Methodological note: The interpretation of this dataset may be misleading because Steam games have multiple tags, meaning a single title can be counted several times across different genres. This introduces bias into the results and means that the conclusions should be read with caution. A more rigorous approach would require analyzing games as unique units, reducing tag dimensionality and considering tag combinations, as well as separating AAA from indie developers.
Steam’s vast marketplace is overflowing with indie titles, but only a few genres consistently give small developers a real shot at success.
A new analysis of more than 990,000 Steam games shows that the genres most likely to succeed for indie studios are open world survival and crafting games, simulation/management titles, and horror games. Meanwhile, once-popular genres like puzzle platformers, VR shooters, and arena shooters are increasingly seen as commercial dead ends.
The Data Behind the Trend
Researchers combined information from Steam’s API, Steam Spy, and Metacritic to create one of the most detailed pictures of the indie games market to date. While the dataset is slightly out of date, it remains recent enough to capture major market movements.
Instead of sales figures (which most studios keep private), the study relied on the number of player reviews. Any game that received more than 500 ratings was considered to have gained meaningful traction.
The results were telling:
• Most common genres released: strategy, simulation, RPG, platformer, puzzle.
• Most successful genres: building, farming simulators, management, RTS, FPS, and horror.
• Least successful genres: VR, puzzle platformers, 3D platformers, arena shooters.
In short, there is a disconnect between what indie developers make and what players actually buy.
Why “Crafty Buildy” Games Work
Chris Zukowski, a marketing consultant at How to Market a Game, identifies three “meta-genres” that dominate gaming:
1. Live service multiplayer (e.g., Counter-Strike, DOTA) – too expensive for indies.
2. Handcrafted single-player experiences (e.g., AAA RPGs) – indies can’t match the scope.
3. Crafty buildy simulation/strategy games – the sweet spot for indie devs.
The last category includes city builders, survival games, roguelikes, and farming sims. These work because they rely on procedural generation, deep systems, and progression loops, allowing small studios to produce massive replayability without AAA budgets.
Notable examples: Stardew Valley, Subnautica, Factorio, Valheim.
The Current Steam Top 100
A look at today’s Top 100 Steam games underscores the point. Out of 26 indie titles:
• 8 were open world survival craft games.
• 2 were simulation/strategy.
• 2 were deck builders.
• 2 were builder games (Satisfactory, Factorio).
• 1 was a farming sim (Stardew Valley).
• 1 was a roguelike.
Missing entirely: indie racing games, VR titles, and pixel platformers.
What Players Want
The study also highlights why certain games thrive:
• Repeatability: players love games that generate unique situations.
• Progression systems: from competitive ranks to farming upgrades, players want long-term goals.
• Deep systems: whether crafting, base-building, or RPG character growth, complexity sells.
Even idle games succeed because they provide pure progression loops.
The Harsh Reality for Indies
While platformers remain beloved by indie creators, the numbers don’t lie: oversupply and limited demand make them one of the riskiest bets. Horror, by contrast, continues to punch above its weight. With players not expecting dozens of hours of content, short, story-driven horror titles remain a viable niche.
The Bottom Line
For indie studios hoping to break through on Steam, the advice is clear:
• Lean into survival, simulation, crafting, or horror.
• Avoid oversaturated genres like puzzle platformers and VR shooters.
• Match your team’s skills to market demand: a coder might shine with a roguelike, while a writer could stand out with an atmospheric horror game.
And for those who don’t care about the money? As the report puts it: “By all means, just make whatever type of game you want to make.”
Copyright for Design Diary (Director). (2025, febrero 19). What Type of Indie Games Actually Sell Best? (And Why)
Bonus Track:
aGameScout (Director). (2025, julio 15). This Year’s Tetris World Cup is Making History
Great Big Story (Director). (2016, enero 4). The Soviet Past of Tetris
