Best niches
$10 to $20Pairs that hit $100k+ beyond the oddsFree until launch
Casual + Cozyabout 3.0 times the 19 in 100 base rate55 in 100
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Best nichesFree until launchClick to unlockTag pairs that beat the odds
Niches
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 6 to 30 months old, data 1 Oct 2026. A hit is an estimated first year of $100k+. The revenue estimate is soft: about 5 to 8 in 100 launches overall.
The niche list
Best odds at my priceChance of $100k+, read within one price band.Now: Casual + Cozy, 55 in 100. 1,269 match.Steady marketsHolds in every lens and no single game owns it.Now: Casual + Cozy, 55 in 100. 706 match.Biggest typical yearWhat the middle launch earned, highest first.Now: Casual + Cozy, $120,225 typical. 1,269 match.Biggest upsideWhat the top tenth earned at least.Now: Co-op + Multiplayer, $1.6M top 1 in 10. 658 match.Proven at scale100+ launches and above the base rate.Now: Building + Sandbox, 38 in 100. 75 match.Busiest marketsMost launches first: where the competition is.Now: Adventure + Exploration, 437 launches. 1,269 match.
3,697 of 5,145 niches have 10+ launches at $10 to $20. Sorted by chance of $100k+, highest first.
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| Rank# | Niche | Chance of $100k+ | Typical year | Top 1 in 10 | Launches | Markers | Pin | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| All games at $10 to $20the base rate: the row to beat | 19 in 100893 of 4,810 | $9,226 | $248,075 | 4,810 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Life Sim + Survival8 of 11 launches earned $100k+ | 8 of 118 hits | $260,108 | $1,161,769 | 11 | 1-hitSmall | Pin Life Sim + Survival | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Action Roguelike + Loot7 of 10 launches earned $100k+ | 7 of 107 hits | $490,105 | $1,440,409 | 10 | 1-hitSmall | Pin Action Roguelike + Loot | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Cozy + Story Rich10 of 15 launches earned $100k+ | 10 of 1510 hits | $234,378 | $510,045 | 15 | SmallAudience | Pin Cozy + Story Rich | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Cozy + Pixel Graphics9 of 14 launches earned $100k+ | 9 of 149 hits | $129,593 | $1,360,500 | 14 | SmallAudience | Pin Cozy + Pixel Graphics | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 5 | Building + Cozy12 of 19 launches earned $100k+ | 12 of 1912 hits | $176,757 | $4,020,651 | 19 | Small | Pin Building + Cozy | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 6 | Co-op + Open World12 of 20 launches earned $100k+ | 12 of 2012 hits | $162,729 | $5,217,126 | 20 | 1-hitSmall | Pin Co-op + Open World | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 7 | FMV + Multiple Endings12 of 20 launches earned $100k+ | 12 of 2012 hits | $154,935 | $304,089 | 20 | SmallAudience | Pin FMV + Multiple Endings | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 8 | 1990's + Survival Horror6 of 10 launches earned $100k+ | 6 of 106 hits | $106,462 | $3,153,777 | 10 | 1-hitSmall | Pin 1990's + Survival Horror | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 9 | 2D + Music6 of 10 launches earned $100k+ | 6 of 106 hits | $263,118 | $2,312,993 | 10 | SmallAudience | Pin 2D + Music | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 10 | Crime + First-Person6 of 10 launches earned $100k+ | 6 of 106 hits | $319,385 | $117,340,109 | 10 | 1-hitSmallAudience | Pin Crime + First-Person | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 11 | Cinematic + FMV12 of 21 launches earned $100k+ | 12 of 2112 hits | $127,841 | $304,089 | 21 | SmallAudience | Pin Cinematic + FMV | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 12 | Multiplayer + Third-Person Shooter8 of 14 launches earned $100k+ | 8 of 148 hits | $200,375 | $1,536,611 | 14 | SmallAudience | Pin Multiplayer + Third-Person Shooter | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 13 | FMV + Immersive Sim13 of 23 launches earned $100k+ | 13 of 2313 hits | $136,417 | $341,606 | 23 | Small | Pin FMV + Immersive Sim | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 14 | First-Person + Multiple Endings14 of 25 launches earned $100k+ | 14 of 2514 hits | $120,185 | $356,955 | 25 | 1-hitSmallAudience | Pin First-Person + Multiple Endings | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 15 | FMV + Visual Novel14 of 25 launches earned $100k+ | 14 of 2514 hits | $136,417 | $412,826 | 25 | SmallAudience | Pin FMV + Visual Novel | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
14 of 25 launches earned $100k+ at $10 to $20. Base rate at $10 to $20: 19 in 100 (893 of 4,810 launches earned $100k+). Typical first year $136,417; the top 1 in 10 earned at least $412,826. Lens check, all pricesHolds in 3 of 3. Standard: the yardstick. West-facing view: holds. Without the breakout: holds. Last 18 months: holds.
Grey: under 30 launches at that price, written as a count. Odds compare best within one price. Its two tags alone, at $10 to $20
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| 16 | FPS + Multiplayer10 of 18 launches earned $100k+ | 10 of 1810 hits | $270,810 | $2,599,920 | 18 | 1-hitSmall | Pin FPS + Multiplayer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 17 | Casual + Cozy55 in 100 earned $100k+, from 58 launches | 55 in 10032 hits | $120,225 | $1,360,500 | 58 | none | Pin Casual + Cozy | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 18 | Action RPG + Sandbox11 of 20 launches earned $100k+ | 11 of 2011 hits | $131,936 | $855,782 | 20 | SmallAudience | Pin Action RPG + Sandbox | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 19 | Mystery + Pixel Graphics12 of 22 launches earned $100k+ | 12 of 2212 hits | $120,225 | $1,928,050 | 22 | Small | Pin Mystery + Pixel Graphics | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 20 | 1990's + Horror6 of 11 launches earned $100k+ | 6 of 116 hits | $100,171 | $141,551 | 11 | Small | Pin 1990's + Horror | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 21 | Automation + Economy6 of 11 launches earned $100k+ | 6 of 116 hits | $111,098 | $1,025,497 | 11 | Small | Pin Automation + Economy | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 22 | Character Customization + Open World15 of 28 launches earned $100k+ | 15 of 2815 hits | $133,178 | $344,483 | 28 | 1-hitSmall | Pin Character Customization + Open World | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 23 | Action Roguelike + Bullet Heaven8 of 15 launches earned $100k+ | 8 of 158 hits | $134,052 | $2,025,618 | 15 | 1-hitSmall | Pin Action Roguelike + Bullet Heaven | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 24 | Co-op + FPS8 of 15 launches earned $100k+ | 8 of 158 hits | $122,249 | $3,216,764 | 15 | Small | Pin Co-op + FPS | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 25 | Exploration + Lovecraftian8 of 15 launches earned $100k+ | 8 of 158 hits | $117,796 | $271,728 | 15 | 1-hitSmall | Pin Exploration + Lovecraftian | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Show 25 moreShowing 25 of 3,697 niches
green beats the base ratecoral below it bar: the chance; amber tick: the base rate1-hit one game holds over half the moneySmall under 50 launches in this viewAudience reads differently for Western players
Under 30 launches 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.