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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 change shows for genres with 100+ launches. The same figures are on the Genres page.

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201,879
on 11 Nov 2026

Niches / 2D + Cute

Niche

2D + Cute

Games tagged both 2D and Cute: 1,688 indie paid launches, 69 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". Earnings are sales on Steam after discounts and regional prices, before Steam's 30% cut, refunds and sales tax. About 58% of it reaches the developer.
  • Price moves the odds more than genre does, so the page opens on one price band. The keys in section 2 switch it.
  • From 26,758 indie paid launches 12 to 36 months old, data of 2 Nov 2026. How it is measured.

Showing 2D + Cute 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

2D + Cute is about level with 2D and is about level with Cute: 18.9 in 100 of its launches earned $100k+ priced $10 to $20, against 16.6 in 100 for 2D and 18.7 in 100 for Cute.

That is about 0.9 times the 20.5 in 100 expected for any launch at this price.

TIEA tie
Tag onemood tag2D
16.6in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds16.6 in 100
Typical earnings$8,118
Launches953 / 158 hits
A tie, apart by2.3 in 100
TIEA tie
This pair2D + Cute
18.9in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds18.9 in 100
Typical earnings$13,098
Launches175 / 33 hits
Expected20.5 in 100
TIEA tie
Tag twomood tagCute
18.7in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds18.7 in 100
Typical earnings$11,230
Launches555 / 104 hits
A tie, apart by0.1 in 100
All indie launches $10 to $20: 20.5 in 100 earned $100k+, typical $11,233, from 4,337 launches.each block is 2 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: 0.4 in 100 launches earned $100k+; $20 to $40: 44.2 in 100), so read it within a price band.

Price bandswitches the whole page
All prices1,688 in pairUnder $51,088 in pair$5 to $10380 in pair$10 to $20175 in pair$20 to $4045 in pair
What the overlap means

The overlap is this niche: the 175 games tagged both 2D and Cute priced $10 to $20. 18.9 in 100 of them earned $100k+, against 16.1 in 100 for 2D-only games and 18.7 in 100 for Cute-only games, so the mix is about level with 2D alone and is about level with Cute alone.

Both: 175 games priced $10 to $20; 18.9 in 100 earned $100k+, typical first-year earnings $13,098.

Circle areas follow launch counts; the gold overlap is exactly the pair's 175 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

Rabbit and Steelleads this pair7.2%
PairRabbit and Steel7.2%
2DHollow Knight: Silksong39.4%
CuteHello Kitty Island Adventure5.2%
CheckOne game over half?no
NextNearest hitsnot computed yet

Lens checkChanged recently. Standard: the base the others are compared with. West-facing view: holds. Without the breakout: holds. Last 18 months: moves the answer.

Open free preview
ComparablesFree until launchClick to unlockWho leads 2D + Cute

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

  • Rabbit and Steel earned 7.2% of the estimated first-year money of the 1,688 2D + Cute launches.
  • 2D is led by Hollow Knight: Silksong, with 39.4% of its money.
  • Cute is led by Hello Kitty Island Adventure, with 5.2% 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: games mostly reviewed in Chinese, the single biggest earner, and everything older than 18 months.

Does the answer hold?

All prices

2D + Cute is changed recently: Last 18 months moves the answer more than chance alone would. It holds in West-facing view and Without the breakout.

2D + Cute through every lens, all prices
This pairBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view1,612 of 1,688 launchesWithout the breakout1,687 of 1,688 launchesLast 18 months472 of 1,688 launches
Launches counted1,68869 hits1,61265 hits1,68768 hits47227 hits
Earned $100k+4.1 in 1001 in 244.0 in 1001 in 254.0 in 1001 in 255.7 in 1001 in 17
Typical first-year earnings$389top tenth $17,551+$390$387$364
Chance against standardthe base-1.4%0.1 fewer in 100-1.4%0.1 fewer in 100+39.9%1.6 more in 100
Typical against standardthe base+0.3%$1 more-0.5%$2 less-6.4%$25 less
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsMoves the answer
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged both 2D and Cute, 12 to 36 months old: 1,688 launches.

Launches counted
1,68869 hits
Earned $100k+
4.1 in 1001 in 24
Typical first-year earnings
$389top tenth $17,551+
Chance against standard
the base
Typical against standard
the base
West-facing viewHolds

Games mostly reviewed outside China. Drops games mostly reviewed in Chinese, meaning 35% or more of their reviews are in Simplified Chinese: 76 of 1,688 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
1,61265 hits
Earned $100k+
4.0 in 1001 in 25
Typical first-year earnings
$390
Chance against standard
-1.4%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
+0.3%$1 more
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Rabbit and Steel (7.2% of the money): 1,687 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
1,68768 hits
Earned $100k+
4.0 in 1001 in 25
Typical first-year earnings
$387
Chance against standard
-1.4%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-0.5%$2 less
Last 18 monthsMoves the answer

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 472 of 1,688.

Launches counted
47227 hits
Earned $100k+
5.7 in 1001 in 17
Typical first-year earnings
$364
Chance against standard
+39.9%1.6 more in 100
Typical against standard
-6.4%$25 less
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged both 2D and Cute, 12 to 36 months old: 1,688 launches.
West-facing view
Games mostly reviewed outside China. Drops games mostly reviewed in Chinese, meaning 35% or more of their reviews are in Simplified Chinese: 76 of 1,688 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, Rabbit and Steel (7.2% of the money): 1,687 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.
Last 18 months
Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 472 of 1,688.

2D holds in West-facing view, Without the breakout and Last 18 months. No lens moves the chance or typical earnings more than chance alone would.

2D through every lens, all prices
2DBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view7,851 of 8,361 launchesWithout the breakout8,360 of 8,361 launchesLast 18 months2,328 of 8,361 launches
Launches counted8,361283 hits7,851261 hits8,360282 hits2,32884 hits
Earned $100k+3.4 in 1001 in 303.3 in 1001 in 303.4 in 1001 in 303.6 in 1001 in 28
Typical first-year earnings$290top tenth $13,574+$295$290$273
Chance against standardthe base-1.8%0.1 fewer in 100-0.3%no change+6.6%0.2 more in 100
Typical against standardthe base+1.7%$5 more0.0%no change-5.9%$17 less
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged 2D, 12 to 36 months old: 8,361 launches.

Launches counted
8,361283 hits
Earned $100k+
3.4 in 1001 in 30
Typical first-year earnings
$290top tenth $13,574+
Chance against standard
the base
Typical against standard
the base
West-facing viewHolds

Games mostly reviewed outside China. Drops games mostly reviewed in Chinese, meaning 35% or more of their reviews are in Simplified Chinese: 510 of 8,361 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
7,851261 hits
Earned $100k+
3.3 in 1001 in 30
Typical first-year earnings
$295
Chance against standard
-1.8%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
+1.7%$5 more
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Hollow Knight: Silksong (39.4% of the money): 8,360 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
8,360282 hits
Earned $100k+
3.4 in 1001 in 30
Typical first-year earnings
$290
Chance against standard
-0.3%no change
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 2,328 of 8,361.

Launches counted
2,32884 hits
Earned $100k+
3.6 in 1001 in 28
Typical first-year earnings
$273
Chance against standard
+6.6%0.2 more in 100
Typical against standard
-5.9%$17 less
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged 2D, 12 to 36 months old: 8,361 launches.
West-facing view
Games mostly reviewed outside China. Drops games mostly reviewed in Chinese, meaning 35% or more of their reviews are in Simplified Chinese: 510 of 8,361 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 (39.4% of the money): 8,360 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.
Last 18 months
Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 2,328 of 8,361.

Cute is audience split +1: West-facing view moves the answer more than chance alone would, and 1 more lens too. It holds in Without the breakout.

Cute through every lens, all prices
CuteBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view3,704 of 3,880 launchesWithout the breakout3,879 of 3,880 launchesLast 18 months1,121 of 3,880 launches
Launches counted3,880226 hits3,704208 hits3,879225 hits1,12178 hits
Earned $100k+5.8 in 1001 in 175.6 in 1001 in 185.8 in 1001 in 177.0 in 1001 in 14
Typical first-year earnings$652top tenth $32,378+$672$652$727
Chance against standardthe base-3.6%0.2 fewer in 100-0.4%no change+19.5%1.1 more in 100
Typical against standardthe base+3.1%$20 more0.0%no change+11.5%$75 more
Does it hold?The base viewMoves the answerHoldsMoves the answer
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Cute, 12 to 36 months old: 3,880 launches.

Launches counted
3,880226 hits
Earned $100k+
5.8 in 1001 in 17
Typical first-year earnings
$652top tenth $32,378+
Chance against standard
the base
Typical against standard
the base
West-facing viewMoves the answer

Games mostly reviewed outside China. Drops games mostly reviewed in Chinese, meaning 35% or more of their reviews are in Simplified Chinese: 176 of 3,880 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
3,704208 hits
Earned $100k+
5.6 in 1001 in 18
Typical first-year earnings
$672
Chance against standard
-3.6%0.2 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
+3.1%$20 more
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Hello Kitty Island Adventure (5.2% of the money): 3,879 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
3,879225 hits
Earned $100k+
5.8 in 1001 in 17
Typical first-year earnings
$652
Chance against standard
-0.4%no change
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Last 18 monthsMoves the answer

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 1,121 of 3,880.

Launches counted
1,12178 hits
Earned $100k+
7.0 in 1001 in 14
Typical first-year earnings
$727
Chance against standard
+19.5%1.1 more in 100
Typical against standard
+11.5%$75 more
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged Cute, 12 to 36 months old: 3,880 launches.
West-facing view
Games mostly reviewed outside China. Drops games mostly reviewed in Chinese, meaning 35% or more of their reviews are in Simplified Chinese: 176 of 3,880 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, Hello Kitty Island Adventure (5.2% of the money): 3,879 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.
Last 18 months
Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 1,121 of 3,880.

A lens moves the chance only when it differs from standard by more than a random cut of the same size would, with 5+ hits on both sides; typical earnings are compared from 100 launches, within 25%. Without the breakout moves the answer when one game earned over half the money. Lens figures by price band are not computed yet, so this table is for all prices.

5Premium early list

Alerts when 2D + Cute 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.