Steam Game Revenue by Genre and Subgenre

GameDiscoverCo recently conducted a detailed analysis to better understand how different game genres perform on Steam in terms of revenue. The study focused on games that have grossed more than $1 million in lifetime revenue and assigned each one a single genre and subgenre tag. This method was chosen to address the complexity of Steam’s overlapping tag system, which often makes it difficult to measure the total addressable market for any given category. The result is a unique dataset that offers a clearer picture of genre performance across the platform’s history.

Action Games Lead Steam’s Revenue Charts

The Action genre stands out as the dominant category on Steam, accounting for 58.37 percent of total lifetime revenue from titles grossing over $1 million. Despite not representing the majority of such games in terms of quantity, Action titles significantly outperform other genres in revenue per game. This is largely driven by a few high-earning franchises. Within the Action genre, Arena Shooters contribute the largest share, including titles like Counter-Strike 2 and Counter-Strike: Source, generating a combined total of $9.52 billion. First-Person Shooters follow, with prominent examples such as Call of Duty and Left 4 Dead 2. Other subgenres such as Action-Adventure and Open World Survival Craft also feature major games like Red Dead Redemption 2 and Rust, further solidifying the genre’s financial strength.

Steam Game Revenue by Genre and Subgenre

Role-Playing Games Show Strong Genre Diversity

Role-Playing games (RPGs) contribute 17.11 percent of the total Steam revenue within the same earnings threshold. The genre is characterized by diversity across its subcategories. Action RPGs lead the segment, supported by titles like Warframe and the Monster Hunter series. MMORPGs such as The Elder Scrolls Online and Lost Ark are also significant revenue generators. Classic RPGs, including Cyberpunk 2077 and The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, contribute notably through the CRPG subgenre. Although other segments like JRPGs and Visual Novels have a smaller financial footprint, they maintain a consistent presence in the market.

Strategy Games Maintain Steady Revenue Contributions

Strategy games make up 13.97 percent of Steam’s lifetime revenue among games crossing the $1 million mark. The genre includes a wide range of subgenres, each contributing in different ways. Multiplayer Online Battle Arenas (MOBAs), represented by games like DOTA 2 and SMITE, hold the largest revenue share within Strategy. Real-Time Strategy (RTS) games such as Total War: Warhammer II and Three Kingdoms also perform well. Grand Strategy and 4X games have generated substantial revenue through franchises like Stellaris and Sid Meier’s Civilization. Although some subgenres such as Card Games and Puzzle Platformers contribute less individually, they form a meaningful part of the broader Strategy ecosystem.

Steam Game Revenue by Genre and Subgenre

Simulation Games Offer a Varied Market Landscape

Simulation games account for 9.76 percent of Steam’s lifetime revenue within the qualifying threshold. This genre is composed of several distinct subcategories. General simulation titles, including War Thunder and Cities: Skylines, dominate the category. Job simulators such as Euro Truck Simulator 2 and American Truck Simulator also contribute significantly. Racing simulations, led by titles like Forza Horizon 5, and farming simulators such as Stardew Valley have carved out strong positions within the genre. Additional categories including Life Sims, Rhythm Games, and Immersive Sims add variety to the overall market composition, though their revenue impact is comparatively smaller.

Interpreting Revenue Versus Game Count

One of the key insights from this study is the disparity between genres with high total revenue and those with broader participation. Subgenres like Arena Shooter, Battle Royale, and Hero Shooter show high average revenue per game, but the number of successful titles is relatively low. For example, only 29 games in these subgenres have grossed more than $1 million. Moreover, just a few such as Naraka Bladepoint and Overwatch 2 have achieved over $25 million in revenue since 2020.

Conversely, genres with lower average revenue per game often feature a higher number of titles that have reached the $1 million threshold. These include Action Roguelikes, Psychological Horror, and JRPGs. The Action Roguelike subgenre alone has seen 104 titles surpass the threshold, with more than 70 of them released since 2020. This indicates a newer, but active, segment of the market.

Steam Game Revenue by Genre and Subgenre

Data as a Tool, Not a Guarantee

While the dataset provides valuable insights into which genres and subgenres perform well on Steam, GameDiscoverCo emphasizes caution in interpreting the results. The analysis only includes games that have earned over $1 million, thereby excluding a large number of lower-revenue titles. This introduces potential survivorship bias, as many games fail to meet that benchmark. Additionally, the market is influenced by a few dominant titles that have been on the platform for several years, which can distort perceptions of genre profitability.

Ultimately, while this structured genre mapping offers a clearer view of Steam’s commercial landscape, it serves best as a tool for understanding trends rather than a guide for guaranteed success. Developers and publishers are encouraged to consider these insights within the broader context of development costs, competition, and market saturation. Here is a list of all the games mentioned in the source content: