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on 11 Nov 2026

Niches / Dating Sim + Interactive Fiction

Niche

Dating Sim + Interactive Fiction

Games tagged both Dating Sim and Interactive Fiction: 186 indie paid launches, 24 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 26,758 indie paid launches 12 to 36 months old, data of 2 Nov 2026. How it is measured.

Showing Dating Sim + Interactive Fiction priced $10 to $20.

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

Dating Sim + Interactive Fiction beats both its tags: 23.9 in 100 of its launches earned $100k+ priced $10 to $20, against 19.3 in 100 for Dating Sim and 15.3 in 100 for Interactive Fiction.

That is about 1.2 times the 20.5 in 100 expected for any launch at this price.

2NDRunner-up
Tag oneDating Sim
19.3in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds19.3 in 100
Typical earnings$9,798
Launches181 / 35 hits
Pair leads by4.6 in 100
1STWinner
This pairDating Sim + Interactive Fiction
23.9in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds23.9 in 100
$1k+91 in 100
$10k+54 in 100
Launches46 / 11 hits
Expected20.5 in 100
3RDThird
Tag twoInteractive Fiction
15.3in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds15.3 in 100
Typical earnings$10,537
Launches235 / 36 hits
Pair leads by8.6 in 100
All indie launches $10 to $20: 20.5 in 100 earned $100k+, typical $11,233, from 4,337 launches.each block is 2 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: 0.4 in 100 launches earned $100k+; $20 to $40: 44.2 in 100), so read it within a price band.

Price bandswitches the whole page
All prices186 in pairUnder $569 in pair$5 to $1064 in pair$10 to $2046 in pair$20 to $407: too few
What the overlap means

The overlap is this niche: the 46 games tagged both Dating Sim and Interactive Fiction priced $10 to $20. 23.9 in 100 of them earned $100k+, against 17.8 in 100 for Dating Sim-only games and 13.2 in 100 for Interactive Fiction-only games, so games with both tags did better than games with either tag alone.

Both: 46 games priced $10 to $20; 23.9 in 100 earned $100k+, odds by size $1k+ 91 in 100 · $10k+ 54 in 100 · $100k+ 24 in 100.

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

The Hungry Lamb: Traveling in the Late Ming Dynastyleads this pair35.2%
PairThe Hungry Lamb: Traveling in the Late Ming Dynasty35.2%
Dating SimLegend of Mortal24.4%
Interactive FictionThe Hungry Lamb: Traveling in the Late Ming Dynasty11.6%
CheckOne game over half?no
NextNearest hitsnot computed yet

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

Open free preview
ComparablesFree until launchClick to unlockWho leads Dating Sim + Interactive Fiction

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

  • The Hungry Lamb: Traveling in the Late Ming Dynasty earned 35.2% of the estimated first-year money of the 186 Dating Sim + Interactive Fiction launches.
  • Dating Sim is led by Legend of Mortal, with 24.4% of its money.
  • It also leads Interactive Fiction, 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

Dating Sim + Interactive Fiction is audience split: West-facing view moves the answer more than chance alone would. It holds in Without the breakout and Last 18 months.

Dating Sim + Interactive Fiction through every lens, all prices
This pairBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view132 of 186 launchesWithout the breakout185 of 186 launchesLast 18 months44 of 186 launches
Launches counted18624 hits13213 hits18523 hits447 hits
Earned $100k+12.9 in 1009.8 in 1001 in 1012.4 in 10015.9 in 100
Typical first-year earnings$1,845top tenth $145,627+$1,461$1,788under 100 launches
Chance against standardthe base-23.7%3.1 fewer in 100-3.6%0.5 fewer in 100+23.3%3.0 more in 100
Typical against standardthe base-20.8%$384 less-3.1%$57 lessunder 100 launches
Does it hold?The base viewMoves the answerHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged both Dating Sim and Interactive Fiction, 12 to 36 months old: 186 launches.

Launches counted
18624 hits
Earned $100k+
12.9 in 100
Typical first-year earnings
$1,845top tenth $145,627+
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: 54 of 186 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
13213 hits
Earned $100k+
9.8 in 1001 in 10
Typical first-year earnings
$1,461
Chance against standard
-23.7%3.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-20.8%$384 less
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, The Hungry Lamb: Traveling in the Late Ming Dynasty (35.2% of the money): 185 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
18523 hits
Earned $100k+
12.4 in 100
Typical first-year earnings
$1,788
Chance against standard
-3.6%0.5 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-3.1%$57 less
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 44 of 186.

Launches counted
447 hits
Earned $100k+
15.9 in 100
Typical first-year earnings
under 100 launches
Chance against standard
+23.3%3.0 more in 100
Typical against standard
under 100 launches
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged both Dating Sim and Interactive Fiction, 12 to 36 months old: 186 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: 54 of 186 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, The Hungry Lamb: Traveling in the Late Ming Dynasty (35.2% of the money): 185 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: 44 of 186.

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

Dating Sim through every lens, all prices
Dating SimBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view496 of 630 launchesWithout the breakout629 of 630 launchesLast 18 months153 of 630 launches
Launches counted63062 hits49642 hits62961 hits15314 hits
Earned $100k+9.8 in 1001 in 108.5 in 1001 in 129.7 in 1001 in 109.2 in 1001 in 11
Typical first-year earnings$2,513top tenth $99,496+$2,359$2,504$2,359
Chance against standardthe base-14.0%1.4 fewer in 100-1.5%0.1 fewer in 100-7.0%0.7 fewer in 100
Typical against standardthe base-6.1%$154 less-0.4%$9 less-6.1%$154 less
Does it hold?The base viewMoves the answerHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Dating Sim, 12 to 36 months old: 630 launches.

Launches counted
63062 hits
Earned $100k+
9.8 in 1001 in 10
Typical first-year earnings
$2,513top tenth $99,496+
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: 134 of 630 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
49642 hits
Earned $100k+
8.5 in 1001 in 12
Typical first-year earnings
$2,359
Chance against standard
-14.0%1.4 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-6.1%$154 less
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Legend of Mortal (24.4% of the money): 629 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
62961 hits
Earned $100k+
9.7 in 1001 in 10
Typical first-year earnings
$2,504
Chance against standard
-1.5%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-0.4%$9 less
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 153 of 630.

Launches counted
15314 hits
Earned $100k+
9.2 in 1001 in 11
Typical first-year earnings
$2,359
Chance against standard
-7.0%0.7 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-6.1%$154 less
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged Dating Sim, 12 to 36 months old: 630 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: 134 of 630 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 (24.4% of the money): 629 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: 153 of 630.

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

Interactive Fiction through every lens, all prices
Interactive FictionBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view1,127 of 1,284 launchesWithout the breakout1,283 of 1,284 launchesLast 18 months384 of 1,284 launches
Launches counted1,28469 hits1,12751 hits1,28368 hits38425 hits
Earned $100k+5.4 in 1001 in 194.5 in 1001 in 225.3 in 1001 in 196.5 in 1001 in 15
Typical first-year earnings$823top tenth $35,638+$810$822$865
Chance against standardthe base-15.8%0.8 fewer in 100-1.4%0.1 fewer in 100+21.2%1.1 more in 100
Typical against standardthe base-1.6%$13 less-0.1%$1 less+5.1%$42 more
Does it hold?The base viewMoves the answerHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Interactive Fiction, 12 to 36 months old: 1,284 launches.

Launches counted
1,28469 hits
Earned $100k+
5.4 in 1001 in 19
Typical first-year earnings
$823top tenth $35,638+
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: 157 of 1,284 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
1,12751 hits
Earned $100k+
4.5 in 1001 in 22
Typical first-year earnings
$810
Chance against standard
-15.8%0.8 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-1.6%$13 less
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, The Hungry Lamb: Traveling in the Late Ming Dynasty (11.6% of the money): 1,283 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
1,28368 hits
Earned $100k+
5.3 in 1001 in 19
Typical first-year earnings
$822
Chance against standard
-1.4%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-0.1%$1 less
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 384 of 1,284.

Launches counted
38425 hits
Earned $100k+
6.5 in 1001 in 15
Typical first-year earnings
$865
Chance against standard
+21.2%1.1 more in 100
Typical against standard
+5.1%$42 more
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged Interactive Fiction, 12 to 36 months old: 1,284 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: 157 of 1,284 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, The Hungry Lamb: Traveling in the Late Ming Dynasty (11.6% of the money): 1,283 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: 384 of 1,284.

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 Dating Sim + Interactive Fiction 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.