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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 / Idler + Strategy

Niche

Idler + Strategy

Games tagged both Idler and Strategy: 168 indie paid launches, 10 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 Idler + Strategy priced under $5. This filter changes the answer: at all prices the pair is about level with Idler and is about level with Strategy; priced under $5 it is too small to compare with Idler and is too small to compare with Strategy.

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?Under $5

Idler + Strategy is too small to compare with Idler and is too small to compare with Strategy: 2 of its 119 launches earned $100k+ priced under $5, against 1.6 in 100 for Idler and 0.2 in 100 for Strategy.

Small sample: 119 launches, 2 hits.

TIEA tie
Tag oneIdler
1.6in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds1 in 63
Typical earnings$283
Launches627 / 10 hits
Pair against ittoo few hits to compare
TIEA tie
This pairIdler + Strategy
2 of 119launches earned
$100k+ small
Odds2 of 119 launches
Typical earnings$344
Launches119 / 2 hits
Expected0.5 in 100
TIEA tie
Tag twoStrategy
0.2in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds1 in 463
Typical earnings$101
Launches2,317 / 5 hits
Pair against ittoo few hits to compare
All indie launches under $5: 0.5 in 100 earned $100k+ (1 in 219), typical $169, from 13,780 launches.each block is 0.5 in 100 all indie at under $5

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 prices168 in pairUnder $5119 in pair$5 to $1044 in pair$10 to $205: too few$20 to $40no launches
What the overlap means

The overlap is this niche: the 119 games tagged both Idler and Strategy priced under $5. 2 of 119 of them earned $100k+, against 1.6 in 100 for Idler-only games and 3 of 2,198 for Strategy-only games, so the mix is too small to compare with Idler alone and is too small to compare with Strategy alone.

Both: 119 games priced under $5; 2 of 119 earned $100k+, typical first-year earnings $344.

Circle areas follow launch counts; the gold overlap is exactly the pair's 119 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

(the) Gnorp Apologueleads this pair17.5%
Pair(the) Gnorp Apologue17.5%
IdlerSpirit City: Lofi Sessions10.6%
StrategyManor Lords14.8%
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 Idler + Strategy

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

  • (the) Gnorp Apologue earned 17.5% of the estimated first-year money of the 168 Idler + Strategy launches.
  • Idler is led by Spirit City: Lofi Sessions, with 10.6% of its money.
  • Strategy is led by Manor Lords, with 14.8% 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

Idler + Strategy 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.

Idler + Strategy through every lens, all prices
This pairBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view149 of 168 launchesWithout the breakout167 of 168 launchesLast 18 months64 of 168 launches
Launches counted16810 hits1499 hits1679 hits645 hits
Earned $100k+6.0 in 1001 in 176.0 in 1001 in 175.4 in 1001 in 197.8 in 1001 in 13
Typical first-year earnings$904top tenth $60,990+$764$778$1,607
Chance against standardthe base+1.5%0.1 more in 100-9.5%0.6 fewer in 100+31.3%1.9 more in 100
Typical against standardthe base-15.5%$140 less-13.9%$126 less+77.8%$703 more; too few to tell
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged both Idler and Strategy, 12 to 36 months old: 168 launches.

Launches counted
16810 hits
Earned $100k+
6.0 in 1001 in 17
Typical first-year earnings
$904top tenth $60,990+
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: 19 of 168 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
1499 hits
Earned $100k+
6.0 in 1001 in 17
Typical first-year earnings
$764
Chance against standard
+1.5%0.1 more in 100
Typical against standard
-15.5%$140 less
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, (the) Gnorp Apologue (17.5% of the money): 167 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
1679 hits
Earned $100k+
5.4 in 1001 in 19
Typical first-year earnings
$778
Chance against standard
-9.5%0.6 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-13.9%$126 less
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 64 of 168.

Launches counted
645 hits
Earned $100k+
7.8 in 1001 in 13
Typical first-year earnings
$1,607
Chance against standard
+31.3%1.9 more in 100
Typical against standard
+77.8%$703 more; too few to tell
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged both Idler and Strategy, 12 to 36 months old: 168 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: 19 of 168 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) Gnorp Apologue (17.5% of the money): 167 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: 64 of 168.

Idler 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.

Idler through every lens, all prices
IdlerBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view767 of 841 launchesWithout the breakout840 of 841 launchesLast 18 months336 of 841 launches
Launches counted84138 hits76732 hits84037 hits33619 hits
Earned $100k+4.5 in 1001 in 224.2 in 1001 in 244.4 in 1001 in 235.7 in 1001 in 18
Typical first-year earnings$478top tenth $31,571+$478$478$459
Chance against standardthe base-7.7%0.3 fewer in 100-2.5%0.1 fewer in 100+25.1%1.1 more in 100
Typical against standardthe base0.0%no change0.0%no change-4.0%$19 less
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Idler, 12 to 36 months old: 841 launches.

Launches counted
84138 hits
Earned $100k+
4.5 in 1001 in 22
Typical first-year earnings
$478top tenth $31,571+
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: 74 of 841 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
76732 hits
Earned $100k+
4.2 in 1001 in 24
Typical first-year earnings
$478
Chance against standard
-7.7%0.3 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Spirit City: Lofi Sessions (10.6% of the money): 840 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
84037 hits
Earned $100k+
4.4 in 1001 in 23
Typical first-year earnings
$478
Chance against standard
-2.5%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 336 of 841.

Launches counted
33619 hits
Earned $100k+
5.7 in 1001 in 18
Typical first-year earnings
$459
Chance against standard
+25.1%1.1 more in 100
Typical against standard
-4.0%$19 less
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged Idler, 12 to 36 months old: 841 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: 74 of 841 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, Spirit City: Lofi Sessions (10.6% of the money): 840 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: 336 of 841.

Strategy 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.

Strategy through every lens, all prices
StrategyBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view4,305 of 4,686 launchesWithout the breakout4,685 of 4,686 launchesLast 18 months1,463 of 4,686 launches
Launches counted4,686290 hits4,305262 hits4,685289 hits1,46397 hits
Earned $100k+6.2 in 1001 in 166.1 in 1001 in 166.2 in 1001 in 166.6 in 1001 in 15
Typical first-year earnings$426top tenth $39,428+$472$426$498
Chance against standardthe base-1.7%0.1 fewer in 100-0.3%no change+7.1%0.4 more in 100
Typical against standardthe base+10.8%$46 more0.0%no change+16.9%$72 more
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Strategy, 12 to 36 months old: 4,686 launches.

Launches counted
4,686290 hits
Earned $100k+
6.2 in 1001 in 16
Typical first-year earnings
$426top tenth $39,428+
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: 381 of 4,686 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
4,305262 hits
Earned $100k+
6.1 in 1001 in 16
Typical first-year earnings
$472
Chance against standard
-1.7%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
+10.8%$46 more
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Manor Lords (14.8% of the money): 4,685 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
4,685289 hits
Earned $100k+
6.2 in 1001 in 16
Typical first-year earnings
$426
Chance against standard
-0.3%no change
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 1,463 of 4,686.

Launches counted
1,46397 hits
Earned $100k+
6.6 in 1001 in 15
Typical first-year earnings
$498
Chance against standard
+7.1%0.4 more in 100
Typical against standard
+16.9%$72 more
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged Strategy, 12 to 36 months old: 4,686 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: 381 of 4,686 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 (14.8% of the money): 4,685 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: 1,463 of 4,686.

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 Idler + Strategy 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.