Genres

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.

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191,979
on 2 Oct 2026

Genres 1 Oct

Of 166 genres with 30+ launches at $10 to $20, 89 beat the 19 in 100 base rate. Price moves the odds most: 1 in 192 under $5, 42 in 100 at $20 to $40.89 of 166 genres beat the 19 in 100 base rate.89 beat the base rate.

Cohort median $606

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 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.

The genre list

Best odds at my priceChance of $100k+, read within one price band.Now: FMV, 47 in 100. 166 match.Steady marketsHolds in every lens and no single game owns it.Now: FMV, 47 in 100. 125 match.Biggest typical yearWhat the middle launch earned, highest first.Now: FMV, $81,191 typical. 166 match.Biggest upsideWhat the top tenth earned at least.Now: Crime, $1.5M top 1 in 10. 129 match.Proven at scale100+ launches and above the base rate.Now: Cozy, 45 in 100. 45 match.Busiest marketsMost launches first: where the competition is.Now: Simulation, 1,006 launches. 166 match.
Hide one-hit markets21 outHide small samples37 out

166 of 266 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.
hackingNot in this view: under 30 launches at $10 to $20.
Simulation 21 in 100 earned $100k+, from 1,006 launches at $10 to $20typical $14,573. 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 19 in 100893 of 4,810 $9,226$248,075 4,810
1 47 in 100 earned $100k+, from 51 launches 47 in 10024 hits $81,191 $304,089 51 Audience Pin FMV
2 45 in 100 earned $100k+, from 131 launches 45 in 10059 hits $62,342 $971,575 131 none Pin Cozy
3 37 in 100 earned $100k+, from 38 launches 37 in 10014 hits $40,062 $691,394 38 Small Pin Music
4 36 in 100 earned $100k+, from 64 launches 36 in 10023 hits $36,662 $862,682 64 none Pin Shop Keeper
5 35 in 100 earned $100k+, from 62 launches 35 in 10022 hits $47,961 $819,275 62 none Pin Open World Survival Craft
6 35 in 100 earned $100k+, from 177 launches 35 in 10062 hits $38,456 $901,536 177 none Pin Online Co-Op
7 34 in 100 earned $100k+, from 198 launches 34 in 10067 hits $27,523 $901,536 198 none Pin Co-op
8 33 in 100 earned $100k+, from 52 launches 33 in 10017 hits $26,042 $281,334 52 Audience Pin Lovecraftian
9 32 in 100 earned $100k+, from 258 launches 32 in 10083 hits $26,551 $565,502 258 none Pin Building
10 32 in 100 earned $100k+, from 85 launches 32 in 10027 hits $31,406 $1,021,709 85 1-hit Pin Automation
11 31 in 100 earned $100k+, from 267 launches 31 in 10084 hits $31,406 $395,032 267 none Pin Life Sim
12 31 in 100 earned $100k+, from 55 launches 31 in 10017 hits $42,987 $267,122 55 none Pin Wholesome
13 31 in 100 earned $100k+, from 388 launches 31 in 100119 hits $26,551 $520,165 388 none Pin Sandbox
14 30 in 100 earned $100k+, from 83 launches 30 in 10025 hits $13,923 $515,310 83 none Pin Dark Humor
15 30 in 100 earned $100k+, from 70 launches 30 in 10021 hits $24,284 $766,093 70 none Pin Inventory Management
16 30 in 100 earned $100k+, from 57 launches 30 in 10017 hits $13,762 $1,455,227 57 1-hit Pin Crime
17 30 in 100 earned $100k+, from 360 launches 30 in 100107 hits $26,717 $409,789 360 none Pin Management
18 29 in 100 earned $100k+, from 231 launches 29 in 10068 hits $28,409 $663,058 231 none Pin Base Building
19 29 in 100 earned $100k+, from 231 launches 29 in 10068 hits $24,288 $522,189 231 none Pin Crafting
20 29 in 100 earned $100k+, from 38 launches 29 in 10011 hits $27,922 $253,808 38 Small Pin Noir
21 29 in 100 earned $100k+, from 97 launches 29 in 10028 hits $17,851 $367,151 97 Audience Pin Cinematic
22 29 in 100 earned $100k+, from 42 launches 29 in 10012 hits $22,417 $863,593 42 Small Pin Boomer Shooter
23 28 in 100 earned $100k+, from 40 launches 28 in 10011 hits $12,954 $514,093 40 Small Pin Vehicular Combat
24 27 in 100 earned $100k+, from 91 launches 27 in 10025 hits $22,359 $294,876 91 none Pin Capitalism
25 27 in 100 earned $100k+, from 201 launches 27 in 10055 hits $27,623 $402,463 201 none Pin Economy
26 27 in 100 earned $100k+, from 44 launches 27 in 10012 hits $18,458 $560,240 44 Small Pin Psychedelic
27 27 in 100 earned $100k+, from 33 launches 27 in 1009 hits $18,676 $262,309 33 Small Pin Dark Comedy
28 27 in 100 earned $100k+, from 268 launches 27 in 10072 hits $16,088 $485,586 268 none Pin Action Roguelike
29 27 in 100 earned $100k+, from 45 launches 27 in 10012 hits $11,739 $452,968 45 Small Pin Spectacle fighter
30 27 in 100 earned $100k+, from 304 launches 27 in 10081 hits $20,964 $510,045 304 none Pin Open World
31 27 in 100 earned $100k+, from 83 launches 27 in 10022 hits $24,693 $271,766 83 none Pin Creature Collector
32 26 in 100 earned $100k+, from 102 launches 26 in 10027 hits $12,549 $411,669 102 none Pin Driving
33 26 in 100 earned $100k+, from 187 launches 26 in 10049 hits $23,677 $358,651 187 none Pin Resource Management
34 26 in 100 earned $100k+, from 124 launches 26 in 10032 hits $33,382 $558,583 124 1-hit Pin Roguelike Deckbuilder
35 25 in 100 earned $100k+, from 124 launches 25 in 10031 hits $9,310 $291,418 124 none Pin Investigation
36 25 in 100 earned $100k+, from 44 launches 25 in 10011 hits $7,892 $551,242 44 Small Pin Twin Stick Shooter
37 25 in 100 earned $100k+, from 126 launches 25 in 10031 hits $18,150 $363,650 126 none Pin Medieval
38 25 in 100 earned $100k+, from 151 launches 25 in 10037 hits $23,478 $292,264 151 1-hit Pin Metroidvania
39 24 in 100 earned $100k+, from 86 launches 24 in 10021 hits $21,570 $462,606 86 none Pin Cooking
40 24 in 100 earned $100k+, from 37 launches 24 in 1009 hits $16,996 $802,473 37 SmallAudience Pin Looter Shooter
41 24 in 100 earned $100k+, from 37 launches 24 in 1009 hits $34,003 $415,253 37 SmallAudience Pin Martial Arts
42 24 in 100 earned $100k+, from 359 launches 24 in 10087 hits $18,621 $332,634 359 none Pin Immersive Sim
43 24 in 100 earned $100k+, from 141 launches 24 in 10034 hits $10,665 $248,075 141 none Pin Detective
44 24 in 100 earned $100k+, from 448 launches 24 in 100108 hits $18,456 $485,586 448 none Pin Roguelite
45 24 in 100 earned $100k+, from 226 launches 24 in 10054 hits $18,938 $358,651 226 none Pin Survival
46 24 in 100 earned $100k+, from 143 launches 24 in 10034 hits $7,628 $430,966 143 none Pin Tower Defense
47 24 in 100 earned $100k+, from 480 launches 24 in 100113 hits $18,676 $415,727 480 none Pin Roguelike
48 24 in 100 earned $100k+, from 238 launches 24 in 10056 hits $11,231 $636,746 238 none Pin FPS
49 23 in 100 earned $100k+, from 43 launches 23 in 10010 hits $7,628 $416,920 43 1-hitSmall Pin Cats
50 23 in 100 earned $100k+, from 99 launches 23 in 10023 hits $19,025 $369,985 99 Audience Pin Farming Sim
51 23 in 100 earned $100k+, from 181 launches 23 in 10042 hits $18,428 $362,436 181 1-hitAudience Pin Card Battler
52 23 in 100 earned $100k+, from 203 launches 23 in 10047 hits $14,811 $305,217 203 none Pin Character Customization
53 23 in 100 earned $100k+, from 213 launches 23 in 10049 hits $20,641 $363,650 213 1-hit Pin Deckbuilding
54 23 in 100 earned $100k+, from 171 launches 23 in 10039 hits $17,302 $296,262 171 1-hit Pin Dark Fantasy
55 23 in 100 earned $100k+, from 189 launches 23 in 10043 hits $13,053 $286,515 189 none Pin Hack and Slash
56 23 in 100 earned $100k+, from 88 launches 23 in 10020 hits $24,891 $183,373 88 none Pin Nature
57 23 in 100 earned $100k+, from 75 launches 23 in 10017 hits $10,017 $331,124 75 none Pin Military
58 23 in 100 earned $100k+, from 31 launches 23 in 1007 hits $35,622 $271,728 31 SmallAudience Pin Fishing
59 22 in 100 earned $100k+, from 224 launches 22 in 10050 hits $14,811 $415,727 224 Audience Pin Dungeon Crawler
60 22 in 100 earned $100k+, from 145 launches 22 in 10032 hits $17,624 $313,313 145 Audience Pin City Builder
61 22 in 100 earned $100k+, from 128 launches 22 in 10028 hits $13,963 $240,450 128 none Pin Tactical
62 22 in 100 earned $100k+, from 69 launches 22 in 10015 hits $31,382 $510,045 69 1-hit Pin Trading
63 22 in 100 earned $100k+, from 46 launches 22 in 10010 hits $13,597 $513,299 46 Small Pin Idler
64 22 in 100 earned $100k+, from 46 launches 22 in 10010 hits $6,072 $353,337 46 1-hitSmallAudience Pin Robots
65 22 in 100 earned $100k+, from 106 launches 22 in 10023 hits $3,035 $471,994 106 none Pin Third-Person Shooter
66 22 in 100 earned $100k+, from 37 launches 22 in 1008 hits $24,647 $267,122 37 Small Pin Job Simulator
67 21 in 100 earned $100k+, from 121 launches 21 in 10026 hits $18,695 $286,515 121 none Pin Souls-like
68 21 in 100 earned $100k+, from 1,006 launches 21 in 100216 hits $14,573 $294,876 1,006 none Pinned Simulation
69 21 in 100 earned $100k+, from 33 launches 21 in 1007 hits $17,001 $574,312 33 SmallAudience Pin Parkour
70 21 in 100 earned $100k+, from 52 launches 21 in 10011 hits $14,570 $470,375 52 1-hit Pin Mythology
71 21 in 100 earned $100k+, from 72 launches 21 in 10015 hits $22,688 $233,428 72 none Pin Auto Battler
72 21 in 100 earned $100k+, from 58 launches 21 in 10012 hits $12,140 $189,382 58 none Pin War
73 20 in 100 earned $100k+, from 74 launches 20 in 10015 hits $16,148 $281,739 74 none Pin Colony Sim
74 20 in 100 earned $100k+, from 135 launches 20 in 10027 hits $15,866 $187,016 135 none Pin Survival Horror
75 20 in 100 earned $100k+, from 35 launches 20 in 1007 hits $22,580 $265,301 35 Small Pin Mechs
76 20 in 100 earned $100k+, from 397 launches 20 in 10079 hits $10,460 $242,848 397 none Pin Horror
77 20 in 100 earned $100k+, from 81 launches 20 in 10016 hits $5,849 $369,985 81 Audience Pin Zombies
78 20 in 100 earned $100k+, from 228 launches 20 in 10045 hits $16,691 $233,568 228 none Pin Psychological Horror
79 20 in 100 earned $100k+, from 394 launches 20 in 10077 hits $8,418 $319,385 394 Audience Pin Shooter
80 19 in 100 earned $100k+, from 67 launches 19 in 10013 hits $4,453 $132,576 67 none Pin Flight
81 19 in 100 earned $100k+, from 62 launches 19 in 10012 hits $17,001 $385,809 62 none Pin Rhythm
82 19 in 100 earned $100k+, from 119 launches 19 in 10023 hits $13,660 $281,739 119 Audience Pin RTS
83 19 in 100 earned $100k+, from 176 launches 19 in 10034 hits $6,798 $184,557 176 none Pin Time Management
84 19 in 100 earned $100k+, from 88 launches 19 in 10017 hits $7,892 $271,766 88 Audience Pin Top-Down Shooter
85 19 in 100 earned $100k+, from 297 launches 19 in 10057 hits $8,741 $235,997 297 none Pin Action RPG
86 19 in 100 earned $100k+, from 185 launches 19 in 10035 hits $7,891 $237,886 185 Audience Pin Dating Sim
87 19 in 100 earned $100k+, from 133 launches 19 in 10025 hits $10,928 $227,091 133 1-hit Pin Collectathon
88 19 in 100 earned $100k+, from 32 launches 19 in 1006 hits $6,050 $403,415 32 Small Pin Class-Based
89 19 in 100 earned $100k+, from 43 launches 19 in 1008 hits $9,714 $142,489 43 SmallAudience Pin Alternate History
90 19 in 100 earned $100k+, from 881 launches 19 in 100163 hits $10,017 $237,886 881 none Pin RPG
91 18 in 100 earned $100k+, from 245 launches 18 in 10045 hits $14,168 $279,264 245 none Pin Card Game
92 18 in 100 earned $100k+, from 109 launches 18 in 10020 hits $9,733 $242,848 109 none Pin Walking Simulator
93 18 in 100 earned $100k+, from 126 launches 18 in 10023 hits $10,017 $155,037 126 none Pin 1990's
94 18 in 100 earned $100k+, from 132 launches 18 in 10024 hits $14,911 $368,366 132 none Pin Post-apocalyptic
95 18 in 100 earned $100k+, from 55 launches 18 in 10010 hits $12,142 $301,979 55 1-hit Pin Stealth
96 18 in 100 earned $100k+, from 33 launches 18 in 1006 hits $17,606 $265,863 33 Small Pin Agriculture
97 18 in 100 earned $100k+, from 205 launches 18 in 10037 hits $13,600 $206,109 205 none Pin Turn-Based Combat
98 17 in 100 earned $100k+, from 144 launches 17 in 10025 hits $5,099 $208,876 144 none Pin Racing
99 17 in 100 earned $100k+, from 58 launches 17 in 10010 hits $6,576 $244,093 58 none Pin 1980s
100 17 in 100 earned $100k+, from 140 launches 17 in 10024 hits $9,106 $483,733 140 1-hit Pin Bullet Hell
101 17 in 100 earned $100k+, from 270 launches 17 in 10045 hits $11,231 $229,178 270 none Pin Interactive Fiction
102 17 in 100 earned $100k+, from 78 launches 17 in 10013 hits $7,892 $565,502 78 Audience Pin Automobile Sim
103 17 in 100 earned $100k+, from 337 launches 17 in 10056 hits $7,285 $281,987 337 1-hit Pin Platformer
104 16 in 100 earned $100k+, from 978 launches 16 in 100161 hits $9,226 $209,685 978 none Pin Strategy
105 16 in 100 earned $100k+, from 55 launches 16 in 1009 hits $10,928 $148,359 55 none Pin Thriller
106 16 in 100 earned $100k+, from 37 launches 16 in 1006 hits $11,169 $819,183 37 Small Pin Dystopian
107 16 in 100 earned $100k+, from 119 launches 16 in 10019 hits $8,418 $188,807 119 none Pin Space
108 16 in 100 earned $100k+, from 63 launches 16 in 10010 hits $7,082 $198,756 63 none Pin Comic Book
109 16 in 100 earned $100k+, from 63 launches 16 in 10010 hits $8,154 $250,165 63 Audience Pin CRPG
110 16 in 100 earned $100k+, from 63 launches 16 in 10010 hits $11,293 $210,966 63 none Pin Perma Death
111 16 in 100 earned $100k+, from 304 launches 16 in 10048 hits $9,410 $180,307 304 Audience Pin Turn-Based Strategy
112 16 in 100 earned $100k+, from 51 launches 16 in 1008 hits $7,892 $206,109 51 none Pin Demons
113 15 in 100 earned $100k+, from 144 launches 15 in 10022 hits $9,106 $138,451 144 none Pin Strategy RPG
114 15 in 100 earned $100k+, from 572 launches 15 in 10087 hits $5,767 $157,541 572 none Pin Action-Adventure
115 15 in 100 earned $100k+, from 287 launches 15 in 10043 hits $3,339 $171,634 287 none Pin Point & Click
116 15 in 100 earned $100k+, from 41 launches 15 in 1006 hits $6,313 $138,114 41 Small Pin Otome
117 15 in 100 earned $100k+, from 460 launches 15 in 10067 hits $7,366 $177,879 460 none Pin Visual Novel
118 14 in 100 earned $100k+, from 127 launches 14 in 10018 hits $9,106 $148,738 127 none Pin Tactical RPG
119 14 in 100 earned $100k+, from 269 launches 14 in 10038 hits $9,310 $141,679 269 Audience Pin Turn-Based Tactics
120 14 in 100 earned $100k+, from 775 launches 14 in 100107 hits $4,553 $151,799 775 none Pin Puzzle
121 14 in 100 earned $100k+, from 80 launches 14 in 10011 hits $13,356 $200,375 80 none Pin Cyberpunk
122 13 in 100 earned $100k+, from 89 launches 13 in 10012 hits $11,231 $188,807 89 none Pin Wargame
123 13 in 100 earned $100k+, from 52 launches 13 in 1007 hits $3,683 $115,482 52 1-hit Pin Action RTS
124 13 in 100 earned $100k+, from 254 launches 13 in 10034 hits $4,553 $173,636 254 none Pin Choose Your Own Adventure
125 13 in 100 earned $100k+, from 107 launches 13 in 10014 hits $5,262 $195,922 107 none Pin Shoot 'Em Up
126 13 in 100 earned $100k+, from 317 launches 13 in 10041 hits $6,193 $174,231 317 none Pin 2D Platformer
127 13 in 100 earned $100k+, from 31 launches 13 in 1004 hits $5,342 $104,033 31 1-hitSmall Pin eSports
128 13 in 100 earned $100k+, from 110 launches 13 in 10014 hits $11,003 $166,519 110 none Pin LGBTQ+
129 13 in 100 earned $100k+, from 181 launches 13 in 10023 hits $7,691 $138,114 181 none Pin Romance
130 13 in 100 earned $100k+, from 88 launches 13 in 10011 hits $8,499 $137,311 88 none Pin Precision Platformer
131 13 in 100 earned $100k+, from 64 launches 13 in 1008 hits $11,354 $144,918 64 none Pin Beat 'em up
132 13 in 100 earned $100k+, from 64 launches 13 in 1008 hits $7,891 $110,105 64 none Pin Supernatural
133 Runner13 in 100 earned $100k+, from 48 launches 13 in 1006 hits $1,821 $232,797 48 1-hitSmall Pin Runner

13 in 100 earned $100k+, from 48 launches at $10 to $20. That is about 0.7 times the base rate.

Base rate at $10 to $20: 19 in 100 (893 of 4,810 launches earned $100k+).

Typical first year $1,821; the top 1 in 10 earned at least $232,797.

Lens check, all pricesChanged recently. Standard: the yardstick. West-facing view: holds. Without the breakout: holds. Last 18 months: moves the answer.

  • 1-hitHaste holds 70% of all the money here (all prices). Read the typical figure, not the total.
  • SmallOnly 48 launches at $10 to $20: one or two games swing the odds.
Chance of $100k+ at every price (Standard lens)
PriceChanceLaunchesTypical
All prices1 in 81570$121
Under $51 in 427427$81
$5 to $100 in 10091$356
$10 to $2013 in 10048$1,821
$20 to $40too fewunder 10

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

Best tag pairs inside, at $10 to $20

No pair inside has 30+ launches and a hit in this view.

Open genre pageCheck this idea
134 12 in 100 earned $100k+, from 57 launches 12 in 1007 hits $6,072 $231,544 57 Audience Pin 2D Fighter
135 12 in 100 earned $100k+, from 173 launches 12 in 10021 hits $4,007 $118,201 173 Audience Pin Sports
136 12 in 100 earned $100k+, from 33 launches 12 in 1004 hits $8,096 $105,652 33 SmallAudience Pin 4X
137 12 in 100 earned $100k+, from 50 launches 12 in 1006 hits $3,238 $237,211 50 Audience Pin Arena Shooter
138 12 in 100 earned $100k+, from 117 launches 12 in 10014 hits $3,886 $118,418 117 Audience Pin Real Time Tactics
139 12 in 100 earned $100k+, from 42 launches 12 in 1005 hits $13,464 $154,809 42 SmallAudience Pin Word Game
140 12 in 100 earned $100k+, from 110 launches 12 in 10013 hits $6,576 $124,151 110 none Pin Logic
141 12 in 100 earned $100k+, from 34 launches 12 in 1004 hits $4,858 $132,774 34 SmallAudience Pin Artificial Intelligence
142 12 in 100 earned $100k+, from 43 launches 12 in 1005 hits $13,839 $110,510 43 Small Pin Grid-Based Movement
143 11 in 100 earned $100k+, from 208 launches 11 in 10023 hits $3,157 $156,119 208 none Pin 3D Platformer
144 11 in 100 earned $100k+, from 55 launches 11 in 1006 hits $3,116 $144,500 55 none Pin Score Attack
145 11 in 100 earned $100k+, from 384 launches 11 in 10041 hits $3,643 $106,057 384 none Pin Arcade
146 11 in 100 earned $100k+, from 75 launches 11 in 1008 hits $6,477 $114,321 75 none Pin Tabletop
147 10 in 100 earned $100k+, from 181 launches 10 in 10019 hits $5,767 $101,418 181 none Pin JRPG
148 10 in 100 earned $100k+, from 59 launches 10 in 1006 hits $8,096 $105,652 59 1-hit Pin Grand Strategy
149 10 in 100 earned $100k+, from 30 launches 10 in 1003 hits $3,885 $114,321 30 Small Pin Party Game
150 10 in 100 earned $100k+, from 30 launches 10 in 1003 hits $5,827 $126,276 30 SmallAudience Pin Sokoban
Show 16 moreShowing 150 of 166 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 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.