
At the end of 2024 I wrote my definition of the meta-genre that Steam players really really like called Crafty-buildy-strategy-simulationy-games (read it here).
The “crafty-buildy” genre dominates PC. It is mostly unique to the PC marketplace. However I find that many indie game devs have a more console-game-based cultural history. Those games are mostly Narrative, Platforming, Sword-Slashing, Puzzling games. Console games come from a lineage usually distinct from the PC.
Therefore, most console-native indie developers who are trying to publish a game on Steam are running into a culture shock. You may have even released one of these console-friendly genre types, saw poor results, and thought “what the hell happened? I loved playing this game on my PS2!”
To do well on Steam you must understand the PC-masterace (their words not mine). It is different. I can describe that difference in thousands of words OOOR, you can just play the games. It is much much better for you to actually play crafty-buildy games so that you internalize how different PC games are from console games.
Luckily it is the Steam Summer Sale right now so games are dirt cheap. I put together a buyers guide for cheap versions of the most popular genres on Steam. If you are reading this after July 2025, I am sorry the sale is probably over but these games are still worth trying!
Note: I am only listing games that are 50% off or sub $10. There are hundreds of more games in the crafty-buildy genre (you can find a similar list here)
Note: This buyers guide is focused on crafty-buildy strategy games. I am omitting horror and narrative games from my buyers guide this time! I still think every indie game dev should make one horror game. Also I think narrative games like visual novels are rapidly becoming one of the most played indie genres on Steam and I also think that is a very viable genre. Don’t worry it isn’t over for those genres. But I just wanted this buyer’s guide to be focused on crafty-buildy.
So please, even if you say “well I just don’t like those crafty buildy types of games” at least play a few. PLEASE TRY. They are fun! You might discover a new gameplay mechanic that you can give a new spin on. Basically, please play some video games. It is your homework.
TL;DR Cheapskate’s Mini Guide
If you don’t have money or time, here is the C.B.S.S. starter pack which you can get for $15
- CRAFTY: Don’t Starve 75% $2.49
- BUILDY: Sim City 4 75% $4.99
- STRATEGY: Civilization IV (Bundle) -80% $5.99
- SIMULATIONY: House Flipper -90% $2.49
Not saying those are the best (many of these aren’t even “indie”) but they are a pretty good intro to the genres. They are kind of these cultural root-balls that all indie games feed off of. To see how indie games innovated off of them, see the full list and pick a few more that sound interesting to you.
Crafty
Open World Survival Crafting
- Don’t Starve 75% / $2.49
- ASTRONEER 67% / $9.89
- Subnautica 50% / 14.99
- Valheim 50% off / $10
- Pacific Drive 50% / $14.99
- The Long Dark 50% / $9.99
Card resource games
- Cultist Simulator 60% / 7.99
- Stacklands 40% / $4.79
- WitchHand 45% / $6.59
Simplified survival sandbox-island expanding
- Forager 65% / $6.99
- Outpath 60% / $5.99
- Nova Lands 50% / $9.99
Buildy
City builders
- Micro Town 40% / $5.99
- Mini Settlers 35% / $8.44
- Anno 2070 75% / $4.99
- Sim City 4 75% / $4.99
Not all city builders have to be HUGE multi-year AAA-scale. These are quick release builder games
Factory / Automation
Tower defense
Everyone asks me if the Tower defense genre is still viable… it is … BUT…. It is usually tower defense + a deeper meta layer such as basebuilding or 4X. You must add additional depth to the TD genre to stay relevant.
- 9 Kings 35% / $9.74
- Rise to Ruins 50% / $7.49
- Creeper World 1 50% / $2.49. BUT there are so many games in the creeper world franchise you can get 9 games for 55% off with this bundle
- Diplomacy is not an Option 55% / $13.49
- Thronefall 30% / $9.09
- Mindustry 60% / $3.99
Spaceship builders
Steam players love building spaceships
- Nimbatus 60% / $7.99
- Space Engineers 50% / $9.99
- Space Haven 60% / $9.19
Crafty buildy platformers
Did you release a puzzle platformer or a metroidvania that didn’t sell well? Don’t worry, reuse the engine and redesign a gameplay loop around deep, deep, procedurally generated environments where you can collect resources, and craft a base. Note they typically involve mining.
- Kingdom Two Crowns 75% / $4.99
- Sons of Valhalla 50% / $9.99
- Risk of Rain (the first one which was 2d) 80% / $1.99
- Terraria 50% / $4.99
- Dig or Die 50% / $5.99
- Aground 66% / $5.09
Scene builders
No rules, just vibes. Great genre if you are an artist who doesn’t have the experience designing deep, complex metagame systems and economies.
- Cloud Gardens 50% / $8.99
- Furnish Master 30% / $10.49
- Summerhouse 30% / $3.49
- Townscaper 60% / $2.39
- FlowScape 80% / $2.99
- Dystopia 40% / $4.19
Farming
- Rusty’s Retirement 33% / $4.68
- Stardew Valley 50% / $7.49
- Fields of Mistria 20% / $11.19
- Sun Haven 60% / $9.99
Idle
- Spirit City: Lofi Sessions 33% / $8.03
- Cookie Clicker 50% / $2.49
- Plantera 2: Golden Acorn 55% / $2.24
- Chillquarium 34% / $3.95
- Nodematic 35% / $1.94
Strategy
4X
4X is one of the most difficult genres to build especially as an indie making their first game. BUT I think 4X is the fundamental PC genre and it is like the proto language that underpins all other games that do well on Steam. It is important to play these types of games just so you understand Steam and the player base. It is kind of like how they say you have to read Dostoevsky if you ever want to even think of understanding Russia or read Moby Dick to understand the USA. These are all works that are tough, expensive, complex, deep, but important.
- Victoria 3 70% / $14.99
- Hearts of Iron IV 70% / $14.99
- Stellaris 75% / $9.99
- Civilization IV (Bundle) 80% / $5.99
Indie scale 4X
If you are not an artist, don’t make visually intensive games like RPGs, or platformers, or Metroidvanias, or souls-likes. Instead, make strategy games that rely on maps and menus. Look at these games and how well they did despite their graphical simplicity. Strategy players are more forgiving.
- Ages of Conflict: World War Simulator 25% / $5.24
- Rule the Waves 3 40% / $23.99
Real time Strategy
Many people ask me if RTS are viable. Kind of. Typically indie scale RTS shave off one simpler mechanic and rely on more base building and meta mechanics to increase complexity. I see indies fail making RTS when they try to emulate the competitive PvP environment of a game like Starcraft or League of Legends
- Bad North 80% / $2.99
- Slipways 50% / $8.49
- From Glory to Goo 25% / $8.99
- Hero’s Hour -60% / $7.19
- Mount and Blade 75% / $2.49
Extraction / inventory management
- NEO Scavenger 75% / $3.74
Roguelike
This is probably going to get me in trouble listing roguelikes under strategy. Anything you say about roguelikes gets you in trouble. So if you want to tell me this is the wrong categorization you are 100% correct and I am wrong. Anyway here are the types of more traditional roguelikes that do well. Note they are HARDCORE and not trying to be “roguelikes for people who don’t like roguelikes.” Appealing to fans of a genre is always an easier marketing strategy than trying to convince someone to like something that they don’t like.
- Rift Wizard 65% / $5.24
- Path of Achra 30% / $6.99
Roguelite (Casino)
- Luck be a Landlord 50% / $4.99
- Dungeon Clawler 20% / $7.99
- Dungeons & Degenerate Gamblers 33% / $10.04
Autobattlers
- Warpips 85% / $2.54
- Tap Heroes 80% / $0.59
Roguelike Deckbuilder
Yes I think they are still viable, no I don’t think too many are made (I will save that for another blog post). I do think Slay-The-Spire-Style good guys on the left, bad guys on the right are over-saturated. So you need to innovate on how the game plays out.
- Monster Train 70% / $7.49
- Inscryption 60% / $7.99
- Die in the Dungeon 25% / $9.74
Simulationy
Job Simulation
- The Enjenir 40% / $8.99
- House Flipper 90% / $2.49
- PowerWash Simulator 50% / $12.49
- TCG Card Shop Simulator 35% / $8.44
- Contraband Police 52% / $14.39
Spreadsheet simulation
Simulating a job, but just the UI part of the job.
- Endless ATC 40% / $4.79
- Football Coach: College Dynasty 50% / $9.99
Management
Basically simulation but you focus on the dollars and cents of the business.
- Weedcraft Inc 75% / $4.99
- Godlike Burger 85% / $2.99
- Masterplan Tycoon 50% / $5.99
- Minami Lane 30% / $3.49
- Sticky Business 50% / $4.99
- Strange Horticulture 60% / $6.39
- Potion Craft 75% / $4.99
- Cook, Serve, Delicious! 75% / $2.49
- Capybara Spa 50% / $3.99
- Game Dev Story 65% / $3.14
Creature management / collector
- Slime Rancher 75% / $4.99
- Wobbledogs 66% / $6.79
- Temtem 72% / $12.59
Tycoon
My definition of Tycoon games are Management games with more complicated building component. They are kind of like city builders with a heavy economic simulation.
- Parkasaurus 75% / $6.24
- Airport CEO 75% / $6.24
- Dungeon Tycoon 35% / $9.74
- Bear and Breakfast 50% / $9.99
Person management
Don’t manage a company, manage a single person and what they do and consume
- Princess Maker 2 50% / $9.99
- Volcano Princess 28% / $7.91
- Chinese Parents 45% / $5.49