Genres

Ticker: price and year-over-year change for 40 genres. Price is the median estimated first-year revenue of indie paid launches. The same figures are on the Genres page.

Settings
Text size
Game Market DataBuild what sells
Live games
191,514
on 30 Sep 2026

Niches / Life Sim + Simulation

Niche

Life Sim + Simulation

Games tagged both Life Sim and Simulation: 757 indie paid launches, 89 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".
  • Price moves the odds more than genre does, so the page opens on one price band. The keys in section 2 switch it.
  • From 29,637 indie paid launches 6 to 30 months old, data of 1 Oct 2026. How it is measured.

Showing Life Sim + Simulation priced $10 to $20, without the breakout. Lens figures exist at all prices only, so inside a price band the page shows the standard figures.

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

Life Sim + Simulation trails Life Sim and beats Simulation: 29.2 in 100 of its launches earned $100k+ priced $10 to $20, against 31.5 in 100 for Life Sim and 21.5 in 100 for Simulation.

That is about 1.6 times the 18.6 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.

1STWinner
Tag oneLife Sim
31.5in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds31.5 in 100
Typical earnings$31,406
Launches267 / 84 hits
Pair trails by2.3 in 100
2NDRunner-up
This pairLife Sim + Simulation
29.2in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds29.2 in 100
Typical earnings$32,013
Launches195 / 57 hits
Expected18.6 in 100
3RDThird
Tag twoSimulation
21.5in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds21.5 in 100
Typical earnings$14,573
Launches1,006 / 216 hits
Pair leads by7.7 in 100
All indie launches $10 to $20: 18.6 in 100 earned $100k+, typical $9,226, from 4,810 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: 0.5 in 100 launches earned $100k+; $20 to $40: 42.4 in 100), so read it within a price band.

What the overlap means

The overlap is this niche: the 195 games tagged both Life Sim and Simulation priced $10 to $20. 29.2 in 100 of them earned $100k+, against 37.5 for Life Sim-only games and 19.6 for Simulation-only games, so the mix trails Life Sim alone and beats Simulation alone.

Both: 195 games priced $10 to $20; 29.2 in 100 earned $100k+, typical first-year earnings $32,013.

Circle areas follow launch counts; the gold overlap is exactly the pair's 195 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 without the breakout 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

Fields of Mistrialeads this pair12.4%
PairFields of Mistria12.4%
Life SimFields of Mistria9.1%
SimulationSchedule I15.4%
CheckOne game over half?no
NextNearest hitsnot computed yet

Lens checkHolds in 3 of 3. Standard: the yardstick. West-facing view: holds. Without the breakout: holds. Last 18 months: holds.

Open free preview
ComparablesFree until launchClick to unlockWho leads Life Sim + Simulation

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

  • Fields of Mistria earned 12.4% of the estimated first-year money of the 757 Life Sim + Simulation launches.
  • It also leads Life Sim, with 9.1% of that tag's money.
  • Simulation is led by Schedule I, with 15.4% 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: those with a mostly Chinese audience, the single biggest earner, and everything older than 18 months.

Does the answer hold?

All prices

Life Sim + Simulation holds in 3 of 3: every lens keeps the chance and typical earnings within a quarter of the standard figures.

Life Sim + Simulation through every lens, all prices
This pairBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view715 of 757 launchesWithout the breakout756 of 757 launchesLast 18 months443 of 757 launches
Launches counted75789 hits71584 hits75688 hits44344 hits
Earned $100k+11.8 in 10011.7 in 10011.6 in 1009.9 in 1001 in 10
Typical first-year earnings$2,125top tenth $124,651+$2,225$2,125$1,821
Chance against standardthe yardstick-0.8%0.1 fewer in 100-1.7%0.2 fewer in 100-16.1%1.9 fewer in 100
Typical against standardthe yardstick+4.7%$100 more0.0%no change-14.3%$304 less
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged both Life Sim and Simulation, 6 to 30 months old: 757 launches.

Launches counted
75789 hits
Earned $100k+
11.8 in 100
Typical first-year earnings
$2,125top tenth $124,651+
Chance against standard
the yardstick
Typical against standard
the yardstick
West-facing viewHolds

Games mostly reviewed outside China. Drops games whose audience is mostly Chinese, meaning 35% or more of their reviews are in Simplified Chinese: 42 of 757 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
71584 hits
Earned $100k+
11.7 in 100
Typical first-year earnings
$2,225
Chance against standard
-0.8%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
+4.7%$100 more
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Fields of Mistria (12.4% of the money): 756 launches left.

Launches counted
75688 hits
Earned $100k+
11.6 in 100
Typical first-year earnings
$2,125
Chance against standard
-1.7%0.2 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 443 of 757.

Launches counted
44344 hits
Earned $100k+
9.9 in 1001 in 10
Typical first-year earnings
$1,821
Chance against standard
-16.1%1.9 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-14.3%$304 less
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged both Life Sim and Simulation, 6 to 30 months old: 757 launches.
West-facing view
Games mostly reviewed outside China. Drops games whose audience is mostly Chinese, meaning 35% or more of their reviews are in Simplified Chinese: 42 of 757 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, Fields of Mistria (12.4% of the money): 756 launches left.
Last 18 months
Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 443 of 757.

Life Sim holds in 3 of 3: every lens keeps the chance and typical earnings within a quarter of the standard figures.

Life Sim through every lens, all prices
Life SimBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view990 of 1,055 launchesWithout the breakout1,054 of 1,055 launchesLast 18 months609 of 1,055 launches
Launches counted1,055137 hits990128 hits1,054136 hits60969 hits
Earned $100k+13.0 in 10012.9 in 10012.9 in 10011.3 in 100
Typical first-year earnings$2,122top tenth $139,609+$2,225$2,122$1,920
Chance against standardthe yardstick-0.8%0.1 fewer in 100-0.8%0.1 fewer in 100-13.1%1.7 fewer in 100
Typical against standardthe yardstick+4.9%$103 more0.0%no change-9.5%$202 less
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Life Sim, 6 to 30 months old: 1,055 launches.

Launches counted
1,055137 hits
Earned $100k+
13.0 in 100
Typical first-year earnings
$2,122top tenth $139,609+
Chance against standard
the yardstick
Typical against standard
the yardstick
West-facing viewHolds

Games mostly reviewed outside China. Drops games whose audience is mostly Chinese, meaning 35% or more of their reviews are in Simplified Chinese: 65 of 1,055 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
990128 hits
Earned $100k+
12.9 in 100
Typical first-year earnings
$2,225
Chance against standard
-0.8%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
+4.9%$103 more
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Fields of Mistria (9.1% of the money): 1,054 launches left.

Launches counted
1,054136 hits
Earned $100k+
12.9 in 100
Typical first-year earnings
$2,122
Chance against standard
-0.8%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 609 of 1,055.

Launches counted
60969 hits
Earned $100k+
11.3 in 100
Typical first-year earnings
$1,920
Chance against standard
-13.1%1.7 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-9.5%$202 less
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged Life Sim, 6 to 30 months old: 1,055 launches.
West-facing view
Games mostly reviewed outside China. Drops games whose audience is mostly Chinese, meaning 35% or more of their reviews are in Simplified Chinese: 65 of 1,055 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, Fields of Mistria (9.1% of the money): 1,054 launches left.
Last 18 months
Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 609 of 1,055.

Simulation holds in 3 of 3: every lens keeps the chance and typical earnings within a quarter of the standard figures.

Simulation through every lens, all prices
SimulationBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view5,023 of 5,285 launchesWithout the breakout5,284 of 5,285 launchesLast 18 months3,070 of 5,285 launches
Launches counted5,285435 hits5,023411 hits5,284434 hits3,070225 hits
Earned $100k+8.2 in 1001 in 128.2 in 1001 in 128.2 in 1001 in 127.3 in 1001 in 14
Typical first-year earnings$982top tenth $69,988+$1,012$982$971
Chance against standardthe yardstick0.0%no change0.0%no change-11.0%0.9 fewer in 100
Typical against standardthe yardstick+3.1%$30 more0.0%no change-1.1%$11 less
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Simulation, 6 to 30 months old: 5,285 launches.

Launches counted
5,285435 hits
Earned $100k+
8.2 in 1001 in 12
Typical first-year earnings
$982top tenth $69,988+
Chance against standard
the yardstick
Typical against standard
the yardstick
West-facing viewHolds

Games mostly reviewed outside China. Drops games whose audience is mostly Chinese, meaning 35% or more of their reviews are in Simplified Chinese: 262 of 5,285 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
5,023411 hits
Earned $100k+
8.2 in 1001 in 12
Typical first-year earnings
$1,012
Chance against standard
0.0%no change
Typical against standard
+3.1%$30 more
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Schedule I (15.4% of the money): 5,284 launches left.

Launches counted
5,284434 hits
Earned $100k+
8.2 in 1001 in 12
Typical first-year earnings
$982
Chance against standard
0.0%no change
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 3,070 of 5,285.

Launches counted
3,070225 hits
Earned $100k+
7.3 in 1001 in 14
Typical first-year earnings
$971
Chance against standard
-11.0%0.9 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-1.1%$11 less
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged Simulation, 6 to 30 months old: 5,285 launches.
West-facing view
Games mostly reviewed outside China. Drops games whose audience is mostly Chinese, meaning 35% or more of their reviews are in Simplified Chinese: 262 of 5,285 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, Schedule I (15.4% of the money): 5,284 launches left.
Last 18 months
Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 3,070 of 5,285.

A lens holds when chance and typical earnings both stay within 25% of standard. Lens figures by price band are not computed yet, so this table is for all prices.

5Premium early list

Alerts when Life Sim + Simulation 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.