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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 26 | Building + Life Sim53 in 100 earned $100k+, from 32 launches | 53 in 10017 hits | $111,098 | $594,898 | 32 | Small | Pin Building + Life Sim |
| 27 | FMV + Interactive Fiction53 in 100 earned $100k+, from 32 launches | 53 in 10017 hits | $118,000 | $302,965 | 32 | SmallAudience | Pin FMV + Interactive Fiction |
| 28 | Mystery + Simulation9 of 17 launches earned $100k+ | 9 of 179 hits | $118,606 | $1,171,490 | 17 | SmallAudience | Pin Mystery + Simulation |
| 29 | Crime + Simulation10 of 19 launches earned $100k+ | 10 of 1910 hits | $106,271 | $2,221,619 | 19 | 1-hitSmall | Pin Crime + Simulation |
| 30 | FMV + RPG10 of 19 launches earned $100k+ | 10 of 1910 hits | $118,000 | $444,973 | 19 | SmallAudience | Pin FMV + RPG |
| 31 | Colorful + Cozy12 of 23 launches earned $100k+ | 12 of 2312 hits | $100,462 | $395,623 | 23 | Small | Pin Colorful + Cozy |
| 32 | Cozy + Life Sim13 of 25 launches earned $100k+ | 13 of 2513 hits | $118,606 | $1,036,140 | 25 | Small | Pin Cozy + Life Sim |
| 33 | Dating Sim + FMV13 of 25 launches earned $100k+ | 13 of 2513 hits | $127,841 | $304,089 | 25 | SmallAudience | Pin Dating Sim + FMV |
| 34 | Cooking + Management14 of 27 launches earned $100k+ | 14 of 2714 hits | $109,636 | $1,014,240 | 27 | SmallAudience | Pin Cooking + Management |
| 35 | Adventure + Cozy52 in 100 earned $100k+, from 31 launches | 52 in 10016 hits | $118,606 | $615,202 | 31 | SmallAudience | Pin Adventure + Cozy |
| 36 | Action Roguelike + Online Co-Op14 of 28 launches earned $100k+ | 14 of 2814 hits | $102,180 | $2,610,738 | 28 | SmallAudience | Pin Action Roguelike + Online Co-Op |
| 37 | 3D + Co-op11 of 22 launches earned $100k+ | 11 of 2211 hits | $173,253 | $1,658,212 | 22 | Small | Pin 3D + Co-op |
| 38 | Life Sim + Shop Keeper10 of 20 launches earned $100k+ | 10 of 2010 hits | $112,939 | $1,041,988 | 20 | SmallAudience | Pin Life Sim + Shop Keeper |
| 39 | Management + Open World10 of 20 launches earned $100k+ | 10 of 2010 hits | $107,559 | $1,795,398 | 20 | 1-hitSmallAudience | Pin Management + Open World |
| 40 | Capitalism + Sandbox8 of 16 launches earned $100k+ | 8 of 168 hits | $112,204 | $680,076 | 16 | 1-hitSmall | Pin Capitalism + Sandbox |
| 41 | FMV + First-Person8 of 16 launches earned $100k+ | 8 of 168 hits | $136,417 | $304,089 | 16 | SmallAudience | Pin FMV + First-Person |
| 42 | Funny + Online Co-Op8 of 16 launches earned $100k+ | 8 of 168 hits | $102,180 | $2,476,592 | 16 | Small | Pin Funny + Online Co-Op |
| 43 | Inventory Management + Roguelike7 of 14 launches earned $100k+ | 7 of 147 hits | $136,596 | $766,093 | 14 | SmallAudience | Pin Inventory Management + Roguelike |
| 44 | Online Co-Op + Third Person7 of 14 launches earned $100k+ | 7 of 147 hits | $231,171 | $703,133 | 14 | Small | Pin Online Co-Op + Third Person |
| 45 | Survival + Tower Defense7 of 14 launches earned $100k+ | 7 of 147 hits | $110,510 | $615,657 | 14 | Small | Pin Survival + Tower Defense |
| 46 | Choose Your Own Adventure + Pixel Graphics6 of 12 launches earned $100k+ | 6 of 126 hits | $144,513 | $470,672 | 12 | SmallAudience | Pin Choose Your Own Adventure + Pixel Graphics |
| 47 | Action-Adventure + Gore5 of 10 launches earned $100k+ | 5 of 105 hits | $127,642 | $1,282,078 | 10 | Small | Pin Action-Adventure + Gore |
| 48 | Bullet Heaven + Roguelike5 of 10 launches earned $100k+ | 5 of 105 hits | $630,183 | $3,314,306 | 10 | 1-hitSmall | Pin Bullet Heaven + Roguelike |
| 49 | Card Game + Multiplayer5 of 10 launches earned $100k+ | 5 of 105 hits | $114,321 | $8,394,913 | 10 | 1-hitSmallAudience | Pin Card Game + Multiplayer |
| 50 | Comedy + Dark Comedy5 of 10 launches earned $100k+ | 5 of 105 hits | $171,634 | $721,754 | 10 | Small | Pin Comedy + Dark Comedy |
Show 25 moreShowing 50 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.