Niches

Every tag pair (two tags on the same game), screened by how often its indie launches earned $100k or more in their first year. Pick your price first: price moves the odds more than the tags do.

Indie paid Steam launches 6 to 30 months old, data 1 Oct 2026. A hit is an estimated first year of $100k+. The revenue estimate is soft: about 5 to 8 in 100 launches overall.

Best niches

All prices

Pairs that hit $100k+ beyond the oddsFree until launch

Capitalism + Incrementalabout 13 times expected at its prices14 in 100

1Capitalism + Incremental14 in 10050 launches 2Casual + Desktop Companion28 in 10047 launches 3Desktop Companion + Idler25 in 10064 launches 4Desktop Companion + Relaxing30 in 10043 launches 5Comedy + Memes10 in 10049 launches

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

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Best nichesFree until launchClick to unlockTag pairs that beat the odds

The niche list

Price $10 to $20

All prices1 in 16 hit $100k+Under $51 in 200 hit $100k+$5 to $101 in 26 hit $100k+$10 to $2019 in 100 hit $100k+$20 to $4042 in 100 hit $100k+

Base rate: indie paid launches 6 to 30 months old, 29,637 launches. Odds compare best within one price.

Lens West-facing view

Standard West-facing view Without the breakout Last 18 months

Games mostly reviewed outside China: drops games with 35% or more of their reviews in Chinese. Lenses are computed across all prices only so far, so a lens reads All prices.

Sample 30+

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

Hides anything measured on fewer launches.

$10 to $20 West-facing view 30+ launches Reset

The West-facing view lens is computed across all prices only for now, so this list reads All prices. Pick Standard to read $10 to $20.

Best odds at my priceChance of $100k+, read within one price band.Opens $10 to $20, Standard lens.Steady marketsHolds in every lens and no single game owns it.Now: Co-op + Sandbox, 40 in 100. 1,751 match.Biggest typical yearWhat the middle launch earned, highest first.Now: Co-op + Open World, $87,031 typical. 5,130 match.Biggest upsideWhat the top tenth earned at least.Not computed for lenses yet.Proven at scale100+ launches and above the base rate.Now: Base Building + Management, 33 in 100. 833 match.Busiest marketsMost launches first: where the competition is.Now: 2D + Casual, 4,080 launches. 5,130 match.

Hide one-hit markets1,724 out Hide small samples1,063 out

5,130 of 5,145 niches have 30+ launches at any price, West-facing view. Sorted by chance of $100k+, lowest first.

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Niches at any price, West-facing view, sorted by chance of $100k+. The first row is the base rate.
Rank#	Niche	Chance of $100k+	Typical year	Top 1 in 10	Launches	Markers	Pin
	All games at any price, West-facing viewthe base rate: the row to beat	1 in 161,804 of 29,637	$606	not computed	29,637
1	2D + Top-Down Shooternone of 363 launches earned $100k+	0 in 100no hits	$202	not computed	363	none	Pin 2D + Top-Down Shooter
2	Casual + Precision Platformernone of 282 launches earned $100k+	0 in 100no hits	$121	not computed	282	1-hit	Pin Casual + Precision Platformer
3	Casual + Runnernone of 273 launches earned $100k+	0 in 100no hits	$81	not computed	273	none	Pin Casual + Runner
4	Arcade + Linearnone of 186 launches earned $100k+	0 in 100no hits	$202	not computed	186	none	Pin Arcade + Linear
5	Puzzle + Side Scrollernone of 185 launches earned $100k+	0 in 100no hits	$242	not computed	185	none	Pin Puzzle + Side Scroller
6	Action-Adventure + Hidden Objectnone of 184 launches earned $100k+	0 in 100no hits	$202	not computed	184	none	Pin Action-Adventure + Hidden Object
7	2D + Tabletopnone of 177 launches earned $100k+	0 in 100no hits	$202	not computed	177	none	Pin 2D + Tabletop
8	Puzzle Platformer + Strategynone of 149 launches earned $100k+	0 in 100no hits	$101	not computed	149	none	Pin Puzzle Platformer + Strategy
9	2D Platformer + Linearnone of 148 launches earned $100k+	0 in 100no hits	$242	not computed	148	none	Pin 2D Platformer + Linear
10	Physics + Precision Platformernone of 145 launches earned $100k+	0 in 100no hits	$323	not computed	145	none	Pin Physics + Precision Platformer
11	Platformer + Strategynone of 145 launches earned $100k+	0 in 100no hits	$121	not computed	145	Audience	Pin Platformer + Strategy
12	Casual + Real Time Tacticsnone of 143 launches earned $100k+	0 in 100no hits	$202	not computed	143	Audience	Pin Casual + Real Time Tactics
13	Casual + Solitairenone of 142 launches earned $100k+	0 in 100no hits	$263	not computed	142	Audience	Pin Casual + Solitaire
14	Cartoony + Hidden Objectnone of 140 launches earned $100k+	0 in 100no hits	$601	not computed	140	none	Pin Cartoony + Hidden Object
15	3D Platformer + Strategynone of 136 launches earned $100k+	0 in 100no hits	$100	not computed	136	1-hitAudience	Pin 3D Platformer + Strategy
16	Action-Adventure + Bullet Hellnone of 131 launches earned $100k+	0 in 100no hits	$303	not computed	131	none	Pin Action-Adventure + Bullet Hell
17	Arena Shooter + Casualnone of 130 launches earned $100k+	0 in 100no hits	$162	not computed	130	none	Pin Arena Shooter + Casual
18	Adventure + Top-Down Shooternone of 123 launches earned $100k+	0 in 100no hits	$243	not computed	123	1-hitAudience	Pin Adventure + Top-Down Shooter
19	Fantasy + Hidden Objectnone of 118 launches earned $100k+	0 in 100no hits	$486	not computed	118	none	Pin Fantasy + Hidden Object
20	Hidden Object + Linearnone of 111 launches earned $100k+	0 in 100no hits	$607	not computed	111	none	Pin Hidden Object + Linear
21	2D + Arena Shooternone of 107 launches earned $100k+	0 in 100no hits	$202	not computed	107	none	Pin 2D + Arena Shooter
22	3D Platformer + Hidden Objectnone of 107 launches earned $100k+	0 in 100no hits	$182	not computed	107	none	Pin 3D Platformer + Hidden Object
23	Dark + Hidden Objectnone of 106 launches earned $100k+	0 in 100no hits	$364	not computed	106	none	Pin Dark + Hidden Object
24	3D Fighter + Adventurenone of 103 launches earned $100k+	0 in 100no hits	$202	not computed	103	none	Pin 3D Fighter + Adventure
25	3D Platformer + FPSnone of 103 launches earned $100k+	0 in 100no hits	$162	not computed	103	none	Pin 3D Platformer + FPS
26	Relaxing + Tabletopnone of 100 launches earned $100k+	0 in 100no hits	$202	not computed	100	1-hit	Pin Relaxing + Tabletop
27	2D Fighter + Adventurenone of 99 launches earned $100k+	0 in 100no hits	$142	not computed	99	Audience	Pin 2D Fighter + Adventure
28	Precision Platformer + Runnernone of 99 launches earned $100k+	0 in 100no hits	$121	not computed	99	none	Pin Precision Platformer + Runner
29	Cartoony + Incrementalnone of 98 launches earned $100k+	0 in 100no hits	$182	not computed	98	Audience	Pin Cartoony + Incremental
30	Action + Interactive Fictionnone of 97 launches earned $100k+	0 in 100no hits	$282	not computed	97	none	Pin Action + Interactive Fiction
31	Arcade + Survivalnone of 97 launches earned $100k+	0 in 100no hits	$364	not computed	97	none	Pin Arcade + Survival
32	Precision Platformer + Psychological Horrornone of 97 launches earned $100k+	0 in 100no hits	$505	not computed	97	none	Pin Precision Platformer + Psychological Horror
33	PvE + Shoot 'Em Upnone of 97 launches earned $100k+	0 in 100no hits	$162	not computed	97	Audience	Pin PvE + Shoot 'Em Up
34	Casual + Third-Person Shooternone of 94 launches earned $100k+	0 in 100no hits	$81	not computed	94	1-hit	Pin Casual + Third-Person Shooter
35	2D + Aliensnone of 93 launches earned $100k+	0 in 100no hits	$101	not computed	93	none	Pin 2D + Aliens
36	Casual + Strategy RPGnone of 92 launches earned $100k+	0 in 100no hits	$283	not computed	92	Audience	Pin Casual + Strategy RPG
37	Hidden Object + Puzzle Platformernone of 92 launches earned $100k+	0 in 100no hits	$261	not computed	92	none	Pin Hidden Object + Puzzle Platformer
38	Puzzle Platformer + Relaxingnone of 92 launches earned $100k+	0 in 100no hits	$303	not computed	92	none	Pin Puzzle Platformer + Relaxing
39	2D + Local Multiplayernone of 91 launches earned $100k+	0 in 100no hits	$323	not computed	91	none	Pin 2D + Local Multiplayer
40	Hidden Object + Incrementalnone of 90 launches earned $100k+	0 in 100no hits	$546	not computed	90	Audience	Pin Hidden Object + Incremental
41	3D + Abstractnone of 89 launches earned $100k+	0 in 100no hits	$545	not computed	89	none	Pin 3D + Abstract
42	3D Fighter + Casualnone of 89 launches earned $100k+	0 in 100no hits	$121	not computed	89	none	Pin 3D Fighter + Casual
43	3D Platformer + Realisticnone of 88 launches earned $100k+	0 in 100no hits	$323	not computed	88	none	Pin 3D Platformer + Realistic
44	Puzzle + Solitairenone of 88 launches earned $100k+	0 in 100no hits	$545	not computed	88	Audience	Pin Puzzle + Solitaire
45	Arcade + Procedural Generationnone of 87 launches earned $100k+	0 in 100no hits	$142	not computed	87	none	Pin Arcade + Procedural Generation
46	Linear + Top-Downnone of 86 launches earned $100k+	0 in 100no hits	$202	not computed	86	none	Pin Linear + Top-Down
47	Hidden Object + Platformernone of 81 launches earned $100k+	0 in 100no hits	$121	not computed	81	none	Pin Hidden Object + Platformer
48	Linear + Side Scrollernone of 81 launches earned $100k+	0 in 100no hits	$243	not computed	81	none	Pin Linear + Side Scroller
49	Linear + Precision Platformernone of 80 launches earned $100k+	0 in 100no hits	$363	not computed	80	none	Pin Linear + Precision Platformer
50	Casual + Zombiesnone of 79 launches earned $100k+	0 in 100no hits	$202	not computed	79	none	Pin Casual + Zombies

Show 25 moreShowing 50 of 5,130 niches

green beats the base ratecoral below it bar: the chance; amber tick: the base rate1-hit one game holds over half the moneySmall under 50 launches in this viewAudience reads differently for Western players

Under 30 launches a chance is written as a count ("3 of 12"), never as odds. Typical year is the middle launch's first-year earnings. Lenses, the one-hit share and the audience split are measured across all prices. A game counts in every pair its tags make.