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 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.

Best niches

$10 to $20

Pairs with the best chance of $100k+, above the base rateFree until launch

Management + Simulationabout 1.9 times the 20 in 100 base rate, could be luck38 in 100

1Management + Simulation38 in 100203 launches 2Building + Simulation38 in 100122 launches 3Economy + Simulation37 in 100117 launches 4Economy + Management35 in 100119 launches 5First-Person + Immersive Sim34 in 100101 launches

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Best nichesFree until launchClick to unlockTag pairs that beat the odds

The niche list

Price $10 to $20

All prices1 in 15 hit $100k+Under $51 in 238 hit $100k+$5 to $101 in 28 hit $100k+$10 to $2020 in 100 hit $100k+$20 to $4044 in 100 hit $100k+

Base rate: indie paid launches 12 to 36 months old, 26,291 launches. Odds compare best within one price.

Lens Standard

Standard West-facing view Without the breakout Last 18 months

All indie paid launches 12 to 36 months old. Lenses are computed across all prices only so far, so a lens reads All prices.

Sample 100+

10+ launchesshow small samples 30+ launches 100+ launchesonly big markets

Hides anything measured on fewer launches.

$10 to $20 100+ launches Reset

Best odds at my priceChance of $100k+, read within one price band.Opens $10 to $20, Standard lens.Steady marketsHolds in every lens and no single game owns it.Loads the 30+ launches view.Biggest typical yearWhat the middle launch earned, highest first.Loads the 30+ launches view.Biggest upsideWhat the top tenth earned at least.Loads the 30+ launches view.Proven at scale100+ launches and above the base rate.Now: Management + Simulation, 38 in 100. 53 match.Busiest marketsMost launches first: where the competition is.Loads the 30+ launches view.

Hide one-hit markets12 out Hide small samples0 out

161 of 4,635 niches have 100+ launches at $10 to $20. Sorted by chance of $100k+, highest first.

physics--simulationNot in this view: under 100 launches at $10 to $20.

multiplayer--simulationNot in this view: under 100 launches at $10 to $20.

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Niches at $10 to $20, sorted by chance of $100k+. The first row is the base rate.
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	Management + Simulation38 in 100 earned $100k+, from 203 launches	38 in 10077 hits	$49,247	$608,593	203	none	Pin Management + Simulation
2	Building + Simulation38 in 100 earned $100k+, from 122 launches	38 in 10046 hits	$35,458	$546,840	122	Audience	Pin Building + Simulation
3	Economy + Simulation37 in 100 earned $100k+, from 117 launches	37 in 10043 hits	$49,247	$784,231	117	none	Pin Economy + Simulation
4	Economy + Management35 in 100 earned $100k+, from 119 launches	35 in 10042 hits	$51,218	$582,205	119	none	Pin Economy + Management
5	First-Person + Immersive Sim34 in 100 earned $100k+, from 101 launches	34 in 10034 hits	$24,902	$903,041	101	none	Pin First-Person + Immersive Sim
6	Action Roguelike + Roguelite33 in 100 earned $100k+, from 136 launches	33 in 10045 hits	$42,146	$588,265	136	Audience	Pin Action Roguelike + Roguelite
7	First-Person + Simulation32 in 100 earned $100k+, from 154 launches	32 in 10050 hits	$36,094	$865,984	154	none	Pin First-Person + Simulation
8	Life Sim + Simulation32 in 100 earned $100k+, from 162 launches	32 in 10052 hits	$38,636	$516,035	162	none	Pin Life Sim + Simulation
9	Deckbuilding + Roguelike31 in 100 earned $100k+, from 102 launches	31 in 10032 hits	$29,950	$740,124	102	none	Pin Deckbuilding + Roguelike
10	Sandbox + Simulation31 in 100 earned $100k+, from 183 launches	31 in 10057 hits	$32,140	$469,576	183	none	Pin Sandbox + Simulation
11	Action Roguelike + Roguelike31 in 100 earned $100k+, from 133 launches	31 in 10041 hits	$25,903	$720,790	133	Audience	Pin Action Roguelike + Roguelike
12	Roguelike + Roguelite31 in 100 earned $100k+, from 236 launches	31 in 10072 hits	$25,591	$720,790	236	none	Pin Roguelike + Roguelite
13	Management + Strategy29 in 100 earned $100k+, from 110 launches	29 in 10032 hits	$26,622	$348,092	110	none	Pin Management + Strategy
14	Action + Action Roguelike29 in 100 earned $100k+, from 128 launches	29 in 10037 hits	$17,627	$588,265	128	none	Pin Action + Action Roguelike
15	2D + Platformer28 in 100 earned $100k+, from 109 launches	28 in 10031 hits	$35,622	$453,513	109	1-hitAudience	Pin 2D + Platformer
16	Exploration + Sandbox28 in 100 earned $100k+, from 102 launches	28 in 10029 hits	$16,387	$676,474	102	none	Pin Exploration + Sandbox
17	FPS + First-Person27 in 100 earned $100k+, from 117 launches	27 in 10032 hits	$9,709	$811,677	117	none	Pin FPS + First-Person
18	Action + FPS27 in 100 earned $100k+, from 147 launches	27 in 10040 hits	$10,523	$811,677	147	none	Pin Action + FPS
19	Choices Matter + Story Rich27 in 100 earned $100k+, from 114 launches	27 in 10031 hits	$21,468	$730,648	114	Audience	Pin Choices Matter + Story Rich
20	Roguelite + Strategy27 in 100 earned $100k+, from 152 launches	27 in 10041 hits	$25,522	$614,301	152	Audience	Pin Roguelite + Strategy
21	RPG + Simulation27 in 100 earned $100k+, from 115 launches	27 in 10031 hits	$15,973	$361,641	115	Audience	Pin RPG + Simulation
22	Deckbuilding + Strategy27 in 100 earned $100k+, from 119 launches	27 in 10032 hits	$25,522	$599,192	119	Audience	Pin Deckbuilding + Strategy
23	Mystery + Story Rich27 in 100 earned $100k+, from 135 launches	27 in 10036 hits	$15,783	$349,150	135	Audience	Pin Mystery + Story Rich
24	Roguelike + Strategy27 in 100 earned $100k+, from 184 launches	27 in 10049 hits	$23,317	$724,652	184	Audience	Pin Roguelike + Strategy
25	Immersive Sim + Simulation26 in 100 earned $100k+, from 205 launches	26 in 10054 hits	$19,872	$425,002	205	none	Pin Immersive Sim + Simulation
26	Card Game + Roguelike26 in 100 earned $100k+, from 100 launches	26 in 10026 hits	$27,732	$901,456	100	1-hit	Pin Card Game + Roguelike
27	Realistic + Simulation25 in 100 earned $100k+, from 126 launches	25 in 10032 hits	$19,832	$271,880	126	none	Pin Realistic + Simulation
28	Exploration + Open World25 in 100 earned $100k+, from 134 launches	25 in 10034 hits	$18,676	$446,565	134	none	Pin Exploration + Open World
29	Card Game + Deckbuilding25 in 100 earned $100k+, from 117 launches	25 in 10029 hits	$25,522	$599,192	117	none	Pin Card Game + Deckbuilding
30	RPG + Story Rich25 in 100 earned $100k+, from 138 launches	25 in 10034 hits	$9,464	$453,022	138	none	Pin RPG + Story Rich
31	Adventure + Pixel Graphics25 in 100 earned $100k+, from 167 launches	25 in 10041 hits	$24,657	$468,476	167	none	Pin Adventure + Pixel Graphics
32	RPG + Roguelike24 in 100 earned $100k+, from 115 launches	24 in 10028 hits	$17,140	$528,278	115	none	Pin RPG + Roguelike
33	Action + Combat24 in 100 earned $100k+, from 104 launches	24 in 10025 hits	$13,974	$349,920	104	none	Pin Action + Combat
34	Horror + Psychological Horror24 in 100 earned $100k+, from 151 launches	24 in 10036 hits	$14,458	$276,289	151	none	Pin Horror + Psychological Horror
35	Exploration + Story Rich24 in 100 earned $100k+, from 157 launches	24 in 10037 hits	$18,907	$334,165	157	none	Pin Exploration + Story Rich
36	FPS + Shooter23 in 100 earned $100k+, from 141 launches	23 in 10033 hits	$10,523	$811,677	141	none	Pin FPS + Shooter
37	Pixel Graphics + RPG23 in 100 earned $100k+, from 146 launches	23 in 10034 hits	$11,036	$781,668	146	1-hit	Pin Pixel Graphics + RPG
38	Card Battler + Card Game23 in 100 earned $100k+, from 116 launches	23 in 10027 hits	$22,665	$393,404	116	none	Pin Card Battler + Card Game
39	Casual + Relaxing23 in 100 earned $100k+, from 161 launches	23 in 10037 hits	$14,115	$455,662	161	none	Pin Casual + Relaxing
40	First-Person + Horror23 in 100 earned $100k+, from 118 launches	23 in 10027 hits	$12,514	$297,290	118	none	Pin First-Person + Horror
41	Simulation + Strategy23 in 100 earned $100k+, from 231 launches	23 in 10052 hits	$12,845	$264,189	231	none	Pin Simulation + Strategy
42	Action + First-Person22 in 100 earned $100k+, from 169 launches	22 in 10038 hits	$4,326	$561,226	169	none	Pin Action + First-Person
43	Card Game + Strategy22 in 100 earned $100k+, from 135 launches	22 in 10030 hits	$22,446	$413,191	135	none	Pin Card Game + Strategy
44	Action + Shooter22 in 100 earned $100k+, from 251 launches	22 in 10055 hits	$8,114	$338,415	251	Audience	Pin Action + Shooter
45	2D + Female Protagonist22 in 100 earned $100k+, from 106 launches	22 in 10023 hits	$12,171	$410,243	106	1-hitAudience	Pin 2D + Female Protagonist
46	2D + Exploration22 in 100 earned $100k+, from 134 launches	22 in 10029 hits	$17,543	$336,254	134	1-hit	Pin 2D + Exploration
47	2D + Pixel Graphics22 in 100 earned $100k+, from 227 launches	22 in 10049 hits	$14,934	$410,243	227	none	Pin 2D + Pixel Graphics
48	Action + RPG21 in 100 earned $100k+, from 163 launches	21 in 10035 hits	$7,395	$283,575	163	none	Pin Action + RPG
49	Exploration + Simulation21 in 100 earned $100k+, from 117 launches	21 in 10025 hits	$14,934	$462,452	117	none	Pin Exploration + Simulation
50	Exploration + RPG21 in 100 earned $100k+, from 192 launches	21 in 10041 hits	$14,792	$293,138	192	none	Pin Exploration + RPG

Show 25 moreShowing 50 of 161 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 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.