Niche

2D + Difficult

Games tagged both 2D and Difficult: 349 indie paid launches, 23 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.

Price $10 to $20

All prices1 in 15 hit $100k+Under $51 in 230 hit $100k+$5 to $101 in 28 hit $100k+$10 to $2021 in 100 hit $100k+$20 to $4044 in 100 hit $100k+

Base rate: indie paid launches 12 to 36 months old, 26,758 launches. Odds compare best within one price.

Lens Standard

Standard West-facing view Without the breakout Last 18 months

All indie paid launches 12 to 36 months old. Lens figures exist at all prices only; inside a price band this page shows the standard figures.

Sample 10+

10+ launchesshow small samples 30+ launches 100+ launchesonly big markets

Hides anything measured on fewer launches.

$10 to $20

Showing 2D + Difficult priced $10 to $20. This filter changes the answer: at all prices the pair beats 2D and is about level with Difficult; priced $10 to $20 it beats both its tags.

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 + Difficult beats both its tags: 38.0 in 100 of its launches earned $100k+ priced $10 to $20, against 16.6 in 100 for 2D and 27.9 in 100 for Difficult.

That is about 1.8 times the 20.5 in 100 expected for any launch at this price.

3RDThird

Tag onemood tag2D

16.6in 100 earned
$100k+

Odds16.6 in 100

Typical earnings$8,118

Launches953 / 158 hits

Pair leads by21.4 in 100

1STWinner

This pair2D + Difficult

38.0in 100 earned
$100k+

Odds38.0 in 100

$1k+100 in 100

$10k+80 in 100

Launches50 / 19 hits

Expected20.5 in 100

2NDRunner-up

Tag twomood tagDifficult

27.9in 100 earned
$100k+

Odds27.9 in 100

Typical earnings$29,553

Launches183 / 51 hits

Pair leads by10.1 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 prices349 in pair Under $5210 in pair $5 to $1075 in pair $10 to $2050 in pair $20 to $4014 in pair

What the overlap means

The overlap is this niche: the 50 games tagged both 2D and Difficult priced $10 to $20. 38.0 in 100 of them earned $100k+, against 15.4 in 100 for 2D-only games and 24.1 in 100 for Difficult-only games, so games with both tags did better than games with either tag alone.

Both: 50 games priced $10 to $20; 38.0 in 100 earned $100k+, odds by size $1k+ 100 in 100 · $10k+ 80 in 100 · $100k+ 38 in 100.

Circle areas follow launch counts; the gold overlap is exactly the pair's 50 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

Hollow Knight: Silksongleads this pair83.5%

PairHollow Knight: Silksong83.5%

2DHollow Knight: Silksong39.4%

DifficultHollow Knight: Silksong67.4%

CheckOne game over half?yes

NextNearest hitsnot computed yet

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

Open free preview

ComparablesFree until launchClick to unlockWho leads 2D + Difficult

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

Hollow Knight: Silksong earned 83.5% of the estimated first-year money of the 349 2D + Difficult launches.
It also leads 2D, with 39.4% of that tag's money.
It also leads Difficult, with 67.4% of that tag's 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: games mostly reviewed in Chinese, the single biggest earner, and everything older than 18 months.

Does the answer hold?

All prices

2D + Difficult is one-hit market: one game earned over half the money. It holds in West-facing view and Last 18 months.

2D + Difficult through every lens, all prices
This pair	BaseStandardevery launch	West-facing view341 of 349 launches	Without the breakout348 of 349 launches	Last 18 months80 of 349 launches
Launches counted	34923 hits	34122 hits	34822 hits	805 hits
Earned $100k+	6.6 in 1001 in 15	6.5 in 1001 in 16	6.3 in 1001 in 16	6.3 in 1001 in 16
Typical first-year earnings	$690top tenth $58,507+	$706	$690	under 100 launches
Chance against standard	the base	-2.1%0.1 fewer in 100	-4.1%0.3 fewer in 100	-5.2%0.3 fewer in 100
Typical against standard	the base	+2.3%$16 more	0.0%no change	under 100 launches
Does it hold?	The base view	Holds	Moves the answer	Holds

BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged both 2D and Difficult, 12 to 36 months old: 349 launches.

Launches counted: 34923 hits
Earned $100k+: 6.6 in 1001 in 15
Typical first-year earnings: $690top tenth $58,507+
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: 8 of 349 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted: 34122 hits
Earned $100k+: 6.5 in 1001 in 16
Typical first-year earnings: $706
Chance against standard: -2.1%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard: +2.3%$16 more

Without the breakoutMoves the answer

Drops the single biggest earner, Hollow Knight: Silksong (83.5% of the money): 348 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted: 34822 hits
Earned $100k+: 6.3 in 1001 in 16
Typical first-year earnings: $690
Chance against standard: -4.1%0.3 fewer in 100
Typical against standard: 0.0%no change

Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 80 of 349.

Launches counted: 805 hits
Earned $100k+: 6.3 in 1001 in 16
Typical first-year earnings: under 100 launches
Chance against standard: -5.2%0.3 fewer in 100
Typical against standard: under 100 launches

Standard: Every indie paid launch tagged both 2D and Difficult, 12 to 36 months old: 349 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: 8 of 349 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 (83.5% of the money): 348 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: 80 of 349.

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
2D	BaseStandardevery launch	West-facing view7,851 of 8,361 launches	Without the breakout8,360 of 8,361 launches	Last 18 months2,328 of 8,361 launches
Launches counted	8,361283 hits	7,851261 hits	8,360282 hits	2,32884 hits
Earned $100k+	3.4 in 1001 in 30	3.3 in 1001 in 30	3.4 in 1001 in 30	3.6 in 1001 in 28
Typical first-year earnings	$290top tenth $13,574+	$295	$290	$273
Chance against standard	the base	-1.8%0.1 fewer in 100	-0.3%no change	+6.6%0.2 more in 100
Typical against standard	the base	+1.7%$5 more	0.0%no change	-5.9%$17 less
Does it hold?	The base view	Holds	Holds	Holds

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.

Difficult is one-hit market: one game earned over half the money. It holds in West-facing view and Last 18 months.

Difficult through every lens, all prices
Difficult	BaseStandardevery launch	West-facing view959 of 974 launches	Without the breakout973 of 974 launches	Last 18 months251 of 974 launches
Launches counted	97472 hits	95970 hits	97371 hits	25118 hits
Earned $100k+	7.4 in 1001 in 14	7.3 in 1001 in 14	7.3 in 1001 in 14	7.2 in 1001 in 14
Typical first-year earnings	$1,035top tenth $68,310+	$1,091	$1,029	$1,181
Chance against standard	the base	-1.3%0.1 fewer in 100	-1.3%0.1 fewer in 100	-3.0%0.2 fewer in 100
Typical against standard	the base	+5.4%$56 more	-0.6%$6 less	+14.1%$146 more
Does it hold?	The base view	Holds	Moves the answer	Holds

BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Difficult, 12 to 36 months old: 974 launches.

Launches counted: 97472 hits
Earned $100k+: 7.4 in 1001 in 14
Typical first-year earnings: $1,035top tenth $68,310+
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: 15 of 974 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted: 95970 hits
Earned $100k+: 7.3 in 1001 in 14
Typical first-year earnings: $1,091
Chance against standard: -1.3%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard: +5.4%$56 more

Without the breakoutMoves the answer

Drops the single biggest earner, Hollow Knight: Silksong (67.4% of the money): 973 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted: 97371 hits
Earned $100k+: 7.3 in 1001 in 14
Typical first-year earnings: $1,029
Chance against standard: -1.3%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard: -0.6%$6 less

Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 251 of 974.

Launches counted: 25118 hits
Earned $100k+: 7.2 in 1001 in 14
Typical first-year earnings: $1,181
Chance against standard: -3.0%0.2 fewer in 100
Typical against standard: +14.1%$146 more

Standard: Every indie paid launch tagged Difficult, 12 to 36 months old: 974 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: 15 of 974 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 (67.4% of the money): 973 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: 251 of 974.

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 + Difficult 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.