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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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on 11 Nov 2026

Niches / 2D + Emotional

Niche

2D + Emotional

Games tagged both 2D and Emotional: 171 indie paid launches, 11 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 + Emotional priced $10 to $20. This filter changes the answer: at all prices the pair beats 2D and is about level with Emotional; priced $10 to $20 it is too small to compare with 2D and is too small to compare with Emotional.

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 + Emotional is too small to compare with 2D and is too small to compare with Emotional: 5 of its 25 launches earned $100k+ priced $10 to $20, against 16.6 in 100 for 2D and 21.9 in 100 for Emotional.

Small sample: 25 launches, 5 hits.

TIETied
Tag onemood tag2D
16.6in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds16.6 in 100
Typical earnings$8,118
Launches953 / 158 hits
Pair against ittoo few hits to compare
TIEA tie
This pair2D + Emotional
5 of 25launches earned
$100k+ small
Odds5 of 25 launches
$1k+23 of 25 launches
$10k+13 of 25 launches
Launches25 / 5 hits
Expected20.5 in 100
TIEA tie
Tag twomood tagEmotional
21.9in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds21.9 in 100
Typical earnings$12,769
Launches114 / 25 hits
Pair against ittoo few hits to compare
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
What the overlap means

The overlap is this niche: the 25 games tagged both 2D and Emotional priced $10 to $20. 5 of 25 of them earned $100k+, against 16.5 in 100 for 2D-only games and 22.5 in 100 for Emotional-only games, so the mix is too small to compare with 2D alone and is too small to compare with Emotional alone.

Both: 25 games priced $10 to $20; 5 of 25 earned $100k+, odds by size $1k+ 23 of 25 launches · $10k+ 13 of 25 launches · $100k+ 5 of 25 launches.

Circle areas follow launch counts; the gold overlap is exactly the pair's 25 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

DELTARUNEleads this pair84.3%
PairDELTARUNE84.3%
2DHollow Knight: Silksong39.4%
EmotionalDELTARUNE67.5%
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: too few to tell.

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

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

  • DELTARUNE earned 84.3% of the estimated first-year money of the 171 2D + Emotional launches.
  • 2D is led by Hollow Knight: Silksong, with 39.4% of its money.
  • It also leads Emotional, with 67.5% 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 + Emotional is one-hit market: one game earned over half the money. It holds in West-facing view.

2D + Emotional through every lens, all prices
This pairBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view154 of 171 launchesWithout the breakout170 of 171 launchesLast 18 months40 of 171 launches
Launches counted17111 hits15410 hits17010 hits402 hits
Earned $100k+6.4 in 1001 in 166.5 in 1001 in 155.9 in 1001 in 172 of 40too few for a rate
Typical first-year earnings$1,072top tenth $36,433+$1,116$1,072under 100 launches
Chance against standardthe base+0.9%0.1 more in 100-8.6%0.6 fewer in 100-22.3%1.4 fewer in 100; too few to tell
Typical against standardthe base+4.1%$44 more0.0%no changeunder 100 launches
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsMoves the answerToo few to tell
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged both 2D and Emotional, 12 to 36 months old: 171 launches.

Launches counted
17111 hits
Earned $100k+
6.4 in 1001 in 16
Typical first-year earnings
$1,072top tenth $36,433+
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: 17 of 171 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
15410 hits
Earned $100k+
6.5 in 1001 in 15
Typical first-year earnings
$1,116
Chance against standard
+0.9%0.1 more in 100
Typical against standard
+4.1%$44 more
Without the breakoutMoves the answer

Drops the single biggest earner, DELTARUNE (84.3% of the money): 170 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
17010 hits
Earned $100k+
5.9 in 1001 in 17
Typical first-year earnings
$1,072
Chance against standard
-8.6%0.6 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Last 18 monthsToo few to tell

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 40 of 171.

Launches counted
402 hits
Earned $100k+
2 of 40too few for a rate
Typical first-year earnings
under 100 launches
Chance against standard
-22.3%1.4 fewer in 100; too few to tell
Typical against standard
under 100 launches
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged both 2D and Emotional, 12 to 36 months old: 171 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: 17 of 171 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, DELTARUNE (84.3% of the money): 170 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: 40 of 171.

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.

Emotional is changed recently +1: Last 18 months moves the answer more than chance alone would, and 1 more lens too. It holds in West-facing view.

Emotional through every lens, all prices
EmotionalBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view522 of 575 launchesWithout the breakout574 of 575 launchesLast 18 months163 of 575 launches
Launches counted57546 hits52242 hits57445 hits16315 hits
Earned $100k+8.0 in 1001 in 138.0 in 1001 in 127.8 in 1001 in 139.2 in 1001 in 11
Typical first-year earnings$1,414top tenth $73,301+$1,417$1,414$1,930
Chance against standardthe base+0.6%no change-2.0%0.2 fewer in 100+15.0%1.2 more in 100
Typical against standardthe base+0.2%$3 more0.0%no change+36.5%$516 more
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsMoves the answerMoves the answer
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Emotional, 12 to 36 months old: 575 launches.

Launches counted
57546 hits
Earned $100k+
8.0 in 1001 in 13
Typical first-year earnings
$1,414top tenth $73,301+
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: 53 of 575 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
52242 hits
Earned $100k+
8.0 in 1001 in 12
Typical first-year earnings
$1,417
Chance against standard
+0.6%no change
Typical against standard
+0.2%$3 more
Without the breakoutMoves the answer

Drops the single biggest earner, DELTARUNE (67.5% of the money): 574 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
57445 hits
Earned $100k+
7.8 in 1001 in 13
Typical first-year earnings
$1,414
Chance against standard
-2.0%0.2 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Last 18 monthsMoves the answer

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 163 of 575.

Launches counted
16315 hits
Earned $100k+
9.2 in 1001 in 11
Typical first-year earnings
$1,930
Chance against standard
+15.0%1.2 more in 100
Typical against standard
+36.5%$516 more
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged Emotional, 12 to 36 months old: 575 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: 53 of 575 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, DELTARUNE (67.5% of the money): 574 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: 163 of 575.

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 + Emotional 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.