Research Market
30 minutesAnalyze comparable titles, estimate player retention curves, and identify genre pricing benchmarks.
Field context
This workflow is part of 4 niche fields
Complete guide for indie game monetization — step-by-step workflow, tools, checklist, and expert tips to get started.
Analyze comparable titles, estimate player retention curves, and identify genre pricing benchmarks.
Compare premium, F2P IAP, and battle pass models using ARPU and retention projections.
Integrate payment SDK, configure IAP tiers, and validate break-even projections against dev cost.
Track ARPU, retention, and revenue against projections; adjust pricing or offers based on data.
Project average revenue per user when comparing monetization models.
Estimate retention curves to model long-term revenue during market research.
Calculate units needed to recoup dev costs when implementing pricing.
Estimate post-launch support timeline for live-service monetization updates.
Key benchmarks for indie game monetization.
| Model | Best Genre | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Premium $15-30 | Story, puzzle | Hades |
| F2P IAP | Mobile casual | Clash |
| Battle pass | Live service | Fortnite |
Steam takes 30% — a $20 game nets $14. Factor this into every pricing decision.
Calculate break-even units before choosing premium vs F2P — dev cost divided by net revenue per unit.
Use Steam regional pricing — a global flat price leaves money on the table in high-purchasing-power markets.