Niche

Interactive Fiction + RPG

Games tagged both Interactive Fiction and RPG: 347 indie paid launches, 17 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 Interactive Fiction + RPG priced $10 to $20. This filter changes the answer: at all prices the pair is about level with Interactive Fiction and is about level with RPG; priced $10 to $20 it is about level with Interactive Fiction and trails RPG.

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

Interactive Fiction + RPG is about level with Interactive Fiction and trails RPG: 14.0 in 100 of its launches earned $100k+ priced $10 to $20, against 14.0 in 100 for Interactive Fiction and 17.6 in 100 for RPG.

That is about 0.8 times the 17.6 in 100 expected for any launch at this price.

TIETied

Tag oneInteractive Fiction

14.0in 100 earned
$100k+

Odds14.0 in 100

Typical earnings$7,666

Launches229 / 32 hits

A tie, apart by0.0 in 100

TIETied

This pairInteractive Fiction + RPG

14.0in 100 earned
$100k+

Odds14.0 in 100

Typical earnings$9,519

Launches50 / 7 hits

Expected17.6 in 100

1STWinner

Tag twoRPG

17.6in 100 earned
$100k+

Odds17.6 in 100

Typical earnings$8,454

Launches786 / 138 hits

Pair trails by3.6 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.

Price bandswitches the whole page

All prices347 in pair Under $5150 in pair $5 to $10140 in pair $10 to $2050 in pair$20 to $407: too few

What the overlap means

The overlap is this niche: the 50 games tagged both Interactive Fiction and RPG priced $10 to $20. 14.0 in 100 of them earned $100k+, against 14.0 in 100 for Interactive Fiction-only games and 17.8 in 100 for RPG-only games, so the mix is about level with Interactive Fiction alone and trails RPG alone.

Both: 50 games priced $10 to $20; 14.0 in 100 earned $100k+, typical first-year earnings $9,519.

Circle areas follow launch counts; the gold overlap is exactly the pair's 50 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

Revenge on gold diggersleads this pair33.8%

PairRevenge on gold diggers33.8%

Interactive FictionThe Hungry Lamb: Traveling in the Late Ming Dynasty12.4%

RPGPath of Exile 218.0%

CheckOne game over half?no

NextNearest hitsnot computed yet

Lens checkChanged recently +1. Standard: the base the others are compared with. 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 Interactive Fiction + RPG

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

Revenge on gold diggers earned 33.8% of the estimated first-year money of the 347 Interactive Fiction + RPG launches.
Interactive Fiction is led by The Hungry Lamb: Traveling in the Late Ming Dynasty, with 12.4% of its money.
RPG is led by Path of Exile 2, with 18.0% 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

Interactive Fiction + RPG is changed recently +1: Last 18 months moves the answer more than chance alone would, and 1 more lens too. It holds in Without the breakout.

Interactive Fiction + RPG through every lens, all prices
This pair	BaseStandardevery launch	West-facing view247 of 347 launches	Without the breakout346 of 347 launches	Last 18 months104 of 347 launches
Launches counted	34717 hits	2477 hits	34616 hits	1047 hits
Earned $100k+	4.9 in 1001 in 20	2.8 in 1001 in 35	4.6 in 1001 in 22	6.7 in 1001 in 15
Typical first-year earnings	$908top tenth $30,956+	$1,052	$908	$1,530
Chance against standard	the base	-42.2%2.1 fewer in 100	-5.6%0.3 fewer in 100	+37.4%1.8 more in 100
Typical against standard	the base	+15.9%$144 more	0.0%no change	+68.5%$622 more
Does it hold?	The base view	Moves the answer	Holds	Moves the answer

BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged both Interactive Fiction and RPG, 12 to 36 months old: 347 launches.

Launches counted: 34717 hits
Earned $100k+: 4.9 in 1001 in 20
Typical first-year earnings: $908top tenth $30,956+
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: 100 of 347 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted: 2477 hits
Earned $100k+: 2.8 in 1001 in 35
Typical first-year earnings: $1,052
Chance against standard: -42.2%2.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard: +15.9%$144 more

Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Revenge on gold diggers (33.8% of the money): 346 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted: 34616 hits
Earned $100k+: 4.6 in 1001 in 22
Typical first-year earnings: $908
Chance against standard: -5.6%0.3 fewer in 100
Typical against standard: 0.0%no change

Last 18 monthsMoves the answer

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 104 of 347.

Launches counted: 1047 hits
Earned $100k+: 6.7 in 1001 in 15
Typical first-year earnings: $1,530
Chance against standard: +37.4%1.8 more in 100
Typical against standard: +68.5%$622 more

Standard: Every indie paid launch tagged both Interactive Fiction and RPG, 12 to 36 months old: 347 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: 100 of 347 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, Revenge on gold diggers (33.8% of the money): 346 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: 104 of 347.

Interactive Fiction 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.

Interactive Fiction through every lens, all prices
Interactive Fiction	BaseStandardevery launch	West-facing view1,096 of 1,254 launches	Without the breakout1,253 of 1,254 launches	Last 18 months381 of 1,254 launches
Launches counted	1,25462 hits	1,09644 hits	1,25361 hits	38128 hits
Earned $100k+	4.9 in 1001 in 20	4.0 in 1001 in 25	4.9 in 1001 in 21	7.3 in 1001 in 14
Typical first-year earnings	$794top tenth $29,590+	$794	$794	$919
Chance against standard	the base	-18.8%0.9 fewer in 100	-1.5%0.1 fewer in 100	+48.6%2.4 more in 100
Typical against standard	the base	0.0%no change	0.0%no change	+15.7%$125 more
Does it hold?	The base view	Moves the answer	Holds	Moves the answer

BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Interactive Fiction, 12 to 36 months old: 1,254 launches.

Launches counted: 1,25462 hits
Earned $100k+: 4.9 in 1001 in 20
Typical first-year earnings: $794top tenth $29,590+
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: 158 of 1,254 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted: 1,09644 hits
Earned $100k+: 4.0 in 1001 in 25
Typical first-year earnings: $794
Chance against standard: -18.8%0.9 fewer in 100
Typical against standard: 0.0%no change

Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, The Hungry Lamb: Traveling in the Late Ming Dynasty (12.4% of the money): 1,253 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted: 1,25361 hits
Earned $100k+: 4.9 in 1001 in 21
Typical first-year earnings: $794
Chance against standard: -1.5%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard: 0.0%no change

Last 18 monthsMoves the answer

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 381 of 1,254.

Launches counted: 38128 hits
Earned $100k+: 7.3 in 1001 in 14
Typical first-year earnings: $919
Chance against standard: +48.6%2.4 more in 100
Typical against standard: +15.7%$125 more

Standard: Every indie paid launch tagged Interactive Fiction, 12 to 36 months old: 1,254 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: 158 of 1,254 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 (12.4% of the money): 1,253 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: 381 of 1,254.

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

RPG through every lens, all prices
RPG	BaseStandardevery launch	West-facing view3,125 of 3,715 launches	Without the breakout3,714 of 3,715 launches	Last 18 months1,018 of 3,715 launches
Launches counted	3,715270 hits	3,125225 hits	3,714269 hits	1,01882 hits
Earned $100k+	7.3 in 1001 in 14	7.2 in 1001 in 14	7.2 in 1001 in 14	8.1 in 1001 in 12
Typical first-year earnings	$675top tenth $51,629+	$729	$675	$859
Chance against standard	the base	-0.9%0.1 fewer in 100	-0.3%no change	+10.8%0.8 more in 100
Typical against standard	the base	+8.0%$54 more	0.0%no change	+27.3%$184 more
Does it hold?	The base view	Holds	Holds	Moves the answer

BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged RPG, 12 to 36 months old: 3,715 launches.

Launches counted: 3,715270 hits
Earned $100k+: 7.3 in 1001 in 14
Typical first-year earnings: $675top tenth $51,629+
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: 590 of 3,715 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted: 3,125225 hits
Earned $100k+: 7.2 in 1001 in 14
Typical first-year earnings: $729
Chance against standard: -0.9%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard: +8.0%$54 more

Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Path of Exile 2 (18.0% of the money): 3,714 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted: 3,714269 hits
Earned $100k+: 7.2 in 1001 in 14
Typical first-year earnings: $675
Chance against standard: -0.3%no change
Typical against standard: 0.0%no change

Last 18 monthsMoves the answer

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 1,018 of 3,715.

Launches counted: 1,01882 hits
Earned $100k+: 8.1 in 1001 in 12
Typical first-year earnings: $859
Chance against standard: +10.8%0.8 more in 100
Typical against standard: +27.3%$184 more

Standard: Every indie paid launch tagged RPG, 12 to 36 months old: 3,715 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: 590 of 3,715 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, Path of Exile 2 (18.0% of the money): 3,714 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: 1,018 of 3,715.

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 Interactive Fiction + RPG 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.