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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 same figures are on the Genres page.

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on 30 Sep 2026

Niches / RTS + Tower Defense

Niche

RTS + Tower Defense

Games tagged both RTS and Tower Defense: 163 indie paid launches, 19 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 RTS + Tower Defense priced $10 to $20, hiding samples under 30 launches.

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

RTS + Tower Defense beats both its tags: 36.1 in 100 of its launches earned $100k+ priced $10 to $20, against 19.3 in 100 for RTS 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.

3RDThird
Tag oneRTS
19.3in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds19.3 in 100
Typical earnings$13,660
Launches119 / 23 hits
Pair leads by16.8 in 100
1STWinner
This pairRTS + Tower Defense
36.1in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds36.1 in 100
Typical earnings$23,590
Launches36 / 13 hits
Expected18.6 in 100
2NDRunner-up
Tag twoTower Defense
23.8in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds23.8 in 100
Typical earnings$7,628
Launches143 / 34 hits
Pair leads by12.3 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 prices163 in pairUnder $575 in pair$5 to $1048 in pair$10 to $2036 in pair$20 to $404: too few
What the overlap means

The overlap is this niche: the 36 games tagged both RTS and Tower Defense priced $10 to $20. 36.1 in 100 of them earned $100k+, against 12.0 for RTS-only games and 19.6 for Tower Defense-only games, so games with both tags did better than games with either tag alone.

Both: 36 games priced $10 to $20; 36.1 in 100 earned $100k+, typical first-year earnings $23,590.

Circle areas follow launch counts; the gold overlap is exactly the pair's 36 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

Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Editionleads this pair27.6%
PairStronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition27.6%
RTSInfection Free Zone14.1%
Tower DefenseStronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition11.6%
CheckOne game over half?no
NextNearest hitsnot computed yet

Lens checkChanged recently. Standard: the yardstick. West-facing view: holds. Without the breakout: holds. Last 18 months: moves the answer.

Open free preview
ComparablesFree until launchClick to unlockWho leads RTS + 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

  • Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition earned 27.6% of the estimated first-year money of the 163 RTS + Tower Defense launches.
  • RTS is led by Infection Free Zone, with 14.1% of its money.
  • It also leads Tower Defense, with 11.6% 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: those with a mostly Chinese audience, the single biggest earner, and everything older than 18 months.

Does the answer hold?

All prices

RTS + Tower Defense is changed recently: Last 18 months moves the answer by more than a quarter. It holds in 2 of 3.

RTS + Tower Defense through every lens, all prices
This pairBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view153 of 163 launchesWithout the breakout162 of 163 launchesLast 18 months75 of 163 launches
Launches counted16319 hits15319 hits16218 hits7511 hits
Earned $100k+11.7 in 10012.4 in 10011.1 in 10014.7 in 100
Typical first-year earnings$607top tenth $145,727+$707$607$606
Chance against standardthe yardstick+6.0%0.7 more in 100-5.1%0.6 fewer in 100+25.6%3.0 more in 100
Typical against standardthe yardstick+16.5%$100 more0.0%no change-0.2%$1 less
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsMoves the answer
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged both RTS and Tower Defense, 6 to 30 months old: 163 launches.

Launches counted
16319 hits
Earned $100k+
11.7 in 100
Typical first-year earnings
$607top tenth $145,727+
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: 10 of 163 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
15319 hits
Earned $100k+
12.4 in 100
Typical first-year earnings
$707
Chance against standard
+6.0%0.7 more in 100
Typical against standard
+16.5%$100 more
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition (27.6% of the money): 162 launches left.

Launches counted
16218 hits
Earned $100k+
11.1 in 100
Typical first-year earnings
$607
Chance against standard
-5.1%0.6 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Last 18 monthsMoves the answer

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 75 of 163.

Launches counted
7511 hits
Earned $100k+
14.7 in 100
Typical first-year earnings
$606
Chance against standard
+25.6%3.0 more in 100
Typical against standard
-0.2%$1 less
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged both RTS and Tower Defense, 6 to 30 months old: 163 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: 10 of 163 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 (27.6% of the money): 162 launches left.
Last 18 months
Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 75 of 163.

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

RTS through every lens, all prices
RTSBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view487 of 525 launchesWithout the breakout524 of 525 launchesLast 18 months277 of 525 launches
Launches counted52549 hits48749 hits52448 hits27729 hits
Earned $100k+9.3 in 1001 in 1110.1 in 1009.2 in 1001 in 1110.5 in 100
Typical first-year earnings$685top tenth $80,960+$848$685$787
Chance against standardthe yardstick+8.6%0.8 more in 100-1.1%0.1 fewer in 100+12.9%1.2 more in 100
Typical against standardthe yardstick+23.8%$163 more0.0%no change+14.9%$102 more
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged RTS, 6 to 30 months old: 525 launches.

Launches counted
52549 hits
Earned $100k+
9.3 in 1001 in 11
Typical first-year earnings
$685top tenth $80,960+
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: 38 of 525 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
48749 hits
Earned $100k+
10.1 in 100
Typical first-year earnings
$848
Chance against standard
+8.6%0.8 more in 100
Typical against standard
+23.8%$163 more
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Infection Free Zone (14.1% of the money): 524 launches left.

Launches counted
52448 hits
Earned $100k+
9.2 in 1001 in 11
Typical first-year earnings
$685
Chance against standard
-1.1%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 277 of 525.

Launches counted
27729 hits
Earned $100k+
10.5 in 100
Typical first-year earnings
$787
Chance against standard
+12.9%1.2 more in 100
Typical against standard
+14.9%$102 more
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged RTS, 6 to 30 months old: 525 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: 38 of 525 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, Infection Free Zone (14.1% of the money): 524 launches left.
Last 18 months
Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 277 of 525.

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 RTS + 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.