We all want to know what really sells on 3D marketplaces. It’s one of the most common questions among 3D artists, asset creators, and indie developers. Everyone is searching for clear answers – yet very few sellers are willing to share real sales numbers or meaningful data.
In this article, we’ll change that. By looking at publicly available statistics, trends, and performance data from major platforms like CGTrader, FAB, Unity Asset Store, and YouTube, we’ll explore what types of 3D models actually sell, why they sell, and what this means for creators.
Why Most Sellers Don’t Share What Actually Sells
There’s a very good reason why most 3D artists don’t openly share what really sells on 3D marketplaces. The moment real data is revealed, other creators can copy the idea – and suddenly, the original seller’s income is at risk.
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Note: Characters consistently rank among the top-selling 3D models, and using a base mesh can reduce character modeling time by up to 80%.
Because of this, many 3D designers end up guessing. They experiment, try different asset types, get mixed results, and then pivot toward whatever seems to be working. It’s often a process of trial and error, with a lot of time spent tapping in the dark.
In this article, we’ll try to reduce that guesswork and give you a clearer picture of what actually sells on 3D marketplaces – based on real data, not assumptions.
Real Sales Numbers, Not Hypothetical Advice
For this analysis, I’ll focus on videos by Andrew Vish. If you’re not familiar with his YouTube channel, it’s well worth checking out – high-quality content and refreshingly transparent insights.
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Note: Pre-rigged and animated base meshes are even more valuable, as they can save additional production time and expand usability across games and animations. Low-poly stylized characters and creatures also remain consistently in demand across 3D marketplaces.
There are already many videos online promising “passive income” or titles like “How I earned…”. Most of them offer very general advice, speak hypothetically, or avoid showing concrete results. What’s usually missing are real numbers.
That’s exactly where Andrew’s content stands out. In several videos, he openly shares actual sales data from his 3D models. These real statistics make his videos especially valuable for anyone trying to understand what truly works on marketplaces like CGTrader, FAB, Unity Asset Store, and Superhive.
Below, you can find one of the videos that provides a clear insight into what performs well on 3D marketplaces.
In the next video, Andrew compares the performance of FAB, CGTrader, and the Unity Asset Store.
Finally, let’s take a look at a few general tips for selling 3D models.
Unity Asset Store Trends
Each year, the Unity Asset Store publishes a very useful report that shows not only which 3D models perform best and which categories are in demand, but also the overall direction of the industry.
Source: Unity Asset Store
You can find the full report details here:
Source: Unity Asset Store
They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and these two graphs alone should give you a clear idea of what customers are looking for.
FAB 2025 Year in Review
Source: FAB
FAB did the same and published its Fab 2025 Year in Review report. While it’s not as detailed as the Unity Asset Store report, it still provides several interesting insights worth paying attention to.
Source: FAB
CGTrader Trends Report
CGTrader did the similar thing for their platform too, and they’ve published this ingesting post – What Game Developers Are Buying Right Now: Trends in 3D Asset Demand.
Source: CGTrader
All of this should give you a solid overview of the 3D market as it stands today, as well as a clear idea of where it’s heading. By combining these insights with your own skills and experience, you’ll be better equipped to decide what to create next – and what to sell on 3D marketplaces.
Want to Turn Your 3D Skills into Income? Read These Next
- 4 Proven Ways to Earn Money with 3D Skills
- How and Where to Sell Your 3D Models Online
- What Sells on 3D Marketplaces? Data-Driven Insights from CGTrader, FAB, Unity & YouTube
- Analyzing 3D Character Sales: Which Styles Work Best on Marketplaces
Want to Save Even More Time in 3D Design?
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