Best niches
$10 to $20Pairs that hit $100k+ beyond the oddsFree until launch
Casual + Cozyabout 3.0 times the 19 in 100 base rate55 in 100
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Best nichesFree until launchClick to unlockTag pairs that beat the odds
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.
The niche list
Best odds at my priceChance of $100k+, read within one price band.Now: Casual + Cozy, 55 in 100. 1,269 match.Steady marketsHolds in every lens and no single game owns it.Now: Casual + Cozy, 55 in 100. 706 match.Biggest typical yearWhat the middle launch earned, highest first.Now: Casual + Cozy, $120,225 typical. 1,269 match.Biggest upsideWhat the top tenth earned at least.Now: Co-op + Multiplayer, $1.6M top 1 in 10. 658 match.Proven at scale100+ launches and above the base rate.Now: Building + Sandbox, 38 in 100. 75 match.Busiest marketsMost launches first: where the competition is.Now: Adventure + Exploration, 437 launches. 1,269 match.
3,697 of 5,145 niches have 10+ launches at $10 to $20. Sorted by chance of $100k+, lowest first.
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| Rank# | Niche | Chance of $100k+ | Typical year | Top 1 in 10 | Launches | Markers | Pin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All games at $10 to $20the base rate: the row to beat | 19 in 100893 of 4,810 | $9,226 | $248,075 | 4,810 | |||
| 1 | Fantasy + Magicnone of 64 launches earned $100k+ | 0 in 100no hits | $4,048 | $23,070 | 64 | none | Pin Fantasy + Magic |
| 2 | Fantasy + Hidden Objectnone of 53 launches earned $100k+ | 0 in 100no hits | $810 | $3,238 | 53 | none | Pin Fantasy + Hidden Object |
| 3 | Casual + LGBTQ+none of 37 launches earned $100k+ | 0 in 100no hits | $4,553 | $59,495 | 37 | 1-hitSmall | Pin Casual + LGBTQ+ |
| 4 | Puzzle + VRnone of 34 launches earned $100k+ | 0 in 100no hits | $2,367 | $15,177 | 34 | Small | Pin Puzzle + VR |
| 5 | 3D Platformer + Arcadenone of 33 launches earned $100k+ | 0 in 100no hits | $1,214 | $15,382 | 33 | Small | Pin 3D Platformer + Arcade |
| 6 | Casual + Linearnone of 33 launches earned $100k+ | 0 in 100no hits | $2,104 | $16,046 | 33 | Small | Pin Casual + Linear |
| 7 | Romance + Text-Basednone of 27 launches earned $100k+ | 0 of 27no hits | $1,821 | $24,284 | 27 | Small | Pin Romance + Text-Based |
| 8 | 3D + Puzzle Platformernone of 26 launches earned $100k+ | 0 of 26no hits | $5,181 | $19,202 | 26 | 1-hitSmall | Pin 3D + Puzzle Platformer |
| 9 | Arcade + Family Friendlynone of 26 launches earned $100k+ | 0 of 26no hits | $1,335 | $14,267 | 26 | Small | Pin Arcade + Family Friendly |
| 10 | 2D + Time Managementnone of 25 launches earned $100k+ | 0 of 25no hits | $2,692 | $25,256 | 25 | Small | Pin 2D + Time Management |
| 11 | Casual + Local Multiplayernone of 25 launches earned $100k+ | 0 of 25no hits | $1,942 | $24,284 | 25 | 1-hitSmallAudience | Pin Casual + Local Multiplayer |
| 12 | Detective + Hidden Objectnone of 25 launches earned $100k+ | 0 of 25no hits | $1,619 | $9,310 | 25 | Small | Pin Detective + Hidden Object |
| 13 | Magic + Story Richnone of 25 launches earned $100k+ | 0 of 25no hits | $3,238 | $46,957 | 25 | 1-hitSmall | Pin Magic + Story Rich |
| 14 | 2D + Historicalnone of 24 launches earned $100k+ | 0 of 24no hits | $17,302 | $74,078 | 24 | Small | Pin 2D + Historical |
| 15 | Colorful + Time Managementnone of 24 launches earned $100k+ | 0 of 24no hits | $911 | $25,498 | 24 | Small | Pin Colorful + Time Management |
| 16 | 4 Player Local + Actionnone of 23 launches earned $100k+ | 0 of 23no hits | $4,857 | $36,432 | 23 | 1-hitSmall | Pin 4 Player Local + Action |
| 17 | Anime + Comedynone of 23 launches earned $100k+ | 0 of 23no hits | $5,262 | $40,480 | 23 | Small | Pin Anime + Comedy |
| 18 | Casual + Investigationnone of 23 launches earned $100k+ | 0 of 23no hits | $2,367 | $33,670 | 23 | 1-hitSmall | Pin Casual + Investigation |
| 19 | Magic + Puzzlenone of 23 launches earned $100k+ | 0 of 23no hits | $789 | $15,787 | 23 | Small | Pin Magic + Puzzle |
| 20 | Casual + Real Time Tacticsnone of 22 launches earned $100k+ | 0 of 22no hits | $911 | $25,256 | 22 | SmallAudience | Pin Casual + Real Time Tactics |
| 21 | Family Friendly + Fantasynone of 22 launches earned $100k+ | 0 of 22no hits | $1,942 | $12,749 | 22 | Small | Pin Family Friendly + Fantasy |
| 22 | Simulation + Space Simnone of 22 launches earned $100k+ | 0 of 22no hits | $3,885 | $24,288 | 22 | 1-hitSmall | Pin Simulation + Space Sim |
| 23 | Simulation + Walking Simulatornone of 22 launches earned $100k+ | 0 of 22no hits | $4,553 | $54,387 | 22 | Small | Pin Simulation + Walking Simulator |
| 24 | 2D + Immersive Simnone of 21 launches earned $100k+ | 0 of 21no hits | $11,334 | $61,671 | 21 | SmallAudience | Pin 2D + Immersive Sim |
| 25 | 3D + Minimalistnone of 21 launches earned $100k+ | 0 of 21no hits | $1,578 | $20,945 | 21 | Small | Pin 3D + Minimalist |
| 26 | Action RPG + Combatnone of 21 launches earned $100k+ | 0 of 21no hits | $10,692 | $51,907 | 21 | 1-hitSmallAudience | Pin Action RPG + Combat |
| 27 | Arcade + Funnynone of 21 launches earned $100k+ | 0 of 21no hits | $9,207 | $31,169 | 21 | Small | Pin Arcade + Funny |
| 28 | Colorful + Romancenone of 21 launches earned $100k+ | 0 of 21no hits | $7,892 | $12,626 | 21 | Small | Pin Colorful + Romance |
| 29 | Action + Aliensnone of 20 launches earned $100k+ | 0 of 20no hits | $1,558 | $63,553 | 20 | Small | Pin Action + Aliens |
| 30 | Grand Strategy + RTSnone of 20 launches earned $100k+ | 0 of 20no hits | $13,763 | $74,078 | 20 | 1-hitSmall | Pin Grand Strategy + RTS |
| 31 | Card Game + Puzzlenone of 19 launches earned $100k+ | 0 of 19no hits | $4,249 | $54,451 | 19 | Small | Pin Card Game + Puzzle |
| 32 | Casual + Comic Booknone of 19 launches earned $100k+ | 0 of 19no hits | $2,428 | $9,066 | 19 | Small | Pin Casual + Comic Book |
| 33 | PvE + Turn-Based Tacticsnone of 19 launches earned $100k+ | 0 of 19no hits | $728 | $25,501 | 19 | 1-hitSmall | Pin PvE + Turn-Based Tactics |
| 34 | Turn-Based Tactics + Wargamenone of 19 launches earned $100k+ | 0 of 19no hits | $10,017 | $36,432 | 19 | Small | Pin Turn-Based Tactics + Wargame |
| 35 | Adventure + PvEnone of 18 launches earned $100k+ | 0 of 18no hits | $1,943 | $35,093 | 18 | Small | Pin Adventure + PvE |
| 36 | Dating Sim + Fantasynone of 18 launches earned $100k+ | 0 of 18no hits | $5,262 | $66,288 | 18 | 1-hitSmall | Pin Dating Sim + Fantasy |
| 37 | Dating Sim + Text-Basednone of 18 launches earned $100k+ | 0 of 18no hits | $810 | $17,305 | 18 | Small | Pin Dating Sim + Text-Based |
| 38 | Magic + Visual Novelnone of 18 launches earned $100k+ | 0 of 18no hits | $8,499 | $50,872 | 18 | 1-hitSmall | Pin Magic + Visual Novel |
| 39 | Top-Down + Tower Defensenone of 18 launches earned $100k+ | 0 of 18no hits | $6,477 | $32,013 | 18 | Small | Pin Top-Down + Tower Defense |
| 40 | 3D + Tactical RPGnone of 17 launches earned $100k+ | 0 of 17no hits | $2,203 | $31,169 | 17 | 1-hitSmallAudience | Pin 3D + Tactical RPG |
| 41 | Adventure + Aliensnone of 17 launches earned $100k+ | 0 of 17no hits | $2,835 | $89,055 | 17 | Small | Pin Adventure + Aliens |
| 42 | Adventure + Mystery Dungeonnone of 17 launches earned $100k+ | 0 of 17no hits | $1,457 | $13,843 | 17 | SmallAudience | Pin Adventure + Mystery Dungeon |
| 43 | Aliens + Sci-finone of 17 launches earned $100k+ | 0 of 17no hits | $5,827 | $50,242 | 17 | 1-hitSmall | Pin Aliens + Sci-fi |
| 44 | Arcade + Combatnone of 17 launches earned $100k+ | 0 of 17no hits | $3,946 | $41,890 | 17 | Small | Pin Arcade + Combat |
| 45 | Fantasy + Romancenone of 17 launches earned $100k+ | 0 of 17no hits | $7,285 | $66,288 | 17 | SmallAudience | Pin Fantasy + Romance |
| 46 | Idler + Simulationnone of 17 launches earned $100k+ | 0 of 17no hits | $2,630 | $36,662 | 17 | Small | Pin Idler + Simulation |
| 47 | Incremental + Point & Clicknone of 17 launches earned $100k+ | 0 of 17no hits | $1,821 | $61,290 | 17 | Small | Pin Incremental + Point & Click |
| 48 | Puzzle Platformer + Side Scrollernone of 17 launches earned $100k+ | 0 of 17no hits | $9,472 | $58,888 | 17 | Small | Pin Puzzle Platformer + Side Scroller |
| 49 | 2D + Wargamenone of 16 launches earned $100k+ | 0 of 16no hits | $5,175 | $34,813 | 16 | SmallAudience | Pin 2D + Wargame |
| 50 | Board Game + Colorfulnone of 16 launches earned $100k+ | 0 of 16no hits | $3,339 | $15,784 | 16 | 1-hitSmall | Pin Board Game + Colorful |
| 51 | Casual + Darknone of 16 launches earned $100k+ | 0 of 16no hits | $3,420 | $16,392 | 16 | SmallAudience | Pin Casual + Dark |
| 52 | Choices Matter + Hand-drawnnone of 16 launches earned $100k+ | 0 of 16no hits | $9,470 | $73,399 | 16 | 1-hitSmall | Pin Choices Matter + Hand-drawn |
| 53 | Choose Your Own Adventure + Colorfulnone of 16 launches earned $100k+ | 0 of 16no hits | $1,518 | $48,802 | 16 | Small | Pin Choose Your Own Adventure + Colorful |
| 54 | Fantasy + Top-Downnone of 16 launches earned $100k+ | 0 of 16no hits | $5,160 | $35,622 | 16 | Small | Pin Fantasy + Top-Down |
| 55 | Linear + Relaxingnone of 16 launches earned $100k+ | 0 of 16no hits | $3,946 | $24,587 | 16 | 1-hitSmall | Pin Linear + Relaxing |
| 56 | 3D + Magicnone of 15 launches earned $100k+ | 0 of 15no hits | $3,156 | $15,787 | 15 | 1-hitSmall | Pin 3D + Magic |
| 57 | Action RTS + Real Time Tacticsnone of 15 launches earned $100k+ | 0 of 15no hits | $3,683 | $70,727 | 15 | 1-hitSmall | Pin Action RTS + Real Time Tactics |
| 58 | Adventure + Board Gamenone of 15 launches earned $100k+ | 0 of 15no hits | $2,914 | $42,088 | 15 | SmallAudience | Pin Adventure + Board Game |
| 59 | Anime + Magicnone of 15 launches earned $100k+ | 0 of 15no hits | $7,691 | $50,872 | 15 | Small | Pin Anime + Magic |
| 60 | Casual + Score Attacknone of 15 launches earned $100k+ | 0 of 15no hits | $486 | $20,152 | 15 | SmallAudience | Pin Casual + Score Attack |
| 61 | Character Customization + Choose Your Own Adventurenone of 15 launches earned $100k+ | 0 of 15no hits | $11,411 | $74,888 | 15 | Small | Pin Character Customization + Choose Your Own Adventure |
| 62 | Dialogue Heavy + Multiple Endingsnone of 15 launches earned $100k+ | 0 of 15no hits | $1,619 | $49,288 | 15 | SmallAudience | Pin Dialogue Heavy + Multiple Endings |
| 63 | Family Friendly + Time Managementnone of 15 launches earned $100k+ | 0 of 15no hits | $2,428 | $42,909 | 15 | 1-hitSmall | Pin Family Friendly + Time Management |
| 64 | Female Protagonist + PvEnone of 15 launches earned $100k+ | 0 of 15no hits | $11,231 | $52,210 | 15 | SmallAudience | Pin Female Protagonist + PvE |
| 65 | Hand-drawn + Interactive Fictionnone of 15 launches earned $100k+ | 0 of 15no hits | $7,628 | $67,995 | 15 | 1-hitSmall | Pin Hand-drawn + Interactive Fiction |
| 66 | Incremental + Simulationnone of 15 launches earned $100k+ | 0 of 15no hits | $1,052 | $10,525 | 15 | Small | Pin Incremental + Simulation |
| 67 | Puzzle + Side Scrollernone of 15 launches earned $100k+ | 0 of 15no hits | $9,472 | $77,388 | 15 | Small | Pin Puzzle + Side Scroller |
| 68 | PvE + Turn-Based Strategynone of 15 launches earned $100k+ | 0 of 15no hits | $911 | $21,609 | 15 | 1-hitSmallAudience | Pin PvE + Turn-Based Strategy |
| 69 | Sci-fi + Turn-Based Strategynone of 15 launches earned $100k+ | 0 of 15no hits | $2,125 | $27,016 | 15 | 1-hitSmallAudience | Pin Sci-fi + Turn-Based Strategy |
| 70 | Space Sim + Strategynone of 15 launches earned $100k+ | 0 of 15no hits | $1,619 | $4,250 | 15 | 1-hitSmall | Pin Space Sim + Strategy |
| 71 | 2D + First-Personnone of 14 launches earned $100k+ | 0 of 14no hits | $3,885 | $60,102 | 14 | SmallAudience | Pin 2D + First-Person |
| 72 | 2D + Solitairenone of 14 launches earned $100k+ | 0 of 14no hits | $4,249 | $17,098 | 14 | Small | Pin 2D + Solitaire |
| 73 | 2D Fighter + Side Scrollernone of 14 launches earned $100k+ | 0 of 14no hits | $7,088 | $22,669 | 14 | SmallAudience | Pin 2D Fighter + Side Scroller |
| 74 | 4 Player Local + PvPnone of 14 launches earned $100k+ | 0 of 14no hits | $7,102 | $58,696 | 14 | Small | Pin 4 Player Local + PvP |
| 75 | Action RPG + Party-Based RPGnone of 14 launches earned $100k+ | 0 of 14no hits | $15,177 | $62,659 | 14 | SmallAudience | Pin Action RPG + Party-Based RPG |
Show 25 moreShowing 75 of 3,697 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.