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on 2 Oct 2026

Niches / 2.5D + Side Scroller

Niche

2.5D + Side Scroller

Games tagged both 2.5D and Side Scroller: 66 indie paid launches, 5 of them earned $100k+ in their first year.

How to read this page

  • A hit is an estimated $100k+ first year. Revenue is estimated from Steam reviews, so read figures as "about".
  • Price moves the odds more than genre does, so the page opens on one price band. The keys in section 2 switch it.
  • From 29,637 indie paid launches 6 to 30 months old, data of 1 Oct 2026. How it is measured.

Showing 2.5D + Side Scroller priced $10 to $20.

1Scoreboard: the pair against each of its tags

The pair's chance of a $100k+ first year beside each of its two tags, ranked like a high-score table, with typical earnings and the launches behind every figure.

ScoreboardDoes this pair beat its genres?$10 to $20

2.5D + Side Scroller beats both its tags: 2 of its 14 launches earned $100k+ priced $10 to $20, against 12.9 in 100 for 2.5D and 12.8 in 100 for Side Scroller.

Small sample: 14 launches, 2 hits.

2NDTied
Tag onemood tag2.5D
12.9in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds12.9 in 100
Typical earnings$6,882
Launches132 / 17 hits
Pair leads by1.4 in 100
1STWinner
This pair2.5D + Side Scroller
2 of 14launches earned
$100k+ small
Odds2 of 14 launches
Typical earnings$18,694
Launches14 / 2 hits
Expected18.6 in 100
2NDTied
Tag twomood tagSide Scroller
12.8in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds12.8 in 100
Typical earnings$10,120
Launches149 / 19 hits
Pair leads by1.5 in 100
All indie launches $10 to $20: 18.6 in 100 earned $100k+, typical $9,226, from 4,810 launches.each block is 1 in 100 all indie at $10 to $202.5D is a mood tag: GMD never ranks it alone, but every game carrying it is counted.

2Overlap: where the two tags meet

Each circle is one tag, sized by its launches, and the gold overlap is exactly this pair. Click a part to read it. Price changes the odds more than genre does (under $5: 0.5 in 100 launches earned $100k+; $20 to $40: 42.4 in 100), so read it within a price band.

Price bandswitches the whole page
All prices66 in pairUnder $524 in pair$5 to $1024 in pair$10 to $2014 in pair$20 to $404: too few
What the overlap means

The overlap is this niche: the 14 games tagged both 2.5D and Side Scroller priced $10 to $20. 14.3 in 100 of them earned $100k+, against 12.7 for 2.5D-only games and 12.6 for Side Scroller-only games, so games with both tags did better than games with either tag alone.

Both: 14 games priced $10 to $20; 14.3 in 100 earned $100k+, typical first-year earnings $18,694.

Circle areas follow launch counts; the gold overlap is exactly the pair's 14 launches. The outer parts are each tag's launches minus the pair's, so their chance is exact; their typical earnings are not computed yet.

3Comparables

Who leads this pair and each of its tags. Free until launch: one click opens the card. The full comparables list (nearest hits by tag pair, price and launch year) is not computed yet, and the card says so.

Comparables

Leaders

Top earner, share of the moneyFree until launch

Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Treeleads this pair67.5%
PairMandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree67.5%
2.5DRivals of Aether II13.0%
Side ScrollerAbsolum17.8%
CheckOne game over half?yes
NextNearest hitsnot computed yet

Lens checkHolds in 3 of 3. Standard: the yardstick. West-facing view: holds. Without the breakout: holds. Last 18 months: holds.

Open free preview
ComparablesFree until launchClick to unlockWho leads 2.5D + Side Scroller

What this card holds

  • Leaders. The top earner in this pair and in each of its two tags, with its share of the money.
  • One-hit check. Whether a single game holds over half of the pair's money.
  • Nearest hits. Similar games that earned $100k+, matched by tag pair, price and launch year: not computed yet.

How the list will be picked

Same tag pairdata ready
Same price banddata ready
Launched within a year of each otherplanned
Earned $100k+planned
The list itselfnot computed yet

Free until launch: one click opens the card.

The leaders, in words

  • Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree earned 67.5% of the estimated first-year money of the 66 2.5D + Side Scroller launches.
  • 2.5D is led by Rivals of Aether II, with 13.0% of its money.
  • Side Scroller is led by Absolum, with 17.8% of its money.
  • One game holds over half of this pair's money: read every figure here as that game's story.

Nearest hits (similar games that earned $100k+, matched by tag pair, price and launch year): not computed yet.

Filters do not apply here yet. Leaders and shares are for all prices and the Standard view; per price band and per lens they are not computed yet.

4Lens check: does the answer hold?

The same figures with three kinds of games set aside: those with a mostly Chinese audience, the single biggest earner, and everything older than 18 months.

Does the answer hold?

All prices

2.5D + Side Scroller holds in 3 of 3: every lens keeps the chance and typical earnings within a quarter of the standard figures.

2.5D + Side Scroller through every lens, all prices
This pairBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view66 of 66 launchesWithout the breakout65 of 66 launchesLast 18 months30 of 66 launches
Launches counted665 hits665 hits654 hits302 hits
Earned $100k+7.6 in 1001 in 137.6 in 1001 in 136.2 in 1001 in 166.7 in 1001 in 15
Typical first-year earnings$545top tenth $73,463+$545$526$425
Chance against standardthe yardstick0.0%no change-18.4%1.4 fewer in 100-11.8%0.9 fewer in 100
Typical against standardthe yardstick0.0%no change-3.5%$19 less-22.0%$120 less
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged both 2.5D and Side Scroller, 6 to 30 months old: 66 launches.

Launches counted
665 hits
Earned $100k+
7.6 in 1001 in 13
Typical first-year earnings
$545top tenth $73,463+
Chance against standard
the yardstick
Typical against standard
the yardstick
West-facing viewHolds

Games mostly reviewed outside China. Drops games whose audience is mostly Chinese, meaning 35% or more of their reviews are in Simplified Chinese: 0 of 66 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
665 hits
Earned $100k+
7.6 in 1001 in 13
Typical first-year earnings
$545
Chance against standard
0.0%no change
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree (67.5% of the money): 65 launches left.

Launches counted
654 hits
Earned $100k+
6.2 in 1001 in 16
Typical first-year earnings
$526
Chance against standard
-18.4%1.4 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-3.5%$19 less
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 30 of 66.

Launches counted
302 hits
Earned $100k+
6.7 in 1001 in 15
Typical first-year earnings
$425
Chance against standard
-11.8%0.9 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-22.0%$120 less
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged both 2.5D and Side Scroller, 6 to 30 months old: 66 launches.
West-facing view
Games mostly reviewed outside China. Drops games whose audience is mostly Chinese, meaning 35% or more of their reviews are in Simplified Chinese: 0 of 66 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.
Without the breakout
Drops the single biggest earner, Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree (67.5% of the money): 65 launches left.
Last 18 months
Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 30 of 66.

2.5D is changed recently: Last 18 months moves the answer by more than a quarter. It holds in 2 of 3.

2.5D through every lens, all prices
2.5DBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view650 of 686 launchesWithout the breakout685 of 686 launchesLast 18 months378 of 686 launches
Launches counted68636 hits65034 hits68535 hits37812 hits
Earned $100k+5.2 in 1001 in 195.2 in 1001 in 195.1 in 1001 in 203.2 in 1001 in 31
Typical first-year earnings$404top tenth $23,883+$404$403$324
Chance against standardthe yardstick0.0%no change-1.9%0.1 fewer in 100-38.5%2.0 fewer in 100
Typical against standardthe yardstick0.0%no change-0.2%$1 less-19.8%$80 less
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsMoves the answer
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged 2.5D, 6 to 30 months old: 686 launches.

Launches counted
68636 hits
Earned $100k+
5.2 in 1001 in 19
Typical first-year earnings
$404top tenth $23,883+
Chance against standard
the yardstick
Typical against standard
the yardstick
West-facing viewHolds

Games mostly reviewed outside China. Drops games whose audience is mostly Chinese, meaning 35% or more of their reviews are in Simplified Chinese: 36 of 686 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
65034 hits
Earned $100k+
5.2 in 1001 in 19
Typical first-year earnings
$404
Chance against standard
0.0%no change
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Rivals of Aether II (13.0% of the money): 685 launches left.

Launches counted
68535 hits
Earned $100k+
5.1 in 1001 in 20
Typical first-year earnings
$403
Chance against standard
-1.9%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-0.2%$1 less
Last 18 monthsMoves the answer

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 378 of 686.

Launches counted
37812 hits
Earned $100k+
3.2 in 1001 in 31
Typical first-year earnings
$324
Chance against standard
-38.5%2.0 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-19.8%$80 less
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged 2.5D, 6 to 30 months old: 686 launches.
West-facing view
Games mostly reviewed outside China. Drops games whose audience is mostly Chinese, meaning 35% or more of their reviews are in Simplified Chinese: 36 of 686 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.
Without the breakout
Drops the single biggest earner, Rivals of Aether II (13.0% of the money): 685 launches left.
Last 18 months
Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 378 of 686.

Side Scroller holds in 3 of 3: every lens keeps the chance and typical earnings within a quarter of the standard figures.

Side Scroller through every lens, all prices
Side ScrollerBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view1,105 of 1,126 launchesWithout the breakout1,125 of 1,126 launchesLast 18 months592 of 1,126 launches
Launches counted1,12638 hits1,10538 hits1,12537 hits59222 hits
Earned $100k+3.4 in 1001 in 293.4 in 1001 in 293.3 in 1001 in 303.7 in 1001 in 27
Typical first-year earnings$401top tenth $18,826+$385$385$303
Chance against standardthe yardstick0.0%no change-2.9%0.1 fewer in 100+8.8%0.3 more in 100
Typical against standardthe yardstick-4.0%$16 less-4.0%$16 less-24.4%$98 less
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Side Scroller, 6 to 30 months old: 1,126 launches.

Launches counted
1,12638 hits
Earned $100k+
3.4 in 1001 in 29
Typical first-year earnings
$401top tenth $18,826+
Chance against standard
the yardstick
Typical against standard
the yardstick
West-facing viewHolds

Games mostly reviewed outside China. Drops games whose audience is mostly Chinese, meaning 35% or more of their reviews are in Simplified Chinese: 21 of 1,126 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
1,10538 hits
Earned $100k+
3.4 in 1001 in 29
Typical first-year earnings
$385
Chance against standard
0.0%no change
Typical against standard
-4.0%$16 less
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Absolum (17.8% of the money): 1,125 launches left.

Launches counted
1,12537 hits
Earned $100k+
3.3 in 1001 in 30
Typical first-year earnings
$385
Chance against standard
-2.9%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-4.0%$16 less
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 592 of 1,126.

Launches counted
59222 hits
Earned $100k+
3.7 in 1001 in 27
Typical first-year earnings
$303
Chance against standard
+8.8%0.3 more in 100
Typical against standard
-24.4%$98 less
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged Side Scroller, 6 to 30 months old: 1,126 launches.
West-facing view
Games mostly reviewed outside China. Drops games whose audience is mostly Chinese, meaning 35% or more of their reviews are in Simplified Chinese: 21 of 1,126 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.
Without the breakout
Drops the single biggest earner, Absolum (17.8% of the money): 1,125 launches left.
Last 18 months
Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 592 of 1,126.

A lens holds when chance and typical earnings both stay within 25% of standard. Lens figures by price band are not computed yet, so this table is for all prices.

5Premium early list

Alerts when 2.5D + Side Scroller moves, comparables the day they land, and every lens for every pair and price. Free until launch.

Free until launch

Keep gold access after launch: alerts, comparables, every lens.

Releases

Ticker: 30 upcoming games dated within 90 days, with wishlist rank, release date and followers. The same list is on the Upcoming page.