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 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
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 5 to 8 in 100 launches overall.
Pairs with the best chance of $100k+, above the base rateFree until launch
1,116 of 4,635 niches have 30+ launches at $10 to $20. Sorted by chance of $100k+, highest 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 | Building + Life Sim63 in 100 earned $100k+, from 30 launches | 63 in 10019 hits | $168,434 | $910,583 | 30 | 1-hitSmall | Pin Building + Life Sim |
| 2 | Casual + Cozy60 in 100 earned $100k+, from 50 launches | 60 in 10030 hits | $174,175 | $2,801,082 | 50 | Audience | Pin Casual + Cozy |
| 3 | Cozy + Relaxing59 in 100 earned $100k+, from 54 launches | 59 in 10032 hits | $148,133 | $1,696,936 | 54 | Audience | Pin Cozy + Relaxing |
| 4 | Cozy + Simulation56 in 100 earned $100k+, from 36 launches | 56 in 10020 hits | $127,557 | $1,078,873 | 36 | Small | Pin Cozy + Simulation |
| 5 | Cinematic + Story Rich55 in 100 earned $100k+, from 31 launches | 55 in 10017 hits | $178,490 | $634,319 | 31 | Small | Pin Cinematic + Story Rich |
| 6 | Cooking + Simulation53 in 100 earned $100k+, from 30 launches | 53 in 10016 hits | $115,807 | $2,378,305 | 30 | SmallAudience | Pin Cooking + Simulation |
| 7 | Online Co-Op + Simulation53 in 100 earned $100k+, from 32 launches | 53 in 10017 hits | $159,393 | $2,013,297 | 32 | Small | Pin Online Co-Op + Simulation |
| 8 | Base Building + Tower Defense53 in 100 earned $100k+, from 34 launches | 53 in 10018 hits | $132,982 | $1,437,172 | 34 | SmallAudience | Pin Base Building + Tower Defense |
| 9 | Life Sim + Open World52 in 100 earned $100k+, from 33 launches | 52 in 10017 hits | $119,820 | $1,046,113 | 33 | Small | Pin Life Sim + Open World |
| 10 | Base Building + City Builder49 in 100 earned $100k+, from 53 launches | 49 in 10026 hits | $97,357 | $925,859 | 53 | 1-hit | Pin Base Building + City Builder |
| 11 | Automation + Crafting49 in 100 earned $100k+, from 35 launches | 49 in 10017 hits | $61,659 | $892,533 | 35 | 1-hitSmall | Pin Automation + Crafting |
| 12 | First-Person + Multiplayer47 in 100 earned $100k+, from 34 launches | 47 in 10016 hits | $75,288 | $2,013,297 | 34 | Small | Pin First-Person + Multiplayer |
| 13 | Automation + Strategy47 in 100 earned $100k+, from 32 launches | 47 in 10015 hits | $59,810 | $357,048 | 32 | Small | Pin Automation + Strategy |
| 14 | Multiplayer + Online Co-Op47 in 100 earned $100k+, from 79 launches | 47 in 10037 hits | $89,600 | $1,046,113 | 79 | none | Pin Multiplayer + Online Co-Op |
| 15 | Economy + Immersive Sim46 in 100 earned $100k+, from 52 launches | 46 in 10024 hits | $90,448 | $608,452 | 52 | 1-hit | Pin Economy + Immersive Sim |
| 16 | First-Person + Management46 in 100 earned $100k+, from 52 launches | 46 in 10024 hits | $77,587 | $1,844,473 | 52 | 1-hitAudience | Pin First-Person + Management |
| 17 | Economy + Sandbox46 in 100 earned $100k+, from 48 launches | 46 in 10022 hits | $81,076 | $925,859 | 48 | Small | Pin Economy + Sandbox |
| 18 | Automation + Resource Management45 in 100 earned $100k+, from 31 launches | 45 in 10014 hits | $48,085 | $445,337 | 31 | Small | Pin Automation + Resource Management |
| 19 | Roguelike + Tower Defense45 in 100 earned $100k+, from 31 launches | 45 in 10014 hits | $36,503 | $1,314,605 | 31 | Small | Pin Roguelike + Tower Defense |
| 20 | Automation + Simulation45 in 100 earned $100k+, from 40 launches | 45 in 10018 hits | $48,085 | $854,947 | 40 | 1-hitSmall | Pin Automation + Simulation |
| 21 | Multiplayer + Simulation45 in 100 earned $100k+, from 58 launches | 45 in 10026 hits | $65,609 | $2,378,305 | 58 | none | Pinned Multiplayer + Simulation |
| 22 | Cozy + Exploration44 in 100 earned $100k+, from 36 launches | 44 in 10016 hits | $56,662 | $873,511 | 36 | Small | Pin Cozy + Exploration |
| 23 | Economy + Resource Management44 in 100 earned $100k+, from 34 launches | 44 in 10015 hits | $59,777 | $488,953 | 34 | Small | Pin Economy + Resource Management |
| 24 | Base Building + Colony Sim43 in 100 earned $100k+, from 37 launches | 43 in 10016 hits | $50,134 | $614,301 | 37 | Small | Pin Base Building + Colony Sim |
| 25 | Cozy + Cute43 in 100 earned $100k+, from 49 launches | 43 in 10021 hits | $56,662 | $704,525 | 49 | Small | Pin Cozy + Cute |
| 26 | Automation + Sandbox43 in 100 earned $100k+, from 35 launches | 43 in 10015 hits | $35,679 | $854,947 | 35 | Small | Pin Automation + Sandbox |
| 27 | City Builder + Resource Management42 in 100 earned $100k+, from 33 launches | 42 in 10014 hits | $38,537 | $488,953 | 33 | 1-hitSmall | Pin City Builder + Resource Management |
| 28 | Co-op + Multiplayer42 in 100 earned $100k+, from 81 launches | 42 in 10034 hits | $56,479 | $1,038,633 | 81 | none | Pin Co-op + Multiplayer |
| 29 | Immersive Sim + Management42 in 100 earned $100k+, from 81 launches | 42 in 10034 hits | $67,813 | $621,994 | 81 | none | Pin Immersive Sim + Management |
| 30 | Management + Sandbox42 in 100 earned $100k+, from 74 launches | 42 in 10031 hits | $69,506 | $925,859 | 74 | 1-hit | Pin Management + Sandbox |
| 31 | City Builder + Sandbox42 in 100 earned $100k+, from 43 launches | 42 in 10018 hits | $48,629 | $549,260 | 43 | 1-hitSmall | Pin City Builder + Sandbox |
| 32 | Building + Immersive Sim41 in 100 earned $100k+, from 41 launches | 41 in 10017 hits | $59,810 | $910,583 | 41 | 1-hitSmall | Pin Building + Immersive Sim |
| 33 | Immersive Sim + Life Sim41 in 100 earned $100k+, from 80 launches | 41 in 10033 hits | $66,391 | $910,583 | 80 | 1-hit | Pin Immersive Sim + Life Sim |
| 34 | City Builder + Management41 in 100 earned $100k+, from 39 launches | 41 in 10016 hits | $43,540 | $488,953 | 39 | 1-hitSmallAudience | Pin City Builder + Management |
| 35 | Open World + Sandbox41 in 100 earned $100k+, from 81 launches | 41 in 10033 hits | $51,218 | $854,947 | 81 | none | Pin Open World + Sandbox |
| 36 | Building + Management41 in 100 earned $100k+, from 86 launches | 41 in 10035 hits | $49,632 | $621,994 | 86 | none | Pin Building + Management |
| 37 | Open World + Simulation41 in 100 earned $100k+, from 64 launches | 41 in 10026 hits | $54,706 | $1,078,873 | 64 | none | Pin Open World + Simulation |
| 38 | First-Person + Online Co-Op41 in 100 earned $100k+, from 32 launches | 41 in 10013 hits | $52,645 | $1,844,473 | 32 | Small | Pin First-Person + Online Co-Op |
| 39 | Simulation + Trading41 in 100 earned $100k+, from 32 launches | 41 in 10013 hits | $75,352 | $784,231 | 32 | 1-hitSmall | Pin Simulation + Trading |
| 40 | Automation + Base Building40 in 100 earned $100k+, from 42 launches | 40 in 10017 hits | $48,085 | $854,947 | 42 | 1-hitSmall | Pin Automation + Base Building |
| 41 | Base Building + Simulation40 in 100 earned $100k+, from 55 launches | 40 in 10022 hits | $47,230 | $854,947 | 55 | 1-hit | Pin Base Building + Simulation |
| 42 | Action-Adventure + Roguelite40 in 100 earned $100k+, from 30 launches | 40 in 10012 hits | $47,539 | $589,169 | 30 | Small | Pin Action-Adventure + Roguelite |
| 43 | Action + Sandbox40 in 100 earned $100k+, from 48 launches | 40 in 10019 hits | $22,447 | $811,677 | 48 | Small | Pin Action + Sandbox |
| 44 | Action Roguelike + Dungeon Crawler40 in 100 earned $100k+, from 48 launches | 40 in 10019 hits | $63,555 | $588,265 | 48 | 1-hitSmall | Pin Action Roguelike + Dungeon Crawler |
| 45 | Base Building + Sandbox39 in 100 earned $100k+, from 71 launches | 39 in 10028 hits | $44,527 | $854,947 | 71 | 1-hit | Pin Base Building + Sandbox |
| 46 | Life Sim + Management39 in 100 earned $100k+, from 84 launches | 39 in 10033 hits | $62,335 | $608,452 | 84 | 1-hit | Pin Life Sim + Management |
| 47 | Exploration + Roguelite39 in 100 earned $100k+, from 31 launches | 39 in 10012 hits | $18,811 | $462,452 | 31 | Small | Pin Exploration + Roguelite |
| 48 | Multiple Endings + Simulation39 in 100 earned $100k+, from 31 launches | 39 in 10012 hits | $39,844 | $520,221 | 31 | Small | Pin Multiple Endings + Simulation |
| 49 | Realistic + Shooter39 in 100 earned $100k+, from 31 launches | 39 in 10012 hits | $25,079 | $1,459,360 | 31 | 1-hitSmall | Pin Realistic + Shooter |
| 50 | Building + Sandbox38 in 100 earned $100k+, from 99 launches | 38 in 10038 hits | $35,679 | $892,533 | 99 | none | Pin Building + Sandbox |
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.