Genres

Every genre, 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 genre does.

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.

Best niches

All prices

Pairs that hit $100k+ beyond the oddsFree until launch

Incremental + Resource Managementabout 8.3 times expected at its prices14 in 100

1Incremental + Resource Management14 in 100114 launches 2Idler + Resource Management13 in 100119 launches 3Incremental + Management11 in 100157 launches 4Incremental + Pixel Graphics1 in13214 launches 5Idler + Pixel Graphics1 in12262 launches

Lens checkHolds in 3 of 3. Standard: the yardstick. West-facing view: holds. Without the breakout: holds. Last 18 months: holds.

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Best nichesFree until launchClick to unlockTag pairs that beat the odds

The genre list

Price $10 to $20

All prices1 in 16 hit $100k+Under $51 in 200 hit $100k+$5 to $101 in 26 hit $100k+$10 to $2019 in 100 hit $100k+$20 to $4042 in 100 hit $100k+

Base rate: indie paid launches 6 to 30 months old, 29,637 launches. Odds compare best within one price.

Lens West-facing view

Standard West-facing view Without the breakout Last 18 months

Games mostly reviewed outside China: drops games with 35% or more of their reviews in Chinese. 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 West-facing view 100+ launches Reset

The West-facing view lens is computed across all prices only for now, so this list reads All prices. Pick Standard to read $10 to $20.

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: Open World Survival Craft, 31 in 100. 109 match.Busiest marketsMost launches first: where the competition is.Loads the 30+ launches view.

Hide one-hit markets28 out Hide small samples0 out

193 of 266 genres have 100+ launches at any price, West-facing view. Sorted by chance of $100k+, highest first.

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Genres at any price, West-facing view, sorted by chance of $100k+. The first row is the base rate.
Rank#	Genre	Chance of $100k+	Typical year	Top 1 in 10	Launches	Markers	Pin
	All games at any price, West-facing viewthe base rate: the row to beat	1 in 161,804 of 29,637	$606	not computed	29,637
1	Open World Survival Craft31 in 100 earned $100k+, from 107 launches	31 in 10033 hits	$21,248	not computed	107	none	Pin Open World Survival Craft
2	Base Building20 in 100 earned $100k+, from 599 launches	20 in 100120 hits	$3,683	not computed	599	none	Pin Base Building
3	Online Co-Op19 in 100 earned $100k+, from 777 launches	19 in 100148 hits	$4,451	not computed	777	none	Pin Online Co-Op
4	Co-op19 in 100 earned $100k+, from 772 launches	19 in 100146 hits	$3,936	not computed	772	none	Pin Co-op
5	Building18 in 100 earned $100k+, from 870 launches	18 in 100154 hits	$2,831	not computed	870	none	Pin Building
6	Colony Sim17 in 100 earned $100k+, from 246 launches	17 in 10043 hits	$2,630	not computed	246	none	Pin Colony Sim
7	FMV17 in 100 earned $100k+, from 121 launches	17 in 10021 hits	$4,855	not computed	121	Audience	Pin FMV
8	Mechs17 in 100 earned $100k+, from 112 launches	17 in 10019 hits	$5,153	not computed	112	none	Pin Mechs
9	Music17 in 100 earned $100k+, from 149 launches	17 in 10025 hits	$1,778	not computed	149	none	Pin Music
10	Open World16 in 100 earned $100k+, from 877 launches	16 in 100142 hits	$2,185	not computed	877	none	Pin Open World
11	Crafting16 in 100 earned $100k+, from 710 launches	16 in 100114 hits	$2,448	not computed	710	none	Pin Crafting
12	Management15 in 100 earned $100k+, from 1,251 launches	15 in 100192 hits	$3,638	not computed	1,251	none	Pin Management
13	City Builder15 in 100 earned $100k+, from 512 launches	15 in 10078 hits	$2,225	not computed	512	Audience	Pin City Builder
14	Bullet Heaven15 in 100 earned $100k+, from 138 launches	15 in 10021 hits	$7,376	not computed	138	1-hit	Pin Bullet Heaven
15	Trading15 in 100 earned $100k+, from 152 launches	15 in 10023 hits	$5,631	not computed	152	1-hit	Pin Trading
16	Sandbox15 in 100 earned $100k+, from 1,352 launches	15 in 100198 hits	$1,840	not computed	1,352	none	Pin Sandbox
17	Economy15 in 100 earned $100k+, from 631 launches	15 in 10092 hits	$3,641	not computed	631	none	Pin Economy
18	Shop Keeper15 in 100 earned $100k+, from 179 launches	15 in 10026 hits	$3,683	not computed	179	none	Pin Shop Keeper
19	Metroidvania14 in 100 earned $100k+, from 406 launches	14 in 10058 hits	$3,031	not computed	406	1-hit	Pin Metroidvania
20	Job Simulator14 in 100 earned $100k+, from 126 launches	14 in 10018 hits	$8,351	not computed	126	none	Pin Job Simulator
21	Crime14 in 100 earned $100k+, from 220 launches	14 in 10031 hits	$1,816	not computed	220	1-hit	Pin Crime
22	Fishing14 in 100 earned $100k+, from 172 launches	14 in 10024 hits	$2,223	not computed	172	Audience	Pin Fishing
23	Cozy13 in 100 earned $100k+, from 646 launches	13 in 10084 hits	$2,101	not computed	646	none	Pin Cozy
24	Lovecraftian13 in 100 earned $100k+, from 170 launches	13 in 10022 hits	$4,048	not computed	170	Audience	Pin Lovecraftian
25	Life Sim13 in 100 earned $100k+, from 990 launches	13 in 100128 hits	$2,225	not computed	990	none	Pin Life Sim
26	Roguelike Deckbuilder13 in 100 earned $100k+, from 290 launches	13 in 10037 hits	$8,252	not computed	290	1-hit	Pin Roguelike Deckbuilder
27	Resource Management13 in 100 earned $100k+, from 740 launches	13 in 10093 hits	$2,136	not computed	740	none	Pin Resource Management
28	Capitalism13 in 100 earned $100k+, from 311 launches	13 in 10039 hits	$2,630	not computed	311	none	Pin Capitalism
29	Mining12 in 100 earned $100k+, from 161 launches	12 in 10020 hits	$1,516	not computed	161	none	Pin Mining
30	Souls-like12 in 100 earned $100k+, from 446 launches	12 in 10054 hits	$1,214	not computed	446	none	Pin Souls-like
31	Driving12 in 100 earned $100k+, from 455 launches	12 in 10055 hits	$1,011	not computed	455	none	Pin Driving
32	Farming Sim12 in 100 earned $100k+, from 382 launches	12 in 10046 hits	$1,557	not computed	382	Audience	Pin Farming Sim
33	Inventory Management12 in 100 earned $100k+, from 252 launches	12 in 10030 hits	$2,024	not computed	252	none	Pin Inventory Management
34	Military12 in 100 earned $100k+, from 295 launches	12 in 10035 hits	$1,029	not computed	295	none	Pin Military
35	Vehicular Combat12 in 100 earned $100k+, from 127 launches	12 in 10015 hits	$1,133	not computed	127	none	Pin Vehicular Combat
36	Automation12 in 100 earned $100k+, from 391 launches	12 in 10046 hits	$1,718	not computed	391	1-hit	Pin Automation
37	War12 in 100 earned $100k+, from 293 launches	12 in 10034 hits	$1,578	not computed	293	none	Pin War
38	Tactical11 in 100 earned $100k+, from 482 launches	11 in 10055 hits	$1,007	not computed	482	none	Pin Tactical
39	Gun Customization11 in 100 earned $100k+, from 116 launches	11 in 10013 hits	$1,214	not computed	116	none	Pin Gun Customization
40	Character Customization11 in 100 earned $100k+, from 881 launches	11 in 10096 hits	$1,213	not computed	881	none	Pin Character Customization
41	Investigation11 in 100 earned $100k+, from 480 launches	11 in 10052 hits	$1,215	not computed	480	none	Pin Investigation
42	Cinematic11 in 100 earned $100k+, from 493 launches	11 in 10053 hits	$1,214	not computed	493	Audience	Pin Cinematic
43	Grand Strategy11 in 100 earned $100k+, from 226 launches	11 in 10024 hits	$2,225	not computed	226	1-hit	Pin Grand Strategy
44	Noir10 in 100 earned $100k+, from 181 launches	10 in 10019 hits	$1,456	not computed	181	none	Pin Noir
45	Dark Fantasy10 in 100 earned $100k+, from 664 launches	10 in 10069 hits	$1,011	not computed	664	1-hit	Pin Dark Fantasy
46	Post-apocalyptic10 in 100 earned $100k+, from 506 launches	10 in 10052 hits	$1,214	not computed	506	none	Pin Post-apocalyptic
47	Gambling10 in 100 earned $100k+, from 147 launches	10 in 10015 hits	$909	not computed	147	none	Pin Gambling
48	Detective10 in 100 earned $100k+, from 522 launches	10 in 10053 hits	$1,293	not computed	522	none	Pin Detective
49	Wholesome10 in 100 earned $100k+, from 335 launches	10 in 10034 hits	$1,756	not computed	335	none	Pin Wholesome
50	RTS10 in 100 earned $100k+, from 487 launches	10 in 10049 hits	$848	not computed	487	Audience	Pin RTS

Show 25 moreShowing 50 of 193 genres

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.