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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 / Life Sim + Open World

Niche

Life Sim + Open World

Games tagged both Life Sim and Open World: 77 indie paid launches, 22 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 Life Sim + Open World priced $10 to $20, west-facing view. Lens figures exist at all prices only, so inside a price band the page shows the standard figures.

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

Life Sim + Open World beats both its tags: 45.9 in 100 of its launches earned $100k+ priced $10 to $20, against 31.5 in 100 for Life Sim and 26.6 in 100 for Open World.

That is about 2.5 times the 18.6 in 100 expected for any launch at this price. Lens figures by price band are not computed yet, so this band uses the standard figures.

2NDRunner-up
Tag oneLife Sim
31.5in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds31.5 in 100
Typical earnings$31,406
Launches267 / 84 hits
Pair leads by14.4 in 100
1STWinner
This pairLife Sim + Open World
45.9in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds45.9 in 100
Typical earnings$53,028
Launches37 / 17 hits
Expected18.6 in 100
3RDThird
Tag twoOpen World
26.6in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds26.6 in 100
Typical earnings$20,964
Launches304 / 81 hits
Pair leads by19.3 in 100
All indie launches $10 to $20: 18.6 in 100 earned $100k+, typical $9,226, from 4,810 launches.each block is 2.5 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
All prices77 in pairUnder $514 in pair$5 to $1020 in pair$10 to $2037 in pair$20 to $406: too few
What the overlap means

The overlap is this niche: the 37 games tagged both Life Sim and Open World priced $10 to $20. 45.9 in 100 of them earned $100k+, against 29.1 for Life Sim-only games and 24.0 for Open World-only games, so games with both tags did better than games with either tag alone.

Both: 37 games priced $10 to $20; 45.9 in 100 earned $100k+, typical first-year earnings $53,028.

Circle areas follow launch counts; the gold overlap is exactly the pair's 37 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. The west-facing view lens is not computed for the outer parts, so this diagram uses the standard figures.

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

Hello Kitty Island Adventureleads this pair27.0%
PairHello Kitty Island Adventure27.0%
Life SimFields of Mistria9.1%
Open WorldSchedule I28.6%
CheckOne game over half?no
NextNearest hitsnot computed yet

Lens checkChanged recently. Standard: the yardstick. West-facing view: holds. Without the breakout: holds. Last 18 months: moves the answer.

Open free preview
ComparablesFree until launchClick to unlockWho leads Life Sim + Open World

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

  • Hello Kitty Island Adventure earned 27.0% of the estimated first-year money of the 77 Life Sim + Open World launches.
  • Life Sim is led by Fields of Mistria, with 9.1% of its money.
  • Open World is led by Schedule I, with 28.6% 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: those with a mostly Chinese audience, the single biggest earner, and everything older than 18 months.

Does the answer hold?

All prices

Life Sim + Open World is changed recently: Last 18 months moves the answer by more than a quarter. It holds in 2 of 3.

Life Sim + Open World through every lens, all prices
This pairBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view72 of 77 launchesWithout the breakout76 of 77 launchesLast 18 months39 of 77 launches
Launches counted7722 hits7221 hits7621 hits3911 hits
Earned $100k+28.6 in 10029.2 in 10027.6 in 10028.2 in 100
Typical first-year earnings$14,794top tenth $880,017+$16,665$14,794$6,069
Chance against standardthe yardstick+2.1%0.6 more in 100-3.5%1.0 fewer in 100-1.4%0.4 fewer in 100
Typical against standardthe yardstick+12.6%$1,871 more0.0%no change-59.0%$8,725 less
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsMoves the answer
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged both Life Sim and Open World, 6 to 30 months old: 77 launches.

Launches counted
7722 hits
Earned $100k+
28.6 in 100
Typical first-year earnings
$14,794top tenth $880,017+
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: 5 of 77 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
7221 hits
Earned $100k+
29.2 in 100
Typical first-year earnings
$16,665
Chance against standard
+2.1%0.6 more in 100
Typical against standard
+12.6%$1,871 more
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Hello Kitty Island Adventure (27.0% of the money): 76 launches left.

Launches counted
7621 hits
Earned $100k+
27.6 in 100
Typical first-year earnings
$14,794
Chance against standard
-3.5%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: 39 of 77.

Launches counted
3911 hits
Earned $100k+
28.2 in 100
Typical first-year earnings
$6,069
Chance against standard
-1.4%0.4 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-59.0%$8,725 less
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged both Life Sim and Open World, 6 to 30 months old: 77 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: 5 of 77 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, Hello Kitty Island Adventure (27.0% of the money): 76 launches left.
Last 18 months
Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 39 of 77.

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

Life Sim through every lens, all prices
Life SimBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view990 of 1,055 launchesWithout the breakout1,054 of 1,055 launchesLast 18 months609 of 1,055 launches
Launches counted1,055137 hits990128 hits1,054136 hits60969 hits
Earned $100k+13.0 in 10012.9 in 10012.9 in 10011.3 in 100
Typical first-year earnings$2,122top tenth $139,609+$2,225$2,122$1,920
Chance against standardthe yardstick-0.8%0.1 fewer in 100-0.8%0.1 fewer in 100-13.1%1.7 fewer in 100
Typical against standardthe yardstick+4.9%$103 more0.0%no change-9.5%$202 less
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Life Sim, 6 to 30 months old: 1,055 launches.

Launches counted
1,055137 hits
Earned $100k+
13.0 in 100
Typical first-year earnings
$2,122top tenth $139,609+
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: 65 of 1,055 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
990128 hits
Earned $100k+
12.9 in 100
Typical first-year earnings
$2,225
Chance against standard
-0.8%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
+4.9%$103 more
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Fields of Mistria (9.1% of the money): 1,054 launches left.

Launches counted
1,054136 hits
Earned $100k+
12.9 in 100
Typical first-year earnings
$2,122
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: 609 of 1,055.

Launches counted
60969 hits
Earned $100k+
11.3 in 100
Typical first-year earnings
$1,920
Chance against standard
-13.1%1.7 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-9.5%$202 less
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged Life Sim, 6 to 30 months old: 1,055 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: 65 of 1,055 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, Fields of Mistria (9.1% of the money): 1,054 launches left.
Last 18 months
Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 609 of 1,055.

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

Open World through every lens, all prices
Open WorldBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view877 of 926 launchesWithout the breakout925 of 926 launchesLast 18 months474 of 926 launches
Launches counted926151 hits877142 hits925150 hits47471 hits
Earned $100k+16.3 in 10016.2 in 10016.2 in 10015.0 in 100
Typical first-year earnings$2,103top tenth $336,387+$2,185$2,062$1,943
Chance against standardthe yardstick-0.6%0.1 fewer in 100-0.6%0.1 fewer in 100-8.0%1.3 fewer in 100
Typical against standardthe yardstick+3.9%$82 more-1.9%$41 less-7.6%$160 less
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Open World, 6 to 30 months old: 926 launches.

Launches counted
926151 hits
Earned $100k+
16.3 in 100
Typical first-year earnings
$2,103top tenth $336,387+
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: 49 of 926 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
877142 hits
Earned $100k+
16.2 in 100
Typical first-year earnings
$2,185
Chance against standard
-0.6%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
+3.9%$82 more
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Schedule I (28.6% of the money): 925 launches left.

Launches counted
925150 hits
Earned $100k+
16.2 in 100
Typical first-year earnings
$2,062
Chance against standard
-0.6%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-1.9%$41 less
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 474 of 926.

Launches counted
47471 hits
Earned $100k+
15.0 in 100
Typical first-year earnings
$1,943
Chance against standard
-8.0%1.3 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-7.6%$160 less
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged Open World, 6 to 30 months old: 926 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: 49 of 926 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 (28.6% of the money): 925 launches left.
Last 18 months
Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 474 of 926.

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 Life Sim + Open World 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.