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on 3 Oct 2026

Niches / Hidden Object + Puzzle

Niche

Hidden Object + Puzzle

Games tagged both Hidden Object and Puzzle: 969 indie paid launches, 16 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 Hidden Object + Puzzle priced $10 to $20, west-facing view. 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: 4.8 in 100 of its launches earned $100k+ priced $10 to $20, against 7.0 in 100 for Hidden Object and 14.3 in 100 for Puzzle.

That is 1 in 21, about 0.2 times the 20.4 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
7.0in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds1 in 14
Typical earnings$2,044
Launches172 / 12 hits
A tie, apart by2.2 in 100
TIETied
This pairHidden Object + Puzzle
4.8in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds1 in 21
Typical earnings$1,533
Launches126 / 6 hits
Expected20.4 in 100
1STWinner
Tag twoPuzzle
14.3in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds14.3 in 100
Typical earnings$5,070
Launches684 / 98 hits
Pair trails by9.6 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 prices969 in pairUnder $5575 in pair$5 to $10250 in pair$10 to $20126 in pair$20 to $4018 in pair
What the overlap means

The overlap is this niche: the 126 games tagged both Hidden Object and Puzzle priced $10 to $20. 4.8 in 100 of them earned $100k+, against 13.0 in 100 for Hidden Object-only games and 16.5 in 100 for Puzzle-only games, so games with both tags did worse than games with either tag alone.

Both: 126 games priced $10 to $20; 4.8 in 100 earned $100k+ (1 in 21), typical first-year earnings $1,533.

Circle areas follow launch counts; the gold overlap is exactly the pair's 126 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 west-facing view 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 pair19.7%
PairWhisper of the House19.7%
Hidden ObjectWhisper of the House12.9%
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 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 19.7% of the estimated first-year money of the 969 Hidden Object + Puzzle launches.
  • It also leads Hidden Object, with 12.9% of that tag's 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

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 view949 of 969 launchesWithout the breakout968 of 969 launchesLast 18 months281 of 969 launches
Launches counted96916 hits94915 hits96815 hits2816 hits
Earned $100k+1.7 in 1001 in 611.6 in 1001 in 631.5 in 1001 in 652.1 in 1001 in 47
Typical first-year earnings$567top tenth $5,761+$567$567$511
Chance against standardthe base-4.3%0.1 fewer in 100-6.2%0.1 fewer in 100+29.3%0.5 more in 100
Typical against standardthe base0.0%no change0.0%no change-9.9%$56 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: 969 launches.

Launches counted
96916 hits
Earned $100k+
1.7 in 1001 in 61
Typical first-year earnings
$567top tenth $5,761+
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 969 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
94915 hits
Earned $100k+
1.6 in 1001 in 63
Typical first-year earnings
$567
Chance against standard
-4.3%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Whisper of the House (19.7% of the money): 968 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
96815 hits
Earned $100k+
1.5 in 1001 in 65
Typical first-year earnings
$567
Chance against standard
-6.2%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 281 of 969.

Launches counted
2816 hits
Earned $100k+
2.1 in 1001 in 47
Typical first-year earnings
$511
Chance against standard
+29.3%0.5 more in 100
Typical against standard
-9.9%$56 less
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged both Hidden Object and Puzzle, 12 to 36 months old: 969 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 969 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 (19.7% of the money): 968 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: 281 of 969.

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 view1,583 of 1,625 launchesWithout the breakout1,624 of 1,625 launchesLast 18 months464 of 1,625 launches
Launches counted1,62525 hits1,58324 hits1,62424 hits4649 hits
Earned $100k+1.5 in 1001 in 651.5 in 1001 in 661.5 in 1001 in 681.9 in 1001 in 52
Typical first-year earnings$536top tenth $6,591+$536$536$463
Chance against standardthe base-1.5%no change-3.9%0.1 fewer in 100+26.1%0.4 more in 100
Typical against standardthe base0.0%no change0.0%no change-13.6%$73 less
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Hidden Object, 12 to 36 months old: 1,625 launches.

Launches counted
1,62525 hits
Earned $100k+
1.5 in 1001 in 65
Typical first-year earnings
$536top tenth $6,591+
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 1,625 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
1,58324 hits
Earned $100k+
1.5 in 1001 in 66
Typical first-year earnings
$536
Chance against standard
-1.5%no change
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Whisper of the House (12.9% of the money): 1,624 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
1,62424 hits
Earned $100k+
1.5 in 1001 in 68
Typical first-year earnings
$536
Chance against standard
-3.9%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 464 of 1,625.

Launches counted
4649 hits
Earned $100k+
1.9 in 1001 in 52
Typical first-year earnings
$463
Chance against standard
+26.1%0.4 more in 100
Typical against standard
-13.6%$73 less
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged Hidden Object, 12 to 36 months old: 1,625 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 1,625 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 (12.9% of the money): 1,624 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: 464 of 1,625.

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 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.