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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 2 Oct 2026

Niches / Programming + Puzzle

Niche

Programming + Puzzle

Games tagged both Programming and Puzzle: 45 indie paid launches, 2 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 Programming + Puzzle 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. This filter changes the answer: at all prices the pair trails Programming and beats Puzzle; priced $10 to $20 it trails both its tags.

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

Programming + Puzzle trails both its tags: 1 of its 11 launches earned $100k+ priced $10 to $20, against 5 of 23 launches for Programming and 13.8 in 100 for Puzzle.

Lens figures by price band are not computed yet, so this band uses the standard figures. Small sample: 11 launches, 1 hits.

1STWinner
Tag oneProgramming
5 of 23launches earned
$100k+ small
Odds5 of 23 launches
Typical earnings$8,681
Launches23 / 5 hits
Pair trails by12.6 in 100
3RDThird
This pairProgramming + Puzzle
1 of 11launches earned
$100k+ small
Odds1 of 11 launches
Typical earnings$8,681
Launches11 / 1 hits
Expected18.6 in 100
2NDRunner-up
Tag twoPuzzle
13.8in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds13.8 in 100
Typical earnings$4,553
Launches775 / 107 hits
Pair trails by4.7 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 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 prices45 in pairUnder $518 in pair$5 to $1015 in pair$10 to $2011 in pair$20 to $401: too few
What the overlap means

The overlap is this niche: the 11 games tagged both Programming and Puzzle priced $10 to $20. 9.1 in 100 of them earned $100k+, against 33.3 for Programming-only games and 13.9 for Puzzle-only games, so games with both tags did worse than games with either tag alone.

Both: 11 games priced $10 to $20; 9.1 in 100 earned $100k+ (1 in 11), typical first-year earnings $8,681.

Circle areas follow launch counts; the gold overlap is exactly the pair's 11 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

Kaizen: A Factory Storyleads this pair38.6%
PairKaizen: A Factory Story38.6%
ProgrammingKaizen: A Factory Story13.9%
PuzzleBlue Prince7.0%
CheckOne game over half?no
NextNearest hitsnot computed yet

Lens checkChanged recently +1. Standard: the yardstick. West-facing view: holds. Without the breakout: moves the answer. Last 18 months: moves the answer.

Open free preview
ComparablesFree until launchClick to unlockWho leads Programming + Puzzle

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

  • Kaizen: A Factory Story earned 38.6% of the estimated first-year money of the 45 Programming + Puzzle launches.
  • It also leads Programming, with 13.9% of that tag's money.
  • Puzzle is led by Blue Prince, with 7.0% 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: those with a mostly Chinese audience, the single biggest earner, and everything older than 18 months.

Does the answer hold?

All prices

Programming + Puzzle is changed recently +1: Last 18 months moves the answer by more than a quarter, and 1 more lens too. It holds in 1 of 3.

Programming + Puzzle through every lens, all prices
This pairBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view45 of 45 launchesWithout the breakout44 of 45 launchesLast 18 months25 of 45 launches
Launches counted452 hits452 hits441 hits252 hits
Earned $100k+4.4 in 1001 in 234.4 in 1001 in 232.3 in 1001 in 438.0 in 1001 in 13
Typical first-year earnings$911top tenth $46,443+$911$911$647
Chance against standardthe yardstick0.0%no change-47.7%2.1 fewer in 100+81.8%3.6 more in 100
Typical against standardthe yardstick0.0%no change0.0%no change-29.0%$264 less
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsMoves the answerMoves the answer
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged both Programming and Puzzle, 6 to 30 months old: 45 launches.

Launches counted
452 hits
Earned $100k+
4.4 in 1001 in 23
Typical first-year earnings
$911top tenth $46,443+
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: 0 of 45 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
452 hits
Earned $100k+
4.4 in 1001 in 23
Typical first-year earnings
$911
Chance against standard
0.0%no change
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Without the breakoutMoves the answer

Drops the single biggest earner, Kaizen: A Factory Story (38.6% of the money): 44 launches left.

Launches counted
441 hits
Earned $100k+
2.3 in 1001 in 43
Typical first-year earnings
$911
Chance against standard
-47.7%2.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Last 18 monthsMoves the answer

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 25 of 45.

Launches counted
252 hits
Earned $100k+
8.0 in 1001 in 13
Typical first-year earnings
$647
Chance against standard
+81.8%3.6 more in 100
Typical against standard
-29.0%$264 less
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged both Programming and Puzzle, 6 to 30 months old: 45 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: 0 of 45 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, Kaizen: A Factory Story (38.6% of the money): 44 launches left.
Last 18 months
Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 25 of 45.

Programming is changed recently: Last 18 months moves the answer by more than a quarter. It holds in 2 of 3.

Programming through every lens, all prices
ProgrammingBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view92 of 92 launchesWithout the breakout91 of 92 launchesLast 18 months46 of 92 launches
Launches counted927 hits927 hits916 hits466 hits
Earned $100k+7.6 in 1001 in 137.6 in 1001 in 136.6 in 1001 in 1513.0 in 100
Typical first-year earnings$1,456top tenth $88,609+$1,456$1,214$2,785
Chance against standardthe yardstick0.0%no change-13.2%1.0 fewer in 100+71.1%5.4 more in 100
Typical against standardthe yardstick0.0%no change-16.6%$242 less+91.3%$1,329 more
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsMoves the answer
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Programming, 6 to 30 months old: 92 launches.

Launches counted
927 hits
Earned $100k+
7.6 in 1001 in 13
Typical first-year earnings
$1,456top tenth $88,609+
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: 0 of 92 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
927 hits
Earned $100k+
7.6 in 1001 in 13
Typical first-year earnings
$1,456
Chance against standard
0.0%no change
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Kaizen: A Factory Story (13.9% of the money): 91 launches left.

Launches counted
916 hits
Earned $100k+
6.6 in 1001 in 15
Typical first-year earnings
$1,214
Chance against standard
-13.2%1.0 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-16.6%$242 less
Last 18 monthsMoves the answer

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 46 of 92.

Launches counted
466 hits
Earned $100k+
13.0 in 100
Typical first-year earnings
$2,785
Chance against standard
+71.1%5.4 more in 100
Typical against standard
+91.3%$1,329 more
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged Programming, 6 to 30 months old: 92 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: 0 of 92 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, Kaizen: A Factory Story (13.9% of the money): 91 launches left.
Last 18 months
Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 46 of 92.

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

Puzzle through every lens, all prices
PuzzleBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view5,529 of 5,739 launchesWithout the breakout5,738 of 5,739 launchesLast 18 months3,111 of 5,739 launches
Launches counted5,739203 hits5,529192 hits5,738202 hits3,111106 hits
Earned $100k+3.5 in 1001 in 293.5 in 1001 in 293.5 in 1001 in 293.4 in 1001 in 29
Typical first-year earnings$443top tenth $14,400+$461$443$405
Chance against standardthe yardstick0.0%no change0.0%no change-2.9%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standardthe yardstick+4.1%$18 more0.0%no change-8.6%$38 less
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Puzzle, 6 to 30 months old: 5,739 launches.

Launches counted
5,739203 hits
Earned $100k+
3.5 in 1001 in 29
Typical first-year earnings
$443top tenth $14,400+
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: 210 of 5,739 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
5,529192 hits
Earned $100k+
3.5 in 1001 in 29
Typical first-year earnings
$461
Chance against standard
0.0%no change
Typical against standard
+4.1%$18 more
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Blue Prince (7.0% of the money): 5,738 launches left.

Launches counted
5,738202 hits
Earned $100k+
3.5 in 1001 in 29
Typical first-year earnings
$443
Chance against standard
0.0%no change
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 3,111 of 5,739.

Launches counted
3,111106 hits
Earned $100k+
3.4 in 1001 in 29
Typical first-year earnings
$405
Chance against standard
-2.9%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-8.6%$38 less
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged Puzzle, 6 to 30 months old: 5,739 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: 210 of 5,739 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, Blue Prince (7.0% of the money): 5,738 launches left.
Last 18 months
Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 3,111 of 5,739.

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 Programming + Puzzle 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.