Steam Indie Data

Steam indie data & wishlist insights | Trends • Regional stats • Hidden gems

[Steam Indie Data @SteamIndieData]

Hey guys,

Let's have some free data insights on your projects today. We had a great round last time.

Drop your game below.

Again, I’ll check out as many as I can.

#WishlistWednesday #gamedev #indiedev #CreatorsUnite #DailyPromotion #IndieGameTrends #VideoGames #IndieGameDev #ContentCreators #CommunityGrowth

[Steam Indie Data @SteamIndieData]

@WeVennStudios @coinmakersim And I did:
https://t.co/em8Ty3LjgS

[Steam Indie Data @SteamIndieData]

COIN MAKER SIMULATOR | Full Research & Analysis

Disclaimer: This is a real nice project. Thanks for @WeVennStudios to nudge me with that. And a shoutout for @coinmakersim (x's profile here).

Coin Maker Simulator is an upcoming 2026 first-person relaxing crafting/immersive simulator developed and published by the new two-person indie studio Studio 312 🇺🇦. This is their debut title.

You play as a former royal treasurer now locked in a dungeon by the King. Your only path to freedom is crafting coins for the kingdom. The game emphasizes a highly tactile, “crunchy,” and satisfying hands-on forging process with strong audio/visual feedback (the “mmm, nice” moment on each step).

it blends oddly satisfying task repetition (PowerWash Simulator style), hands-on crafting (blacksmith/alchemy sim vibes), resource management, light satire on profit motives, and workshop renovation/customization (House Flipper style). Medieval fantasy setting with colorful/stylized visuals.

https://t.co/Jspfy8vZAU

[Steam Indie Data @SteamIndieData]

Bottom Line

Coin Maker Simulator has one of the better early trajectories we’ve seen for a true debut from a brand-new two-person studio. Hitting ~10k wishlists and 27k trailer views relatively quickly shows the cozy, tactile crafting hook (with the fun dungeon + profit twist) is landing. It fits perfectly into a proven, growing niche.

The biggest challenges will be standing out in a crowded cozy-sim space and converting that wishlist interest once the playtest/demo is more widely experienced. With consistent updates, good Steam visibility, and perhaps some press or content creator pickup, it has real potential to be a solid performer in the relaxing simulator category.

If the execution on the “crunchy” crafting and workshop customization delivers the promised satisfaction, it could do well among fans of PowerWash, House Flipper, and Potion Craft.

[Steam Indie Data @SteamIndieData]

COIN MAKER SIMULATOR | Full Research & Analysis

Disclaimer: This is a real nice project. Thanks for @WeVennStudios to nudge me with that. And a shoutout for @coinmakersim (x's profile here).

Coin Maker Simulator is an upcoming 2026 first-person relaxing crafting/immersive simulator developed and published by the new two-person indie studio Studio 312 🇺🇦. This is their debut title.

You play as a former royal treasurer now locked in a dungeon by the King. Your only path to freedom is crafting coins for the kingdom. The game emphasizes a highly tactile, “crunchy,” and satisfying hands-on forging process with strong audio/visual feedback (the “mmm, nice” moment on each step).

it blends oddly satisfying task repetition (PowerWash Simulator style), hands-on crafting (blacksmith/alchemy sim vibes), resource management, light satire on profit motives, and workshop renovation/customization (House Flipper style). Medieval fantasy setting with colorful/stylized visuals.

https://t.co/Jspfy8vZAU

[Steam Indie Data @SteamIndieData]

Similar / Competitor Games (Cozy Crafting & Simulator Niche)

The game blends “oddly satisfying task” simulators with cozy workshop customization and light management/profit elements in a medieval/fantasy setting.

Closest hands-on crafting matches:

Potion Craft: Alchemist Simulator
Physical grinding/mixing/pouring in a medieval shop. Extremely satisfying tactile feedback and puzzle-like crafting. Very strong overlap in the “immersive process” feel.

Cozy Forge / Blacksmith Simulator (and similar like While the Iron's Hot, Medieval Crafter: Blacksmith)
Melting, molding, hammering, polishing metal into items for customers. Relaxing rhythm + resource management + workshop vibes.

PowerWash Simulator (and sequel).
The gold standard for zen, repetitive, transformative cleaning with excellent sounds and visuals.

House Flipper-style renovation/customization:
House Flipper 1 & 2 — Buy, clean, renovate, paint, furnish, and profit from properties. Strong “make it nice” satisfaction + tool work.

Many of these succeed through excellent feedback loops, progression, and “cozy productivity.” Coin Maker Simulator’s dungeon-prison + satirical coin-forging + workshop customization gives it a distinctive flavor within the genre.

[Steam Indie Data @SteamIndieData]

@wayshegoestudio Great achievement! How's geographic distribution so far?

[Steam Indie Data @SteamIndieData]

@GuunnzDev I will be following the project. Congratulations. It's a really nice one.

[Steam Indie Data @SteamIndieData]

Hey guys,

Let's have some free data insights on your projects today. Drop your game below.

I’ll check out as many as I can.

#MotivationMonday #gamedev #indiedev #CreatorsUnite #DailyPromotion #IndieGameTrends #VideoGames #IndieGameDev #ContentCreators #CommunityGrowth

[Steam Indie Data @SteamIndieData]

@GuunnzDev Hey man, here it is. I tried to do the tag analysis, which is actually a real need, but not everybody pays attention.

https://t.co/1AUuknQh69

[Steam Indie Data @SteamIndieData]

Lucky Shot – Full Research & Analysis

Shoutout for @GuunnzDev who dropped a comment in our previous call.

Lucky Shot is an upcoming 2026 roguelike “mag-builder” FPS developed and published by Deliver Games (small indie team). The game is explicitly marketed as the “frenetic lovechild of Balatro and Aimlabs.” It combines deep, run-breaking deckbuilding synergies with precise flick-shot aiming and high-score chasing.

You play roguelite runs in virtual shooting ranges (with era-themed stages and soundtracks). You collect and stack 150+ “Holos” (synergistic modifiers that function like cards/Jokers), use 7 special bullet types to rearrange your magazine mid-run (the “mag-builder” hook), manage charms, risky energy drinks, and target upgrades. The goal is to master weapons, discover absurd combos, hit score requirements, beat 15+ bosses, and break runs for massive multipliers.

It is deliberately designed to appeal to both deckbuilder fans (synergies, builds, “one more run”) and shooter/aim trainer players (precision, flicks, skill expression). The demo is currently available on Steam.

https://t.co/qaP2nEWvCn

[Steam Indie Data @SteamIndieData]

Bottom Line

Lucky Shot has a genuinely fresh and appealing hook that directly addresses the “weird mix” you mentioned. The tags are decent but could be tightened to better serve both the Balatro crowd and the Aimlabs/shooter crowd simultaneously. Socials and visibility are still micro-scale, which is expected, but consistent clip posting and leveraging the demo’s positive reception will be key.

The game feels like it has real potential to carve out its own lane in the roguelite FPS and deckbuilder spaces if the execution lands and you can grow the audience from here.

[Steam Indie Data @SteamIndieData]

Lucky Shot – Full Research & Analysis

Shoutout for @GuunnzDev who dropped a comment in our previous call.

Lucky Shot is an upcoming 2026 roguelike “mag-builder” FPS developed and published by Deliver Games (small indie team). The game is explicitly marketed as the “frenetic lovechild of Balatro and Aimlabs.” It combines deep, run-breaking deckbuilding synergies with precise flick-shot aiming and high-score chasing.

You play roguelite runs in virtual shooting ranges (with era-themed stages and soundtracks). You collect and stack 150+ “Holos” (synergistic modifiers that function like cards/Jokers), use 7 special bullet types to rearrange your magazine mid-run (the “mag-builder” hook), manage charms, risky energy drinks, and target upgrades. The goal is to master weapons, discover absurd combos, hit score requirements, beat 15+ bosses, and break runs for massive multipliers.

It is deliberately designed to appeal to both deckbuilder fans (synergies, builds, “one more run”) and shooter/aim trainer players (precision, flicks, skill expression). The demo is currently available on Steam.

https://t.co/qaP2nEWvCn

[Steam Indie Data @SteamIndieData]

Concept & Strengths
The hook is genuinely distinctive: deckbuilding synergies inside a precision shooter. Holos create Balatro-level “break the game” moments, while the shooting (flicks, magazine management, multipliers) adds Aimlabs-style skill expression and dopamine.

The “You don’t need to be a good shooter player” messaging lowers the barrier for deckbuilder fans while still rewarding aim skill. High-score focus, procedural runs, bosses, and era-themed stages give it strong replayability and “one more run” appeal. The cyberpunk-ish shooting range aesthetic and banger soundtracks are pluses for vibe.

Risks
• Extremely low current visibility (240 wishlists, ~20–36 followers across platforms).
• The hybrid is “weird” in the best way, but it may confuse Steam’s algorithm and players looking for pure deckbuilders or pure shooters.
• Demo is very new — early player counts are tiny.
• Small team means limited marketing budget and reach compared to bigger roguelite FPS titles.
• Competition in both the “Balatro-like” and “FPS roguelite” spaces is heating up.

Similar Games
Direct inspirations:
• Balatro.
• Aimlabs (and KovaaK’s): The precision aiming/flick-shot training side.

Closest mechanical/hybrid matches:
• Peglin
Excellent overlap, pachinko roguelike with physics-based “shots,” deep relics/synergies, and addictive run-breaking combos. Very popular in the “satisfying projectile + builder” niche.

• Gunfire Reborn
Strong roguelite FPS with weapon mastery, wild talent/scroll synergies, bosses, and replayable runs.
• Roboquest: Fast-paced roguelite FPS with excellent gunplay, cyberpunk vibe, per-run upgrades, and high replayability.
• BPM: Bullets Per Minute: Rhythm shooter roguelike — skill expression (on the beat) + synergies.
• Enter the Gungeon (and Exit the Gungeon): Classic shooter roguelike with hundreds of guns and insane synergies.

Other adjacent:
• Risk of Rain 2 (deep item synergies in a 3D shooter roguelite)
• Vampire Survivors-style games with shooter twists
• Pure aim trainers for the skill side

The niche of “precise FPS aiming + deep deckbuilding synergies” is still relatively open, which is why your hook stands out.

[Steam Indie Data @SteamIndieData]

@brokendownsoft Finally, I managed to do that. Here it is:
https://t.co/gBF6kbEt9d

[Steam Indie Data @SteamIndieData]

Ruina: Full Research & Analysis

Shoutout to @brokendownsoft who has replied to our analysis call.

Ruina is a rogue-lite match-3 puzzle game with deckbuilding and roguelike progression elements, developed and published by the solo/small indie studio Broken Down Software (@brokendownsoft),Lee Buermann (is his handle also brokendownsoft as well? idk).

The core loop involves matching radiant gems on a grid, empowering them with enchanted scrolls, wielding artisan tools for combos/synergies, and using relics/charms/boons to build powerful scoring engines. Each run features a customizable "bag" of modifiers (very interesting), procedural elements, and choices that shape your strategy. The goal is high-score mastery through clever builds rather than traditional combat.

It has a clean pixel-art/retro style with relaxing yet strategic gameplay. Released November 17, 2025 on Steam (Windows/macOS), priced at $9.99. It includes 22 Steam Achievements and has a demo. Languages are primarily English. No full audio listed.

The game has received post-launch updates, including the "Arcana Unleashed" expansion (around June 2026), which added a new scoring layer for gems and scrolls, new content, and balance changes.

https://t.co/c2oGxZx4F5

[Steam Indie Data @SteamIndieData]

Honest Assessment

This is a classic micro-indie success story on its own terms: a solo dev made a focused, high-quality game with a fresh twist (match-3 + bag-building roguelite), hit modest but meaningful sales goals (~100+ units, profitable ignoring time), earned 100% positive reviews from players who found it, and continues supporting it with updates. It outsold the dev's previous title and has solid playtime for the price.

However, in absolute market terms, it remains very small-scale with low visibility (tiny socials, minimal press, low players). It hasn't achieved breakout traction in a competitive roguelite/puzzle space. For a true solo project with realistic expectations ("one game per year"), this is a win — transparent, sustainable, and loved by its niche audience. It won't make headlines or big money, but it represents healthy indie output.

If the goal is broader reach, future efforts could focus on better demo visibility, mobile ports, or stronger community building. Overall, a respectable, honest micro-indie performer.

[Steam Indie Data @SteamIndieData]

Ruina: Full Research & Analysis

Shoutout to @brokendownsoft who has replied to our analysis call.

Ruina is a rogue-lite match-3 puzzle game with deckbuilding and roguelike progression elements, developed and published by the solo/small indie studio Broken Down Software (@brokendownsoft),Lee Buermann (is his handle also brokendownsoft as well? idk).

The core loop involves matching radiant gems on a grid, empowering them with enchanted scrolls, wielding artisan tools for combos/synergies, and using relics/charms/boons to build powerful scoring engines. Each run features a customizable "bag" of modifiers (very interesting), procedural elements, and choices that shape your strategy. The goal is high-score mastery through clever builds rather than traditional combat.

It has a clean pixel-art/retro style with relaxing yet strategic gameplay. Released November 17, 2025 on Steam (Windows/macOS), priced at $9.99. It includes 22 Steam Achievements and has a demo. Languages are primarily English. No full audio listed.

The game has received post-launch updates, including the "Arcana Unleashed" expansion (around June 2026), which added a new scoring layer for gems and scrolls, new content, and balance changes.

https://t.co/c2oGxZx4F5

[Steam Indie Data @SteamIndieData]

Market Comparisons with Similar Recently Launched Titles

The match-3 roguelite / puzzle-roguelike niche has grown with Balatro-style "one more run" synergy builders, but pure match-3 variants are rarer and tend to stay small unless they hit a sweet spot (like Peglin). Ruina is a solid but micro-scale entry.

Peglin (pachinko/match-3 roguelike, released 2022 with full 1.0 in 2024)
Much larger success. ~17k reviews (84% positive), ~33k followers, estimated 500k–1M owners, strong sales (hundreds of thousands). Avg playtime 23+ hours. It benefited from Early Access buzz, Devolver/IndieArk involvement, and viral "Peggle + Slay the Spire" appeal. Ruina is smaller and more traditional match-3 but shares the roguelite build loop. Peglin shows the ceiling for the subgenre when visibility hits.

Witching Stone (puzzle-matching deckbuilder roguelite, released 2024)
Closer in scale to Ruina. 161 reviews (91% positive). Strong praise for synergies and relaxing-yet-deep gameplay (compared to Dicey Dungeons/Slay the Spire). Modest but positive traction for a solo dev title. Better review velocity than Ruina so far.

Other niche match-3 roguelites (e.g., Roguematch: The Extraplanar Invasion, Gemmiferous, Dungeon Tracer): Generally small player bases (hundreds of reviews at best for most indies). Many stay under 1k–2k reviews with low concurrent players. Success often comes from https://t.co/b4DioHyxiW demos or mobile crossovers rather than Steam virality.

Balatro (poker roguelike deckbuilder, massive hit):
Not match-3 but the closest "synergy builder" benchmark. Huge reviews/sales (hundreds of thousands of owners). Shows demand for clever buildcrafting, but Ruina's match-3 focus makes it more niche and less likely to reach that level.

Ruina's ~100+ sales in 6 months is typical/above-average for a true micro-indie in this space without big publisher backing or viral hooks. It outperformed the dev's prior game but hasn't broken out like Peglin.

Similar Titles (Match-3 / Puzzle Roguelikes)
• Peglin: Pachinko-based match-3 roguelike with relics and builds. Much larger scale and success.
• Witching Stone: Grid-based puzzle matching with spellbook deckbuilding and synergies. Strong for solo dev.
• Match Morphosis (upcoming): Roguelike match-3 deckbuilder with grid combat and builds.
• Three in a Rogue: Turn-based match-3 roguelike with abilities from matches and upgrades.
• Roguematch: The Extraplanar Invasion: Tactical match-3 in dungeon crawler with party/abilities.
• Others like Gemmiferous (match-3 combat in looter/crawler) or Dungeon Tracer (path-tracing matches in roguelike).

These often succeed via demos and community (r/roguelites) rather than big marketing. Pure match-3 roguelites rarely hit Peglin/Balatro numbers unless the twist is extremely catchy.