Niches / Interactive Fiction + Visual Novel

Niche

Interactive Fiction + Visual Novel

Games tagged both Interactive Fiction and Visual Novel: 595 indie paid launches, 42 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.

Price $10 to $20

All prices1 in 15 hit $100k+Under $51 in 238 hit $100k+$5 to $101 in 28 hit $100k+$10 to $2020 in 100 hit $100k+$20 to $4044 in 100 hit $100k+

Base rate: indie paid launches 12 to 36 months old, 26,291 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 100+

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

Hides anything measured on fewer launches.

$10 to $20 100+ launches Reset

Showing Interactive Fiction + Visual Novel priced $10 to $20, hiding samples under 100 launches.

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

Interactive Fiction + Visual Novel is about level with Interactive Fiction and is about level with Visual Novel: 14.9 in 100 of its launches earned $100k+ priced $10 to $20, against 15.2 in 100 for Interactive Fiction and 14.7 in 100 for Visual Novel.

That is about 0.7 times the 20.4 in 100 expected for any launch at this price.

TIEA tie

Tag oneInteractive Fiction

15.2in 100 earned
$100k+

Odds15.2 in 100

Typical earnings$10,240

Launches230 / 35 hits

A tie, apart by0.3 in 100

TIEA tie

This pairInteractive Fiction + Visual Novel

14.9in 100 earned
$100k+

Odds14.9 in 100

Typical earnings$9,630

Launches134 / 20 hits

Expected20.4 in 100

TIEA tie

Tag twoVisual Novel

14.7in 100 earned
$100k+

Odds14.7 in 100

Typical earnings$9,963

Launches434 / 64 hits

A tie, apart by0.2 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 prices595 in pair Under $5256 in pair $5 to $10192 in pair $10 to $20134 in pair $20 to $4013 in pair

What the overlap means

The overlap is this niche: the 134 games tagged both Interactive Fiction and Visual Novel priced $10 to $20. 14.9 in 100 of them earned $100k+, against 15.6 in 100 for Interactive Fiction-only games and 14.7 in 100 for Visual Novel-only games, so the mix is about level with Interactive Fiction alone and is about level with Visual Novel alone.

Both: 134 games priced $10 to $20; 14.9 in 100 earned $100k+, typical first-year earnings $9,630.

Circle areas follow launch counts; the gold overlap is exactly the pair's 134 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 pair18.6%

PairThe Hungry Lamb: Traveling in the Late Ming Dynasty18.6%

Interactive FictionThe Hungry Lamb: Traveling in the Late Ming Dynasty11.2%

Visual NovelSlay the Princess — The Pristine Cut7.1%

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 Interactive Fiction + Visual Novel

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 18.6% of the estimated first-year money of the 595 Interactive Fiction + Visual Novel launches.
It also leads Interactive Fiction, with 11.2% of that tag's money.
Visual Novel is led by Slay the Princess — The Pristine Cut, with 7.1% 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

Interactive Fiction + Visual Novel 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 + Visual Novel through every lens, all prices
This pair	BaseStandardevery launch	West-facing view487 of 595 launches	Without the breakout594 of 595 launches	Last 18 months190 of 595 launches
Launches counted	59542 hits	48727 hits	59441 hits	19016 hits
Earned $100k+	7.1 in 1001 in 14	5.5 in 1001 in 18	6.9 in 1001 in 14	8.4 in 1001 in 12
Typical first-year earnings	$1,161top tenth $67,997+	$1,161	$1,161	$1,429
Chance against standard	the base	-21.5%1.5 fewer in 100	-2.2%0.2 fewer in 100	+19.3%1.4 more in 100
Typical against standard	the base	0.0%no change	0.0%no change	+23.1%$268 more
Does it hold?	The base view	Moves the answer	Holds	Holds

BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged both Interactive Fiction and Visual Novel, 12 to 36 months old: 595 launches.

Launches counted: 59542 hits
Earned $100k+: 7.1 in 1001 in 14
Typical first-year earnings: $1,161top tenth $67,997+
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: 108 of 595 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted: 48727 hits
Earned $100k+: 5.5 in 1001 in 18
Typical first-year earnings: $1,161
Chance against standard: -21.5%1.5 fewer in 100
Typical against standard: 0.0%no change

Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, The Hungry Lamb: Traveling in the Late Ming Dynasty (18.6% of the money): 594 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted: 59441 hits
Earned $100k+: 6.9 in 1001 in 14
Typical first-year earnings: $1,161
Chance against standard: -2.2%0.2 fewer in 100
Typical against standard: 0.0%no change

Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 190 of 595.

Launches counted: 19016 hits
Earned $100k+: 8.4 in 1001 in 12
Typical first-year earnings: $1,429
Chance against standard: +19.3%1.4 more in 100
Typical against standard: +23.1%$268 more

Standard: Every indie paid launch tagged both Interactive Fiction and Visual Novel, 12 to 36 months old: 595 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: 108 of 595 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 (18.6% of the money): 594 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: 190 of 595.

Interactive Fiction is audience split +1: West-facing view moves the answer more than chance alone would, and 1 more lens too. It holds in Without the breakout.

Interactive Fiction through every lens, all prices
Interactive Fiction	BaseStandardevery launch	West-facing view1,097 of 1,255 launches	Without the breakout1,254 of 1,255 launches	Last 18 months380 of 1,255 launches
Launches counted	1,25567 hits	1,09749 hits	1,25466 hits	38028 hits
Earned $100k+	5.3 in 1001 in 19	4.5 in 1001 in 22	5.3 in 1001 in 19	7.4 in 1001 in 14
Typical first-year earnings	$804top tenth $35,643+	$795	$804	$893
Chance against standard	the base	-16.3%0.9 fewer in 100	-1.4%0.1 fewer in 100	+38.0%2.0 more in 100
Typical against standard	the base	-1.1%$9 less	0.0%no change	+11.1%$89 more
Does it hold?	The base view	Moves the answer	Holds	Moves the answer

BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Interactive Fiction, 12 to 36 months old: 1,255 launches.

Launches counted: 1,25567 hits
Earned $100k+: 5.3 in 1001 in 19
Typical first-year earnings: $804top tenth $35,643+
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: 158 of 1,255 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted: 1,09749 hits
Earned $100k+: 4.5 in 1001 in 22
Typical first-year earnings: $795
Chance against standard: -16.3%0.9 fewer in 100
Typical against standard: -1.1%$9 less

Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, The Hungry Lamb: Traveling in the Late Ming Dynasty (11.2% of the money): 1,254 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted: 1,25466 hits
Earned $100k+: 5.3 in 1001 in 19
Typical first-year earnings: $804
Chance against standard: -1.4%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard: 0.0%no change

Last 18 monthsMoves the answer

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 380 of 1,255.

Launches counted: 38028 hits
Earned $100k+: 7.4 in 1001 in 14
Typical first-year earnings: $893
Chance against standard: +38.0%2.0 more in 100
Typical against standard: +11.1%$89 more

Standard: Every indie paid launch tagged Interactive Fiction, 12 to 36 months old: 1,255 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: 158 of 1,255 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 (11.2% of the money): 1,254 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: 380 of 1,255.

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

Visual Novel through every lens, all prices
Visual Novel	BaseStandardevery launch	West-facing view1,641 of 1,872 launches	Without the breakout1,871 of 1,872 launches	Last 18 months534 of 1,872 launches
Launches counted	1,872130 hits	1,64199 hits	1,871129 hits	53441 hits
Earned $100k+	6.9 in 1001 in 14	6.0 in 1001 in 17	6.9 in 1001 in 15	7.7 in 1001 in 13
Typical first-year earnings	$1,448top tenth $61,563+	$1,430	$1,445	$1,594
Chance against standard	the base	-13.1%0.9 fewer in 100	-0.7%no change	+10.6%0.7 more in 100
Typical against standard	the base	-1.2%$18 less	-0.2%$3 less	+10.1%$146 more
Does it hold?	The base view	Moves the answer	Holds	Holds

BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Visual Novel, 12 to 36 months old: 1,872 launches.

Launches counted: 1,872130 hits
Earned $100k+: 6.9 in 1001 in 14
Typical first-year earnings: $1,448top tenth $61,563+
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: 231 of 1,872 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted: 1,64199 hits
Earned $100k+: 6.0 in 1001 in 17
Typical first-year earnings: $1,430
Chance against standard: -13.1%0.9 fewer in 100
Typical against standard: -1.2%$18 less

Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Slay the Princess — The Pristine Cut (7.1% of the money): 1,871 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted: 1,871129 hits
Earned $100k+: 6.9 in 1001 in 15
Typical first-year earnings: $1,445
Chance against standard: -0.7%no change
Typical against standard: -0.2%$3 less

Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 534 of 1,872.

Launches counted: 53441 hits
Earned $100k+: 7.7 in 1001 in 13
Typical first-year earnings: $1,594
Chance against standard: +10.6%0.7 more in 100
Typical against standard: +10.1%$146 more

Standard: Every indie paid launch tagged Visual Novel, 12 to 36 months old: 1,872 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: 231 of 1,872 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, Slay the Princess — The Pristine Cut (7.1% of the money): 1,871 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: 534 of 1,872.

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 Interactive Fiction + Visual Novel 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.