Genres

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.

Settings
Text size
Game Market DataBuild what sells
Live games
192,217
on 3 Oct 2026

Niches / Interactive Fiction + Simulation

Niche

Interactive Fiction + Simulation

Games tagged both Interactive Fiction and Simulation: 180 indie paid launches, 13 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 Interactive Fiction + Simulation priced $10 to $20, hiding samples under 30 launches. This filter changes the answer: at all prices the pair is about level with Interactive Fiction and is about level with Simulation; priced $10 to $20 it is about level with Interactive Fiction and trails Simulation.

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 + Simulation is about level with Interactive Fiction and trails Simulation: 16.1 in 100 of its launches earned $100k+ priced $10 to $20, against 14.0 in 100 for Interactive Fiction and 20.9 in 100 for Simulation.

That is about 0.9 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 by2.2 in 100
TIETied
This pairInteractive Fiction + Simulation
16.1in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds16.1 in 100
Typical earnings$5,097
Launches31 / 5 hits
Expected17.6 in 100
1STWinner
Tag twoSimulation
20.9in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds20.9 in 100
Typical earnings$11,548
Launches876 / 183 hits
Pair trails by4.8 in 100
All indie launches $10 to $20: 17.6 in 100 earned $100k+, typical $8,234, from 4,301 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: 40.0 in 100), so read it within a price band.

Price bandswitches the whole page
All prices180 in pairUnder $584 in pair$5 to $1062 in pair$10 to $2031 in pair$20 to $403: too few
What the overlap means

The overlap is this niche: the 31 games tagged both Interactive Fiction and Simulation priced $10 to $20. 16.1 in 100 of them earned $100k+, against 13.6 in 100 for Interactive Fiction-only games and 21.1 in 100 for Simulation-only games, so the mix is about level with Interactive Fiction alone and trails Simulation alone.

Both: 31 games priced $10 to $20; 16.1 in 100 earned $100k+, typical first-year earnings $5,097.

Circle areas follow launch counts; the gold overlap is exactly the pair's 31 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

Easy Delivery Co.leads this pair34.0%
PairEasy Delivery Co.34.0%
Interactive FictionThe Hungry Lamb: Traveling in the Late Ming Dynasty12.4%
SimulationSchedule I17.6%
CheckOne game over half?no
NextNearest hitsnot computed yet

Lens checkAudience split. Standard: the base the others are compared with. West-facing view: moves the answer. Without the breakout: holds. Last 18 months: holds.

Open free preview
ComparablesFree until launchClick to unlockWho leads Interactive Fiction + Simulation

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

  • Easy Delivery Co. earned 34.0% of the estimated first-year money of the 180 Interactive Fiction + Simulation launches.
  • Interactive Fiction is led by The Hungry Lamb: Traveling in the Late Ming Dynasty, with 12.4% of its money.
  • Simulation is led by Schedule I, with 17.6% 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

Interactive Fiction + Simulation 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 + Simulation through every lens, all prices
This pairBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view151 of 180 launchesWithout the breakout179 of 180 launchesLast 18 months55 of 180 launches
Launches counted18013 hits1517 hits17912 hits555 hits
Earned $100k+7.2 in 1001 in 144.6 in 1001 in 226.7 in 1001 in 159.1 in 1001 in 11
Typical first-year earnings$927top tenth $53,338+$918$919$575
Chance against standardthe base-35.8%2.6 fewer in 100-7.2%0.5 fewer in 100+25.9%1.9 more in 100
Typical against standardthe base-1.0%$9 less-0.9%$8 less-38.0%$352 less; too few to tell
Does it hold?The base viewMoves the answerHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged both Interactive Fiction and Simulation, 12 to 36 months old: 180 launches.

Launches counted
18013 hits
Earned $100k+
7.2 in 1001 in 14
Typical first-year earnings
$927top tenth $53,338+
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: 29 of 180 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
1517 hits
Earned $100k+
4.6 in 1001 in 22
Typical first-year earnings
$918
Chance against standard
-35.8%2.6 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-1.0%$9 less
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Easy Delivery Co. (34.0% of the money): 179 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
17912 hits
Earned $100k+
6.7 in 1001 in 15
Typical first-year earnings
$919
Chance against standard
-7.2%0.5 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-0.9%$8 less
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 55 of 180.

Launches counted
555 hits
Earned $100k+
9.1 in 1001 in 11
Typical first-year earnings
$575
Chance against standard
+25.9%1.9 more in 100
Typical against standard
-38.0%$352 less; too few to tell
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged both Interactive Fiction and Simulation, 12 to 36 months old: 180 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: 29 of 180 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, Easy Delivery Co. (34.0% of the money): 179 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: 55 of 180.

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 FictionBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view1,096 of 1,254 launchesWithout the breakout1,253 of 1,254 launchesLast 18 months381 of 1,254 launches
Launches counted1,25462 hits1,09644 hits1,25361 hits38128 hits
Earned $100k+4.9 in 1001 in 204.0 in 1001 in 254.9 in 1001 in 217.3 in 1001 in 14
Typical first-year earnings$794top tenth $29,590+$794$794$919
Chance against standardthe base-18.8%0.9 fewer in 100-1.5%0.1 fewer in 100+48.6%2.4 more in 100
Typical against standardthe base0.0%no change0.0%no change+15.7%$125 more
Does it hold?The base viewMoves the answerHoldsMoves 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.

Simulation 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.

Simulation through every lens, all prices
SimulationBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view4,193 of 4,444 launchesWithout the breakout4,443 of 4,444 launchesLast 18 months1,387 of 4,444 launches
Launches counted4,444370 hits4,193351 hits4,443369 hits1,387117 hits
Earned $100k+8.3 in 1001 in 128.4 in 1001 in 128.3 in 1001 in 128.4 in 1001 in 12
Typical first-year earnings$877top tenth $69,001+$941$876$956
Chance against standardthe base+0.5%no change-0.2%no change+1.3%0.1 more in 100
Typical against standardthe base+7.3%$64 more-0.1%$1 less+9.0%$79 more
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Simulation, 12 to 36 months old: 4,444 launches.

Launches counted
4,444370 hits
Earned $100k+
8.3 in 1001 in 12
Typical first-year earnings
$877top tenth $69,001+
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: 251 of 4,444 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
4,193351 hits
Earned $100k+
8.4 in 1001 in 12
Typical first-year earnings
$941
Chance against standard
+0.5%no change
Typical against standard
+7.3%$64 more
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Schedule I (17.6% of the money): 4,443 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
4,443369 hits
Earned $100k+
8.3 in 1001 in 12
Typical first-year earnings
$876
Chance against standard
-0.2%no change
Typical against standard
-0.1%$1 less
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 1,387 of 4,444.

Launches counted
1,387117 hits
Earned $100k+
8.4 in 1001 in 12
Typical first-year earnings
$956
Chance against standard
+1.3%0.1 more in 100
Typical against standard
+9.0%$79 more
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged Simulation, 12 to 36 months old: 4,444 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: 251 of 4,444 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, Schedule I (17.6% of the money): 4,443 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: 1,387 of 4,444.

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 + Simulation 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.