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Ticker: price and year-over-year change for 40 genres. Price is the median estimated first-year revenue of indie paid launches. The same figures are on the Genres page.

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on 30 Sep 2026

Niches / Cinematic + Visual Novel

Niche

Cinematic + Visual Novel

Games tagged both Cinematic and Visual Novel: 85 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".
  • Price moves the odds more than genre does, so the page opens on one price band. The keys in section 2 switch it.
  • From 29,637 indie paid launches 6 to 30 months old, data of 1 Oct 2026. How it is measured.

Showing Cinematic + Visual Novel priced $10 to $20, hiding samples under 30 launches. This filter changes the answer: at all prices the pair beats both its tags; priced $10 to $20 it has too few launches to read.

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

25 launches, under your minimum sample of 30.

Pick another price band, or lower the minimum sample.

1STWinner
Tag oneCinematic
28.9in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds28.9 in 100
Typical earnings$17,851
Launches97 / 28 hits
Pairno reading
--No reading
This pairCinematic + Visual Novel
--too few
to read
Odds--
Typical earnings--
Launches25

25 launches, under your minimum sample of 30.

2NDRunner-up
14.6in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds14.6 in 100
Typical earnings$7,366
Launches460 / 67 hits
Pairno reading
All indie launches $10 to $20: 18.6 in 100 earned $100k+, typical $9,226, from 4,810 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: 42.4 in 100), so read it within a price band.

Price bandswitches the whole page
What the overlap means

The overlap is this niche: the 25 games tagged both Cinematic and Visual Novel priced $10 to $20. 36.0 in 100 of them earned $100k+, against 26.4 for Cinematic-only games and 13.3 for Visual Novel-only games, so games with both tags did better than games with either tag alone.

Both: 25 games priced $10 to $20; 36.0 in 100 earned $100k+, typical first-year earnings $41,394.

Circle areas follow launch counts; the gold overlap is exactly the pair's 25 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

Minds Beneath Usleads this pair28.4%
PairMinds Beneath Us28.4%
CinematicROUTINE9.3%
Visual NovelUntil Then7.5%
CheckOne game over half?no
NextNearest hitsnot computed yet

Lens checkAudience-sensitive +1. Standard: the yardstick. West-facing view: moves the answer. Without the breakout: holds. Last 18 months: moves the answer.

Open free preview
ComparablesFree until launchClick to unlockWho leads Cinematic + Visual Novel

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

  • Minds Beneath Us earned 28.4% of the estimated first-year money of the 85 Cinematic + Visual Novel launches.
  • Cinematic is led by ROUTINE, with 9.3% of its money.
  • Visual Novel is led by Until Then, with 7.5% 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: those with a mostly Chinese audience, the single biggest earner, and everything older than 18 months.

Does the answer hold?

All prices

Cinematic + Visual Novel is audience-sensitive +1: West-facing view moves the answer by more than a quarter, and 1 more lens too. It holds in 1 of 3.

Cinematic + Visual Novel through every lens, all prices
This pairBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view62 of 85 launchesWithout the breakout84 of 85 launchesLast 18 months53 of 85 launches
Launches counted8518 hits629 hits8417 hits539 hits
Earned $100k+21.2 in 10014.5 in 10020.2 in 10017.0 in 100
Typical first-year earnings$1,821top tenth $201,898+$935$1,821$1,052
Chance against standardthe yardstick-31.6%6.7 fewer in 100-4.7%1.0 fewer in 100-19.8%4.2 fewer in 100
Typical against standardthe yardstick-48.7%$886 less0.0%no change-42.2%$769 less
Does it hold?The base viewMoves the answerHoldsMoves the answer
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged both Cinematic and Visual Novel, 6 to 30 months old: 85 launches.

Launches counted
8518 hits
Earned $100k+
21.2 in 100
Typical first-year earnings
$1,821top tenth $201,898+
Chance against standard
the yardstick
Typical against standard
the yardstick
West-facing viewMoves the answer

Games mostly reviewed outside China. Drops games whose audience is mostly Chinese, meaning 35% or more of their reviews are in Simplified Chinese: 23 of 85 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
629 hits
Earned $100k+
14.5 in 100
Typical first-year earnings
$935
Chance against standard
-31.6%6.7 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-48.7%$886 less
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Minds Beneath Us (28.4% of the money): 84 launches left.

Launches counted
8417 hits
Earned $100k+
20.2 in 100
Typical first-year earnings
$1,821
Chance against standard
-4.7%1.0 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Last 18 monthsMoves the answer

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 53 of 85.

Launches counted
539 hits
Earned $100k+
17.0 in 100
Typical first-year earnings
$1,052
Chance against standard
-19.8%4.2 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-42.2%$769 less
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged both Cinematic and Visual Novel, 6 to 30 months old: 85 launches.
West-facing view
Games mostly reviewed outside China. Drops games whose audience is mostly Chinese, meaning 35% or more of their reviews are in Simplified Chinese: 23 of 85 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, Minds Beneath Us (28.4% of the money): 84 launches left.
Last 18 months
Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 53 of 85.

Cinematic holds in 3 of 3: every lens keeps the chance and typical earnings within a quarter of the standard figures.

Cinematic through every lens, all prices
CinematicBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view493 of 532 launchesWithout the breakout531 of 532 launchesLast 18 months292 of 532 launches
Launches counted53264 hits49353 hits53163 hits29239 hits
Earned $100k+12.0 in 10010.8 in 10011.9 in 10013.4 in 100
Typical first-year earnings$1,374top tenth $129,511+$1,214$1,374$1,274
Chance against standardthe yardstick-10.0%1.2 fewer in 100-0.8%0.1 fewer in 100+11.7%1.4 more in 100
Typical against standardthe yardstick-11.6%$160 less0.0%no change-7.3%$100 less
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Cinematic, 6 to 30 months old: 532 launches.

Launches counted
53264 hits
Earned $100k+
12.0 in 100
Typical first-year earnings
$1,374top tenth $129,511+
Chance against standard
the yardstick
Typical against standard
the yardstick
West-facing viewHolds

Games mostly reviewed outside China. Drops games whose audience is mostly Chinese, meaning 35% or more of their reviews are in Simplified Chinese: 39 of 532 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
49353 hits
Earned $100k+
10.8 in 100
Typical first-year earnings
$1,214
Chance against standard
-10.0%1.2 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-11.6%$160 less
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, ROUTINE (9.3% of the money): 531 launches left.

Launches counted
53163 hits
Earned $100k+
11.9 in 100
Typical first-year earnings
$1,374
Chance against standard
-0.8%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 292 of 532.

Launches counted
29239 hits
Earned $100k+
13.4 in 100
Typical first-year earnings
$1,274
Chance against standard
+11.7%1.4 more in 100
Typical against standard
-7.3%$100 less
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged Cinematic, 6 to 30 months old: 532 launches.
West-facing view
Games mostly reviewed outside China. Drops games whose audience is mostly Chinese, meaning 35% or more of their reviews are in Simplified Chinese: 39 of 532 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, ROUTINE (9.3% of the money): 531 launches left.
Last 18 months
Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 292 of 532.

Visual Novel is changed recently: Last 18 months moves the answer by more than a quarter. It holds in 2 of 3.

Visual Novel through every lens, all prices
Visual NovelBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view1,823 of 2,114 launchesWithout the breakout2,113 of 2,114 launchesLast 18 months1,162 of 2,114 launches
Launches counted2,114130 hits1,823100 hits2,113129 hits1,16263 hits
Earned $100k+6.1 in 1001 in 165.5 in 1001 in 186.1 in 1001 in 165.4 in 1001 in 19
Typical first-year earnings$1,293top tenth $48,802+$1,214$1,287$910
Chance against standardthe yardstick-9.8%0.6 fewer in 1000.0%no change-11.5%0.7 fewer in 100
Typical against standardthe yardstick-6.1%$79 less-0.5%$6 less-29.6%$383 less
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsMoves the answer
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Visual Novel, 6 to 30 months old: 2,114 launches.

Launches counted
2,114130 hits
Earned $100k+
6.1 in 1001 in 16
Typical first-year earnings
$1,293top tenth $48,802+
Chance against standard
the yardstick
Typical against standard
the yardstick
West-facing viewHolds

Games mostly reviewed outside China. Drops games whose audience is mostly Chinese, meaning 35% or more of their reviews are in Simplified Chinese: 291 of 2,114 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
1,823100 hits
Earned $100k+
5.5 in 1001 in 18
Typical first-year earnings
$1,214
Chance against standard
-9.8%0.6 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-6.1%$79 less
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Until Then (7.5% of the money): 2,113 launches left.

Launches counted
2,113129 hits
Earned $100k+
6.1 in 1001 in 16
Typical first-year earnings
$1,287
Chance against standard
0.0%no change
Typical against standard
-0.5%$6 less
Last 18 monthsMoves the answer

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 1,162 of 2,114.

Launches counted
1,16263 hits
Earned $100k+
5.4 in 1001 in 19
Typical first-year earnings
$910
Chance against standard
-11.5%0.7 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-29.6%$383 less
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged Visual Novel, 6 to 30 months old: 2,114 launches.
West-facing view
Games mostly reviewed outside China. Drops games whose audience is mostly Chinese, meaning 35% or more of their reviews are in Simplified Chinese: 291 of 2,114 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, Until Then (7.5% of the money): 2,113 launches left.
Last 18 months
Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 1,162 of 2,114.

A lens holds when chance and typical earnings both stay within 25% of standard. Lens figures by price band are not computed yet, so this table is for all prices.

5Premium early list

Alerts when Cinematic + Visual Novel 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.

Releases

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