Schedule 1 quietly became the highest-earning indie game of the year, outpacing more visible releases and crossing a major revenue milestone.
According to Alinea Analytics’ Year in Review 2025 report, Schedule 1 finished 2025 as the highest-earning indie title, generating more than $150 million in gross revenue. The performance places it at the very top of the indie games market for the year, ahead of several higher-profile releases that dominated online discussion and awards conversations.
The report also notes that indie games accounted for more than 25 percent of total Steam revenue, underscoring the growing impact smaller studios have had on the games market this year. While games like Expedition 33 drew significant buzz, media coverage, and multiple awards, the report shows that Schedule 1 ultimately converted player interest into stronger long-term sales.
Schedule 1’s popularity comes down to how effectively it turns a niche concept into a broadly appealing, endlessly replayable experience. The game leans into strong systemic design rather than spectacle, giving players clear progression loops, meaningful choices, and a constant sense of momentum. Its mechanics are easy to grasp but difficult to fully master, which encourages long play sessions and repeat engagement. That depth, combined with frequent updates and tuning by the solo developer Tyler, helped the game sustain interest long after launch instead of fading once the initial curiosity wore off.
Another key factor is how the drug-making and selling game was marketed among the gamers. Word of mouth did more heavy lifting than traditional marketing, with creators and players organically showcasing its depth and replay value. The game also benefited from smart pricing and accessibility, lowering the barrier to entry while offering enough long-term value to justify continued spending for players. Over time, that steady accumulation of players translated into exceptional revenue, proving that consistency and player trust can outperform short-lived hype in the indie space.
With this achievement, Schedule 1 is among a rare group of indie titles to break into nine-figure revenue territory, a benchmark typically reserved for major publisher-backed releases. This result reinforces a broader trend in 2025, where a small number of breakout indie games captured an outsized share of the market through longevity.
