Niches / Cinematic + Interactive Fiction

Niche

Cinematic + Interactive Fiction

Games tagged both Cinematic and Interactive Fiction: 80 indie paid launches, 18 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 26,758 indie paid launches 12 to 36 months old, data of 2 Nov 2026. How it is measured.

Price $10 to $20

All prices1 in 15 hit $100k+Under $51 in 230 hit $100k+$5 to $101 in 28 hit $100k+$10 to $2021 in 100 hit $100k+$20 to $4044 in 100 hit $100k+

Base rate: indie paid launches 12 to 36 months old, 26,758 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 Cinematic + Interactive Fiction priced $10 to $20. This filter changes the answer: at all prices the pair beats both its tags; priced $10 to $20 it is too small to compare with Cinematic and is too small to compare with Interactive Fiction.

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

Cinematic + Interactive Fiction is too small to compare with Cinematic and is too small to compare with Interactive Fiction: 10 of its 22 launches earned $100k+ priced $10 to $20, against 30.0 in 100 for Cinematic and 15.3 in 100 for Interactive Fiction.

Small sample: 22 launches, 10 hits.

TIEA tie

Tag oneCinematic

30.0in 100 earned
$100k+

Odds30.0 in 100

$1k+80 in 100

$10k+60 in 100

Launches90 / 27 hits

Pair against ittoo few hits to compare

TIEA tie

This pairCinematic + Interactive Fiction

10 of 22launches earned
$100k+ small

Odds10 of 22 launches

$1k+20 of 22 launches

$10k+15 of 22 launches

Launches22 / 10 hits

Expected20.5 in 100

TIETied

Tag twoInteractive Fiction

15.3in 100 earned
$100k+

Odds15.3 in 100

Typical earnings$10,537

Launches235 / 36 hits

Pair against ittoo few hits to compare

All indie launches $10 to $20: 20.5 in 100 earned $100k+, typical $11,233, from 4,337 launches.each block is 2.5 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: 0.4 in 100 launches earned $100k+; $20 to $40: 44.2 in 100), so read it within a price band.

Price bandswitches the whole page

All prices80 in pair Under $530 in pair $5 to $1026 in pair $10 to $2022 in pair$20 to $402: too few

What the overlap means

The overlap is this niche: the 22 games tagged both Cinematic and Interactive Fiction priced $10 to $20. 10 of 22 of them earned $100k+, against 25.0 in 100 for Cinematic-only games and 12.2 in 100 for Interactive Fiction-only games, so the mix is too small to compare with Cinematic alone and is too small to compare with Interactive Fiction alone.

Both: 22 games priced $10 to $20; 10 of 22 earned $100k+, odds by size $1k+ 20 of 22 launches · $10k+ 15 of 22 launches · $100k+ 10 of 22 launches.

Circle areas follow launch counts; the gold overlap is exactly the pair's 22 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

Harold Halibutleads this pair12.6%

PairHarold Halibut12.6%

CinematicThe Casting of Frank Stone™9.2%

Interactive FictionThe Hungry Lamb: Traveling in the Late Ming Dynasty11.6%

CheckOne game over half?no

NextNearest hitsnot computed yet

Lens checkHolds in 3 of 3. Standard: the base the others are compared with. West-facing view: holds. Without the breakout: holds. Last 18 months: holds.

Open free preview

ComparablesFree until launchClick to unlockWho leads Cinematic + Interactive Fiction

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

Harold Halibut earned 12.6% of the estimated first-year money of the 80 Cinematic + Interactive Fiction launches.
Cinematic is led by The Casting of Frank Stone™, with 9.2% of its money.
Interactive Fiction is led by The Hungry Lamb: Traveling in the Late Ming Dynasty, with 11.6% 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

Cinematic + Interactive Fiction holds in West-facing view, Without the breakout and Last 18 months. No lens moves the chance or typical earnings more than chance alone would.

Cinematic + Interactive Fiction through every lens, all prices
This pair	BaseStandardevery launch	West-facing view59 of 80 launches	Without the breakout79 of 80 launches	Last 18 months23 of 80 launches
Launches counted	8018 hits	5912 hits	7917 hits	235 hits
Earned $100k+	22.5 in 100	20.3 in 100	21.5 in 100	5 of 23too few for a rate
Chance of $10k+	40 in 100chance of $10k+; $1k+ 65 in 100	under 100 launches	under 100 launches	under 100 launches
Chance against standard	the base	-9.6%2.2 fewer in 100	-4.4%1.0 fewer in 100	-3.4%0.8 fewer in 100
Typical against standard	the base	under 100 launches	under 100 launches	under 100 launches
Does it hold?	The base view	Holds	Holds	Holds

BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged both Cinematic and Interactive Fiction, 12 to 36 months old: 80 launches.

Launches counted: 8018 hits
Earned $100k+: 22.5 in 100
Chance of $10k+: 40 in 100chance of $10k+; $1k+ 65 in 100
Chance against standard: the base
Typical against standard: the base

West-facing viewHolds

Games mostly reviewed outside China. Drops games mostly reviewed in Chinese, meaning 35% or more of their reviews are in Simplified Chinese: 21 of 80 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted: 5912 hits
Earned $100k+: 20.3 in 100
Chance of $10k+: under 100 launches
Chance against standard: -9.6%2.2 fewer in 100
Typical against standard: under 100 launches

Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Harold Halibut (12.6% of the money): 79 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted: 7917 hits
Earned $100k+: 21.5 in 100
Chance of $10k+: under 100 launches
Chance against standard: -4.4%1.0 fewer in 100
Typical against standard: under 100 launches

Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 23 of 80.

Launches counted: 235 hits
Earned $100k+: 5 of 23too few for a rate
Chance of $10k+: under 100 launches
Chance against standard: -3.4%0.8 fewer in 100
Typical against standard: under 100 launches

Standard: Every indie paid launch tagged both Cinematic and Interactive Fiction, 12 to 36 months old: 80 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: 21 of 80 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, Harold Halibut (12.6% of the money): 79 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: 23 of 80.

Cinematic is audience split +1: West-facing view moves the answer more than chance alone would, and 1 more lens too. It holds in Without the breakout.

Cinematic through every lens, all prices
Cinematic	BaseStandardevery launch	West-facing view452 of 489 launches	Without the breakout488 of 489 launches	Last 18 months144 of 489 launches
Launches counted	48963 hits	45252 hits	48862 hits	14425 hits
Earned $100k+	12.9 in 100	11.5 in 100	12.7 in 100	17.4 in 100
Typical first-year earnings	$1,363top tenth $162,155+	$1,163	$1,363	$1,372
Chance against standard	the base	-10.7%1.4 fewer in 100	-1.4%0.2 fewer in 100	+34.8%4.5 more in 100
Typical against standard	the base	-14.7%$200 less	0.0%no change	+0.7%$9 more
Does it hold?	The base view	Moves the answer	Holds	Moves the answer

BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Cinematic, 12 to 36 months old: 489 launches.

Launches counted: 48963 hits
Earned $100k+: 12.9 in 100
Typical first-year earnings: $1,363top tenth $162,155+
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: 37 of 489 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted: 45252 hits
Earned $100k+: 11.5 in 100
Typical first-year earnings: $1,163
Chance against standard: -10.7%1.4 fewer in 100
Typical against standard: -14.7%$200 less

Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, The Casting of Frank Stone™ (9.2% of the money): 488 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted: 48862 hits
Earned $100k+: 12.7 in 100
Typical first-year earnings: $1,363
Chance against standard: -1.4%0.2 fewer in 100
Typical against standard: 0.0%no change

Last 18 monthsMoves the answer

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 144 of 489.

Launches counted: 14425 hits
Earned $100k+: 17.4 in 100
Typical first-year earnings: $1,372
Chance against standard: +34.8%4.5 more in 100
Typical against standard: +0.7%$9 more

Standard: Every indie paid launch tagged Cinematic, 12 to 36 months old: 489 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: 37 of 489 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, The Casting of Frank Stone™ (9.2% of the money): 488 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: 144 of 489.

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

Interactive Fiction through every lens, all prices
Interactive Fiction	BaseStandardevery launch	West-facing view1,127 of 1,284 launches	Without the breakout1,283 of 1,284 launches	Last 18 months384 of 1,284 launches
Launches counted	1,28469 hits	1,12751 hits	1,28368 hits	38425 hits
Earned $100k+	5.4 in 1001 in 19	4.5 in 1001 in 22	5.3 in 1001 in 19	6.5 in 1001 in 15
Typical first-year earnings	$823top tenth $35,638+	$810	$822	$865
Chance against standard	the base	-15.8%0.8 fewer in 100	-1.4%0.1 fewer in 100	+21.2%1.1 more in 100
Typical against standard	the base	-1.6%$13 less	-0.1%$1 less	+5.1%$42 more
Does it hold?	The base view	Moves the answer	Holds	Holds

BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Interactive Fiction, 12 to 36 months old: 1,284 launches.

Launches counted: 1,28469 hits
Earned $100k+: 5.4 in 1001 in 19
Typical first-year earnings: $823top tenth $35,638+
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: 157 of 1,284 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted: 1,12751 hits
Earned $100k+: 4.5 in 1001 in 22
Typical first-year earnings: $810
Chance against standard: -15.8%0.8 fewer in 100
Typical against standard: -1.6%$13 less

Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, The Hungry Lamb: Traveling in the Late Ming Dynasty (11.6% of the money): 1,283 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted: 1,28368 hits
Earned $100k+: 5.3 in 1001 in 19
Typical first-year earnings: $822
Chance against standard: -1.4%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard: -0.1%$1 less

Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 384 of 1,284.

Launches counted: 38425 hits
Earned $100k+: 6.5 in 1001 in 15
Typical first-year earnings: $865
Chance against standard: +21.2%1.1 more in 100
Typical against standard: +5.1%$42 more

Standard: Every indie paid launch tagged Interactive Fiction, 12 to 36 months old: 1,284 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: 157 of 1,284 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, The Hungry Lamb: Traveling in the Late Ming Dynasty (11.6% of the money): 1,283 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: 384 of 1,284.

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 Cinematic + Interactive Fiction moves, comparables the day they land, and every lens for every pair and price. Free until launch.

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