Best niches
$10 to $20Pairs with the best chance of $100k+, above the base rateFree until launch
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.
Niches 3 Oct
Of 161 niches with 100+ launches at $10 to $20, 53 beat the 20 in 100 base rate. Price moves the odds most: 1 in 238 under $5, 44 in 100 at $20 to $40.53 of 161 niches beat the 20 in 100 base rate.53 beat the base rate.
Typical launch, all prices, first year $552
Every tag pair (two tags on the same game), screened by how often its indie launches earned $100k or more in their first year. Pick your price first: price moves the odds more than the tags do.
Indie paid Steam launches 12 to 36 months old, data 3 Oct 2026. A hit is an estimated first year of $100k+. 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. The revenue estimate is soft: about 6 to 7.5 in 100 launches overall.
Pairs with the best chance of $100k+, above the base rateFree until launch
161 of 4,635 niches have 100+ launches at $10 to $20. Sorted by chance of $100k+, lowest first.
| Rank# | Niche | Chance of $100k+ | Typical year | Top 1 in 10 | Launches | Markers | Pin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All games at $10 to $20the base rate: the row to beat | 20 in 100878 of 4,304 | $10,978 | $287,297 | 4,304 | |||
| 1 | Arcade + Casual4 of 124 launches earned $100k+ | 4 of 1244 hits | $1,150 | $18,907 | 124 | none | Pin Arcade + Casual |
| 2 | Casual + Point & Click1 in 25 earned $100k+, from 126 launches | 1 in 255 hits | $2,044 | $43,725 | 126 | none | Pin Casual + Point & Click |
| 3 | Casual + Hidden Object1 in 21 earned $100k+, from 107 launches | 1 in 215 hits | $1,328 | $20,735 | 107 | none | Pin Casual + Hidden Object |
| 4 | Hidden Object + Puzzle1 in 21 earned $100k+, from 126 launches | 1 in 216 hits | $1,533 | $37,244 | 126 | none | Pin Hidden Object + Puzzle |
| 5 | Adventure + Choose Your Own Adventure1 in 18 earned $100k+, from 129 launches | 1 in 187 hits | $4,601 | $74,366 | 129 | none | Pin Adventure + Choose Your Own Adventure |
| 6 | Casual + Visual Novel1 in 18 earned $100k+, from 145 launches | 1 in 188 hits | $4,170 | $61,149 | 145 | none | Pin Casual + Visual Novel |
| 7 | Casual + Fantasy1 in 18 earned $100k+, from 105 launches | 1 in 186 hits | $1,803 | $52,382 | 105 | none | Pin Casual + Fantasy |
| 8 | Puzzle + Strategy1 in 15 earned $100k+, from 103 launches | 1 in 157 hits | $2,844 | $70,092 | 103 | none | Pin Puzzle + Strategy |
| 9 | 2D + Casual1 in 14 earned $100k+, from 297 launches | 1 in 1421 hits | $1,686 | $56,257 | 297 | none | Pin 2D + Casual |
| 10 | Adventure + Strategy1 in 13 earned $100k+, from 140 launches | 1 in 1311 hits | $2,844 | $68,656 | 140 | Audience | Pin Adventure + Strategy |
| 11 | Anime + Casual1 in 12 earned $100k+, from 109 launches | 1 in 129 hits | $5,688 | $72,223 | 109 | none | Pin Anime + Casual |
| 12 | Casual + Strategy1 in 12 earned $100k+, from 188 launches | 1 in 1216 hits | $3,042 | $78,162 | 188 | none | Pin Casual + Strategy |
| 13 | Action + Casual1 in 12 earned $100k+, from 164 launches | 1 in 1214 hits | $2,299 | $70,453 | 164 | none | Pin Action + Casual |
| 14 | 2D + Fantasy1 in 12 earned $100k+, from 140 launches | 1 in 1212 hits | $3,346 | $89,036 | 140 | none | Pin 2D + Fantasy |
| 15 | Adventure + Casual1 in 12 earned $100k+, from 346 launches | 1 in 1230 hits | $2,705 | $61,189 | 346 | none | Pin Adventure + Casual |
| 16 | Anime + Visual Novel1 in 11 earned $100k+, from 179 launches | 1 in 1116 hits | $9,175 | $94,152 | 179 | Audience | Pin Anime + Visual Novel |
| 17 | 2D Platformer + Adventure1 in 11 earned $100k+, from 118 launches | 1 in 1111 hits | $5,708 | $82,425 | 118 | none | Pin 2D Platformer + Adventure |
| 18 | Casual + Puzzle1 in 11 earned $100k+, from 278 launches | 1 in 1126 hits | $1,896 | $98,547 | 278 | Audience | Pin Casual + Puzzle |
| 19 | 2D + Visual Novel1 in 11 earned $100k+, from 148 launches | 1 in 1114 hits | $8,442 | $90,757 | 148 | none | Pin 2D + Visual Novel |
| 20 | 2D + Point & Click1 in 11 earned $100k+, from 116 launches | 1 in 1111 hits | $2,705 | $99,644 | 116 | none | Pin 2D + Point & Click |
| 21 | Casual + Family Friendly1 in 10 earned $100k+, from 143 launches | 1 in 1014 hits | $2,366 | $98,814 | 143 | none | Pin Casual + Family Friendly |
| 22 | 2D + Puzzle1 in 10 earned $100k+, from 203 launches | 1 in 1020 hits | $2,047 | $98,814 | 203 | none | Pin 2D + Puzzle |
| 23 | Casual + Story Rich10 in 100 earned $100k+, from 130 launches | 10 in 10013 hits | $4,101 | $116,742 | 130 | none | Pin Casual + Story Rich |
| 24 | Adventure + Fantasy10 in 100 earned $100k+, from 167 launches | 10 in 10017 hits | $3,346 | $103,475 | 167 | none | Pin Adventure + Fantasy |
| 25 | Romance + Visual Novel10 in 100 earned $100k+, from 136 launches | 10 in 10014 hits | $8,788 | $119,431 | 136 | none | Pin Romance + Visual Novel |
| 26 | Adventure + Anime10 in 100 earned $100k+, from 162 launches | 10 in 10017 hits | $7,154 | $115,845 | 162 | none | Pin Adventure + Anime |
| 27 | JRPG + RPG11 in 100 earned $100k+, from 150 launches | 11 in 10016 hits | $4,857 | $105,142 | 150 | 1-hit | Pin JRPG + RPG |
| 28 | Cute + Visual Novel11 in 100 earned $100k+, from 144 launches | 11 in 10016 hits | $9,298 | $118,746 | 144 | none | Pin Cute + Visual Novel |
| 29 | Casual + Colorful11 in 100 earned $100k+, from 167 launches | 11 in 10019 hits | $3,371 | $117,666 | 167 | none | Pin Casual + Colorful |
| 30 | Adventure + Visual Novel12 in 100 earned $100k+, from 200 launches | 12 in 10023 hits | $9,463 | $129,728 | 200 | none | Pin Adventure + Visual Novel |
| 31 | Point & Click + Puzzle12 in 100 earned $100k+, from 145 launches | 12 in 10017 hits | $3,346 | $145,483 | 145 | Audience | Pin Point & Click + Puzzle |
| 32 | Adventure + Simulation12 in 100 earned $100k+, from 170 launches | 12 in 10020 hits | $6,528 | $177,979 | 170 | none | Pin Adventure + Simulation |
| 33 | 3D + Strategy12 in 100 earned $100k+, from 132 launches | 12 in 10016 hits | $5,769 | $116,196 | 132 | none | Pin 3D + Strategy |
| 34 | 3D + RPG12 in 100 earned $100k+, from 106 launches | 12 in 10013 hits | $4,599 | $149,556 | 106 | Audience | Pin 3D + RPG |
| 35 | Adventure + Point & Click12 in 100 earned $100k+, from 154 launches | 12 in 10019 hits | $3,678 | $161,282 | 154 | none | Pin Adventure + Point & Click |
| 36 | Choose Your Own Adventure + Visual Novel13 in 100 earned $100k+, from 136 launches | 13 in 10017 hits | $6,448 | $242,775 | 136 | Audience | Pin Choose Your Own Adventure + Visual Novel |
| 37 | 3D + Third Person13 in 100 earned $100k+, from 126 launches | 13 in 10016 hits | $4,101 | $116,114 | 126 | none | Pin 3D + Third Person |
| 38 | 3D + Shooter13 in 100 earned $100k+, from 102 launches | 13 in 10013 hits | $6,795 | $146,833 | 102 | none | Pin 3D + Shooter |
| 39 | Action-Adventure + Adventure13 in 100 earned $100k+, from 288 launches | 13 in 10037 hits | $5,310 | $150,290 | 288 | none | Pin Action-Adventure + Adventure |
| 40 | Adventure + Platformer13 in 100 earned $100k+, from 140 launches | 13 in 10018 hits | $8,430 | $225,794 | 140 | Audience | Pin Adventure + Platformer |
| 41 | 2D + Strategy13 in 100 earned $100k+, from 193 launches | 13 in 10025 hits | $6,513 | $147,262 | 193 | none | Pin 2D + Strategy |
| 42 | 2D + Adventure13 in 100 earned $100k+, from 361 launches | 13 in 10048 hits | $6,437 | $159,575 | 361 | none | Pin 2D + Adventure |
| 43 | 3D + Casual14 in 100 earned $100k+, from 185 launches | 14 in 10025 hits | $2,974 | $138,828 | 185 | none | Pin 3D + Casual |
| 44 | 3D + Action-Adventure14 in 100 earned $100k+, from 147 launches | 14 in 10020 hits | $6,068 | $149,556 | 147 | none | Pin 3D + Action-Adventure |
| 45 | Adventure + Puzzle14 in 100 earned $100k+, from 320 launches | 14 in 10044 hits | $4,225 | $173,428 | 320 | none | Pin Adventure + Puzzle |
| 46 | Action + Arcade14 in 100 earned $100k+, from 174 launches | 14 in 10024 hits | $7,969 | $165,099 | 174 | none | Pin Action + Arcade |
| 47 | 3D + Puzzle14 in 100 earned $100k+, from 114 launches | 14 in 10016 hits | $3,137 | $161,282 | 114 | none | Pin 3D + Puzzle |
| 48 | Exploration + Puzzle14 in 100 earned $100k+, from 191 launches | 14 in 10027 hits | $7,664 | $128,484 | 191 | none | Pin Exploration + Puzzle |
| 49 | Adventure + Cute14 in 100 earned $100k+, from 203 launches | 14 in 10029 hits | $9,785 | $143,548 | 203 | none | Pin Adventure + Cute |
| 50 | 3D + Exploration15 in 100 earned $100k+, from 199 launches | 15 in 10029 hits | $4,550 | $187,531 | 199 | none | Pin 3D + Exploration |
Under 30 launches or 5 hits a chance is written as a count ("3 of 12"), never as odds. Typical year is the middle launch's first-year earnings. Lenses, the one-hit share and the audience split are measured across all prices. A game counts in every pair its tags make.
Ticker: 30 upcoming games dated within 90 days, with wishlist rank, release date and followers. The same list is on the Upcoming page.