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on 30 Sep 2026

Niches / Roguelike + Tower Defense

Niche

Roguelike + Tower Defense

Games tagged both Roguelike and Tower Defense: 202 indie paid launches, 15 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 Roguelike + Tower Defense 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. This filter changes the answer: at all prices the pair is level with Roguelike and beats Tower Defense; priced $10 to $20 it beats both its tags.

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

Roguelike + Tower Defense beats both its tags: 35.3 in 100 of its launches earned $100k+ priced $10 to $20, against 23.5 in 100 for Roguelike and 23.8 in 100 for Tower Defense.

That is about 1.9 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.

2NDTied
Tag oneRoguelike
23.5in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds23.5 in 100
Typical earnings$18,676
Launches480 / 113 hits
Pair leads by11.8 in 100
1STWinner
This pairRoguelike + Tower Defense
35.3in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds35.3 in 100
Typical earnings$58,757
Launches34 / 12 hits
Expected18.6 in 100
2NDTied
Tag twoTower Defense
23.8in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds23.8 in 100
Typical earnings$7,628
Launches143 / 34 hits
Pair leads by11.5 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.

Price bandswitches the whole page
All prices202 in pairUnder $591 in pair$5 to $1077 in pair$10 to $2034 in pair$20 to $40no launches
What the overlap means

The overlap is this niche: the 34 games tagged both Roguelike and Tower Defense priced $10 to $20. 35.3 in 100 of them earned $100k+, against 22.6 for Roguelike-only games and 20.2 for Tower Defense-only games, so games with both tags did better than games with either tag alone.

Both: 34 games priced $10 to $20; 35.3 in 100 earned $100k+, typical first-year earnings $58,757.

Circle areas follow launch counts; the gold overlap is exactly the pair's 34 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

The King is Watchingleads this pair19.7%
PairThe King is Watching19.7%
RoguelikeSlay the Spire 222.3%
Tower DefenseStronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition11.6%
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 Roguelike + Tower Defense

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 King is Watching earned 19.7% of the estimated first-year money of the 202 Roguelike + Tower Defense launches.
  • Roguelike is led by Slay the Spire 2, with 22.3% of its money.
  • Tower Defense is led by Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition, with 11.6% 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

Roguelike + Tower Defense holds in 3 of 3: every lens keeps the chance and typical earnings within a quarter of the standard figures.

Roguelike + Tower Defense through every lens, all prices
This pairBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view193 of 202 launchesWithout the breakout201 of 202 launchesLast 18 months112 of 202 launches
Launches counted20215 hits19314 hits20114 hits1128 hits
Earned $100k+7.4 in 1001 in 147.3 in 1001 in 147.0 in 1001 in 147.1 in 1001 in 14
Typical first-year earnings$1,010top tenth $82,335+$1,090$991$991
Chance against standardthe yardstick-1.4%0.1 fewer in 100-5.4%0.4 fewer in 100-4.1%0.3 fewer in 100
Typical against standardthe yardstick+7.9%$80 more-1.9%$19 less-1.9%$19 less
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged both Roguelike and Tower Defense, 6 to 30 months old: 202 launches.

Launches counted
20215 hits
Earned $100k+
7.4 in 1001 in 14
Typical first-year earnings
$1,010top tenth $82,335+
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: 9 of 202 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
19314 hits
Earned $100k+
7.3 in 1001 in 14
Typical first-year earnings
$1,090
Chance against standard
-1.4%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
+7.9%$80 more
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, The King is Watching (19.7% of the money): 201 launches left.

Launches counted
20114 hits
Earned $100k+
7.0 in 1001 in 14
Typical first-year earnings
$991
Chance against standard
-5.4%0.4 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-1.9%$19 less
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 112 of 202.

Launches counted
1128 hits
Earned $100k+
7.1 in 1001 in 14
Typical first-year earnings
$991
Chance against standard
-4.1%0.3 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-1.9%$19 less
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged both Roguelike and Tower Defense, 6 to 30 months old: 202 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: 9 of 202 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 King is Watching (19.7% of the money): 201 launches left.
Last 18 months
Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 112 of 202.

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

Roguelike through every lens, all prices
RoguelikeBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view2,355 of 2,511 launchesWithout the breakout2,510 of 2,511 launchesLast 18 months1,504 of 2,511 launches
Launches counted2,511179 hits2,355166 hits2,510178 hits1,50495 hits
Earned $100k+7.1 in 1001 in 147.0 in 1001 in 147.1 in 1001 in 146.3 in 1001 in 16
Typical first-year earnings$969top tenth $60,027+$1,010$969$809
Chance against standardthe yardstick-1.4%0.1 fewer in 1000.0%no change-11.3%0.8 fewer in 100
Typical against standardthe yardstick+4.2%$41 more0.0%no change-16.5%$160 less
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Roguelike, 6 to 30 months old: 2,511 launches.

Launches counted
2,511179 hits
Earned $100k+
7.1 in 1001 in 14
Typical first-year earnings
$969top tenth $60,027+
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: 156 of 2,511 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
2,355166 hits
Earned $100k+
7.0 in 1001 in 14
Typical first-year earnings
$1,010
Chance against standard
-1.4%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
+4.2%$41 more
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Slay the Spire 2 (22.3% of the money): 2,510 launches left.

Launches counted
2,510178 hits
Earned $100k+
7.1 in 1001 in 14
Typical first-year earnings
$969
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: 1,504 of 2,511.

Launches counted
1,50495 hits
Earned $100k+
6.3 in 1001 in 16
Typical first-year earnings
$809
Chance against standard
-11.3%0.8 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-16.5%$160 less
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged Roguelike, 6 to 30 months old: 2,511 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: 156 of 2,511 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 Spire 2 (22.3% of the money): 2,510 launches left.
Last 18 months
Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 1,504 of 2,511.

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

Tower Defense through every lens, all prices
Tower DefenseBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view853 of 897 launchesWithout the breakout896 of 897 launchesLast 18 months491 of 897 launches
Launches counted89753 hits85350 hits89652 hits49129 hits
Earned $100k+5.9 in 1001 in 175.9 in 1001 in 175.8 in 1001 in 175.9 in 1001 in 17
Typical first-year earnings$484top tenth $35,412+$485$484$443
Chance against standardthe yardstick0.0%no change-1.7%0.1 fewer in 1000.0%no change
Typical against standardthe yardstick+0.2%$1 more0.0%no change-8.5%$41 less
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Tower Defense, 6 to 30 months old: 897 launches.

Launches counted
89753 hits
Earned $100k+
5.9 in 1001 in 17
Typical first-year earnings
$484top tenth $35,412+
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: 44 of 897 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
85350 hits
Earned $100k+
5.9 in 1001 in 17
Typical first-year earnings
$485
Chance against standard
0.0%no change
Typical against standard
+0.2%$1 more
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition (11.6% of the money): 896 launches left.

Launches counted
89652 hits
Earned $100k+
5.8 in 1001 in 17
Typical first-year earnings
$484
Chance against standard
-1.7%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 491 of 897.

Launches counted
49129 hits
Earned $100k+
5.9 in 1001 in 17
Typical first-year earnings
$443
Chance against standard
0.0%no change
Typical against standard
-8.5%$41 less
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged Tower Defense, 6 to 30 months old: 897 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: 44 of 897 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, Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition (11.6% of the money): 896 launches left.
Last 18 months
Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 491 of 897.

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 Roguelike + Tower Defense 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.