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on 3 Oct 2026

Niches / Detective + Puzzle

Niche

Detective + Puzzle

Games tagged both Detective and Puzzle: 269 indie paid launches, 25 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 26,291 indie paid launches 12 to 36 months old, data of 3 Oct 2026. How it is measured.

Showing Detective + Puzzle priced $10 to $20, hiding samples under 30 launches. This filter changes the answer: at all prices the pair is about level with Detective and beats Puzzle; priced $10 to $20 it beats both its tags.

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

Detective + Puzzle beats both its tags: 26.8 in 100 of its launches earned $100k+ priced $10 to $20, against 22.6 in 100 for Detective and 14.3 in 100 for Puzzle.

That is about 1.3 times the 20.4 in 100 expected for any launch at this price.

2NDRunner-up
Tag oneDetective
22.6in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds22.6 in 100
Typical earnings$12,860
Launches106 / 24 hits
Pair leads by4.1 in 100
1STWinner
This pairDetective + Puzzle
26.8in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds26.8 in 100
$1k+79 in 100
$10k+45 in 100
Launches56 / 15 hits
Expected20.4 in 100
3RDThird
Tag twoPuzzle
14.3in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds14.3 in 100
Typical earnings$5,070
Launches684 / 98 hits
Pair leads by12.5 in 100
All indie launches $10 to $20: 20.4 in 100 earned $100k+, typical $10,978, from 4,304 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 prices269 in pairUnder $597 in pair$5 to $10103 in pair$10 to $2056 in pair$20 to $4013 in pair
What the overlap means

The overlap is this niche: the 56 games tagged both Detective and Puzzle priced $10 to $20. 26.8 in 100 of them earned $100k+, against 18.0 in 100 for Detective-only games and 13.2 in 100 for Puzzle-only games, so games with both tags did better than games with either tag alone.

Both: 56 games priced $10 to $20; 26.8 in 100 earned $100k+, odds by size $1k+ 79 in 100 · $10k+ 45 in 100 · $100k+ 27 in 100.

Circle areas follow launch counts; the gold overlap is exactly the pair's 56 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

Murders on the Yangtze Riverleads this pair14.4%
PairMurders on the Yangtze River14.4%
DetectiveThe Precinct14.7%
PuzzleBlue Prince7.4%
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 Detective + Puzzle

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

  • Murders on the Yangtze River earned 14.4% of the estimated first-year money of the 269 Detective + Puzzle launches.
  • Detective is led by The Precinct, with 14.7% of its money.
  • Puzzle is led by Blue Prince, with 7.4% 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

Detective + Puzzle 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.

Detective + Puzzle through every lens, all prices
This pairBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view235 of 269 launchesWithout the breakout268 of 269 launchesLast 18 months61 of 269 launches
Launches counted26925 hits23522 hits26824 hits616 hits
Earned $100k+9.3 in 1001 in 119.4 in 1001 in 119.0 in 1001 in 119.8 in 1001 in 10
Typical first-year earnings$1,081top tenth $95,812+$1,103$1,081under 100 launches
Chance against standardthe base+0.7%0.1 more in 100-3.6%0.3 fewer in 100+5.8%0.5 more in 100
Typical against standardthe base+2.0%$22 more0.0%no changeunder 100 launches
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged both Detective and Puzzle, 12 to 36 months old: 269 launches.

Launches counted
26925 hits
Earned $100k+
9.3 in 1001 in 11
Typical first-year earnings
$1,081top tenth $95,812+
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: 34 of 269 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
23522 hits
Earned $100k+
9.4 in 1001 in 11
Typical first-year earnings
$1,103
Chance against standard
+0.7%0.1 more in 100
Typical against standard
+2.0%$22 more
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Murders on the Yangtze River (14.4% of the money): 268 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
26824 hits
Earned $100k+
9.0 in 1001 in 11
Typical first-year earnings
$1,081
Chance against standard
-3.6%0.3 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 61 of 269.

Launches counted
616 hits
Earned $100k+
9.8 in 1001 in 10
Typical first-year earnings
under 100 launches
Chance against standard
+5.8%0.5 more in 100
Typical against standard
under 100 launches
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged both Detective and Puzzle, 12 to 36 months old: 269 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: 34 of 269 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, Murders on the Yangtze River (14.4% of the money): 268 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: 61 of 269.

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

Detective through every lens, all prices
DetectiveBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view467 of 517 launchesWithout the breakout516 of 517 launchesLast 18 months127 of 517 launches
Launches counted51748 hits46740 hits51647 hits12711 hits
Earned $100k+9.3 in 1001 in 118.6 in 1001 in 129.1 in 1001 in 118.7 in 1001 in 12
Typical first-year earnings$1,024top tenth $89,962+$1,086$1,024$1,073
Chance against standardthe base-7.7%0.7 fewer in 100-1.9%0.2 fewer in 100-6.7%0.6 fewer in 100
Typical against standardthe base+6.1%$62 more0.0%no change+4.8%$49 more
Does it hold?The base viewMoves the answerHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Detective, 12 to 36 months old: 517 launches.

Launches counted
51748 hits
Earned $100k+
9.3 in 1001 in 11
Typical first-year earnings
$1,024top tenth $89,962+
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: 50 of 517 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
46740 hits
Earned $100k+
8.6 in 1001 in 12
Typical first-year earnings
$1,086
Chance against standard
-7.7%0.7 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
+6.1%$62 more
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, The Precinct (14.7% of the money): 516 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
51647 hits
Earned $100k+
9.1 in 1001 in 11
Typical first-year earnings
$1,024
Chance against standard
-1.9%0.2 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 127 of 517.

Launches counted
12711 hits
Earned $100k+
8.7 in 1001 in 12
Typical first-year earnings
$1,073
Chance against standard
-6.7%0.6 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
+4.8%$49 more
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged Detective, 12 to 36 months old: 517 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: 50 of 517 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 Precinct (14.7% of the money): 516 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: 127 of 517.

Puzzle 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.

Puzzle through every lens, all prices
PuzzleBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view5,055 of 5,256 launchesWithout the breakout5,255 of 5,256 launchesLast 18 months1,493 of 5,256 launches
Launches counted5,256185 hits5,055174 hits5,255184 hits1,49359 hits
Earned $100k+3.5 in 1001 in 283.4 in 1001 in 293.5 in 1001 in 294.0 in 1001 in 25
Typical first-year earnings$421top tenth $14,242+$428$421$428
Chance against standardthe base-2.2%0.1 fewer in 100-0.5%no change+12.3%0.4 more in 100
Typical against standardthe base+1.7%$7 more0.0%no change+1.7%$7 more
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Puzzle, 12 to 36 months old: 5,256 launches.

Launches counted
5,256185 hits
Earned $100k+
3.5 in 1001 in 28
Typical first-year earnings
$421top tenth $14,242+
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: 201 of 5,256 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
5,055174 hits
Earned $100k+
3.4 in 1001 in 29
Typical first-year earnings
$428
Chance against standard
-2.2%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
+1.7%$7 more
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Blue Prince (7.4% of the money): 5,255 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
5,255184 hits
Earned $100k+
3.5 in 1001 in 29
Typical first-year earnings
$421
Chance against standard
-0.5%no change
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 1,493 of 5,256.

Launches counted
1,49359 hits
Earned $100k+
4.0 in 1001 in 25
Typical first-year earnings
$428
Chance against standard
+12.3%0.4 more in 100
Typical against standard
+1.7%$7 more
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged Puzzle, 12 to 36 months old: 5,256 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: 201 of 5,256 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, Blue Prince (7.4% of the money): 5,255 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: 1,493 of 5,256.

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 Detective + Puzzle 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.