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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 11 Nov 2026

Niches / RPG + Text-Based

Niche

RPG + Text-Based

Games tagged both RPG and Text-Based: 145 indie paid launches, 3 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 26,758 indie paid launches 12 to 36 months old, data of 2 Nov 2026. How it is measured.

Showing RPG + Text-Based priced $10 to $20.

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

RPG + Text-Based is too small to compare with RPG and is too small to compare with Text-Based: 2 of its 19 launches earned $100k+ priced $10 to $20, against 20.6 in 100 for RPG and 8.0 in 100 for Text-Based.

Small sample: 19 launches, 2 hits.

TIEA tie
Tag oneRPG
20.6in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds20.6 in 100
Typical earnings$11,889
Launches796 / 164 hits
Pair against ittoo few hits to compare
TIEA tie
This pairRPG + Text-Based
2 of 19launches earned
$100k+ small
Odds2 of 19 launches
$1k+15 of 19 launches
$10k+11 of 19 launches
Launches19 / 2 hits
Expected20.5 in 100
TIETied
Tag twoText-Based
8.0in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds1 in 13
Typical earnings$9,359
Launches100 / 8 hits
Pair against ittoo few hits to compare
All indie launches $10 to $20: 20.5 in 100 earned $100k+, typical $11,233, from 4,337 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 prices145 in pairUnder $562 in pair$5 to $1061 in pair$10 to $2019 in pair$20 to $403: too few
What the overlap means

The overlap is this niche: the 19 games tagged both RPG and Text-Based priced $10 to $20. 2 of 19 of them earned $100k+, against 20.8 in 100 for RPG-only games and 7.4 in 100 for Text-Based-only games, so the mix is too small to compare with RPG alone and is too small to compare with Text-Based alone.

Both: 19 games priced $10 to $20; 2 of 19 earned $100k+, odds by size $1k+ 15 of 19 launches · $10k+ 11 of 19 launches · $100k+ 2 of 19 launches.

Circle areas follow launch counts; the gold overlap is exactly the pair's 19 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

Aliya: Timelinkleads this pair15.9%
PairAliya: Timelink15.9%
RPGPath of Exile 218.7%
Text-BasedHomicipher21.9%
CheckOne game over half?no
NextNearest hitsnot computed yet

Lens checkHolds in 2 of 3, 1 too few to tell. Standard: the base the others are compared with. West-facing view: holds. Without the breakout: holds. Last 18 months: too few to tell.

Open free preview
ComparablesFree until launchClick to unlockWho leads RPG + Text-Based

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

  • Aliya: Timelink earned 15.9% of the estimated first-year money of the 145 RPG + Text-Based launches.
  • RPG is led by Path of Exile 2, with 18.7% of its money.
  • Text-Based is led by Homicipher, with 21.9% 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

RPG + Text-Based holds in West-facing view and Without the breakout; too few to tell in Last 18 months. No lens moves the chance or typical earnings more than chance alone would.

RPG + Text-Based through every lens, all prices
This pairBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view118 of 145 launchesWithout the breakout144 of 145 launchesLast 18 months40 of 145 launches
Launches counted1453 hits1182 hits1442 hits400 hits
Earned $100k+3 of 145too few for a rate2 of 118too few for a rate2 of 144too few for a rate0 of 40too few for a rate
Typical first-year earnings$824top tenth $14,689+$1,020$824under 100 launches
Chance against standardthe base-18.1%0.4 fewer in 100; too few to tell-32.9%0.7 fewer in 100-100.0%2.1 fewer in 100; too few to tell
Typical against standardthe base+23.8%$196 more0.0%no changeunder 100 launches
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsToo few to tell
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged both RPG and Text-Based, 12 to 36 months old: 145 launches.

Launches counted
1453 hits
Earned $100k+
3 of 145too few for a rate
Typical first-year earnings
$824top tenth $14,689+
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: 27 of 145 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
1182 hits
Earned $100k+
2 of 118too few for a rate
Typical first-year earnings
$1,020
Chance against standard
-18.1%0.4 fewer in 100; too few to tell
Typical against standard
+23.8%$196 more
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Aliya: Timelink (15.9% of the money): 144 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
1442 hits
Earned $100k+
2 of 144too few for a rate
Typical first-year earnings
$824
Chance against standard
-32.9%0.7 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Last 18 monthsToo few to tell

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 40 of 145.

Launches counted
400 hits
Earned $100k+
0 of 40too few for a rate
Typical first-year earnings
under 100 launches
Chance against standard
-100.0%2.1 fewer in 100; too few to tell
Typical against standard
under 100 launches
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged both RPG and Text-Based, 12 to 36 months old: 145 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: 27 of 145 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, Aliya: Timelink (15.9% of the money): 144 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: 40 of 145.

RPG 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.

RPG through every lens, all prices
RPGBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view3,170 of 3,764 launchesWithout the breakout3,763 of 3,764 launchesLast 18 months1,023 of 3,764 launches
Launches counted3,764305 hits3,170261 hits3,763304 hits1,02386 hits
Earned $100k+8.1 in 1001 in 128.2 in 1001 in 128.1 in 1001 in 128.4 in 1001 in 12
Typical first-year earnings$696top tenth $68,337+$769$696$858
Chance against standardthe base+1.6%0.1 more in 100-0.3%no change+3.7%0.3 more in 100
Typical against standardthe base+10.5%$73 more0.0%no change+23.3%$162 more
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged RPG, 12 to 36 months old: 3,764 launches.

Launches counted
3,764305 hits
Earned $100k+
8.1 in 1001 in 12
Typical first-year earnings
$696top tenth $68,337+
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: 594 of 3,764 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
3,170261 hits
Earned $100k+
8.2 in 1001 in 12
Typical first-year earnings
$769
Chance against standard
+1.6%0.1 more in 100
Typical against standard
+10.5%$73 more
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Path of Exile 2 (18.7% of the money): 3,763 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
3,763304 hits
Earned $100k+
8.1 in 1001 in 12
Typical first-year earnings
$696
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: 1,023 of 3,764.

Launches counted
1,02386 hits
Earned $100k+
8.4 in 1001 in 12
Typical first-year earnings
$858
Chance against standard
+3.7%0.3 more in 100
Typical against standard
+23.3%$162 more
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged RPG, 12 to 36 months old: 3,764 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: 594 of 3,764 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, Path of Exile 2 (18.7% of the money): 3,763 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: 1,023 of 3,764.

Text-Based 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.

Text-Based through every lens, all prices
Text-BasedBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view558 of 622 launchesWithout the breakout621 of 622 launchesLast 18 months164 of 622 launches
Launches counted62219 hits55817 hits62118 hits1643 hits
Earned $100k+3.1 in 1001 in 333.0 in 1001 in 332.9 in 1001 in 353 of 164too few for a rate
Typical first-year earnings$643top tenth $21,254+$779$636$636
Chance against standardthe base-0.3%no change-5.1%0.2 fewer in 100-40.1%1.2 fewer in 100; too few to tell
Typical against standardthe base+21.2%$136 more-1.1%$7 less-1.1%$7 less
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Text-Based, 12 to 36 months old: 622 launches.

Launches counted
62219 hits
Earned $100k+
3.1 in 1001 in 33
Typical first-year earnings
$643top tenth $21,254+
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: 64 of 622 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
55817 hits
Earned $100k+
3.0 in 1001 in 33
Typical first-year earnings
$779
Chance against standard
-0.3%no change
Typical against standard
+21.2%$136 more
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Homicipher (21.9% of the money): 621 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
62118 hits
Earned $100k+
2.9 in 1001 in 35
Typical first-year earnings
$636
Chance against standard
-5.1%0.2 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-1.1%$7 less
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 164 of 622.

Launches counted
1643 hits
Earned $100k+
3 of 164too few for a rate
Typical first-year earnings
$636
Chance against standard
-40.1%1.2 fewer in 100; too few to tell
Typical against standard
-1.1%$7 less
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged Text-Based, 12 to 36 months old: 622 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: 64 of 622 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, Homicipher (21.9% of the money): 621 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: 164 of 622.

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 RPG + Text-Based 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.