Is it possible to earn an average of 800-1000 dollars a month from adult visual novels?

[HardlySoft]

But the reason I'm confused is that I don't know whether I should pursue a career as a lawyer, judge, prosecutor in my country or whether I should feed my script with sexual instincts. When I make a visual novel game, I will have a job. The work I will do is enough to make a living, but I don't know which one to go for. Actually, I'm already thinking of doing this job in my spare time, so it's like an additional income. But I wanted to get information about how much I can earn from this job.

"Be a pillar of justice or make titty renders for a living?"

Anyway, I get what you're saying, but I think you're looking for answers that don't really exist in the way you're hoping.

You're trying to compare a stable, structured career path that has set goals, rules, and long-term rewards with a creative one that is unpredictable. It's like asking, "Should I go to med school and become a doctor, or should I invest in being the new big balls rapper? Both can make big money, right?"

From what you said, I'm not sure if you got a job already being a lawyer or are still looking for one. Assuming you got one, and you're trying to make a visual novel to see what you can get out of it, that's totally fair. You'll learn a lot. I'll even encourage you to do that because it is a lot of fun. But if you're genuinely at the point of wondering whether you should ditch the legal path entirely to "feed your script with sexual instincts", bro... that doesn't sound like a good idea at all.

You CAN make lots of money with ANY creative work, but it doesn't mean that you will. Most of the time creative careers don’t pay shit.

But yeah, as I said before. Try it out, mess with the idea in your free time. Maybe set a goal like, "I'll invest 1 year of my life to this project, and if it reaches X or Y milestone, I'll consider pushing further." But don't bet your whole life path on it.

Also, don't forget how fast things change. The market changes all the time. I grew up being told programming was the job of the future, and now I'm watching some of my dev friends get replaced by AI. AVNs may work for now, in 5 years? Who knows?

 

[Erlaxx]

It's technically possible but very very very unlikely. A tiny percentage of devs break $100 a month

I understand. Thank you for your comment.

 

[Erlaxx]

Synopsis of all replies: It's possible, you have to get lucky in a "right place right time" kind of way, if you put in the work and effort you may make a bit of money. And there's a not great, but above 0% chance that if you put in the work and are good at what you do you may make decent money.

Of course, in many sectors, if you are good at your job, you can earn good money. For example Summertime Saga, Milf City, Being A Dik, so I guess I have to try and see. Thank you for your comment.

 

[Insomnimaniac Games]

Of course, in many sectors, if you are good at your job, you can earn good money. For example Summertime Saga, Milf City, Being A Dik, so I guess I have to try and see. Thank you for your comment.

Absolutely the right mind set, my man. Just because something is unlikely, doesn't mean it isn't worth trying. Nothing good ever comes from fearing failure.

 

[Count Morado]

if you are good at your job, you can earn good money.

And lucky. You can be good and still not break even. That is why I have done research for 3 years on Patreon data. Luck has a lot to do with it.

Summertime Saga, Milf City, Being A Dik

You named the outliers of success. The top 0.5% of the adult game developers on Patreon. Fewer than 1 out of 200. Even after more than 4 years on Patreon, only 1 in 5 adult game developers receive about $1000 USD per month or more. After more than 4 years, about half receive less than $100 USD per month.

You may end up being one to get those numbers. The likelihood is that you may not. If you can afford that level of uncertainty to pay your bills while putting in hundreds, if not a couple of thousand, hours each year developing a game - and you are that passionate about your vision - then good luck.

 

[Insomnimaniac Games]

while putting in hundreds, if not a couple of thousand, hours each year developing a game

It's thousands if you want any sort of reasonable update schedule as a solo dev.

 

[Erlaxx]

"Be a pillar of justice or make titty renders for a living?"

Anyway, I get what you're saying, but I think you're looking for answers that don't really exist in the way you're hoping.

You're trying to compare a stable, structured career path that has set goals, rules, and long-term rewards with a creative one that is unpredictable. It's like asking, "Should I go to med school and become a doctor, or should I invest in being the new big balls rapper? Both can make big money, right?"

From what you said, I'm not sure if you got a job already being a lawyer or are still looking for one. Assuming you got one, and you're trying to make a visual novel to see what you can get out of it, that's totally fair. You'll learn a lot. I'll even encourage you to do that because it is a lot of fun. But if you're genuinely at the point of wondering whether you should ditch the legal path entirely to "feed your script with sexual instincts", bro... that doesn't sound like a good idea at all.

You CAN make lots of money with ANY creative work, but it doesn't mean that you will. Most of the time creative careers don’t pay shit.

But yeah, as I said before. Try it out, mess with the idea in your free time. Maybe set a goal like, "I'll invest 1 year of my life to this project, and if it reaches X or Y milestone, I'll consider pushing further." But don't bet your whole life path on it.

Also, don't forget how fast things change. The market changes all the time. I grew up being told programming was the job of the future, and now I'm watching some of my dev friends get replaced by AI. AVNs may work for now, in 5 years? Who knows?

I choose to be the representative of the vagina. I guess it's better than courtrooms. First of all, thank you for the inspiration. First of all, no, I am not a lawyer or a judge. I don't even have a job right now. But I might have a job in the future. If I get a job, in dollars per month, it would be around 1100 dollars. This money can be my monthly routine money. I can live on this money in my country. So this money will be enough for me to live and to commute to work tomorrow. It might even be enough for me to take a vacation for a week in the summer. (Of course, it depends on my expenses.) Depending on the intensity of the work, I might have 2 days of vacation a week.

However, I am not sure if I want to stay in this status. In order to improve my status, I took courses on judiciary in high school, I don't know whether I should continue this or if I have a job, I should continue my job and devote myself to visual novel style games; of course, I will make the decision at the end of the day. The problem is that if I direct myself to a field like law, I should improve myself in fields such as mathematics, science, history, literature so that I can enter a law university. But if I want to improve myself in visual novels, I will have to learn English, some coding and how to draw characters in 3D and 2D, so both of these require a certain amount of effort and focus.

I want to create my own status somewhere while I can support myself, so it's like having some kind of authority. Like if you're a judge or a lawyer, to say, “Look, this is who I am.” Or “Look, I made this game” and yes, this game will be about sexual instincts. Of course, here you can say: Try the law first and then do this game if you want. But the thing is that if I win the law school, this school will take me at least 4-5 years. Not only that, if I graduate from law school, I will have to take the exam again to become a lawyer or a judge. If I win the lawyer exam, I can at least become a private lawyer. But being a private lawyer is another challenge for me.

If I win the judgeship exam, I will also spend 1-2 years doing my internship; then, if I am lucky, I can become a judge by lottery. Of course, I am not complaining about this. I think those who love the rose should bear the thorn. That's why I wanted to ask here about visual novels. Thank you again. I think AI is a threat to many professions. So much so that I wanted to be a programmer, even to have a career in software, but I gave up a little bit, especially when AI and my view of life changed a little bit. If AI gets much, much better, I think it could affect the legal bureaucracy. Even today, petitions, even defense texts are prepared by AI in many places.


Even that pushes me to at least make a game in a unique way. I'm not sure what will happen if the AI gets too powerful, but I'm not sure if we'll live a life like the people in WALL-E. But the status at work might be necessary in the future to get married and have a stable life. Okay, another reason why I want to study law may be because I am platonic. But that's not the only reason. Anyway, I've kept you busy with my personal stuff. I'm sorry. I don't know where the future will take us, but I wish the best for us.

 

[Erlaxx]

Absolutely the right mind set, my man. Just because something is unlikely, doesn't mean it isn't worth trying. Nothing good ever comes from fearing failure.

thank you man that was inspiring

 

[Count Morado]

I choose to be the representative of the vagina. I guess it's better than courtrooms. First of all, thank you for the inspiration. First of all, no, I am not a lawyer or a judge. I don't even have a job right now. But I might have a job in the future. If I get a job, in dollars per month, it would be around 1100 dollars. This money can be my monthly routine money. I can live on this money in my country. So this money will be enough for me to live and to commute to work tomorrow. It might even be enough for me to take a vacation for a week in the summer. (Of course, it depends on my expenses.) Depending on the intensity of the work, I might have 2 days of vacation a week.

However, I am not sure if I want to stay in this status. In order to improve my status, I took courses on judiciary in high school, I don't know whether I should continue this or if I have a job, I should continue my job and devote myself to visual novel style games; of course, I will make the decision at the end of the day. The problem is that if I direct myself to a field like law, I should improve myself in fields such as mathematics, science, history, literature so that I can enter a law university. But if I want to improve myself in visual novels, I will have to learn English, some coding and how to draw characters in 3D and 2D, so both of these require a certain amount of effort and focus.

I want to create my own status somewhere while I can support myself, so it's like having some kind of authority. Like if you're a judge or a lawyer, to say, “Look, this is who I am.” Or “Look, I made this game” and yes, this game will be about sexual instincts. Of course, here you can say: Try the law first and then do this game if you want. But the thing is that if I win the law school, this school will take me at least 4-5 years. Not only that, if I graduate from law school, I will have to take the exam again to become a lawyer or a judge. If I win the lawyer exam, I can at least become a private lawyer. But being a private lawyer is another challenge for me.

If I win the judgeship exam, I will also spend 1-2 years doing my internship; then, if I am lucky, I can become a judge by lottery. Of course, I am not complaining about this. I think those who love the rose should bear the thorn. That's why I wanted to ask here about visual novels. Thank you again. I think AI is a threat to many professions. So much so that I wanted to be a programmer, even to have a career in software, but I gave up a little bit, especially when AI and my view of life changed a little bit. If AI gets much, much better, I think it could affect the legal bureaucracy.

Even that pushes me to at least make a game in a unique way. I'm not sure what will happen if the AI gets too powerful, but I'm not sure if we'll live a life like the people in WALL-E. But the status at work might be necessary in the future to get married and have a stable life. Okay, another reason why I want to study law may be because I am platonic. But that's not the only reason. Anyway, I've kept you busy with my personal stuff. I'm sorry. I don't know where the future will take us, but I wish the best for us.

Oh, that is actually a good topic. You have also checked the laws of your country and jurisdiction to ensure that it is legal for you to produce and/or distribute pornography/pornographic materials utilizing the content (written and/or imagery) of the genres you are considering?

Even today, petitions, even defense texts are prepared by AI in many places.

This is true - but the attorney is 100% liable if they do not make sure that the documents are accurate, and in many jurisdictions attorneys must disclose the use of AI in their work. So, while drafting documents may be done by AI, there will still be need to qualified attorneys and other legal professionals. AI may make some paralegals and legal secretaries redundant, but other paralegals and secretaries who learn how to effectively learn the tool will be irreplaceable for their attorneys and judges they support.

 

[Erlaxx]

And lucky. You can be good and still not break even. That is why I have done research for 3 years on Patreon data. Luck has a lot to do with it.

You named the outliers of success. The top 0.5% of the adult game developers on Patreon. Fewer than 1 out of 200. Even after more than 4 years on Patreon, only 1 in 5 adult game developers receive about $1000 USD per month or more. After more than 4 years, about half receive less than $100 USD per month.

You may end up being one to get those numbers. The likelihood is that you may not. If you can afford that level of uncertainty to pay your bills while putting in hundreds, if not a couple of thousand, hours each year developing a game - and you are that passionate about your vision - then good luck.

And lucky. You can be good and still not break even. That is why I have done research for 3 years on Patreon data. Luck has a lot to do with it.

You named the outliers of success. The top 0.5% of the adult game developers on Patreon. Fewer than 1 out of 200. Even after more than 4 years on Patreon, only 1 in 5 adult game developers receive about $1000 USD per month or more. After more than 4 years, about half receive less than $100 USD per month.

You may end up being one to get those numbers. The likelihood is that you may not. If you can afford that level of uncertainty to pay your bills while putting in hundreds, if not a couple of thousand, hours each year developing a game - and you are that passionate about your vision - then good luck.

I am aware of that, my friend. Unfortunately I wasn't born in the same family that Bill Gates was born in, nor do I have Elon Musk in my family. I don't dream of becoming a millionaire though; if I earn 3000 dollars in total in my life, that's 36000 dollars a year. I would have a good life among billions of people and in the country I live in. So sometimes I wonder if I should do trading instead, hahaha. Anyway, I don't have any big expectations. I just haven't made up my mind about the career. I looked at the first link you posted. But as far as I know, there are no sponsors and advertisers in adult games. If there are, I haven't seen them yet. However, contrary to popular belief, there is not that much money in this industry. So at least the data you have given shows this.

Of course stability is important. I'm not too worried about my bills; like I said, I have no interest in building a career out of making adult visual novels. My goal is 1000 dollars, but when I look at it, I need to enjoy it at least a little bit. 300-500 dollars would be enough for me to continue. But again, looking at the data you gave, even this money is too much in the light of the data. The problem for me is that I just need to build a career, and the purpose of my career is not just money. You could say status. So I am thinking of developing myself especially in law.


However, if I improve myself in visual novels, I think I can do a good job by combining it with a good visual feast and eroticism. If I make a game like this, I'm not sure how much of a following it will get, how many donors there will be. That's why I asked here. But the thing is, is Patreon the only data? For example, there are sites like Steam, SubscribeStar, Itch.io. Is Patreon the only data? I looked at a few games, so the average game maker has between 350-500 donors. Considering the average donation of 2 dollars and of course the deductions, I thought it might be at a level that we can call a good or bad incentive. But I respect the research you did.

After all, I think statistics are important. I think a good advertisement, whether it's on Instagram, X, Bluesky, Reddit, etc., a good advertisement, a good game, a good audience and a certain amount of money can be earned with it. Anyway, thank you for your comment.

 

[Erlaxx]

Oh, that is actually a good topic. You have also checked the laws of your country and jurisdiction to ensure that it is legal for you to produce and/or distribute pornography/pornographic materials utilizing the content (written and/or imagery) of the genres you are considering?

This is true - but the attorney is 100% liable if they do not make sure that the documents are accurate, and in many jurisdictions attorneys must disclose the use of AI in their work. So, while drafting documents may be done by AI, there will still be need to qualified attorneys and other legal professionals. AI may make some paralegals and legal secretaries redundant, but other paralegals and secretaries who learn how to effectively learn the tool will be irreplaceable for their attorneys and judges they support.

First of all from a technical point of view. In my country it's forbidden to access porn on the internet, we do it with a VPN, guess where I am Anyway. First of all, no, I don't think there's any particular law on the technical side of such games, but if I make money from it, I might get blamed for not paying taxes, haha, because if I make money, I plan to withdraw it from global banks. Other than that, after all, if it's not illegal to have sex, why should it be illegal to make games, right? So I don't think I'll get in trouble just for making a porn game, I'm not planning on making a heavy or sadistic or illegal game anyway, I'm thinking of using categories like milf and at worst teen. As for AI, of course I'm not saying the whole world will become the Matrix, maybe there's more to it, lol. But in the future, many professions may shrink. I was thinking about that, of course time will tell us. Otherwise, lawyering will not suddenly disappear. But let's say this is a bit related to the country I live in. Don't get me wrong, I'm happy in my country, it just has its own problems like every society. As I said, if I am going to make a game, I will already have a job. I'm not sure if I should just stay in this job or if I should improve my status.

 

[Count Morado]

But the thing is, is Patreon the only data? For example, there are sites like Steam, SubscribeStar, Itch.io. Is Patreon the only data? I looked at a few games, so the average game maker has between 350-500 donors.

Yes, Patreon is the only one that data is available for, because, if you would do adequate research you would find that it is the only one where data is best able to be scraped from its site. The others are usually much less transparent. The site graphtreon.com gathers the data on a daily basis from Patreon.

And your research about the average number of PAID subscribers for Patreon is inaccurate. The average adult game developer who has PAID subscribers on Patreon has closer to 25-50 PAID subscribers. Make sure you are looking at only PAID subscribers for income estimation.

Note that the statistics I provided is for only those adult game developers on Patreon who have PAID subscribers or are < 1 year on Patreon. There are 1900 of the 9000 or so adult game developers on Patreon for at least 1 year who have ZERO PAID subscribers. That's > 20% of all adult game developers on Patreon.

I wish you the best, but make sure to keep your eyes fully open while you continue. You are more likely to bring in less than $100USD per month than anything else after 4 or more years on developing an adult game.

In my country it's forbidden to access porn on the internet

then you should not risk ending up in prison as a sex offender... Look for a regular job.

It's one thing to use pron illegally for person reasons.

It's completely another to create and distribute it. You aren't just risking freedom, but you do know what happens to sex offenders in prisons in your country, right?

And yes, you would be classified as a sex offender.

I plan to withdraw it from global banks

Holy shit. You have no clue how things work do you? With Patreon, Steam, Itch.io, Subscribestar, etc - you have to submit identification and tax info. You would be creating a digital trail of evidence for the authorities to collect during the discovery phase of your prosecution.

Don't
Just don't.

Stop and look for a steady job.

 

[Erlaxx]

Yes, Patreon is the only one that data is available for, because, if you would do adequate research you would find that it is the only one where data is best able to be scraped from its site. The others are usually much less transparent. The site graphtreon.com gathers the data on a daily basis from Patreon.

And your research about the average number of PAID subscribers for Patreon is inaccurate. The average adult game developer who has PAID subscribers on Patreon has closer to 25-50 PAID subscribers. Make sure you are looking at only PAID subscribers for income estimation.

Note that the statistics I provided is for only those adult game developers on Patreon who have PAID subscribers or are < 1 year on Patreon. There are 1900 of the 9000 or so adult game developers on Patreon for at least 1 year who have ZERO PAID subscribers. That's > 20% of all adult game developers on Patreon.

I wish you the best, but make sure to keep your eyes fully open while you continue. You are more likely to bring in less than $100USD per month than anything else after 4 or more years on developing an adult game.

then you should not risk ending up in prison as a sex offender... Look for a regular job.

It's one thing to use pron illegally for person reasons.

It's completely another to create and distribute it. You aren't just risking freedom, but you do know what happens to sex offenders in prisons in your country, right?

And yes, you would be classified as a sex offender.

Holy shit. You have no clue how things work do you? With Patreon, Steam, Itch.io, Subscribestar, etc - you have to submit identification and tax info. You would be creating a digital trail of evidence for the authorities to collect during the discovery phase of your prosecution.

Don't
Just don't.

Stop and look for a steady job.

First of all, yes, Patreon is a better platform for data analysis than other sites. But how much can we trust its transparency? If it's a question of value, if we take into account the data from the other platforms, how much money is the total amount of money that can be received? But as far as I understand it, it doesn't seem to make a visible difference. Anyway. First of all, making games is not a crime as far as I know. Likewise, it's not a crime to watch porn in addition to making games. In my country, prostitutes can do business. So no, I don't think I would be prosecuted as a sex offender if I made a game. But life, it could be anything. Isn't it? As for your last point, no, it's not exactly not paying taxes. You can't avoid taxes. I'm aware that I'm going to give this information to Patreon, but I'm aware of the way things work in my country. If I get money, I'm thinking of withdrawing it using global banks, which would be like evading heavy taxes. I am aware of the legal system and the cultural system in my country. In my country it costs money to watch football but it is illegal. Gambling is illegal but illegal gambling is done. Don't get me wrong, I'm just aware of these things, and guess where I am... Last but not least, if I'm making a game, I have to have a job. So I'm not going to tie my life to this game.

 

[Doorknob22]

Assuming you have talent, It's possible, if you commit.

If you have another job, your game will be the only thing you'll do after work. No hanging out with friends, no watching Netflix of playing Video games, your game must be the only thing that matters.

If you don't have another job, the game is your new job. But not one you can slack at, one you are 100% committed to.

If you are able to commit to your game and have some talent, the numbers you specified are achievable IMHO. Good luck!

 

[Jaike]

You could maybe get there in a few years, but honestly, you'd get tired of it. Even Icstor got tired of snorting coke off hookers every weekend and started slacking just a few years in.

More seriously and to add another angle to what others said, a lot of the big names haven't only been at it for years, many of those got in too when there was less supply in the scene. I wouldn't been on repeating that, a lot has changed on a lot of other sites too. So yeah, stick with your law career.

Possible? Yes. Likely? Most of us get about $100 a month even after years.

Patreon may be a bit more forgiving on returns than SubscribeStar, but of course it has stricter enforcement and certain content needs a mod or it's out.

"Be a pillar of justice or make titty renders for a living?"

Eh, both options could prolly benefit from the OP having a justice boner? Maybe enough for both at the same time.

First of all from a technical point of view. In my country it's forbidden to access porn on the internet, we do it with a VPN, guess where I am

India?

 

[Insomnimaniac Games]

Patreon may be a bit more forgiving on returns than SubscribeStar, but of course it has stricter enforcement and certain content needs a mod or it's out.

True. I'd probably be making double, if not more, if I was still on patreon. Next game's content is to spicy for any platform using paypal though.

 

[suprisedcrankyface]

True. I'd probably be making double, if not more, if I was still on patreon. Next game's content is to spicy for any platform using paypal though.

Thats alot of headpats

 

[Insomnimaniac Games]

Thats alot of headpats

Headpats, hugs, and handjobs.

 

[MissCougar]

Holy cow.

Please don't do something crazy that's not allowed in your part of the world. Do something else.

 

[gobman]

No point asking without showing your art / talent. No one can say if you'll make it or not without that.