(Need Tips)The most profitable game type (My market Research)

[DigitalWF]

So I have been browsing the web and do some market research for weeks from a popular indie game platform itch.io,To find some idea and inspirations to make games.
I peeked on patreons from a lot of indie developer, and I am very surprised that it’s the adult game/NFSW game that is making good amount of money per month.
They range from $2000-$5000 per month!! Some even reach $15k (Because it’s very high quality and had 3D fully animated nsfw scene, obviously good adult game is quiet rare so they deserve it.
But for most of them I tried the games they make and honestly most of the game are not even that good or polished.
So the purpose of why I make this thread is because I have several question:
1.How did they do it? I mean reached thousands of dollar via Patre.on with a mediocre game,sometimes with wonky controls and flat plot. Is it because of the NSFW element?
2.Is it the marketing technique? But there are so many games out there right now,there must be a way to make the game stand out?
3.It would really helped me if someone here willing to share their financial success with game development industry. Making game is an insane amount of work even if you are not alone,so of course it would be better if the game actually selling and people playing it.
I appreciate any Tips,comment, or maybe share your experience in game making.

 

[Andar]

1) going to the topic question and ignoring (for now) the rest of the post I can tell you one thing:
every answer you'll get for that question will be a wrong one.

The reason for this is that game development takes times. Whatever game you develop, it will usually be at least one or two years at minimum before it is ready for sale - if you're alone even longer.
And by the time you get it done, that gametype will have been swamped by others so that your game will no longer make much money.

For example two or three years ago the big game type was zombie survival (for example "Last Day on Earth" on mobile>). If you had gone to make something similar you would have needed one or two years, and a year ago there were so many copies of LDoE that the players were already tired of them.
And developing something new that hasn't been done will give you a chance of getting the next gametype hit but also a chance of being a complete bust that no one is interested in.

2) The adult game industry works by quality pictures. Yes, the games you mentioned go to high sales by including NSFW elements as well as all other "new rushes" for regular games. There is a reason why it says "sex sells".
But on the other hand that is a very small niche market where you can only get anywhere if you either have a new idea (see 1) or very high numbers of at least reasonable quality NSFW pictures (which requires artists of reasonable quality and speed)

3) No matter what type of game, a lot of the success is either marketing (which can only be done by big companies due to the big costs) or word-of-mouth for previous games.
So as an indie developer your first game will almost never be a big success.
You'll have to spent two years on a reasonable quality game that will not net you any return at all (the small number of sales would barely cover your expenses for selling), but it would give you a start of a name for the next game after that.
By the time of your third or fourth game you might have gotten enough of a name and sales that you might have a tiny chance of living from those sales.

 

[gstv87]

I mean reached thousands of dollar via Patre.on with a mediocre game,sometimes with wonky controls and flat plot. Is it because of the NSFW element?

yes.

you will not BELIEVE the figures somebody will pay, who is in need of a product, for said product.
especially when that product helps boost self-(sustantive)
anything that can help increase *self*, will sell.
more so, when people need it.
and people will need it, when you look at the right social group.

 

[Former_Sky]

I'm going to address something you didn't specifically mention. You give me the impression you're looking at the big genres in the hopes of making the most money. I think you'd be much better served making something you had a lot of passion for. The chances of you finishing the project will be much higher since you'll have a reason to continue during the low times.

Plus, as already mentioned, when the market gets flooded because other people have the same idea as you, players will get turned off and won't play your game.

So go out there, make a few games to improve your reputation, and make what you want to make.

 

[Lornsteyn]

Im surprised that you are surprised.
I actually thought its obvious.
How they do it? Sex sells!

 

[DigitalWF]

Oh well,I will just make the game I want to make without thinking anything else,thanks for your feedback guys,they are greatly appreciated