# Simulation on Steam, 2022 to 2026

> What a game in this niche actually earns today, measured across every
> tracked title released in the period: the ones that worked and the ones that
> did not. No survey, no survivor bias, no self-reported numbers.

**416 games tracked.** Median: **$957/month** net to the developer. Bottom tenth: $91. Top tenth: $23.2k.

Only **163 of 416** (39.2%) clear $2,000/month, roughly one full-time salary before tax in most of the world.

## Where the money actually lands

| Monthly net revenue | Games | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Under $100/mo | 48 | 11.5% |
| $100 to $500 | 104 | 25.0% |
| $500 to $2,000 | 101 | 24.2% |
| $2,000 to $10,000 | 88 | 21.1% |
| Over $10,000/mo | 75 | 18.0% |

## The typical game here

- Price: $18
- Reviews: 338
- Positive: 82%
- Still earning with no owner activity: **1** (see https://residualplay.com/radar)

## Your actual competition (games at the median)

| Game | Developer | Year | Price | Net/month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| [F-22: Air Dominance Fighter](https://residualplay.com/game/3146140) | Digital Image Design Ltd. | 2026 | $20 | $934 |
| [Exogate Initiative](https://residualplay.com/game/1681060) | Xeno Bits | 2025 | $25 | $980 |
| [Humanica](https://residualplay.com/game/2112740) | PanfachDev | 2026 | $15 | $982 |
| [Fallen Shinobi SS.](https://residualplay.com/game/2458490) | marron☆marron | 2023 | $15 | $988 |
| [大戦略SSB2](https://residualplay.com/game/3941780) | Systemsoft beta, Inc. | 2026 | $60 | $1.0k |
| [Cinema Simulator 2025](https://residualplay.com/game/3098070) | HOGO Games | 2025 | $12 | $1.0k |

## Top of the genre (context, not competition)

| Game | Developer | Year | Price | Net/month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| [EA SPORTS FC™ 26](https://residualplay.com/game/3405690) | EA Canada | 2025 | $70 | $3.8M |
| [Paralives](https://residualplay.com/game/1118520) | Alex Massé and team | 2026 | $40 | $2.1M |
| [EA SPORTS™ College Football 27](https://residualplay.com/game/4032350) | Tiburon | 2026 | $70 | $1.1M |
| [Corsair Cove](https://residualplay.com/game/1368140) | Limbic Entertainment | 2026 | $40 | $548.4k |
| [Sid Meier's Civilization VII](https://residualplay.com/game/1295660) | Firaxis Games | 2025 | $70 | $347.4k |
| [Sandustry](https://residualplay.com/game/2764460) | Lantto Games | 2026 | $15 | $300.2k |
| [Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024](https://residualplay.com/game/2537590) | Asobo Studio | 2024 | $70 | $277.6k |
| [EA SPORTS™ Madden NFL 27](https://residualplay.com/game/3940610) | Tiburon | 2026 | $70 | $225.9k |
| [Jurassic World Evolution 3](https://residualplay.com/game/2958130) | Frontier Developments | 2025 | $60 | $220.6k |
| [Cities: Skylines II](https://residualplay.com/game/949230) | Iceflake Studios | 2023 | $50 | $198.8k |

Estimates carry a 30-50% error range per title and are much tighter in aggregate, which is why the distribution above is the useful part, not any single row.
JSON: https://residualplay.com/api/v1/niche?genre=Simulation&from=2022&to=2026