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on 11 Nov 2026

Niches / 2D + Idler

Niche

2D + Idler

Games tagged both 2D and Idler: 389 indie paid launches, 14 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 + Idler priced under $5. This filter changes the answer: at all prices the pair is about level with 2D and is about level with Idler; priced under $5 it is too small to compare with 2D and is too small to compare with Idler.

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?Under $5

2D + Idler is too small to compare with 2D and is too small to compare with Idler: 4 of its 312 launches earned $100k+ priced under $5, against 0.4 in 100 for 2D and 1.7 in 100 for Idler.

Small sample: 312 launches, 4 hits.

TIEA tie
Tag onemood tag2D
0.4in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds1 in 266
Typical earnings$117
Launches5,053 / 19 hits
Pair against ittoo few hits to compare
TIEA tie
This pair2D + Idler
4 of 312launches earned
$100k+ small
Odds4 of 312 launches
Typical earnings$244
Launches312 / 4 hits
Expected0.4 in 100
TIEA tie
Tag twoIdler
1.7in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds1 in 60
Typical earnings$272
Launches658 / 11 hits
Pair against ittoo few hits to compare
All indie launches under $5: 0.4 in 100 earned $100k+ (1 in 230), typical $162, from 14,050 launches.each block is 0.5 in 100 all indie at under $52D 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 prices389 in pairUnder $5312 in pair$5 to $1067 in pair$10 to $209: too few$20 to $401: too few
What the overlap means

The overlap is this niche: the 312 games tagged both 2D and Idler priced under $5. 4 of 312 of them earned $100k+, against 0.3 in 100 for 2D-only games and 2.0 in 100 for Idler-only games, so the mix is too small to compare with 2D alone and is too small to compare with Idler alone.

Both: 312 games priced under $5; 4 of 312 earned $100k+, typical first-year earnings $244.

Circle areas follow launch counts; the gold overlap is exactly the pair's 312 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

(the) Gnorp Apologueleads this pair15.3%
Pair(the) Gnorp Apologue15.3%
2DHollow Knight: Silksong39.4%
IdlerSpirit City: Lofi Sessions12.3%
CheckOne game over half?no
NextNearest hitsnot computed yet

Lens checkHolds in 3 of 3. Standard: the base the others are compared with. West-facing view: holds. Without the breakout: holds. Last 18 months: holds.

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

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

  • (the) Gnorp Apologue earned 15.3% of the estimated first-year money of the 389 2D + Idler launches.
  • 2D is led by Hollow Knight: Silksong, with 39.4% of its money.
  • Idler is led by Spirit City: Lofi Sessions, with 12.3% 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: games mostly reviewed in Chinese, the single biggest earner, and everything older than 18 months.

Does the answer hold?

All prices

2D + Idler 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 + Idler through every lens, all prices
This pairBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view348 of 389 launchesWithout the breakout388 of 389 launchesLast 18 months170 of 389 launches
Launches counted38914 hits34813 hits38813 hits1709 hits
Earned $100k+3.6 in 1001 in 283.7 in 1001 in 273.4 in 1001 in 305.3 in 1001 in 19
Typical first-year earnings$364top tenth $21,304+$381$364$381
Chance against standardthe base+3.8%0.1 more in 100-6.9%0.2 fewer in 100+47.1%1.7 more in 100
Typical against standardthe base+4.7%$17 more0.0%no change+4.7%$17 more
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged both 2D and Idler, 12 to 36 months old: 389 launches.

Launches counted
38914 hits
Earned $100k+
3.6 in 1001 in 28
Typical first-year earnings
$364top tenth $21,304+
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: 41 of 389 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
34813 hits
Earned $100k+
3.7 in 1001 in 27
Typical first-year earnings
$381
Chance against standard
+3.8%0.1 more in 100
Typical against standard
+4.7%$17 more
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, (the) Gnorp Apologue (15.3% of the money): 388 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
38813 hits
Earned $100k+
3.4 in 1001 in 30
Typical first-year earnings
$364
Chance against standard
-6.9%0.2 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 170 of 389.

Launches counted
1709 hits
Earned $100k+
5.3 in 1001 in 19
Typical first-year earnings
$381
Chance against standard
+47.1%1.7 more in 100
Typical against standard
+4.7%$17 more
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged both 2D and Idler, 12 to 36 months old: 389 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: 41 of 389 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, (the) Gnorp Apologue (15.3% of the money): 388 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: 170 of 389.

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.

Idler 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.

Idler through every lens, all prices
IdlerBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view803 of 882 launchesWithout the breakout881 of 882 launchesLast 18 months363 of 882 launches
Launches counted88243 hits80337 hits88142 hits36322 hits
Earned $100k+4.9 in 1001 in 214.6 in 1001 in 224.8 in 1001 in 216.1 in 1001 in 17
Typical first-year earnings$509top tenth $32,462+$514$509$515
Chance against standardthe base-5.5%0.3 fewer in 100-2.2%0.1 fewer in 100+24.3%1.2 more in 100
Typical against standardthe base+1.0%$5 more0.0%no change+1.2%$6 more
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Idler, 12 to 36 months old: 882 launches.

Launches counted
88243 hits
Earned $100k+
4.9 in 1001 in 21
Typical first-year earnings
$509top tenth $32,462+
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: 79 of 882 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
80337 hits
Earned $100k+
4.6 in 1001 in 22
Typical first-year earnings
$514
Chance against standard
-5.5%0.3 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
+1.0%$5 more
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Spirit City: Lofi Sessions (12.3% of the money): 881 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
88142 hits
Earned $100k+
4.8 in 1001 in 21
Typical first-year earnings
$509
Chance against standard
-2.2%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 363 of 882.

Launches counted
36322 hits
Earned $100k+
6.1 in 1001 in 17
Typical first-year earnings
$515
Chance against standard
+24.3%1.2 more in 100
Typical against standard
+1.2%$6 more
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged Idler, 12 to 36 months old: 882 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: 79 of 882 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, Spirit City: Lofi Sessions (12.3% of the money): 881 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: 363 of 882.

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 + Idler 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.