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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 change shows for genres with 100+ launches. The same figures are on the Genres page.

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on 3 Oct 2026

Niches / Horror + Puzzle

Niche

Horror + Puzzle

Games tagged both Horror and Puzzle: 799 indie paid launches, 34 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.

Showing Horror + Puzzle priced $10 to $20. This filter changes the answer: at all prices the pair is about level with Horror and is about level with Puzzle; priced $10 to $20 it is about level with Horror and beats Puzzle.

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

Horror + Puzzle is about level with Horror and beats Puzzle: 16.9 in 100 of its launches earned $100k+ priced $10 to $20, against 19.1 in 100 for Horror and 12.4 in 100 for Puzzle.

That is about 1.0 times the 17.6 in 100 expected for any launch at this price.

TIEA tie
Tag oneHorror
19.1in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds19.1 in 100
Typical earnings$9,724
Launches345 / 66 hits
A tie, apart by2.3 in 100
TIEA tie
This pairHorror + Puzzle
16.9in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds16.9 in 100
Typical earnings$6,868
Launches83 / 14 hits
Expected17.6 in 100
3RDThird
Tag twoPuzzle
12.4in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds12.4 in 100
Typical earnings$3,798
Launches686 / 85 hits
Pair leads by4.5 in 100
All indie launches $10 to $20: 17.6 in 100 earned $100k+, typical $8,234, from 4,301 launches.each block is 1 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.

What the overlap means

The overlap is this niche: the 83 games tagged both Horror and Puzzle priced $10 to $20. 16.9 in 100 of them earned $100k+, against 19.8 in 100 for Horror-only games and 11.8 in 100 for Puzzle-only games, so the mix is about level with Horror alone and beats Puzzle alone.

Both: 83 games priced $10 to $20; 16.9 in 100 earned $100k+, typical first-year earnings $6,868.

Circle areas follow launch counts; the gold overlap is exactly the pair's 83 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

ANIMAL WELLleads this pair31.4%
PairANIMAL WELL31.4%
HorrorLethal Company20.0%
PuzzleBlue Prince7.2%
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 Horror + Puzzle

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

  • ANIMAL WELL earned 31.4% of the estimated first-year money of the 799 Horror + Puzzle launches.
  • Horror is led by Lethal Company, with 20.0% of its money.
  • Puzzle is led by Blue Prince, with 7.2% 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

Horror + Puzzle 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.

Horror + Puzzle through every lens, all prices
This pairBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view755 of 799 launchesWithout the breakout798 of 799 launchesLast 18 months225 of 799 launches
Launches counted79934 hits75533 hits79833 hits22511 hits
Earned $100k+4.3 in 1001 in 244.4 in 1001 in 234.1 in 1001 in 244.9 in 1001 in 20
Typical first-year earnings$807top tenth $23,874+$798$807$957
Chance against standardthe base+2.7%0.1 more in 100-2.8%0.1 fewer in 100+14.9%0.6 more in 100
Typical against standardthe base-1.1%$9 less0.0%no change+18.6%$150 more
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged both Horror and Puzzle, 12 to 36 months old: 799 launches.

Launches counted
79934 hits
Earned $100k+
4.3 in 1001 in 24
Typical first-year earnings
$807top tenth $23,874+
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: 44 of 799 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
75533 hits
Earned $100k+
4.4 in 1001 in 23
Typical first-year earnings
$798
Chance against standard
+2.7%0.1 more in 100
Typical against standard
-1.1%$9 less
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, ANIMAL WELL (31.4% of the money): 798 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
79833 hits
Earned $100k+
4.1 in 1001 in 24
Typical first-year earnings
$807
Chance against standard
-2.8%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 225 of 799.

Launches counted
22511 hits
Earned $100k+
4.9 in 1001 in 20
Typical first-year earnings
$957
Chance against standard
+14.9%0.6 more in 100
Typical against standard
+18.6%$150 more
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged both Horror and Puzzle, 12 to 36 months old: 799 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: 44 of 799 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, ANIMAL WELL (31.4% of the money): 798 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: 225 of 799.

Horror 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.

Horror through every lens, all prices
HorrorBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view2,989 of 3,137 launchesWithout the breakout3,136 of 3,137 launchesLast 18 months883 of 3,137 launches
Launches counted3,137173 hits2,989168 hits3,136172 hits88346 hits
Earned $100k+5.5 in 1001 in 185.6 in 1001 in 185.5 in 1001 in 185.2 in 1001 in 19
Typical first-year earnings$1,010top tenth $33,268+$1,021$1,010$918
Chance against standardthe base+1.9%0.1 more in 100-0.5%no change-5.5%0.3 fewer in 100
Typical against standardthe base+1.1%$11 more0.0%no change-9.1%$92 less
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Horror, 12 to 36 months old: 3,137 launches.

Launches counted
3,137173 hits
Earned $100k+
5.5 in 1001 in 18
Typical first-year earnings
$1,010top tenth $33,268+
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: 148 of 3,137 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
2,989168 hits
Earned $100k+
5.6 in 1001 in 18
Typical first-year earnings
$1,021
Chance against standard
+1.9%0.1 more in 100
Typical against standard
+1.1%$11 more
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Lethal Company (20.0% of the money): 3,136 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
3,136172 hits
Earned $100k+
5.5 in 1001 in 18
Typical first-year earnings
$1,010
Chance against standard
-0.5%no change
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 883 of 3,137.

Launches counted
88346 hits
Earned $100k+
5.2 in 1001 in 19
Typical first-year earnings
$918
Chance against standard
-5.5%0.3 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-9.1%$92 less
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged Horror, 12 to 36 months old: 3,137 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: 148 of 3,137 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, Lethal Company (20.0% of the money): 3,136 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: 883 of 3,137.

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

Puzzle through every lens, all prices
PuzzleBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view5,057 of 5,257 launchesWithout the breakout5,256 of 5,257 launchesLast 18 months1,499 of 5,257 launches
Launches counted5,257163 hits5,057152 hits5,256162 hits1,49953 hits
Earned $100k+3.1 in 1001 in 323.0 in 1001 in 333.1 in 1001 in 323.5 in 1001 in 28
Typical first-year earnings$405top tenth $12,506+$421$405$402
Chance against standardthe base-3.1%0.1 fewer in 100-0.6%no change+14.0%0.4 more in 100
Typical against standardthe base+4.0%$16 more0.0%no change-0.7%$3 less
Does it hold?The base viewMoves the answerHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Puzzle, 12 to 36 months old: 5,257 launches.

Launches counted
5,257163 hits
Earned $100k+
3.1 in 1001 in 32
Typical first-year earnings
$405top tenth $12,506+
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: 200 of 5,257 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
5,057152 hits
Earned $100k+
3.0 in 1001 in 33
Typical first-year earnings
$421
Chance against standard
-3.1%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
+4.0%$16 more
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Blue Prince (7.2% of the money): 5,256 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
5,256162 hits
Earned $100k+
3.1 in 1001 in 32
Typical first-year earnings
$405
Chance against standard
-0.6%no change
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 1,499 of 5,257.

Launches counted
1,49953 hits
Earned $100k+
3.5 in 1001 in 28
Typical first-year earnings
$402
Chance against standard
+14.0%0.4 more in 100
Typical against standard
-0.7%$3 less
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged Puzzle, 12 to 36 months old: 5,257 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: 200 of 5,257 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, Blue Prince (7.2% of the money): 5,256 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: 1,499 of 5,257.

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 Horror + Puzzle 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.