Genres

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.

Settings
Text size
Game Market DataBuild what sells
Live games
192,217
on 3 Oct 2026

Niches 3 Oct

Of 1,116 niches with 30+ launches at $10 to $20, 511 beat the 20 in 100 base rate. Price moves the odds most: 1 in 238 under $5, 44 in 100 at $20 to $40.511 of 1,116 niches beat the 20 in 100 base rate.511 beat the base rate.

Typical launch, all prices, first year $552

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.

The niche list

Best odds at my priceChance of $100k+, read within one price band.Now: Building + Life Sim, 63 in 100. 1,116 match.Steady marketsHolds in every lens and no single game owns it.Now: Cozy + Simulation, 56 in 100. 396 match.Biggest typical yearWhat the middle launch earned, highest first.Now: Economy + Management, $51,218 typical. 1,116 match.Biggest upsideWhat the top tenth earned at least.Now: First-Person + Immersive Sim, $903k top 1 in 10. 569 match.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.Now: Adventure + Exploration, 390 launches. 1,116 match.
Hide one-hit markets244 outHide small samples547 out

1,116 of 4,635 niches have 30+ launches at $10 to $20. Sorted by chance of $100k+, highest first.

Multiplayer + Simulation 45 in 100 earned $100k+, from 58 launches at $10 to $20$10k+ 76 in 100 none
Pin another to compare.
Pin another to compare.
Niches at $10 to $20, sorted by chance of $100k+. The first row is the base rate.
Rank#NicheChance of $100k+Typical yearTop 1 in 10LaunchesMarkersPin
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 63 in 100 earned $100k+, from 30 launches 63 in 10019 hits under 100 under 100 30 1-hitSmall Pin Building + Life Sim
2 60 in 100 earned $100k+, from 50 launches 60 in 10030 hits under 100 under 100 50 Audience Pin Casual + Cozy
3 59 in 100 earned $100k+, from 54 launches 59 in 10032 hits under 100 under 100 54 Audience Pin Cozy + Relaxing
4 56 in 100 earned $100k+, from 36 launches 56 in 10020 hits under 100 under 100 36 Small Pin Cozy + Simulation
5 55 in 100 earned $100k+, from 31 launches 55 in 10017 hits under 100 under 100 31 Small Pin Cinematic + Story Rich
6 53 in 100 earned $100k+, from 30 launches 53 in 10016 hits under 100 under 100 30 SmallAudience Pin Cooking + Simulation
7 53 in 100 earned $100k+, from 32 launches 53 in 10017 hits under 100 under 100 32 Small Pin Online Co-Op + Simulation
8 53 in 100 earned $100k+, from 34 launches 53 in 10018 hits under 100 under 100 34 SmallAudience Pin Base Building + Tower Defense
9 52 in 100 earned $100k+, from 33 launches 52 in 10017 hits under 100 under 100 33 Small Pin Life Sim + Open World
10 49 in 100 earned $100k+, from 53 launches 49 in 10026 hits under 100 under 100 53 1-hit Pin Base Building + City Builder
11 49 in 100 earned $100k+, from 35 launches 49 in 10017 hits under 100 under 100 35 1-hitSmall Pin Automation + Crafting
12 47 in 100 earned $100k+, from 34 launches 47 in 10016 hits under 100 under 100 34 Small Pin First-Person + Multiplayer
13 47 in 100 earned $100k+, from 32 launches 47 in 10015 hits under 100 under 100 32 Small Pin Automation + Strategy
14 47 in 100 earned $100k+, from 79 launches 47 in 10037 hits under 100 under 100 79 none Pin Multiplayer + Online Co-Op
15 46 in 100 earned $100k+, from 52 launches 46 in 10024 hits under 100 under 100 52 1-hit Pin Economy + Immersive Sim
16 46 in 100 earned $100k+, from 52 launches 46 in 10024 hits under 100 under 100 52 1-hitAudience Pin First-Person + Management
17 46 in 100 earned $100k+, from 48 launches 46 in 10022 hits under 100 under 100 48 Small Pin Economy + Sandbox
18 45 in 100 earned $100k+, from 31 launches 45 in 10014 hits under 100 under 100 31 Small Pin Automation + Resource Management
19 45 in 100 earned $100k+, from 31 launches 45 in 10014 hits under 100 under 100 31 Small Pin Roguelike + Tower Defense
20 45 in 100 earned $100k+, from 40 launches 45 in 10018 hits under 100 under 100 40 1-hitSmall Pin Automation + Simulation
21 45 in 100 earned $100k+, from 58 launches 45 in 10026 hits under 100 under 100 58 none Pinned Multiplayer + Simulation
22 44 in 100 earned $100k+, from 36 launches 44 in 10016 hits under 100 under 100 36 Small Pin Cozy + Exploration
23 44 in 100 earned $100k+, from 34 launches 44 in 10015 hits under 100 under 100 34 Small Pin Economy + Resource Management
24 43 in 100 earned $100k+, from 37 launches 43 in 10016 hits under 100 under 100 37 Small Pin Base Building + Colony Sim
25 43 in 100 earned $100k+, from 49 launches 43 in 10021 hits under 100 under 100 49 Small Pin Cozy + Cute
26 43 in 100 earned $100k+, from 35 launches 43 in 10015 hits under 100 under 100 35 Small Pin Automation + Sandbox
27 42 in 100 earned $100k+, from 33 launches 42 in 10014 hits under 100 under 100 33 1-hitSmall Pin City Builder + Resource Management
28 42 in 100 earned $100k+, from 81 launches 42 in 10034 hits under 100 under 100 81 none Pin Co-op + Multiplayer
29 42 in 100 earned $100k+, from 81 launches 42 in 10034 hits under 100 under 100 81 none Pin Immersive Sim + Management
30 42 in 100 earned $100k+, from 74 launches 42 in 10031 hits under 100 under 100 74 1-hit Pin Management + Sandbox
31 42 in 100 earned $100k+, from 43 launches 42 in 10018 hits under 100 under 100 43 1-hitSmall Pin City Builder + Sandbox
32 41 in 100 earned $100k+, from 41 launches 41 in 10017 hits under 100 under 100 41 1-hitSmall Pin Building + Immersive Sim
33 41 in 100 earned $100k+, from 80 launches 41 in 10033 hits under 100 under 100 80 1-hit Pin Immersive Sim + Life Sim
34 41 in 100 earned $100k+, from 39 launches 41 in 10016 hits under 100 under 100 39 1-hitSmallAudience Pin City Builder + Management
35 41 in 100 earned $100k+, from 81 launches 41 in 10033 hits under 100 under 100 81 none Pin Open World + Sandbox
36 41 in 100 earned $100k+, from 86 launches 41 in 10035 hits under 100 under 100 86 none Pin Building + Management
37 41 in 100 earned $100k+, from 64 launches 41 in 10026 hits under 100 under 100 64 none Pin Open World + Simulation
38 41 in 100 earned $100k+, from 32 launches 41 in 10013 hits under 100 under 100 32 Small Pin First-Person + Online Co-Op
39 41 in 100 earned $100k+, from 32 launches 41 in 10013 hits under 100 under 100 32 1-hitSmall Pin Simulation + Trading
40 40 in 100 earned $100k+, from 42 launches 40 in 10017 hits under 100 under 100 42 1-hitSmall Pin Automation + Base Building
41 40 in 100 earned $100k+, from 55 launches 40 in 10022 hits under 100 under 100 55 1-hit Pin Base Building + Simulation
42 40 in 100 earned $100k+, from 30 launches 40 in 10012 hits under 100 under 100 30 Small Pin Action-Adventure + Roguelite
43 40 in 100 earned $100k+, from 48 launches 40 in 10019 hits under 100 under 100 48 Small Pin Action + Sandbox
44 40 in 100 earned $100k+, from 48 launches 40 in 10019 hits under 100 under 100 48 1-hitSmall Pin Action Roguelike + Dungeon Crawler
45 39 in 100 earned $100k+, from 71 launches 39 in 10028 hits under 100 under 100 71 1-hit Pin Base Building + Sandbox
46 39 in 100 earned $100k+, from 84 launches 39 in 10033 hits under 100 under 100 84 1-hit Pin Life Sim + Management
47 39 in 100 earned $100k+, from 31 launches 39 in 10012 hits under 100 under 100 31 Small Pin Exploration + Roguelite
48 39 in 100 earned $100k+, from 31 launches 39 in 10012 hits under 100 under 100 31 Small Pin Multiple Endings + Simulation
49 39 in 100 earned $100k+, from 31 launches 39 in 10012 hits under 100 under 100 31 1-hitSmall Pin Realistic + Shooter
50 38 in 100 earned $100k+, from 99 launches 38 in 10038 hits under 100 under 100 99 none Pin Building + Sandbox
51 38 in 100 earned $100k+, from 47 launches 38 in 10018 hits under 100 under 100 47 Small Pin 3D + Funny
52 38 in 100 earned $100k+, from 50 launches 38 in 10019 hits under 100 under 100 50 1-hit Pin Capitalism + Economy
53 38 in 100 earned $100k+, from 50 launches 38 in 10019 hits under 100 under 100 50 1-hitAudience Pin First-Person + Life Sim
54 38 in 100 earned $100k+, from 203 launches 38 in 10077 hits $49,247 $608,593 203 none Pin Management + Simulation
55 38 in 100 earned $100k+, from 87 launches 38 in 10033 hits under 100 under 100 87 1-hit Pin Sandbox + Strategy
56 38 in 100 earned $100k+, from 74 launches 38 in 10028 hits under 100 under 100 74 1-hit Pin Resource Management + Simulation
57 Building + Simulation38 in 100 earned $100k+, from 122 launches 38 in 10046 hits $35,458 $546,840 122 Audience Pin Building + Simulation

38 in 100 earned $100k+, from 122 launches at $10 to $20. That is about 1.8 times the base rate.

Base rate at $10 to $20: 20 in 100 (878 of 4,304 launches earned $100k+).

Typical first year $35,458; the top 1 in 10 earned at least $546,840.

Lens check, all pricesChanged recently +1. Standard: the base the others are compared with. West-facing view: moves the answer. Without the breakout: holds. Last 18 months: moves the answer.

  • AudienceAudience split: this niche reads differently for Western players: the chance moves from 24 in 100 to 25 in 100 in the West-facing view (games mostly reviewed outside China). Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; for smaller games it is guessed from the name.
Chance of $100k+ at every price (Standard lens)
PriceChanceLaunchesTypical
All prices24 in 100378$5,786
Under $51 of 97 launches97under 100
$5 to $101 in 21103$2,601
$10 to $2038 in 100122$35,458
$20 to $4071 in 10056under 100

Grey: under 30 launches or 5 hits at that price, written as a count. Typical needs 100 launches. Odds compare best within one price.

Its two tags alone, at $10 to $20

  • Building35 in 100 earned $100k+, from 245 launches
  • Simulation24 in 100 earned $100k+, from 874 launches
Open niche pageCheck this idea
58 38 in 100 earned $100k+, from 77 launches 38 in 10029 hits under 100 under 100 77 none Pin Co-op + Online Co-Op
59 38 in 100 earned $100k+, from 48 launches 38 in 10018 hits under 100 under 100 48 1-hitSmallAudience Pin 2D + Metroidvania
60 38 in 100 earned $100k+, from 40 launches 38 in 10015 hits under 100 under 100 40 Small Pin Exploration + Life Sim
61 38 in 100 earned $100k+, from 32 launches 38 in 10012 hits under 100 under 100 32 Small Pin Crafting + Life Sim
62 38 in 100 earned $100k+, from 32 launches 38 in 10012 hits under 100 under 100 32 Small Pin RTS + Tower Defense
63 37 in 100 earned $100k+, from 43 launches 37 in 10016 hits under 100 under 100 43 Small Pin Driving + Simulation
64 37 in 100 earned $100k+, from 35 launches 37 in 10013 hits under 100 under 100 35 1-hitSmall Pin Resource Management + Sandbox
65 37 in 100 earned $100k+, from 62 launches 37 in 10023 hits under 100 under 100 62 none Pin Building + Crafting
66 37 in 100 earned $100k+, from 62 launches 37 in 10023 hits under 100 under 100 62 1-hit Pin Management + Resource Management
67 37 in 100 earned $100k+, from 54 launches 37 in 10020 hits under 100 under 100 54 none Pin Building + Economy
68 37 in 100 earned $100k+, from 57 launches 37 in 10021 hits under 100 under 100 57 1-hit Pin Roguelike Deckbuilder + Roguelite
69 37 in 100 earned $100k+, from 117 launches 37 in 10043 hits $49,247 $784,231 117 none Pin Economy + Simulation
70 37 in 100 earned $100k+, from 30 launches 37 in 10011 hits under 100 under 100 30 Small Pin City Builder + Economy
71 37 in 100 earned $100k+, from 30 launches 37 in 10011 hits under 100 under 100 30 SmallAudience Pin Metroidvania + Pixel Graphics
72 36 in 100 earned $100k+, from 44 launches 36 in 10016 hits under 100 under 100 44 Small Pin Dark + Psychological Horror
73 36 in 100 earned $100k+, from 47 launches 36 in 10017 hits under 100 under 100 47 Small Pin City Builder + Colony Sim
74 36 in 100 earned $100k+, from 36 launches 36 in 10013 hits under 100 under 100 36 Small Pin Colorful + Funny
75 36 in 100 earned $100k+, from 50 launches 36 in 10018 hits under 100 under 100 50 1-hit Pin 2D + Difficult
Show 25 moreShowing 75 of 1,116 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.

Releases

Ticker: 30 upcoming games dated within 90 days, with wishlist rank, release date and followers. The same list is on the Upcoming page.