Niche

City Builder + Tower Defense

Games tagged both City Builder and Tower Defense: 53 indie paid launches, 9 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.

Price $10 to $20

All prices1 in 17 hit $100k+Under $51 in 219 hit $100k+$5 to $101 in 30 hit $100k+$10 to $2018 in 100 hit $100k+$20 to $4040 in 100 hit $100k+

Base rate: indie paid launches 12 to 36 months old, 26,280 launches. Odds compare best within one price.

Lens Standard

Standard West-facing view Without the breakout Last 18 months

All indie paid launches 12 to 36 months old. Lens figures exist at all prices only; inside a price band this page shows the standard figures.

Sample 10+

10+ launchesshow small samples 30+ launches 100+ launchesonly big markets

Hides anything measured on fewer launches.

$10 to $20

Showing City Builder + Tower Defense priced $10 to $20. This filter changes the answer: at all prices the pair is about level with City Builder and beats Tower Defense; priced $10 to $20 it is too small to compare with City Builder and is too small to compare with Tower Defense.

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

City Builder + Tower Defense is too small to compare with City Builder and is too small to compare with Tower Defense: 8 of its 15 launches earned $100k+ priced $10 to $20, against 26.2 in 100 for City Builder and 23.4 in 100 for Tower Defense.

Small sample: 15 launches, 8 hits.

TIEA tie

Tag oneCity Builder

26.2in 100 earned
$100k+

Odds26.2 in 100

Typical earnings$18,490

Launches145 / 38 hits

Pair against ittoo few hits to compare

TIEA tie

This pairCity Builder + Tower Defense

8 of 15launches earned
$100k+ small

Odds8 of 15 launches

Typical earnings$108,341

Launches15 / 8 hits

Expected17.6 in 100

TIEA tie

Tag twoTower Defense

23.4in 100 earned
$100k+

Odds23.4 in 100

Typical earnings$7,966

Launches124 / 29 hits

Pair against ittoo few hits to compare

All indie launches $10 to $20: 17.6 in 100 earned $100k+, typical $8,234, from 4,301 launches.each block is 5 in 100 all indie at $10 to $20

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 prices53 in pair Under $518 in pair $5 to $1019 in pair $10 to $2015 in pair$20 to $401: too few

What the overlap means

The overlap is this niche: the 15 games tagged both City Builder and Tower Defense priced $10 to $20. 8 of 15 of them earned $100k+, against 23.1 in 100 for City Builder-only games and 19.3 in 100 for Tower Defense-only games, so the mix is too small to compare with City Builder alone and is too small to compare with Tower Defense alone.

Both: 15 games priced $10 to $20; 8 of 15 earned $100k+, typical first-year earnings $108,341.

Circle areas follow launch counts; the gold overlap is exactly the pair's 15 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

Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Editionleads this pair40.7%

PairStronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition40.7%

City BuilderManor Lords40.8%

Tower DefenseStronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition11.6%

CheckOne game over half?no

NextNearest hitsnot computed yet

Lens checkHolds in 2 of 3, 1 too few to tell. Standard: the base the others are compared with. West-facing view: holds. Without the breakout: holds. Last 18 months: too few to tell.

Open free preview

ComparablesFree until launchClick to unlockWho leads City Builder + Tower Defense

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

Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition earned 40.7% of the estimated first-year money of the 53 City Builder + Tower Defense launches.
City Builder is led by Manor Lords, with 40.8% of its money.
It also leads Tower Defense, with 11.6% of that tag's 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

City Builder + Tower Defense holds in West-facing view and Without the breakout; too few to tell in Last 18 months. No lens moves the chance or typical earnings more than chance alone would.

City Builder + Tower Defense through every lens, all prices
This pair	BaseStandardevery launch	West-facing view50 of 53 launches	Without the breakout52 of 53 launches	Last 18 months20 of 53 launches
Launches counted	539 hits	509 hits	528 hits	203 hits
Earned $100k+	17.0 in 100	18.0 in 100	15.4 in 100	3 of 20too few for a rate
Typical first-year earnings	$3,828top tenth $359,391+	$3,829	$3,828	$5,725
Chance against standard	the base	+6.0%1.0 more in 100	-9.4%1.6 fewer in 100	-11.7%2.0 fewer in 100; too few to tell
Typical against standard	the base	0.0%$1 more; too few to tell	0.0%no change	+49.6%$1,897 more; too few to tell
Does it hold?	The base view	Holds	Holds	Too few to tell

BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged both City Builder and Tower Defense, 12 to 36 months old: 53 launches.

Launches counted: 539 hits
Earned $100k+: 17.0 in 100
Typical first-year earnings: $3,828top tenth $359,391+
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: 3 of 53 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted: 509 hits
Earned $100k+: 18.0 in 100
Typical first-year earnings: $3,829
Chance against standard: +6.0%1.0 more in 100
Typical against standard: 0.0%$1 more; too few to tell

Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition (40.7% of the money): 52 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted: 528 hits
Earned $100k+: 15.4 in 100
Typical first-year earnings: $3,828
Chance against standard: -9.4%1.6 fewer in 100
Typical against standard: 0.0%no change

Last 18 monthsToo few to tell

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 20 of 53.

Launches counted: 203 hits
Earned $100k+: 3 of 20too few for a rate
Typical first-year earnings: $5,725
Chance against standard: -11.7%2.0 fewer in 100; too few to tell
Typical against standard: +49.6%$1,897 more; too few to tell

Standard: Every indie paid launch tagged both City Builder and Tower Defense, 12 to 36 months old: 53 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: 3 of 53 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, Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition (40.7% of the money): 52 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: 20 of 53.

City Builder is changed recently: Last 18 months moves the answer more than chance alone would. It holds in West-facing view and Without the breakout.

City Builder through every lens, all prices
City Builder	BaseStandardevery launch	West-facing view477 of 507 launches	Without the breakout506 of 507 launches	Last 18 months130 of 507 launches
Launches counted	50785 hits	47783 hits	50684 hits	13025 hits
Earned $100k+	16.8 in 100	17.4 in 100	16.6 in 100	19.2 in 100
Typical first-year earnings	$1,856top tenth $291,243+	$1,986	$1,856	$3,828
Chance against standard	the base	+3.8%0.6 more in 100	-1.0%0.2 fewer in 100	+14.7%2.5 more in 100
Typical against standard	the base	+7.0%$130 more	0.0%no change	+106.3%$1,972 more
Does it hold?	The base view	Holds	Holds	Moves the answer

BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged City Builder, 12 to 36 months old: 507 launches.

Launches counted: 50785 hits
Earned $100k+: 16.8 in 100
Typical first-year earnings: $1,856top tenth $291,243+
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: 30 of 507 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted: 47783 hits
Earned $100k+: 17.4 in 100
Typical first-year earnings: $1,986
Chance against standard: +3.8%0.6 more in 100
Typical against standard: +7.0%$130 more

Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Manor Lords (40.8% of the money): 506 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted: 50684 hits
Earned $100k+: 16.6 in 100
Typical first-year earnings: $1,856
Chance against standard: -1.0%0.2 fewer in 100
Typical against standard: 0.0%no change

Last 18 monthsMoves the answer

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 130 of 507.

Launches counted: 13025 hits
Earned $100k+: 19.2 in 100
Typical first-year earnings: $3,828
Chance against standard: +14.7%2.5 more in 100
Typical against standard: +106.3%$1,972 more

Standard: Every indie paid launch tagged City Builder, 12 to 36 months old: 507 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: 30 of 507 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, Manor Lords (40.8% of the money): 506 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: 130 of 507.

Tower Defense 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.

Tower Defense through every lens, all prices
Tower Defense	BaseStandardevery launch	West-facing view740 of 787 launches	Without the breakout786 of 787 launches	Last 18 months222 of 787 launches
Launches counted	78744 hits	74039 hits	78643 hits	22212 hits
Earned $100k+	5.6 in 1001 in 18	5.3 in 1001 in 19	5.5 in 1001 in 18	5.4 in 1001 in 19
Typical first-year earnings	$383top tenth $32,058+	$405	$383	$383
Chance against standard	the base	-5.7%0.3 fewer in 100	-2.1%0.1 fewer in 100	-3.3%0.2 fewer in 100
Typical against standard	the base	+5.7%$22 more	0.0%no change	0.0%no change
Does it hold?	The base view	Holds	Holds	Holds

BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Tower Defense, 12 to 36 months old: 787 launches.

Launches counted: 78744 hits
Earned $100k+: 5.6 in 1001 in 18
Typical first-year earnings: $383top tenth $32,058+
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: 47 of 787 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted: 74039 hits
Earned $100k+: 5.3 in 1001 in 19
Typical first-year earnings: $405
Chance against standard: -5.7%0.3 fewer in 100
Typical against standard: +5.7%$22 more

Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition (11.6% of the money): 786 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted: 78643 hits
Earned $100k+: 5.5 in 1001 in 18
Typical first-year earnings: $383
Chance against standard: -2.1%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard: 0.0%no change

Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 222 of 787.

Launches counted: 22212 hits
Earned $100k+: 5.4 in 1001 in 19
Typical first-year earnings: $383
Chance against standard: -3.3%0.2 fewer in 100
Typical against standard: 0.0%no change

Standard: Every indie paid launch tagged Tower Defense, 12 to 36 months old: 787 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: 47 of 787 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, Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition (11.6% of the money): 786 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: 222 of 787.

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 City Builder + Tower Defense 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.