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on 3 Oct 2026

Niches / Choices Matter + Simulation

Niche

Choices Matter + Simulation

Games tagged both Choices Matter and Simulation: 185 indie paid launches, 17 of them earned $100k+ in their first year.

How to read this page

  • A hit is an estimated $100k+ first year. Revenue is estimated from Steam reviews, so read figures as "about". 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.
  • Price moves the odds more than genre does, so the page opens on one price band. The keys in section 2 switch it.
  • From 26,280 indie paid launches 12 to 36 months old, data of 3 Oct 2026. How it is measured.

Showing Choices Matter + Simulation priced $10 to $20, hiding samples under 100 launches. This filter changes the answer: at all prices the pair is about level with Choices Matter and is about level with Simulation; priced $10 to $20 it has too few launches to read.

1Scoreboard: the pair against each of its tags

The pair's chance of a $100k+ first year beside each of its two tags, ranked like a high-score table, with typical earnings and the launches behind every figure.

ScoreboardDoes this pair beat its genres?$10 to $20

46 launches, under your minimum sample of 100.

Pick another price band, or lower the minimum sample.

TIEA tie
Tag onemood tagChoices Matter
20.6in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds20.6 in 100
Typical earnings$14,232
Launches248 / 51 hits
Pairno reading
--No reading
This pairChoices Matter + Simulation
--too few
to read
Odds--
Typical earnings--
Launches46

46 launches, under your minimum sample of 100.

TIEA tie
Tag twoSimulation
20.9in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds20.9 in 100
Typical earnings$11,548
Launches876 / 183 hits
Pairno reading
All indie launches $10 to $20: 17.6 in 100 earned $100k+, typical $8,234, from 4,301 launches.each block is 2 in 100 all indie at $10 to $20Choices Matter is a mood tag: GMD never ranks it alone, but every game carrying it is counted.

2Overlap: where the two tags meet

Each circle is one tag, sized by its launches, and the gold overlap is exactly this pair. Click a part to read it. Price changes the odds more than genre does (under $5: 0.5 in 100 launches earned $100k+; $20 to $40: 40.0 in 100), so read it within a price band.

Price bandswitches the whole page
All prices185 in pairUnder $580 in pair$5 to $1051 in pair$10 to $2046 in pair$20 to $408: too few
What the overlap means

The overlap is this niche: the 46 games tagged both Choices Matter and Simulation priced $10 to $20. 21.7 in 100 of them earned $100k+, against 20.3 in 100 for Choices Matter-only games and 20.8 in 100 for Simulation-only games, so the mix is about level with Choices Matter alone and is about level with Simulation alone.

Both: 46 games priced $10 to $20; 21.7 in 100 earned $100k+, typical first-year earnings $16,808.

Circle areas follow launch counts; the gold overlap is exactly the pair's 46 launches. The outer parts are each tag's launches minus the pair's, so their chance is exact; their typical earnings are not computed yet.

3Comparables

Who leads this pair and each of its tags. Free until launch: one click opens the card. The full comparables list (nearest hits by tag pair, price and launch year) is not computed yet, and the card says so.

Comparables

Leaders

Top earner, share of the moneyFree until launch

Hollywood Animalleads this pair15.0%
PairHollywood Animal15.0%
Choices MatterLegend of Mortal10.0%
SimulationSchedule I17.6%
CheckOne game over half?no
NextNearest hitsnot computed yet

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

Open free preview
ComparablesFree until launchClick to unlockWho leads Choices Matter + Simulation

What this card holds

  • Leaders. The top earner in this pair and in each of its two tags, with its share of the money.
  • One-hit check. Whether a single game holds over half of the pair's money.
  • Nearest hits. Similar games that earned $100k+, matched by tag pair, price and launch year: not computed yet.

How the list will be picked

Same tag pairdata ready
Same price banddata ready
Launched within a year of each otherplanned
Earned $100k+planned
The list itselfnot computed yet

Free until launch: one click opens the card.

The leaders, in words

  • Hollywood Animal earned 15.0% of the estimated first-year money of the 185 Choices Matter + Simulation launches.
  • Choices Matter is led by Legend of Mortal, with 10.0% of its money.
  • Simulation is led by Schedule I, with 17.6% of its money.
  • No game holds over half of this pair's money, so the pair is not a one-hit market.

Nearest hits (similar games that earned $100k+, matched by tag pair, price and launch year): not computed yet.

Filters do not apply here yet. Leaders and shares are for all prices and the Standard view; per price band and per lens they are not computed yet.

4Lens check: does the answer hold?

The same figures with three kinds of games set aside: games mostly reviewed in Chinese, the single biggest earner, and everything older than 18 months.

Does the answer hold?

All prices

Choices Matter + Simulation holds in West-facing view, Without the breakout and Last 18 months. No lens moves the chance or typical earnings more than chance alone would.

Choices Matter + Simulation through every lens, all prices
This pairBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view174 of 185 launchesWithout the breakout184 of 185 launchesLast 18 months51 of 185 launches
Launches counted18517 hits17415 hits18416 hits515 hits
Earned $100k+9.2 in 1001 in 118.6 in 1001 in 128.7 in 1001 in 129.8 in 1001 in 10
Typical first-year earnings$1,786top tenth $84,063+$1,530$1,786$1,837
Chance against standardthe base-6.2%0.6 fewer in 100-5.4%0.5 fewer in 100+6.7%0.6 more in 100
Typical against standardthe base-14.3%$256 less0.0%no change+2.9%$51 more; too few to tell
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged both Choices Matter and Simulation, 12 to 36 months old: 185 launches.

Launches counted
18517 hits
Earned $100k+
9.2 in 1001 in 11
Typical first-year earnings
$1,786top tenth $84,063+
Chance against standard
the base
Typical against standard
the base
West-facing viewHolds

Games mostly reviewed outside China. Drops games mostly reviewed in Chinese, meaning 35% or more of their reviews are in Simplified Chinese: 11 of 185 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
17415 hits
Earned $100k+
8.6 in 1001 in 12
Typical first-year earnings
$1,530
Chance against standard
-6.2%0.6 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-14.3%$256 less
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Hollywood Animal (15.0% of the money): 184 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
18416 hits
Earned $100k+
8.7 in 1001 in 12
Typical first-year earnings
$1,786
Chance against standard
-5.4%0.5 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 51 of 185.

Launches counted
515 hits
Earned $100k+
9.8 in 1001 in 10
Typical first-year earnings
$1,837
Chance against standard
+6.7%0.6 more in 100
Typical against standard
+2.9%$51 more; too few to tell
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged both Choices Matter and Simulation, 12 to 36 months old: 185 launches.
West-facing view
Games mostly reviewed outside China. Drops games mostly reviewed in Chinese, meaning 35% or more of their reviews are in Simplified Chinese: 11 of 185 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.
Without the breakout
Drops the single biggest earner, Hollywood Animal (15.0% of the money): 184 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.
Last 18 months
Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 51 of 185.

Choices Matter is audience split: West-facing view moves the answer more than chance alone would. It holds in Without the breakout and Last 18 months.

Choices Matter through every lens, all prices
Choices MatterBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view1,091 of 1,146 launchesWithout the breakout1,145 of 1,146 launchesLast 18 months344 of 1,146 launches
Launches counted1,14697 hits1,09185 hits1,14596 hits34426 hits
Earned $100k+8.5 in 1001 in 127.8 in 1001 in 138.4 in 1001 in 127.6 in 1001 in 13
Typical first-year earnings$1,148top tenth $76,114+$1,136$1,146$957
Chance against standardthe base-8.0%0.7 fewer in 100-0.9%0.1 fewer in 100-10.7%0.9 fewer in 100
Typical against standardthe base-1.0%$12 less-0.2%$2 less-16.6%$191 less
Does it hold?The base viewMoves the answerHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Choices Matter, 12 to 36 months old: 1,146 launches.

Launches counted
1,14697 hits
Earned $100k+
8.5 in 1001 in 12
Typical first-year earnings
$1,148top tenth $76,114+
Chance against standard
the base
Typical against standard
the base
West-facing viewMoves the answer

Games mostly reviewed outside China. Drops games mostly reviewed in Chinese, meaning 35% or more of their reviews are in Simplified Chinese: 55 of 1,146 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
1,09185 hits
Earned $100k+
7.8 in 1001 in 13
Typical first-year earnings
$1,136
Chance against standard
-8.0%0.7 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-1.0%$12 less
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Legend of Mortal (10.0% of the money): 1,145 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
1,14596 hits
Earned $100k+
8.4 in 1001 in 12
Typical first-year earnings
$1,146
Chance against standard
-0.9%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-0.2%$2 less
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 344 of 1,146.

Launches counted
34426 hits
Earned $100k+
7.6 in 1001 in 13
Typical first-year earnings
$957
Chance against standard
-10.7%0.9 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-16.6%$191 less
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged Choices Matter, 12 to 36 months old: 1,146 launches.
West-facing view
Games mostly reviewed outside China. Drops games mostly reviewed in Chinese, meaning 35% or more of their reviews are in Simplified Chinese: 55 of 1,146 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.
Without the breakout
Drops the single biggest earner, Legend of Mortal (10.0% of the money): 1,145 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.
Last 18 months
Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 344 of 1,146.

Simulation holds in West-facing view, Without the breakout and Last 18 months. No lens moves the chance or typical earnings more than chance alone would.

Simulation through every lens, all prices
SimulationBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view4,193 of 4,444 launchesWithout the breakout4,443 of 4,444 launchesLast 18 months1,387 of 4,444 launches
Launches counted4,444370 hits4,193351 hits4,443369 hits1,387117 hits
Earned $100k+8.3 in 1001 in 128.4 in 1001 in 128.3 in 1001 in 128.4 in 1001 in 12
Typical first-year earnings$877top tenth $69,001+$941$876$956
Chance against standardthe base+0.5%no change-0.2%no change+1.3%0.1 more in 100
Typical against standardthe base+7.3%$64 more-0.1%$1 less+9.0%$79 more
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Simulation, 12 to 36 months old: 4,444 launches.

Launches counted
4,444370 hits
Earned $100k+
8.3 in 1001 in 12
Typical first-year earnings
$877top tenth $69,001+
Chance against standard
the base
Typical against standard
the base
West-facing viewHolds

Games mostly reviewed outside China. Drops games mostly reviewed in Chinese, meaning 35% or more of their reviews are in Simplified Chinese: 251 of 4,444 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
4,193351 hits
Earned $100k+
8.4 in 1001 in 12
Typical first-year earnings
$941
Chance against standard
+0.5%no change
Typical against standard
+7.3%$64 more
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Schedule I (17.6% of the money): 4,443 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
4,443369 hits
Earned $100k+
8.3 in 1001 in 12
Typical first-year earnings
$876
Chance against standard
-0.2%no change
Typical against standard
-0.1%$1 less
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 1,387 of 4,444.

Launches counted
1,387117 hits
Earned $100k+
8.4 in 1001 in 12
Typical first-year earnings
$956
Chance against standard
+1.3%0.1 more in 100
Typical against standard
+9.0%$79 more
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged Simulation, 12 to 36 months old: 4,444 launches.
West-facing view
Games mostly reviewed outside China. Drops games mostly reviewed in Chinese, meaning 35% or more of their reviews are in Simplified Chinese: 251 of 4,444 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.
Without the breakout
Drops the single biggest earner, Schedule I (17.6% of the money): 4,443 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.
Last 18 months
Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 1,387 of 4,444.

A lens moves the chance only when it differs from standard by more than a random cut of the same size would, with 5+ hits on both sides; typical earnings are compared from 100 launches, within 25%. Without the breakout moves the answer when one game earned over half the money. Lens figures by price band are not computed yet, so this table is for all prices.

5Premium early list

Alerts when Choices Matter + Simulation moves, comparables the day they land, and every lens for every pair and price. Free until launch.

Free until launch

Keep gold access after launch: alerts, comparables, every lens.

Releases

Ticker: 30 upcoming games dated within 90 days, with wishlist rank, release date and followers. The same list is on the Upcoming page.