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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 / Romance + Visual Novel

Niche

Romance + Visual Novel

Games tagged both Romance and Visual Novel: 435 indie paid launches, 32 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 Romance + Visual Novel priced $10 to $20, hiding samples under 100 launches. This filter changes the answer: at all prices the pair is about level with Romance and is about level with Visual Novel; priced $10 to $20 it trails 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

Romance + Visual Novel trails both its tags: 10.3 in 100 of its launches earned $100k+ priced $10 to $20, against 13.5 in 100 for Romance and 14.7 in 100 for Visual Novel.

That is about 0.5 times the 20.4 in 100 expected for any launch at this price.

TIEA tie
Tag oneRomance
13.5in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds13.5 in 100
Typical earnings$9,464
Launches170 / 23 hits
Pair trails by3.2 in 100
3RDThird
This pairRomance + Visual Novel
10.3in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds10.3 in 100
Typical earnings$8,788
Launches136 / 14 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
Pair trails by4.5 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 prices435 in pairUnder $5128 in pair$5 to $10120 in pair$10 to $20136 in pair$20 to $4051 in pair
What the overlap means

The overlap is this niche: the 136 games tagged both Romance and Visual Novel priced $10 to $20. 10.3 in 100 of them earned $100k+, against 26.5 in 100 for Romance-only games and 16.8 in 100 for Visual Novel-only games, so games with both tags did worse than games with either tag alone.

Both: 136 games priced $10 to $20; 10.3 in 100 earned $100k+, typical first-year earnings $8,788.

Circle areas follow launch counts; the gold overlap is exactly the pair's 136 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

Slay the Princess — The Pristine Cutleads this pair26.6%
PairSlay the Princess — The Pristine Cut26.6%
RomanceFields of Mistria16.6%
Visual NovelSlay the Princess — The Pristine Cut7.1%
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 Romance + 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

  • Slay the Princess — The Pristine Cut earned 26.6% of the estimated first-year money of the 435 Romance + Visual Novel launches.
  • Romance is led by Fields of Mistria, with 16.6% of its money.
  • It also leads Visual Novel, with 7.1% of that tag's 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

Romance + Visual Novel 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.

Romance + Visual Novel through every lens, all prices
This pairBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view386 of 435 launchesWithout the breakout434 of 435 launchesLast 18 months98 of 435 launches
Launches counted43532 hits38626 hits43431 hits986 hits
Earned $100k+7.4 in 1001 in 146.7 in 1001 in 157.1 in 1001 in 146.1 in 1001 in 16
Typical first-year earnings$2,845top tenth $54,363+$2,678$2,845under 100 launches
Chance against standardthe base-8.4%0.6 fewer in 100-2.9%0.2 fewer in 100-16.8%1.2 fewer in 100
Typical against standardthe base-5.9%$167 less0.0%no changeunder 100 launches
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged both Romance and Visual Novel, 12 to 36 months old: 435 launches.

Launches counted
43532 hits
Earned $100k+
7.4 in 1001 in 14
Typical first-year earnings
$2,845top tenth $54,363+
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: 49 of 435 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
38626 hits
Earned $100k+
6.7 in 1001 in 15
Typical first-year earnings
$2,678
Chance against standard
-8.4%0.6 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-5.9%$167 less
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Slay the Princess — The Pristine Cut (26.6% of the money): 434 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
43431 hits
Earned $100k+
7.1 in 1001 in 14
Typical first-year earnings
$2,845
Chance against standard
-2.9%0.2 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 98 of 435.

Launches counted
986 hits
Earned $100k+
6.1 in 1001 in 16
Typical first-year earnings
under 100 launches
Chance against standard
-16.8%1.2 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
under 100 launches
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged both Romance and Visual Novel, 12 to 36 months old: 435 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: 49 of 435 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 (26.6% of the money): 434 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: 98 of 435.

Romance 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.

Romance through every lens, all prices
RomanceBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view528 of 595 launchesWithout the breakout594 of 595 launchesLast 18 months148 of 595 launches
Launches counted59546 hits52840 hits59445 hits1489 hits
Earned $100k+7.7 in 1001 in 137.6 in 1001 in 137.6 in 1001 in 136.1 in 1001 in 16
Typical first-year earnings$2,254top tenth $54,363+$2,265$2,254$2,299
Chance against standardthe base-2.0%0.2 fewer in 100-2.0%0.2 fewer in 100-21.3%1.7 fewer in 100
Typical against standardthe base+0.5%$11 more0.0%no change+2.0%$45 more
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Romance, 12 to 36 months old: 595 launches.

Launches counted
59546 hits
Earned $100k+
7.7 in 1001 in 13
Typical first-year earnings
$2,254top tenth $54,363+
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: 67 of 595 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
52840 hits
Earned $100k+
7.6 in 1001 in 13
Typical first-year earnings
$2,265
Chance against standard
-2.0%0.2 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
+0.5%$11 more
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Fields of Mistria (16.6% of the money): 594 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
59445 hits
Earned $100k+
7.6 in 1001 in 13
Typical first-year earnings
$2,254
Chance against standard
-2.0%0.2 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 148 of 595.

Launches counted
1489 hits
Earned $100k+
6.1 in 1001 in 16
Typical first-year earnings
$2,299
Chance against standard
-21.3%1.7 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
+2.0%$45 more
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged Romance, 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: 67 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, Fields of Mistria (16.6% 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: 148 of 595.

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 NovelBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view1,641 of 1,872 launchesWithout the breakout1,871 of 1,872 launchesLast 18 months534 of 1,872 launches
Launches counted1,872130 hits1,64199 hits1,871129 hits53441 hits
Earned $100k+6.9 in 1001 in 146.0 in 1001 in 176.9 in 1001 in 157.7 in 1001 in 13
Typical first-year earnings$1,448top tenth $61,563+$1,430$1,445$1,594
Chance against standardthe base-13.1%0.9 fewer in 100-0.7%no change+10.6%0.7 more in 100
Typical against standardthe base-1.2%$18 less-0.2%$3 less+10.1%$146 more
Does it hold?The base viewMoves the answerHoldsHolds
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 Romance + 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.

Releases

Ticker: 30 upcoming games dated within 90 days, with wishlist rank, release date and followers. The same list is on the Upcoming page.