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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 / Life Sim + Simulation

Niche

Life Sim + Simulation

Games tagged both Life Sim and Simulation: 636 indie paid launches, 82 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 26,291 indie paid launches 12 to 36 months old, data of 3 Oct 2026. How it is measured.

Showing Life Sim + Simulation priced $10 to $20, last 18 months. 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 + Simulation is about level with Life Sim and beats Simulation: 32.1 in 100 of its launches earned $100k+ priced $10 to $20, against 34.1 in 100 for Life Sim and 23.8 in 100 for Simulation.

That is about 1.6 times the 20.4 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.

TIEA tie
Tag oneLife Sim
34.1in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds34.1 in 100
Typical earnings$37,945
Launches232 / 79 hits
A tie, apart by2.0 in 100
TIEA tie
This pairLife Sim + Simulation
32.1in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds32.1 in 100
Typical earnings$38,636
Launches162 / 52 hits
Expected20.4 in 100
3RDThird
Tag twoSimulation
23.8in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds23.8 in 100
Typical earnings$15,416
Launches874 / 208 hits
Pair leads by8.3 in 100
All indie launches $10 to $20: 20.4 in 100 earned $100k+, typical $10,978, from 4,304 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: 0.4 in 100 launches earned $100k+; $20 to $40: 44.2 in 100), so read it within a price band.

Price bandswitches the whole page
All prices636 in pairUnder $5276 in pair$5 to $10167 in pair$10 to $20162 in pair$20 to $4031 in pair
What the overlap means

The overlap is this niche: the 162 games tagged both Life Sim and Simulation priced $10 to $20. 32.1 in 100 of them earned $100k+, against 38.6 in 100 for Life Sim-only games and 21.9 in 100 for Simulation-only games, so the mix trails Life Sim alone and beats Simulation alone.

Both: 162 games priced $10 to $20; 32.1 in 100 earned $100k+, typical first-year earnings $38,636.

Circle areas follow launch counts; the gold overlap is exactly the pair's 162 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 last 18 months 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

Supermarket Simulatorleads this pair32.5%
PairSupermarket Simulator32.5%
Life SimSupermarket Simulator25.5%
SimulationSchedule I17.9%
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 Life Sim + 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

  • Supermarket Simulator earned 32.5% of the estimated first-year money of the 636 Life Sim + Simulation launches.
  • It also leads Life Sim, with 25.5% of that tag's money.
  • Simulation is led by Schedule I, with 17.9% 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

Life Sim + 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.

Life Sim + Simulation through every lens, all prices
This pairBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view602 of 636 launchesWithout the breakout635 of 636 launchesLast 18 months212 of 636 launches
Launches counted63682 hits60277 hits63581 hits21226 hits
Earned $100k+12.9 in 10012.8 in 10012.8 in 10012.3 in 100
Typical first-year earnings$2,051top tenth $191,324+$2,142$2,007$1,697
Chance against standardthe base-0.8%0.1 fewer in 100-1.1%0.1 fewer in 100-4.9%0.6 fewer in 100
Typical against standardthe base+4.4%$91 more-2.1%$44 less-17.3%$354 less
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged both Life Sim and Simulation, 12 to 36 months old: 636 launches.

Launches counted
63682 hits
Earned $100k+
12.9 in 100
Typical first-year earnings
$2,051top tenth $191,324+
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: 34 of 636 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
60277 hits
Earned $100k+
12.8 in 100
Typical first-year earnings
$2,142
Chance against standard
-0.8%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
+4.4%$91 more
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Supermarket Simulator (32.5% of the money): 635 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
63581 hits
Earned $100k+
12.8 in 100
Typical first-year earnings
$2,007
Chance against standard
-1.1%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-2.1%$44 less
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 212 of 636.

Launches counted
21226 hits
Earned $100k+
12.3 in 100
Typical first-year earnings
$1,697
Chance against standard
-4.9%0.6 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-17.3%$354 less
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged both Life Sim and Simulation, 12 to 36 months old: 636 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: 34 of 636 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, Supermarket Simulator (32.5% of the money): 635 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: 212 of 636.

Life Sim 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.

Life Sim through every lens, all prices
Life SimBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view846 of 894 launchesWithout the breakout893 of 894 launchesLast 18 months292 of 894 launches
Launches counted894127 hits846119 hits893126 hits29246 hits
Earned $100k+14.2 in 10014.1 in 10014.1 in 10015.8 in 100
Typical first-year earnings$1,965top tenth $194,928+$2,054$1,928$2,054
Chance against standardthe base-1.0%0.1 fewer in 100-0.7%0.1 fewer in 100+10.9%1.5 more in 100
Typical against standardthe base+4.5%$89 more-1.9%$37 less+4.5%$89 more
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Life Sim, 12 to 36 months old: 894 launches.

Launches counted
894127 hits
Earned $100k+
14.2 in 100
Typical first-year earnings
$1,965top tenth $194,928+
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: 48 of 894 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
846119 hits
Earned $100k+
14.1 in 100
Typical first-year earnings
$2,054
Chance against standard
-1.0%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
+4.5%$89 more
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Supermarket Simulator (25.5% of the money): 893 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
893126 hits
Earned $100k+
14.1 in 100
Typical first-year earnings
$1,928
Chance against standard
-0.7%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-1.9%$37 less
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 292 of 894.

Launches counted
29246 hits
Earned $100k+
15.8 in 100
Typical first-year earnings
$2,054
Chance against standard
+10.9%1.5 more in 100
Typical against standard
+4.5%$89 more
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged Life Sim, 12 to 36 months old: 894 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: 48 of 894 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, Supermarket Simulator (25.5% of the money): 893 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: 292 of 894.

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 view4,191 of 4,442 launchesWithout the breakout4,441 of 4,442 launchesLast 18 months1,386 of 4,442 launches
Launches counted4,442408 hits4,191389 hits4,441407 hits1,386133 hits
Earned $100k+9.2 in 1001 in 119.3 in 1001 in 119.2 in 1001 in 119.6 in 1001 in 10
Typical first-year earnings$929top tenth $86,074+$1,011$928$1,011
Chance against standardthe base+1.1%0.1 more in 100-0.2%no change+4.5%0.4 more in 100
Typical against standardthe base+8.8%$82 more-0.1%$1 less+8.8%$82 more
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Simulation, 12 to 36 months old: 4,442 launches.

Launches counted
4,442408 hits
Earned $100k+
9.2 in 1001 in 11
Typical first-year earnings
$929top tenth $86,074+
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 4,442 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
4,191389 hits
Earned $100k+
9.3 in 1001 in 11
Typical first-year earnings
$1,011
Chance against standard
+1.1%0.1 more in 100
Typical against standard
+8.8%$82 more
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Schedule I (17.9% of the money): 4,441 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
4,441407 hits
Earned $100k+
9.2 in 1001 in 11
Typical first-year earnings
$928
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: 1,386 of 4,442.

Launches counted
1,386133 hits
Earned $100k+
9.6 in 1001 in 10
Typical first-year earnings
$1,011
Chance against standard
+4.5%0.4 more in 100
Typical against standard
+8.8%$82 more
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged Simulation, 12 to 36 months old: 4,442 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 4,442 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 (17.9% of the money): 4,441 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: 1,386 of 4,442.

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 Life Sim + 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.