739 152 none Pin Sports
147 4 of 42 launches earned $100k+ 4 of 424 hits $4,215 $90,738 42 Small Pin Space Sim
148 1 in 11 earned $100k+, from 127 launches 1 in 1112 hits $7,868 $96,195 127 none Pin Party-Based RPG
149 1 in 12 earned $100k+, from 97 launches 1 in 128 hits $8,067 $94,775 97 none Pin Text-Based
150 4 of 52 launches earned $100k+ 4 of 524 hits $6,274 $71,220 52 1-hit Pin Grand Strategy
Show 6 moreShowing 150 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.