Niches / Character Customization + Sandbox

Niche

Character Customization + Sandbox

Games tagged both Character Customization and Sandbox: 75 indie paid launches, 19 of them earned $100k+ in their first year.

How to read this page

A hit is an estimated $100k+ first year. Revenue is estimated from Steam reviews, so read figures as "about". 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.
Price moves the odds more than genre does, so the page opens on one price band. The keys in section 2 switch it.
From 26,280 indie paid launches 12 to 36 months old, data of 3 Oct 2026. How it is measured.

Price $10 to $20

All prices1 in 17 hit $100k+Under $51 in 219 hit $100k+$5 to $101 in 30 hit $100k+$10 to $2018 in 100 hit $100k+$20 to $4040 in 100 hit $100k+

Base rate: indie paid launches 12 to 36 months old, 26,280 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. Lens figures exist at all prices only; inside a price band this page shows the standard figures.

Sample 10+

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

Hides anything measured on fewer launches.

$10 to $20

Showing Character Customization + Sandbox priced $10 to $20. This filter changes the answer: at all prices the pair beats both its tags; priced $10 to $20 it beats Character Customization and is about level with Sandbox.

1Scoreboard: the pair against each of its tags

The pair's chance of a $100k+ first year beside each of its two tags, ranked like a high-score table, with typical earnings and the launches behind every figure.

ScoreboardDoes this pair beat its genres?$10 to $20

Character Customization + Sandbox beats Character Customization and is about level with Sandbox: 29.0 in 100 of its launches earned $100k+ priced $10 to $20, against 19.9 in 100 for Character Customization and 29.7 in 100 for Sandbox.

That is about 1.6 times the 17.6 in 100 expected for any launch at this price.

3RDThird

Tag oneCharacter Customization

19.9in 100 earned
$100k+

Odds19.9 in 100

Typical earnings$13,176

Launches191 / 38 hits

Pair leads by9.1 in 100

TIEA tie

This pairCharacter Customization + Sandbox

29.0in 100 earned
$100k+

Odds29.0 in 100

Typical earnings$24,427

Launches31 / 9 hits

Expected17.6 in 100

TIEA tie

Tag twoSandbox

29.7in 100 earned
$100k+

Odds29.7 in 100

Typical earnings$22,688

Launches360 / 107 hits

A tie, apart by0.7 in 100

All indie launches $10 to $20: 17.6 in 100 earned $100k+, typical $8,234, from 4,301 launches.each block is 2 in 100 all indie at $10 to $20

2Overlap: where the two tags meet

Each circle is one tag, sized by its launches, and the gold overlap is exactly this pair. Click a part to read it. Price changes the odds more than genre does (under $5: 0.5 in 100 launches earned $100k+; $20 to $40: 40.0 in 100), so read it within a price band.

Price bandswitches the whole page

All prices75 in pair Under $518 in pair $5 to $1013 in pair $10 to $2031 in pair $20 to $4013 in pair

What the overlap means

The overlap is this niche: the 31 games tagged both Character Customization and Sandbox priced $10 to $20. 29.0 in 100 of them earned $100k+, against 18.1 in 100 for Character Customization-only games and 29.8 in 100 for Sandbox-only games, so the mix beats Character Customization alone and is about level with Sandbox alone.

Both: 31 games priced $10 to $20; 29.0 in 100 earned $100k+, typical first-year earnings $24,427.

Circle areas follow launch counts; the gold overlap is exactly the pair's 31 launches. The outer parts are each tag's launches minus the pair's, so their chance is exact; their typical earnings are not computed yet.

3Comparables

Who leads this pair and each of its tags. Free until launch: one click opens the card. The full comparables list (nearest hits by tag pair, price and launch year) is not computed yet, and the card says so.

Comparables

Leaders

Top earner, share of the moneyFree until launch

Goat Simulator 3leads this pair28.4%

PairGoat Simulator 328.4%

Character CustomizationNo Rest for the Wicked24.9%

SandboxManor Lords22.8%

CheckOne game over half?no

NextNearest hitsnot computed yet

Lens checkAudience split. Standard: the base the others are compared with. West-facing view: moves the answer. Without the breakout: holds. Last 18 months: holds.

Open free preview

ComparablesFree until launchClick to unlockWho leads Character Customization + Sandbox

What this card holds

Leaders. The top earner in this pair and in each of its two tags, with its share of the money.
One-hit check. Whether a single game holds over half of the pair's money.
Nearest hits. Similar games that earned $100k+, matched by tag pair, price and launch year: not computed yet.

How the list will be picked

Same tag pairdata ready

Same price banddata ready

Launched within a year of each otherplanned

Earned $100k+planned

The list itselfnot computed yet

Free until launch: one click opens the card.

The leaders, in words

Goat Simulator 3 earned 28.4% of the estimated first-year money of the 75 Character Customization + Sandbox launches.
Character Customization is led by No Rest for the Wicked, with 24.9% of its money.
Sandbox is led by Manor Lords, with 22.8% of its money.
No game holds over half of this pair's money, so the pair is not a one-hit market.

Nearest hits (similar games that earned $100k+, matched by tag pair, price and launch year): not computed yet.

Filters do not apply here yet. Leaders and shares are for all prices and the Standard view; per price band and per lens they are not computed yet.

4Lens check: does the answer hold?

The same figures with three kinds of games set aside: games mostly reviewed in Chinese, the single biggest earner, and everything older than 18 months.

Does the answer hold?

All prices

Character Customization + Sandbox is audience split: West-facing view moves the answer more than chance alone would. It holds in Without the breakout and Last 18 months.

Character Customization + Sandbox through every lens, all prices
This pair	BaseStandardevery launch	West-facing view72 of 75 launches	Without the breakout74 of 75 launches	Last 18 months18 of 75 launches
Launches counted	7519 hits	7217 hits	7418 hits	186 hits
Earned $100k+	25.3 in 100	23.6 in 100	24.3 in 100	6 of 18too few for a rate
Typical first-year earnings	$13,313top tenth $271,231+	$13,313	$13,313	$13,992
Chance against standard	the base	-6.8%1.7 fewer in 100	-4.0%1.0 fewer in 100	+31.6%8.0 more in 100
Typical against standard	the base	0.0%no change; too few to tell	0.0%no change	+5.1%$679 more; too few to tell
Does it hold?	The base view	Moves the answer	Holds	Holds

BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged both Character Customization and Sandbox, 12 to 36 months old: 75 launches.

Launches counted: 7519 hits
Earned $100k+: 25.3 in 100
Typical first-year earnings: $13,313top tenth $271,231+
Chance against standard: the base
Typical against standard: the base

West-facing viewMoves the answer

Games mostly reviewed outside China. Drops games mostly reviewed in Chinese, meaning 35% or more of their reviews are in Simplified Chinese: 3 of 75 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted: 7217 hits
Earned $100k+: 23.6 in 100
Typical first-year earnings: $13,313
Chance against standard: -6.8%1.7 fewer in 100
Typical against standard: 0.0%no change; too few to tell

Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Goat Simulator 3 (28.4% of the money): 74 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted: 7418 hits
Earned $100k+: 24.3 in 100
Typical first-year earnings: $13,313
Chance against standard: -4.0%1.0 fewer in 100
Typical against standard: 0.0%no change

Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 18 of 75.

Launches counted: 186 hits
Earned $100k+: 6 of 18too few for a rate
Typical first-year earnings: $13,992
Chance against standard: +31.6%8.0 more in 100
Typical against standard: +5.1%$679 more; too few to tell

Standard: Every indie paid launch tagged both Character Customization and Sandbox, 12 to 36 months old: 75 launches.
West-facing view: Games mostly reviewed outside China. Drops games mostly reviewed in Chinese, meaning 35% or more of their reviews are in Simplified Chinese: 3 of 75 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.
Without the breakout: Drops the single biggest earner, Goat Simulator 3 (28.4% of the money): 74 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.
Last 18 months: Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 18 of 75.

Character Customization is audience split: West-facing view moves the answer more than chance alone would. It holds in Without the breakout and Last 18 months.

Character Customization through every lens, all prices
Character Customization	BaseStandardevery launch	West-facing view826 of 851 launches	Without the breakout850 of 851 launches	Last 18 months243 of 851 launches
Launches counted	85184 hits	82679 hits	85083 hits	24326 hits
Earned $100k+	9.9 in 1001 in 10	9.6 in 1001 in 10	9.8 in 1001 in 10	10.7 in 100
Typical first-year earnings	$862top tenth $90,810+	$877	$862	$956
Chance against standard	the base	-3.1%0.3 fewer in 100	-1.1%0.1 fewer in 100	+8.4%0.8 more in 100
Typical against standard	the base	+1.7%$15 more	0.0%no change	+10.9%$94 more
Does it hold?	The base view	Moves the answer	Holds	Holds

BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Character Customization, 12 to 36 months old: 851 launches.

Launches counted: 85184 hits
Earned $100k+: 9.9 in 1001 in 10
Typical first-year earnings: $862top tenth $90,810+
Chance against standard: the base
Typical against standard: the base

West-facing viewMoves the answer

Games mostly reviewed outside China. Drops games mostly reviewed in Chinese, meaning 35% or more of their reviews are in Simplified Chinese: 25 of 851 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted: 82679 hits
Earned $100k+: 9.6 in 1001 in 10
Typical first-year earnings: $877
Chance against standard: -3.1%0.3 fewer in 100
Typical against standard: +1.7%$15 more

Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, No Rest for the Wicked (24.9% of the money): 850 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted: 85083 hits
Earned $100k+: 9.8 in 1001 in 10
Typical first-year earnings: $862
Chance against standard: -1.1%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard: 0.0%no change

Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 243 of 851.

Launches counted: 24326 hits
Earned $100k+: 10.7 in 100
Typical first-year earnings: $956
Chance against standard: +8.4%0.8 more in 100
Typical against standard: +10.9%$94 more

Standard: Every indie paid launch tagged Character Customization, 12 to 36 months old: 851 launches.
West-facing view: Games mostly reviewed outside China. Drops games mostly reviewed in Chinese, meaning 35% or more of their reviews are in Simplified Chinese: 25 of 851 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.
Without the breakout: Drops the single biggest earner, No Rest for the Wicked (24.9% of the money): 850 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.
Last 18 months: Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 243 of 851.

Sandbox is audience split: West-facing view moves the answer more than chance alone would. It holds in Without the breakout and Last 18 months.

Sandbox through every lens, all prices
Sandbox	BaseStandardevery launch	West-facing view1,172 of 1,219 launches	Without the breakout1,218 of 1,219 launches	Last 18 months387 of 1,219 launches
Launches counted	1,219193 hits	1,172181 hits	1,218192 hits	38762 hits
Earned $100k+	15.8 in 100	15.4 in 100	15.8 in 100	16.0 in 100
Typical first-year earnings	$1,882top tenth $223,977+	$1,914	$1,882	$2,011
Chance against standard	the base	-2.5%0.4 fewer in 100	-0.4%0.1 fewer in 100	+1.2%0.2 more in 100
Typical against standard	the base	+1.7%$32 more	0.0%no change	+6.9%$129 more
Does it hold?	The base view	Moves the answer	Holds	Holds

BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Sandbox, 12 to 36 months old: 1,219 launches.

Launches counted: 1,219193 hits
Earned $100k+: 15.8 in 100
Typical first-year earnings: $1,882top tenth $223,977+
Chance against standard: the base
Typical against standard: the base

West-facing viewMoves the answer

Games mostly reviewed outside China. Drops games mostly reviewed in Chinese, meaning 35% or more of their reviews are in Simplified Chinese: 47 of 1,219 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted: 1,172181 hits
Earned $100k+: 15.4 in 100
Typical first-year earnings: $1,914
Chance against standard: -2.5%0.4 fewer in 100
Typical against standard: +1.7%$32 more

Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Manor Lords (22.8% of the money): 1,218 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted: 1,218192 hits
Earned $100k+: 15.8 in 100
Typical first-year earnings: $1,882
Chance against standard: -0.4%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard: 0.0%no change

Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 387 of 1,219.

Launches counted: 38762 hits
Earned $100k+: 16.0 in 100
Typical first-year earnings: $2,011
Chance against standard: +1.2%0.2 more in 100
Typical against standard: +6.9%$129 more

Standard: Every indie paid launch tagged Sandbox, 12 to 36 months old: 1,219 launches.
West-facing view: Games mostly reviewed outside China. Drops games mostly reviewed in Chinese, meaning 35% or more of their reviews are in Simplified Chinese: 47 of 1,219 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.
Without the breakout: Drops the single biggest earner, Manor Lords (22.8% of the money): 1,218 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.
Last 18 months: Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 387 of 1,219.

A lens moves the chance only when it differs from standard by more than a random cut of the same size would, with 5+ hits on both sides; typical earnings are compared from 100 launches, within 25%. Without the breakout moves the answer when one game earned over half the money. Lens figures by price band are not computed yet, so this table is for all prices.

5Premium early list

Alerts when Character Customization + Sandbox moves, comparables the day they land, and every lens for every pair and price. Free until launch.

Free until launch

Keep gold access after launch: alerts, comparables, every lens.