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on 3 Oct 2026

Niches / Hidden Object + Puzzle

Niche

Hidden Object + Puzzle

Games tagged both Hidden Object and Puzzle: 970 indie paid launches, 14 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 Hidden Object + Puzzle priced $10 to $20, last 18 months. Lens figures exist at all prices only, so inside a price band the page shows the standard figures. This filter changes the answer: at all prices the pair is about level with Hidden Object and is about level with Puzzle; priced $10 to $20 it is about level with Hidden Object and trails Puzzle.

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

Hidden Object + Puzzle is about level with Hidden Object and trails Puzzle: 3.9 in 100 of its launches earned $100k+ priced $10 to $20, against 5.2 in 100 for Hidden Object and 12.4 in 100 for Puzzle.

That is 1 in 25, about 0.2 times the 17.6 in 100 expected for any launch at this price. Lens figures by price band are not computed yet, so this band uses the standard figures.

TIETied
Tag oneHidden Object
5.2in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds1 in 19
Typical earnings$1,532
Launches173 / 9 hits
A tie, apart by1.3 in 100
TIETied
This pairHidden Object + Puzzle
3.9in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds1 in 25
Typical earnings$1,149
Launches127 / 5 hits
Expected17.6 in 100
1STWinner
Tag twoPuzzle
12.4in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds12.4 in 100
Typical earnings$3,798
Launches686 / 85 hits
Pair trails by8.5 in 100
All indie launches $10 to $20: 17.6 in 100 earned $100k+, typical $8,234, from 4,301 launches.each block is 1 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 prices970 in pairUnder $5575 in pair$5 to $10250 in pair$10 to $20127 in pair$20 to $4018 in pair
What the overlap means

The overlap is this niche: the 127 games tagged both Hidden Object and Puzzle priced $10 to $20. 3.9 in 100 of them earned $100k+, against 4 of 46 for Hidden Object-only games and 14.3 in 100 for Puzzle-only games, so the mix is too small to compare with Hidden Object alone and trails Puzzle alone.

Both: 127 games priced $10 to $20; 3.9 in 100 earned $100k+ (1 in 25), typical first-year earnings $1,149.

Circle areas follow launch counts; the gold overlap is exactly the pair's 127 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. The last 18 months lens is not computed for the outer parts, so this diagram uses the standard figures.

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

Whisper of the Houseleads this pair18.1%
PairWhisper of the House18.1%
Hidden ObjectWhisper of the House11.8%
PuzzleBlue Prince7.2%
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 Hidden Object + 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

  • Whisper of the House earned 18.1% of the estimated first-year money of the 970 Hidden Object + Puzzle launches.
  • It also leads Hidden Object, with 11.8% of that tag's money.
  • Puzzle is led by Blue Prince, with 7.2% 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

Hidden Object + 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.

Hidden Object + Puzzle through every lens, all prices
This pairBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view950 of 970 launchesWithout the breakout969 of 970 launchesLast 18 months283 of 970 launches
Launches counted97014 hits95013 hits96913 hits2836 hits
Earned $100k+1.4 in 1001 in 691.4 in 1001 in 731.3 in 1001 in 752.1 in 1001 in 47
Typical first-year earnings$585top tenth $5,484+$585$575$517
Chance against standardthe base-5.2%0.1 fewer in 100-7.0%0.1 fewer in 100+46.9%0.7 more in 100
Typical against standardthe base0.0%no change-1.7%$10 less-11.6%$68 less
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged both Hidden Object and Puzzle, 12 to 36 months old: 970 launches.

Launches counted
97014 hits
Earned $100k+
1.4 in 1001 in 69
Typical first-year earnings
$585top tenth $5,484+
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: 20 of 970 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
95013 hits
Earned $100k+
1.4 in 1001 in 73
Typical first-year earnings
$585
Chance against standard
-5.2%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Whisper of the House (18.1% of the money): 969 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
96913 hits
Earned $100k+
1.3 in 1001 in 75
Typical first-year earnings
$575
Chance against standard
-7.0%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-1.7%$10 less
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 283 of 970.

Launches counted
2836 hits
Earned $100k+
2.1 in 1001 in 47
Typical first-year earnings
$517
Chance against standard
+46.9%0.7 more in 100
Typical against standard
-11.6%$68 less
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged both Hidden Object and Puzzle, 12 to 36 months old: 970 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: 20 of 970 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, Whisper of the House (18.1% of the money): 969 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: 283 of 970.

Hidden Object 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.

Hidden Object through every lens, all prices
Hidden ObjectBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view1,584 of 1,626 launchesWithout the breakout1,625 of 1,626 launchesLast 18 months466 of 1,626 launches
Launches counted1,62620 hits1,58419 hits1,62519 hits4669 hits
Earned $100k+1.2 in 1001 in 811.2 in 1001 in 831.2 in 1001 in 861.9 in 1001 in 52
Typical first-year earnings$548top tenth $6,135+$548$535$455
Chance against standardthe base-2.5%no change-4.9%0.1 fewer in 100+57.0%0.7 more in 100
Typical against standardthe base0.0%no change-2.4%$13 less-17.0%$93 less
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Hidden Object, 12 to 36 months old: 1,626 launches.

Launches counted
1,62620 hits
Earned $100k+
1.2 in 1001 in 81
Typical first-year earnings
$548top tenth $6,135+
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: 42 of 1,626 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
1,58419 hits
Earned $100k+
1.2 in 1001 in 83
Typical first-year earnings
$548
Chance against standard
-2.5%no change
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Whisper of the House (11.8% of the money): 1,625 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
1,62519 hits
Earned $100k+
1.2 in 1001 in 86
Typical first-year earnings
$535
Chance against standard
-4.9%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-2.4%$13 less
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 466 of 1,626.

Launches counted
4669 hits
Earned $100k+
1.9 in 1001 in 52
Typical first-year earnings
$455
Chance against standard
+57.0%0.7 more in 100
Typical against standard
-17.0%$93 less
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged Hidden Object, 12 to 36 months old: 1,626 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: 42 of 1,626 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, Whisper of the House (11.8% of the money): 1,625 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: 466 of 1,626.

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

Puzzle through every lens, all prices
PuzzleBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view5,057 of 5,257 launchesWithout the breakout5,256 of 5,257 launchesLast 18 months1,499 of 5,257 launches
Launches counted5,257163 hits5,057152 hits5,256162 hits1,49953 hits
Earned $100k+3.1 in 1001 in 323.0 in 1001 in 333.1 in 1001 in 323.5 in 1001 in 28
Typical first-year earnings$405top tenth $12,506+$421$405$402
Chance against standardthe base-3.1%0.1 fewer in 100-0.6%no change+14.0%0.4 more in 100
Typical against standardthe base+4.0%$16 more0.0%no change-0.7%$3 less
Does it hold?The base viewMoves the answerHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Puzzle, 12 to 36 months old: 5,257 launches.

Launches counted
5,257163 hits
Earned $100k+
3.1 in 1001 in 32
Typical first-year earnings
$405top tenth $12,506+
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: 200 of 5,257 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
5,057152 hits
Earned $100k+
3.0 in 1001 in 33
Typical first-year earnings
$421
Chance against standard
-3.1%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
+4.0%$16 more
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Blue Prince (7.2% of the money): 5,256 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
5,256162 hits
Earned $100k+
3.1 in 1001 in 32
Typical first-year earnings
$405
Chance against standard
-0.6%no change
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 1,499 of 5,257.

Launches counted
1,49953 hits
Earned $100k+
3.5 in 1001 in 28
Typical first-year earnings
$402
Chance against standard
+14.0%0.4 more in 100
Typical against standard
-0.7%$3 less
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged Puzzle, 12 to 36 months old: 5,257 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: 200 of 5,257 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 (7.2% of the money): 5,256 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: 1,499 of 5,257.

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 Hidden Object + 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.