Niche

Text-Based + Visual Novel

Games tagged both Text-Based and Visual Novel: 305 indie paid launches, 11 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.

Price $10 to $20

All prices1 in 15 hit $100k+Under $51 in 238 hit $100k+$5 to $101 in 28 hit $100k+$10 to $2020 in 100 hit $100k+$20 to $4044 in 100 hit $100k+

Base rate: indie paid launches 12 to 36 months old, 26,291 launches. Odds compare best within one price.

Lens Last 18 months

Standard West-facing view Without the breakout Last 18 months

Only launches from the last 18 months. Lens figures exist at all prices only; inside a price band this page shows the standard figures.

Sample 10+

10+ launchesshow small samples 30+ launches 100+ launchesonly big markets

Hides anything measured on fewer launches.

$10 to $20 Last 18 months Reset

Showing Text-Based + Visual Novel 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 is about level with Text-Based and trails Visual Novel; priced $10 to $20 it is too small to compare with Text-Based and is too small to compare with Visual Novel.

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

Text-Based + Visual Novel is too small to compare with Text-Based and is too small to compare with Visual Novel: 3 of its 62 launches earned $100k+ priced $10 to $20, against 8.2 in 100 for Text-Based and 14.7 in 100 for Visual Novel.

Lens figures by price band are not computed yet, so this band uses the standard figures. Small sample: 62 launches, 3 hits.

TIETied

Tag oneText-Based

8.2in 100 earned
$100k+

Odds1 in 12

$1k+73 in 100

$10k+46 in 100

Launches97 / 8 hits

Pair against ittoo few hits to compare

TIEA tie

This pairText-Based + Visual Novel

3 of 62launches earned
$100k+ small

Odds3 of 62 launches

$1k+71 in 100

$10k+44 in 100

Launches62 / 3 hits

Expected20.4 in 100

TIEA tie

Tag twoVisual Novel

14.7in 100 earned
$100k+

Odds14.7 in 100

Typical earnings$9,963

Launches434 / 64 hits

Pair against ittoo few hits to compare

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 prices305 in pair Under $5147 in pair $5 to $1075 in pair $10 to $2062 in pair $20 to $4021 in pair

What the overlap means

The overlap is this niche: the 62 games tagged both Text-Based and Visual Novel priced $10 to $20. 3 of 62 of them earned $100k+, against 14.3 in 100 for Text-Based-only games and 16.4 in 100 for Visual Novel-only games, so the mix is too small to compare with Text-Based alone and is too small to compare with Visual Novel alone.

Both: 62 games priced $10 to $20; 3 of 62 earned $100k+, odds by size $1k+ 71 in 100 · $10k+ 44 in 100 · $100k+ 3 of 62 launches.

Circle areas follow launch counts; the gold overlap is exactly the pair's 62 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

Homicipherleads this pair34.1%

PairHomicipher34.1%

Text-BasedHomicipher21.3%

Visual NovelSlay the Princess — The Pristine Cut7.1%

CheckOne game over half?no

NextNearest hitsnot computed yet

Lens checkHolds in 2 of 3, 1 too few to tell. Standard: the base the others are compared with. West-facing view: holds. Without the breakout: holds. Last 18 months: too few to tell.

Open free preview

ComparablesFree until launchClick to unlockWho leads Text-Based + 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

Homicipher earned 34.1% of the estimated first-year money of the 305 Text-Based + Visual Novel launches.
It also leads Text-Based, with 21.3% of that tag's money.
Visual Novel is led by Slay the Princess — The Pristine Cut, with 7.1% 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

Text-Based + Visual Novel holds in West-facing view and Without the breakout; too few to tell in Last 18 months. No lens moves the chance or typical earnings more than chance alone would.

Text-Based + Visual Novel through every lens, all prices
This pair	BaseStandardevery launch	West-facing view277 of 305 launches	Without the breakout304 of 305 launches	Last 18 months76 of 305 launches
Launches counted	30511 hits	2779 hits	30410 hits	762 hits
Earned $100k+	3.6 in 1001 in 28	3.2 in 1001 in 31	3.3 in 1001 in 30	2 of 76too few for a rate
Typical first-year earnings	$827top tenth $27,223+	$929	$827	under 100 launches
Chance against standard	the base	-9.9%0.4 fewer in 100	-8.8%0.3 fewer in 100	-27.0%1.0 fewer in 100; too few to tell
Typical against standard	the base	+12.3%$102 more	0.0%no change	under 100 launches
Does it hold?	The base view	Holds	Holds	Too few to tell

BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged both Text-Based and Visual Novel, 12 to 36 months old: 305 launches.

Launches counted: 30511 hits
Earned $100k+: 3.6 in 1001 in 28
Typical first-year earnings: $827top tenth $27,223+
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: 28 of 305 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted: 2779 hits
Earned $100k+: 3.2 in 1001 in 31
Typical first-year earnings: $929
Chance against standard: -9.9%0.4 fewer in 100
Typical against standard: +12.3%$102 more

Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Homicipher (34.1% of the money): 304 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted: 30410 hits
Earned $100k+: 3.3 in 1001 in 30
Typical first-year earnings: $827
Chance against standard: -8.8%0.3 fewer in 100
Typical against standard: 0.0%no change

Last 18 monthsToo few to tell

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 76 of 305.

Launches counted: 762 hits
Earned $100k+: 2 of 76too few for a rate
Typical first-year earnings: under 100 launches
Chance against standard: -27.0%1.0 fewer in 100; too few to tell
Typical against standard: under 100 launches

Standard: Every indie paid launch tagged both Text-Based and Visual Novel, 12 to 36 months old: 305 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: 28 of 305 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, Homicipher (34.1% of the money): 304 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: 76 of 305.

Text-Based 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.

Text-Based through every lens, all prices
Text-Based	BaseStandardevery launch	West-facing view550 of 610 launches	Without the breakout609 of 610 launches	Last 18 months154 of 610 launches
Launches counted	61020 hits	55018 hits	60919 hits	1543 hits
Earned $100k+	3.3 in 1001 in 31	3.3 in 1001 in 31	3.1 in 1001 in 32	3 of 154too few for a rate
Typical first-year earnings	$625top tenth $20,699+	$750	$625	$570
Chance against standard	the base	-0.2%no change	-4.8%0.2 fewer in 100	-40.6%1.3 fewer in 100; too few to tell
Typical against standard	the base	+20.0%$125 more	0.0%no change	-8.8%$55 less
Does it hold?	The base view	Holds	Holds	Holds

BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Text-Based, 12 to 36 months old: 610 launches.

Launches counted: 61020 hits
Earned $100k+: 3.3 in 1001 in 31
Typical first-year earnings: $625top tenth $20,699+
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: 60 of 610 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted: 55018 hits
Earned $100k+: 3.3 in 1001 in 31
Typical first-year earnings: $750
Chance against standard: -0.2%no change
Typical against standard: +20.0%$125 more

Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Homicipher (21.3% of the money): 609 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted: 60919 hits
Earned $100k+: 3.1 in 1001 in 32
Typical first-year earnings: $625
Chance against standard: -4.8%0.2 fewer in 100
Typical against standard: 0.0%no change

Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 154 of 610.

Launches counted: 1543 hits
Earned $100k+: 3 of 154too few for a rate
Typical first-year earnings: $570
Chance against standard: -40.6%1.3 fewer in 100; too few to tell
Typical against standard: -8.8%$55 less

Standard: Every indie paid launch tagged Text-Based, 12 to 36 months old: 610 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: 60 of 610 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, Homicipher (21.3% of the money): 609 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: 154 of 610.

Visual Novel is audience split: West-facing view moves the answer more than chance alone would. It holds in Without the breakout and Last 18 months.

Visual Novel through every lens, all prices
Visual Novel	BaseStandardevery launch	West-facing view1,641 of 1,872 launches	Without the breakout1,871 of 1,872 launches	Last 18 months534 of 1,872 launches
Launches counted	1,872130 hits	1,64199 hits	1,871129 hits	53441 hits
Earned $100k+	6.9 in 1001 in 14	6.0 in 1001 in 17	6.9 in 1001 in 15	7.7 in 1001 in 13
Typical first-year earnings	$1,448top tenth $61,563+	$1,430	$1,445	$1,594
Chance against standard	the base	-13.1%0.9 fewer in 100	-0.7%no change	+10.6%0.7 more in 100
Typical against standard	the base	-1.2%$18 less	-0.2%$3 less	+10.1%$146 more
Does it hold?	The base view	Moves the answer	Holds	Holds

BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Visual Novel, 12 to 36 months old: 1,872 launches.

Launches counted: 1,872130 hits
Earned $100k+: 6.9 in 1001 in 14
Typical first-year earnings: $1,448top tenth $61,563+
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: 231 of 1,872 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted: 1,64199 hits
Earned $100k+: 6.0 in 1001 in 17
Typical first-year earnings: $1,430
Chance against standard: -13.1%0.9 fewer in 100
Typical against standard: -1.2%$18 less

Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Slay the Princess — The Pristine Cut (7.1% of the money): 1,871 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted: 1,871129 hits
Earned $100k+: 6.9 in 1001 in 15
Typical first-year earnings: $1,445
Chance against standard: -0.7%no change
Typical against standard: -0.2%$3 less

Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 534 of 1,872.

Launches counted: 53441 hits
Earned $100k+: 7.7 in 1001 in 13
Typical first-year earnings: $1,594
Chance against standard: +10.6%0.7 more in 100
Typical against standard: +10.1%$146 more

Standard: Every indie paid launch tagged Visual Novel, 12 to 36 months old: 1,872 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: 231 of 1,872 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, Slay the Princess — The Pristine Cut (7.1% of the money): 1,871 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: 534 of 1,872.

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 Text-Based + Visual Novel moves, comparables the day they land, and every lens for every pair and price. Free until launch.

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