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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 / Sci-fi + Visual Novel

Niche

Sci-fi + Visual Novel

Games tagged both Sci-fi and Visual Novel: 102 indie paid launches, 7 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 Sci-fi + Visual Novel priced $10 to $20. This filter changes the answer: at all prices the pair is level with Sci-fi and beats Visual Novel; 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

Sci-fi + Visual Novel trails both its tags: 3 of its 27 launches earned $100k+ priced $10 to $20, against 15.2 in 100 for Sci-fi and 14.6 in 100 for Visual Novel.

Small sample: 27 launches, 3 hits.

1STWinner
Tag onemood tagSci-fi
15.2in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds15.2 in 100
Typical earnings$8,012
Launches264 / 40 hits
Pair trails by4.1 in 100
3RDThird
This pairSci-fi + Visual Novel
3 of 27launches earned
$100k+ small
Odds3 of 27 launches
Typical earnings$11,003
Launches27 / 3 hits
Expected18.6 in 100
2NDRunner-up
14.6in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds14.6 in 100
Typical earnings$7,366
Launches460 / 67 hits
Pair trails by3.5 in 100
All indie launches $10 to $20: 18.6 in 100 earned $100k+, typical $9,226, from 4,810 launches.each block is 1 in 100 all indie at $10 to $20Sci-fi is a mood tag: GMD never ranks it alone, but every game carrying it is counted.

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
What the overlap means

The overlap is this niche: the 27 games tagged both Sci-fi and Visual Novel priced $10 to $20. 11.1 in 100 of them earned $100k+, against 15.6 for Sci-fi-only games and 14.8 for Visual Novel-only games, so games with both tags did worse than games with either tag alone.

Both: 27 games priced $10 to $20; 11.1 in 100 earned $100k+, typical first-year earnings $11,003.

Circle areas follow launch counts; the gold overlap is exactly the pair's 27 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

1000xRESISTleads this pair45.0%
Pair1000xRESIST45.0%
Sci-fiAbiotic Factor23.3%
Visual NovelUntil Then7.5%
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 Sci-fi + Visual Novel

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

  • 1000xRESIST earned 45.0% of the estimated first-year money of the 102 Sci-fi + Visual Novel launches.
  • Sci-fi is led by Abiotic Factor, with 23.3% of its money.
  • Visual Novel is led by Until Then, with 7.5% 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

Sci-fi + Visual Novel is changed recently: Last 18 months moves the answer by more than a quarter. It holds in 2 of 3.

Sci-fi + Visual Novel through every lens, all prices
This pairBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view88 of 102 launchesWithout the breakout101 of 102 launchesLast 18 months54 of 102 launches
Launches counted1027 hits886 hits1016 hits543 hits
Earned $100k+6.9 in 1001 in 146.8 in 1001 in 155.9 in 1001 in 175.6 in 1001 in 18
Typical first-year earnings$1,132top tenth $52,624+$1,213$1,022$707
Chance against standardthe yardstick-1.4%0.1 fewer in 100-14.5%1.0 fewer in 100-18.8%1.3 fewer in 100
Typical against standardthe yardstick+7.2%$81 more-9.7%$110 less-37.5%$425 less
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsMoves the answer
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged both Sci-fi and Visual Novel, 6 to 30 months old: 102 launches.

Launches counted
1027 hits
Earned $100k+
6.9 in 1001 in 14
Typical first-year earnings
$1,132top tenth $52,624+
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: 14 of 102 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
886 hits
Earned $100k+
6.8 in 1001 in 15
Typical first-year earnings
$1,213
Chance against standard
-1.4%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
+7.2%$81 more
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, 1000xRESIST (45.0% of the money): 101 launches left.

Launches counted
1016 hits
Earned $100k+
5.9 in 1001 in 17
Typical first-year earnings
$1,022
Chance against standard
-14.5%1.0 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-9.7%$110 less
Last 18 monthsMoves the answer

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 54 of 102.

Launches counted
543 hits
Earned $100k+
5.6 in 1001 in 18
Typical first-year earnings
$707
Chance against standard
-18.8%1.3 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-37.5%$425 less
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged both Sci-fi and Visual Novel, 6 to 30 months old: 102 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: 14 of 102 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, 1000xRESIST (45.0% of the money): 101 launches left.
Last 18 months
Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 54 of 102.

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

Sci-fi through every lens, all prices
Sci-fiBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view1,310 of 1,348 launchesWithout the breakout1,347 of 1,348 launchesLast 18 months729 of 1,348 launches
Launches counted1,34899 hits1,31096 hits1,34798 hits72947 hits
Earned $100k+7.3 in 1001 in 147.3 in 1001 in 147.3 in 1001 in 146.4 in 1001 in 16
Typical first-year earnings$566top tenth $47,977+$546$561$485
Chance against standardthe yardstick0.0%no change0.0%no change-12.3%0.9 fewer in 100
Typical against standardthe yardstick-3.5%$20 less-0.9%$5 less-14.3%$81 less
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Sci-fi, 6 to 30 months old: 1,348 launches.

Launches counted
1,34899 hits
Earned $100k+
7.3 in 1001 in 14
Typical first-year earnings
$566top tenth $47,977+
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: 38 of 1,348 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
1,31096 hits
Earned $100k+
7.3 in 1001 in 14
Typical first-year earnings
$546
Chance against standard
0.0%no change
Typical against standard
-3.5%$20 less
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Abiotic Factor (23.3% of the money): 1,347 launches left.

Launches counted
1,34798 hits
Earned $100k+
7.3 in 1001 in 14
Typical first-year earnings
$561
Chance against standard
0.0%no change
Typical against standard
-0.9%$5 less
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 729 of 1,348.

Launches counted
72947 hits
Earned $100k+
6.4 in 1001 in 16
Typical first-year earnings
$485
Chance against standard
-12.3%0.9 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-14.3%$81 less
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged Sci-fi, 6 to 30 months old: 1,348 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: 38 of 1,348 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, Abiotic Factor (23.3% of the money): 1,347 launches left.
Last 18 months
Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 729 of 1,348.

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

Visual Novel through every lens, all prices
Visual NovelBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view1,823 of 2,114 launchesWithout the breakout2,113 of 2,114 launchesLast 18 months1,162 of 2,114 launches
Launches counted2,114130 hits1,823100 hits2,113129 hits1,16263 hits
Earned $100k+6.1 in 1001 in 165.5 in 1001 in 186.1 in 1001 in 165.4 in 1001 in 19
Typical first-year earnings$1,293top tenth $48,802+$1,214$1,287$910
Chance against standardthe yardstick-9.8%0.6 fewer in 1000.0%no change-11.5%0.7 fewer in 100
Typical against standardthe yardstick-6.1%$79 less-0.5%$6 less-29.6%$383 less
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsMoves the answer
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Visual Novel, 6 to 30 months old: 2,114 launches.

Launches counted
2,114130 hits
Earned $100k+
6.1 in 1001 in 16
Typical first-year earnings
$1,293top tenth $48,802+
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: 291 of 2,114 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
1,823100 hits
Earned $100k+
5.5 in 1001 in 18
Typical first-year earnings
$1,214
Chance against standard
-9.8%0.6 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-6.1%$79 less
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Until Then (7.5% of the money): 2,113 launches left.

Launches counted
2,113129 hits
Earned $100k+
6.1 in 1001 in 16
Typical first-year earnings
$1,287
Chance against standard
0.0%no change
Typical against standard
-0.5%$6 less
Last 18 monthsMoves the answer

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 1,162 of 2,114.

Launches counted
1,16263 hits
Earned $100k+
5.4 in 1001 in 19
Typical first-year earnings
$910
Chance against standard
-11.5%0.7 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-29.6%$383 less
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged Visual Novel, 6 to 30 months old: 2,114 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: 291 of 2,114 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, Until Then (7.5% of the money): 2,113 launches left.
Last 18 months
Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 1,162 of 2,114.

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 Sci-fi + Visual Novel 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.