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Ticker: price and year-over-year change for 40 genres. Price is the median estimated first-year revenue of indie paid launches. The change shows for genres with 100+ launches. The same figures are on the Genres page.

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on 3 Oct 2026

Niches / Life Sim + Strategy

Niche

Life Sim + Strategy

Games tagged both Life Sim and Strategy: 102 indie paid launches, 7 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 Life Sim + Strategy priced $10 to $20. This filter changes the answer: at all prices the pair trails Life Sim and is about level with Strategy; priced $10 to $20 it is too small to compare with Life Sim and is too small to compare with Strategy.

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 + Strategy is too small to compare with Life Sim and is too small to compare with Strategy: 4 of its 24 launches earned $100k+ priced $10 to $20, against 34.1 in 100 for Life Sim and 18.8 in 100 for Strategy.

Small sample: 24 launches, 4 hits.

TIEA tie
Tag oneLife Sim
34.1in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds34.1 in 100
Typical earnings$37,945
Launches232 / 79 hits
Pair against ittoo few hits to compare
TIEA tie
This pairLife Sim + Strategy
4 of 24launches earned
$100k+ small
Odds4 of 24 launches
$1k+20 of 24 launches
$10k+13 of 24 launches
Launches24 / 4 hits
Expected20.4 in 100
TIETied
Tag twoStrategy
18.8in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds18.8 in 100
Typical earnings$10,037
Launches845 / 159 hits
Pair against ittoo few hits to compare
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
What the overlap means

The overlap is this niche: the 24 games tagged both Life Sim and Strategy priced $10 to $20. 4 of 24 of them earned $100k+, against 36.1 in 100 for Life Sim-only games and 18.9 in 100 for Strategy-only games, so the mix is too small to compare with Life Sim alone and is too small to compare with Strategy alone.

Both: 24 games priced $10 to $20; 4 of 24 earned $100k+, odds by size $1k+ 20 of 24 launches · $10k+ 13 of 24 launches · $100k+ 4 of 24 launches.

Circle areas follow launch counts; the gold overlap is exactly the pair's 24 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

Yes, Your Grace 2: Snowfallleads this pair22.7%
PairYes, Your Grace 2: Snowfall22.7%
Life SimSupermarket Simulator25.5%
StrategyManor Lords15.2%
CheckOne game over half?no
NextNearest hitsnot computed yet

Lens checkChanged recently. Standard: the base the others are compared with. West-facing view: holds. Without the breakout: holds. Last 18 months: moves the answer.

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

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

  • Yes, Your Grace 2: Snowfall earned 22.7% of the estimated first-year money of the 102 Life Sim + Strategy launches.
  • Life Sim is led by Supermarket Simulator, with 25.5% of its money.
  • Strategy is led by Manor Lords, with 15.2% 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

Life Sim + Strategy is changed recently: Last 18 months moves the answer more than chance alone would. It holds in West-facing view and Without the breakout.

Life Sim + Strategy through every lens, all prices
This pairBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view92 of 102 launchesWithout the breakout101 of 102 launchesLast 18 months38 of 102 launches
Launches counted1027 hits927 hits1016 hits385 hits
Earned $100k+6.9 in 1001 in 157.6 in 1001 in 135.9 in 1001 in 1713.2 in 100
Typical first-year earnings$949top tenth $43,196+under 100 launches$945under 100 launches
Chance against standardthe base+10.9%0.7 more in 100-13.4%0.9 fewer in 100+91.7%6.3 more in 100
Typical against standardthe baseunder 100 launches-0.4%$4 lessunder 100 launches
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsMoves the answer
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged both Life Sim and Strategy, 12 to 36 months old: 102 launches.

Launches counted
1027 hits
Earned $100k+
6.9 in 1001 in 15
Typical first-year earnings
$949top tenth $43,196+
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: 10 of 102 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
927 hits
Earned $100k+
7.6 in 1001 in 13
Typical first-year earnings
under 100 launches
Chance against standard
+10.9%0.7 more in 100
Typical against standard
under 100 launches
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Yes, Your Grace 2: Snowfall (22.7% of the money): 101 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
1016 hits
Earned $100k+
5.9 in 1001 in 17
Typical first-year earnings
$945
Chance against standard
-13.4%0.9 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-0.4%$4 less
Last 18 monthsMoves the answer

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 38 of 102.

Launches counted
385 hits
Earned $100k+
13.2 in 100
Typical first-year earnings
under 100 launches
Chance against standard
+91.7%6.3 more in 100
Typical against standard
under 100 launches
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged both Life Sim and Strategy, 12 to 36 months old: 102 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: 10 of 102 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, Yes, Your Grace 2: Snowfall (22.7% of the money): 101 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: 38 of 102.

Life Sim 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.

Life Sim through every lens, all prices
Life SimBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view846 of 894 launchesWithout the breakout893 of 894 launchesLast 18 months292 of 894 launches
Launches counted894127 hits846119 hits893126 hits29246 hits
Earned $100k+14.2 in 10014.1 in 10014.1 in 10015.8 in 100
Typical first-year earnings$1,965top tenth $194,928+$2,054$1,928$2,054
Chance against standardthe base-1.0%0.1 fewer in 100-0.7%0.1 fewer in 100+10.9%1.5 more in 100
Typical against standardthe base+4.5%$89 more-1.9%$37 less+4.5%$89 more
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Life Sim, 12 to 36 months old: 894 launches.

Launches counted
894127 hits
Earned $100k+
14.2 in 100
Typical first-year earnings
$1,965top tenth $194,928+
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: 48 of 894 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
846119 hits
Earned $100k+
14.1 in 100
Typical first-year earnings
$2,054
Chance against standard
-1.0%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
+4.5%$89 more
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Supermarket Simulator (25.5% of the money): 893 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
893126 hits
Earned $100k+
14.1 in 100
Typical first-year earnings
$1,928
Chance against standard
-0.7%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-1.9%$37 less
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 292 of 894.

Launches counted
29246 hits
Earned $100k+
15.8 in 100
Typical first-year earnings
$2,054
Chance against standard
+10.9%1.5 more in 100
Typical against standard
+4.5%$89 more
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged Life Sim, 12 to 36 months old: 894 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: 48 of 894 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, Supermarket Simulator (25.5% of the money): 893 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: 292 of 894.

Strategy 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.

Strategy through every lens, all prices
StrategyBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view4,307 of 4,688 launchesWithout the breakout4,687 of 4,688 launchesLast 18 months1,459 of 4,688 launches
Launches counted4,688325 hits4,307297 hits4,687324 hits1,459107 hits
Earned $100k+6.9 in 1001 in 146.9 in 1001 in 156.9 in 1001 in 147.3 in 1001 in 14
Typical first-year earnings$439top tenth $49,022+$496$439$521
Chance against standardthe base-0.5%no change-0.3%no change+5.8%0.4 more in 100
Typical against standardthe base+13.0%$57 more0.0%no change+18.7%$82 more
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Strategy, 12 to 36 months old: 4,688 launches.

Launches counted
4,688325 hits
Earned $100k+
6.9 in 1001 in 14
Typical first-year earnings
$439top tenth $49,022+
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: 381 of 4,688 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
4,307297 hits
Earned $100k+
6.9 in 1001 in 15
Typical first-year earnings
$496
Chance against standard
-0.5%no change
Typical against standard
+13.0%$57 more
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Manor Lords (15.2% of the money): 4,687 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
4,687324 hits
Earned $100k+
6.9 in 1001 in 14
Typical first-year earnings
$439
Chance against standard
-0.3%no change
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 1,459 of 4,688.

Launches counted
1,459107 hits
Earned $100k+
7.3 in 1001 in 14
Typical first-year earnings
$521
Chance against standard
+5.8%0.4 more in 100
Typical against standard
+18.7%$82 more
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged Strategy, 12 to 36 months old: 4,688 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: 381 of 4,688 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, Manor Lords (15.2% of the money): 4,687 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: 1,459 of 4,688.

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 Life Sim + Strategy 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.