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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 / Sandbox + Strategy

Niche

Sandbox + Strategy

Games tagged both Sandbox and Strategy: 280 indie paid launches, 63 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 Sandbox + Strategy priced $10 to $20, last 18 months. Lens figures exist at all prices only, so inside a price band the page shows the standard figures.

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

Sandbox + Strategy beats both its tags: 34.1 in 100 of its launches earned $100k+ priced $10 to $20, against 30.7 in 100 for Sandbox and 16.5 in 100 for Strategy.

That is about 1.8 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.

2NDRunner-up
Tag oneSandbox
30.7in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds30.7 in 100
Typical earnings$26,551
Launches388 / 119 hits
Pair leads by3.4 in 100
1STWinner
This pairSandbox + Strategy
34.1in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds34.1 in 100
Typical earnings$38,861
Launches91 / 31 hits
Expected18.6 in 100
3RDThird
Tag twoStrategy
16.5in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds16.5 in 100
Typical earnings$9,226
Launches978 / 161 hits
Pair leads by17.6 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.

What the overlap means

The overlap is this niche: the 91 games tagged both Sandbox and Strategy priced $10 to $20. 34.1 in 100 of them earned $100k+, against 29.6 for Sandbox-only games and 14.7 for Strategy-only games, so games with both tags did better than games with either tag alone.

Both: 91 games priced $10 to $20; 34.1 in 100 earned $100k+, typical first-year earnings $38,861.

Circle areas follow launch counts; the gold overlap is exactly the pair's 91 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 last 18 months 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

Manor Lordsleads this pair51.4%
PairManor Lords51.4%
SandboxManor Lords22.6%
StrategySlay the Spire 217.1%
CheckOne game over half?yes
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 Sandbox + 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

  • Manor Lords earned 51.4% of the estimated first-year money of the 280 Sandbox + Strategy launches.
  • It also leads Sandbox, with 22.6% of that tag's money.
  • Strategy is led by Slay the Spire 2, with 17.1% of its money.
  • One game holds over half of this pair's money: read every figure here as that game's story.

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

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

Sandbox + Strategy through every lens, all prices
This pairBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view263 of 280 launchesWithout the breakout279 of 280 launchesLast 18 months160 of 280 launches
Launches counted28063 hits26358 hits27962 hits16029 hits
Earned $100k+22.5 in 10022.1 in 10022.2 in 10018.1 in 100
Typical first-year earnings$3,883top tenth $526,527+$3,683$3,683$2,426
Chance against standardthe yardstick-1.8%0.4 fewer in 100-1.3%0.3 fewer in 100-19.6%4.4 fewer in 100
Typical against standardthe yardstick-5.2%$200 less-5.2%$200 less-37.5%$1,457 less
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsMoves the answer
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged both Sandbox and Strategy, 6 to 30 months old: 280 launches.

Launches counted
28063 hits
Earned $100k+
22.5 in 100
Typical first-year earnings
$3,883top tenth $526,527+
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: 17 of 280 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
26358 hits
Earned $100k+
22.1 in 100
Typical first-year earnings
$3,683
Chance against standard
-1.8%0.4 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-5.2%$200 less
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Manor Lords (51.4% of the money): 279 launches left.

Launches counted
27962 hits
Earned $100k+
22.2 in 100
Typical first-year earnings
$3,683
Chance against standard
-1.3%0.3 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-5.2%$200 less
Last 18 monthsMoves the answer

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 160 of 280.

Launches counted
16029 hits
Earned $100k+
18.1 in 100
Typical first-year earnings
$2,426
Chance against standard
-19.6%4.4 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-37.5%$1,457 less
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged both Sandbox and Strategy, 6 to 30 months old: 280 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: 17 of 280 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 (51.4% of the money): 279 launches left.
Last 18 months
Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 160 of 280.

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

Sandbox through every lens, all prices
SandboxBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view1,352 of 1,394 launchesWithout the breakout1,393 of 1,394 launchesLast 18 months822 of 1,394 launches
Launches counted1,394210 hits1,352198 hits1,393209 hits822109 hits
Earned $100k+15.1 in 10014.6 in 10015.0 in 10013.3 in 100
Typical first-year earnings$1,841top tenth $239,640+$1,840$1,841$1,618
Chance against standardthe yardstick-3.3%0.5 fewer in 100-0.7%0.1 fewer in 100-11.9%1.8 fewer in 100
Typical against standardthe yardstick-0.1%$1 less0.0%no change-12.1%$223 less
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Sandbox, 6 to 30 months old: 1,394 launches.

Launches counted
1,394210 hits
Earned $100k+
15.1 in 100
Typical first-year earnings
$1,841top tenth $239,640+
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: 42 of 1,394 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
1,352198 hits
Earned $100k+
14.6 in 100
Typical first-year earnings
$1,840
Chance against standard
-3.3%0.5 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-0.1%$1 less
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Manor Lords (22.6% of the money): 1,393 launches left.

Launches counted
1,393209 hits
Earned $100k+
15.0 in 100
Typical first-year earnings
$1,841
Chance against standard
-0.7%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 822 of 1,394.

Launches counted
822109 hits
Earned $100k+
13.3 in 100
Typical first-year earnings
$1,618
Chance against standard
-11.9%1.8 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-12.1%$223 less
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged Sandbox, 6 to 30 months old: 1,394 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: 42 of 1,394 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 (22.6% of the money): 1,393 launches left.
Last 18 months
Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 822 of 1,394.

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

Strategy through every lens, all prices
StrategyBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view4,988 of 5,391 launchesWithout the breakout5,390 of 5,391 launchesLast 18 months3,128 of 5,391 launches
Launches counted5,391337 hits4,988308 hits5,390336 hits3,128178 hits
Earned $100k+6.3 in 1001 in 166.2 in 1001 in 166.2 in 1001 in 165.7 in 1001 in 18
Typical first-year earnings$505top tenth $44,532+$545$505$505
Chance against standardthe yardstick-1.6%0.1 fewer in 100-1.6%0.1 fewer in 100-9.5%0.6 fewer in 100
Typical against standardthe yardstick+7.9%$40 more0.0%no change0.0%no change
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Strategy, 6 to 30 months old: 5,391 launches.

Launches counted
5,391337 hits
Earned $100k+
6.3 in 1001 in 16
Typical first-year earnings
$505top tenth $44,532+
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: 403 of 5,391 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
4,988308 hits
Earned $100k+
6.2 in 1001 in 16
Typical first-year earnings
$545
Chance against standard
-1.6%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
+7.9%$40 more
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Slay the Spire 2 (17.1% of the money): 5,390 launches left.

Launches counted
5,390336 hits
Earned $100k+
6.2 in 1001 in 16
Typical first-year earnings
$505
Chance against standard
-1.6%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 3,128 of 5,391.

Launches counted
3,128178 hits
Earned $100k+
5.7 in 1001 in 18
Typical first-year earnings
$505
Chance against standard
-9.5%0.6 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged Strategy, 6 to 30 months old: 5,391 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: 403 of 5,391 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 (17.1% of the money): 5,390 launches left.
Last 18 months
Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 3,128 of 5,391.

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 Sandbox + 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.