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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 / Simulation + Thriller

Niche

Simulation + Thriller

Games tagged both Simulation and Thriller: 65 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 Simulation + Thriller priced under $5.

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?Under $5

Simulation + Thriller is too small to compare with Simulation and is too small to compare with Thriller: 1 of its 43 launches earned $100k+ priced under $5, against 1.0 in 100 for Simulation and 1 of 303 launches for Thriller.

Small sample: 43 launches, 1 hits.

TIEA tie
Tag oneSimulation
1.0in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds1 in 100
Typical earnings$218
Launches2,203 / 22 hits
Pair against ittoo few hits to compare
TIEA tie
This pairSimulation + Thriller
1 of 43launches earned
$100k+ small
Odds1 of 43 launches
$1k+42 in 100
$10k+2 of 43 launches
Launches43 / 1 hits
Expected0.4 in 100
TIEA tie
Tag twoThriller
1 of 303launches earned
$100k+ small
Odds1 of 303 launches
Typical earnings$552
Launches303 / 1 hits
Pair against ittoo few hits to compare
All indie launches under $5: 0.4 in 100 earned $100k+ (1 in 230), typical $162, from 14,050 launches.each block is 0.5 in 100 all indie at under $5

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 prices65 in pairUnder $543 in pair$5 to $1017 in pair$10 to $203: too few$20 to $402: too few
What the overlap means

The overlap is this niche: the 43 games tagged both Simulation and Thriller priced under $5. 1 of 43 of them earned $100k+, against 1.0 in 100 for Simulation-only games and 0 of 260 for Thriller-only games, so the mix is too small to compare with Simulation alone and is too small to compare with Thriller alone.

Both: 43 games priced under $5; 1 of 43 earned $100k+, odds by size $1k+ 42 in 100 · $10k+ 2 of 43 launches · $100k+ 1 of 43 launches.

Circle areas follow launch counts; the gold overlap is exactly the pair's 43 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

The Operatorleads this pair53.5%
PairThe Operator53.5%
SimulationSchedule I19.1%
ThrillerThe Drifter15.6%
CheckOne game over half?yes
NextNearest hitsnot computed yet

Lens checkOne-hit market. Standard: the base the others are compared with. West-facing view: too few to tell. Without the breakout: moves the answer. Last 18 months: too few to tell.

Open free preview
ComparablesFree until launchClick to unlockWho leads Simulation + Thriller

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 Operator earned 53.5% of the estimated first-year money of the 65 Simulation + Thriller launches.
  • Simulation is led by Schedule I, with 19.1% of its money.
  • Thriller is led by The Drifter, with 15.6% 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: games mostly reviewed in Chinese, the single biggest earner, and everything older than 18 months.

Does the answer hold?

All prices

Simulation + Thriller is one-hit market: one game earned over half the money.

Simulation + Thriller through every lens, all prices
This pairBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view62 of 65 launchesWithout the breakout64 of 65 launchesLast 18 months25 of 65 launches
Launches counted653 hits623 hits642 hits251 hits
Earned $100k+3 of 65too few for a rate3 of 62too few for a rate2 of 64too few for a rate1 of 25too few for a rate
Chance of $10k+14 in 100chance of $10k+; $1k+ 52 in 100under 100 launchesunder 100 launchesunder 100 launches
Chance against standardthe base+4.8%0.2 more in 100; too few to tell-32.3%1.5 fewer in 100-13.3%0.6 fewer in 100; too few to tell
Typical against standardthe baseunder 100 launchesunder 100 launchesunder 100 launches
Does it hold?The base viewToo few to tellMoves the answerToo few to tell
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged both Simulation and Thriller, 12 to 36 months old: 65 launches.

Launches counted
653 hits
Earned $100k+
3 of 65too few for a rate
Chance of $10k+
14 in 100chance of $10k+; $1k+ 52 in 100
Chance against standard
the base
Typical against standard
the base
West-facing viewToo few to tell

Games mostly reviewed outside China. Drops games mostly reviewed in Chinese, meaning 35% or more of their reviews are in Simplified Chinese: 3 of 65 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
623 hits
Earned $100k+
3 of 62too few for a rate
Chance of $10k+
under 100 launches
Chance against standard
+4.8%0.2 more in 100; too few to tell
Typical against standard
under 100 launches
Without the breakoutMoves the answer

Drops the single biggest earner, The Operator (53.5% of the money): 64 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
642 hits
Earned $100k+
2 of 64too few for a rate
Chance of $10k+
under 100 launches
Chance against standard
-32.3%1.5 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
under 100 launches
Last 18 monthsToo few to tell

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 25 of 65.

Launches counted
251 hits
Earned $100k+
1 of 25too few for a rate
Chance of $10k+
under 100 launches
Chance against standard
-13.3%0.6 fewer in 100; too few to tell
Typical against standard
under 100 launches
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged both Simulation and Thriller, 12 to 36 months old: 65 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: 3 of 65 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 Operator (53.5% of the money): 64 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: 25 of 65.

Simulation 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.

Simulation through every lens, all prices
SimulationBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view4,264 of 4,518 launchesWithout the breakout4,517 of 4,518 launchesLast 18 months1,367 of 4,518 launches
Launches counted4,518406 hits4,264387 hits4,517405 hits1,367121 hits
Earned $100k+9.0 in 1001 in 119.1 in 1001 in 119.0 in 1001 in 118.9 in 1001 in 11
Typical first-year earnings$926top tenth $82,841+$1,005$925$936
Chance against standardthe base+1.0%0.1 more in 100-0.2%no change-1.5%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standardthe base+8.5%$79 more-0.1%$1 less+1.1%$10 more
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Simulation, 12 to 36 months old: 4,518 launches.

Launches counted
4,518406 hits
Earned $100k+
9.0 in 1001 in 11
Typical first-year earnings
$926top tenth $82,841+
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: 254 of 4,518 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
4,264387 hits
Earned $100k+
9.1 in 1001 in 11
Typical first-year earnings
$1,005
Chance against standard
+1.0%0.1 more in 100
Typical against standard
+8.5%$79 more
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Schedule I (19.1% of the money): 4,517 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
4,517405 hits
Earned $100k+
9.0 in 1001 in 11
Typical first-year earnings
$925
Chance against standard
-0.2%no change
Typical against standard
-0.1%$1 less
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 1,367 of 4,518.

Launches counted
1,367121 hits
Earned $100k+
8.9 in 1001 in 11
Typical first-year earnings
$936
Chance against standard
-1.5%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
+1.1%$10 more
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged Simulation, 12 to 36 months old: 4,518 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: 254 of 4,518 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, Schedule I (19.1% of the money): 4,517 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: 1,367 of 4,518.

Thriller 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.

Thriller through every lens, all prices
ThrillerBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view482 of 520 launchesWithout the breakout519 of 520 launchesLast 18 months168 of 520 launches
Launches counted52020 hits48218 hits51919 hits1688 hits
Earned $100k+3.8 in 1001 in 263.7 in 1001 in 273.7 in 1001 in 274.8 in 1001 in 21
Typical first-year earnings$1,163top tenth $28,745+$1,150$1,150$1,147
Chance against standardthe base-2.9%0.1 fewer in 100-4.8%0.2 fewer in 100+23.8%0.9 more in 100
Typical against standardthe base-1.1%$13 less-1.1%$13 less-1.4%$16 less
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Thriller, 12 to 36 months old: 520 launches.

Launches counted
52020 hits
Earned $100k+
3.8 in 1001 in 26
Typical first-year earnings
$1,163top tenth $28,745+
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: 38 of 520 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
48218 hits
Earned $100k+
3.7 in 1001 in 27
Typical first-year earnings
$1,150
Chance against standard
-2.9%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-1.1%$13 less
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, The Drifter (15.6% of the money): 519 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
51919 hits
Earned $100k+
3.7 in 1001 in 27
Typical first-year earnings
$1,150
Chance against standard
-4.8%0.2 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-1.1%$13 less
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 168 of 520.

Launches counted
1688 hits
Earned $100k+
4.8 in 1001 in 21
Typical first-year earnings
$1,147
Chance against standard
+23.8%0.9 more in 100
Typical against standard
-1.4%$16 less
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged Thriller, 12 to 36 months old: 520 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: 38 of 520 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 Drifter (15.6% of the money): 519 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: 168 of 520.

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 Simulation + Thriller 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.