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Ticker: price and year-over-year change for 40 genres. Price is the median estimated first-year revenue of indie paid launches. The same figures are on the Genres page.

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on 30 Sep 2026

Niches / 2D + Action

Niche

2D + Action

Games tagged both 2D and Action: 2,552 indie paid launches, 71 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 2D + Action priced $10 to $20, west-facing view. Lens figures exist at all prices only, so inside a price band the page shows the standard figures. This filter changes the answer: at all prices the pair is level with 2D and trails Action; priced $10 to $20 it beats 2D and is level with Action.

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

2D + Action beats 2D and is level with Action: 17.7 in 100 of its launches earned $100k+ priced $10 to $20, against 14.4 in 100 for 2D and 17.3 in 100 for Action.

That is about 1.0 times the 18.6 in 100 expected for any launch at this price. Lens figures by price band are not computed yet, so this band uses the standard figures.

3RDThird
Tag onemood tag2D
14.4in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds14.4 in 100
Typical earnings$6,072
Launches1,032 / 149 hits
Pair leads by3.3 in 100
1STTied winner
This pair2D + Action
17.7in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds17.7 in 100
Typical earnings$10,321
Launches243 / 43 hits
Expected18.6 in 100
1STTied winner
Tag twomood tagAction
17.3in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds17.3 in 100
Typical earnings$7,285
Launches1,198 / 207 hits
Pair is level0.4 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 $202D 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.

What the overlap means

The overlap is this niche: the 243 games tagged both 2D and Action priced $10 to $20. 17.7 in 100 of them earned $100k+, against 13.4 for 2D-only games and 17.2 for Action-only games, so games with both tags did better than games with either tag alone.

Both: 243 games priced $10 to $20; 17.7 in 100 earned $100k+, typical first-year earnings $10,321.

Circle areas follow launch counts; the gold overlap is exactly the pair's 243 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. The west-facing view lens is not computed for the outer parts, so this diagram uses the standard figures.

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

Nine Solsleads this pair35.3%
PairNine Sols35.3%
2DHollow Knight: Silksong32.4%
ActionPath of Exile 214.3%
CheckOne game over half?no
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 2D + Action

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

  • Nine Sols earned 35.3% of the estimated first-year money of the 2,552 2D + Action launches.
  • 2D is led by Hollow Knight: Silksong, with 32.4% of its money.
  • Action is led by Path of Exile 2, with 14.3% of its money.
  • No game holds over half of this pair's money, so the pair is not a one-hit market.

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

2D + Action holds in 3 of 3: every lens keeps the chance and typical earnings within a quarter of the standard figures.

2D + Action through every lens, all prices
This pairBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view2,479 of 2,552 launchesWithout the breakout2,551 of 2,552 launchesLast 18 months1,365 of 2,552 launches
Launches counted2,55271 hits2,47967 hits2,55170 hits1,36537 hits
Earned $100k+2.8 in 1001 in 362.7 in 1001 in 372.7 in 1001 in 372.7 in 1001 in 37
Typical first-year earnings$221top tenth $10,321+$242$221$202
Chance against standardthe yardstick-3.6%0.1 fewer in 100-3.6%0.1 fewer in 100-3.6%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standardthe yardstick+9.5%$21 more0.0%no change-8.6%$19 less
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged both 2D and Action, 6 to 30 months old: 2,552 launches.

Launches counted
2,55271 hits
Earned $100k+
2.8 in 1001 in 36
Typical first-year earnings
$221top tenth $10,321+
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: 73 of 2,552 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
2,47967 hits
Earned $100k+
2.7 in 1001 in 37
Typical first-year earnings
$242
Chance against standard
-3.6%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
+9.5%$21 more
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Nine Sols (35.3% of the money): 2,551 launches left.

Launches counted
2,55170 hits
Earned $100k+
2.7 in 1001 in 37
Typical first-year earnings
$221
Chance against standard
-3.6%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 1,365 of 2,552.

Launches counted
1,36537 hits
Earned $100k+
2.7 in 1001 in 37
Typical first-year earnings
$202
Chance against standard
-3.6%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-8.6%$19 less
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged both 2D and Action, 6 to 30 months old: 2,552 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: 73 of 2,552 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, Nine Sols (35.3% of the money): 2,551 launches left.
Last 18 months
Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 1,365 of 2,552.

2D holds in 3 of 3: every lens keeps the chance and typical earnings within a quarter of the standard figures.

2D through every lens, all prices
2DBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view8,723 of 9,279 launchesWithout the breakout9,278 of 9,279 launchesLast 18 months5,071 of 9,279 launches
Launches counted9,279280 hits8,723261 hits9,278279 hits5,071141 hits
Earned $100k+3.0 in 1001 in 333.0 in 1001 in 333.0 in 1001 in 332.8 in 1001 in 36
Typical first-year earnings$303top tenth $12,749+$303$303$243
Chance against standardthe yardstick0.0%no change0.0%no change-6.7%0.2 fewer in 100
Typical against standardthe yardstick0.0%no change0.0%no change-19.8%$60 less
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged 2D, 6 to 30 months old: 9,279 launches.

Launches counted
9,279280 hits
Earned $100k+
3.0 in 1001 in 33
Typical first-year earnings
$303top tenth $12,749+
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: 556 of 9,279 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
8,723261 hits
Earned $100k+
3.0 in 1001 in 33
Typical first-year earnings
$303
Chance against standard
0.0%no change
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Hollow Knight: Silksong (32.4% of the money): 9,278 launches left.

Launches counted
9,278279 hits
Earned $100k+
3.0 in 1001 in 33
Typical first-year earnings
$303
Chance against standard
0.0%no change
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 5,071 of 9,279.

Launches counted
5,071141 hits
Earned $100k+
2.8 in 1001 in 36
Typical first-year earnings
$243
Chance against standard
-6.7%0.2 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-19.8%$60 less
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged 2D, 6 to 30 months old: 9,279 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: 556 of 9,279 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, Hollow Knight: Silksong (32.4% of the money): 9,278 launches left.
Last 18 months
Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 5,071 of 9,279.

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

Action through every lens, all prices
ActionBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view8,493 of 8,722 launchesWithout the breakout8,721 of 8,722 launchesLast 18 months4,715 of 8,722 launches
Launches counted8,722424 hits8,493408 hits8,721423 hits4,715222 hits
Earned $100k+4.9 in 1001 in 204.8 in 1001 in 214.9 in 1001 in 204.7 in 1001 in 21
Typical first-year earnings$404top tenth $21,119+$404$404$364
Chance against standardthe yardstick-2.0%0.1 fewer in 1000.0%no change-4.1%0.2 fewer in 100
Typical against standardthe yardstick0.0%no change0.0%no change-9.9%$40 less
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Action, 6 to 30 months old: 8,722 launches.

Launches counted
8,722424 hits
Earned $100k+
4.9 in 1001 in 20
Typical first-year earnings
$404top tenth $21,119+
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: 229 of 8,722 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
8,493408 hits
Earned $100k+
4.8 in 1001 in 21
Typical first-year earnings
$404
Chance against standard
-2.0%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Path of Exile 2 (14.3% of the money): 8,721 launches left.

Launches counted
8,721423 hits
Earned $100k+
4.9 in 1001 in 20
Typical first-year earnings
$404
Chance against standard
0.0%no change
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 4,715 of 8,722.

Launches counted
4,715222 hits
Earned $100k+
4.7 in 1001 in 21
Typical first-year earnings
$364
Chance against standard
-4.1%0.2 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-9.9%$40 less
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged Action, 6 to 30 months old: 8,722 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: 229 of 8,722 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, Path of Exile 2 (14.3% of the money): 8,721 launches left.
Last 18 months
Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 4,715 of 8,722.

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 2D + Action 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.