Niche

2D + Word Game

Games tagged both 2D and Word Game: 158 indie paid launches, 3 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 Under $5

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.

Under $5

Showing 2D + Word Game priced under $5.

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 + Word Game is too small to compare with 2D and is too small to compare with Word Game: 1 of its 100 launches earned $100k+ priced under $5, against 0.4 in 100 for 2D and 1 of 213 launches for Word Game.

Small sample: 100 launches, 1 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 + Word Game

1 of 100launches earned
$100k+ small

Odds1 of 100 launches

Typical earnings$119

Launches100 / 1 hits

Expected0.4 in 100

TIEA tie

Tag twoWord Game

1 of 213launches earned
$100k+ small

Odds1 of 213 launches

Typical earnings$162

Launches213 / 1 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 prices158 in pair Under $5100 in pair $5 to $1043 in pair$10 to $209: too few$20 to $406: too few

What the overlap means

The overlap is this niche: the 100 games tagged both 2D and Word Game priced under $5. 1 of 100 of them earned $100k+, against 0.4 in 100 for 2D-only games and 0 of 113 for Word Game-only games, so the mix is too small to compare with 2D alone and is too small to compare with Word Game alone.

Both: 100 games priced under $5; 1 of 100 earned $100k+, typical first-year earnings $119.

Circle areas follow launch counts; the gold overlap is exactly the pair's 100 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

Aliya: Timelinkleads this pair17.3%

PairAliya: Timelink17.3%

2DHollow Knight: Silksong39.4%

Word GameHomicipher27.3%

CheckOne game over half?no

NextNearest hitsnot computed yet

Lens checkHolds in 2 of 3, 1 too few to tell. Standard: the base the others are compared with. West-facing view: holds. Without the breakout: holds. Last 18 months: too few to tell.

Open free preview

ComparablesFree until launchClick to unlockWho leads 2D + Word Game

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

Aliya: Timelink earned 17.3% of the estimated first-year money of the 158 2D + Word Game launches.
2D is led by Hollow Knight: Silksong, with 39.4% of its money.
Word Game is led by Homicipher, with 27.3% 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 + Word Game holds in West-facing view and Without the breakout; too few to tell in Last 18 months. No lens moves the chance or typical earnings more than chance alone would.

2D + Word Game through every lens, all prices
This pair	BaseStandardevery launch	West-facing view103 of 158 launches	Without the breakout157 of 158 launches	Last 18 months53 of 158 launches
Launches counted	1583 hits	1032 hits	1572 hits	531 hits
Earned $100k+	3 of 158too few for a rate	2 of 103too few for a rate	2 of 157too few for a rate	1 of 53too few for a rate
Typical first-year earnings	$251top tenth $12,294+	$251	$243	under 100 launches
Chance against standard	the base	+2.3%no change; too few to tell	-32.9%0.6 fewer in 100	-0.6%no change; too few to tell
Typical against standard	the base	0.0%no change	-3.2%$8 less	under 100 launches
Does it hold?	The base view	Holds	Holds	Too few to tell

BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged both 2D and Word Game, 12 to 36 months old: 158 launches.

Launches counted: 1583 hits
Earned $100k+: 3 of 158too few for a rate
Typical first-year earnings: $251top tenth $12,294+
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: 55 of 158 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted: 1032 hits
Earned $100k+: 2 of 103too few for a rate
Typical first-year earnings: $251
Chance against standard: +2.3%no change; too few to tell
Typical against standard: 0.0%no change

Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Aliya: Timelink (17.3% of the money): 157 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted: 1572 hits
Earned $100k+: 2 of 157too few for a rate
Typical first-year earnings: $243
Chance against standard: -32.9%0.6 fewer in 100
Typical against standard: -3.2%$8 less

Last 18 monthsToo few to tell

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 53 of 158.

Launches counted: 531 hits
Earned $100k+: 1 of 53too few for a rate
Typical first-year earnings: under 100 launches
Chance against standard: -0.6%no change; too few to tell
Typical against standard: under 100 launches

Standard: Every indie paid launch tagged both 2D and Word Game, 12 to 36 months old: 158 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: 55 of 158 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, Aliya: Timelink (17.3% of the money): 157 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: 53 of 158.

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.

Word Game is changed recently +1: Last 18 months moves the answer more than chance alone would, and 1 more lens too. It holds in Without the breakout.

Word Game through every lens, all prices
Word Game	BaseStandardevery launch	West-facing view236 of 357 launches	Without the breakout356 of 357 launches	Last 18 months110 of 357 launches
Launches counted	35715 hits	23613 hits	35614 hits	1102 hits
Earned $100k+	4.2 in 1001 in 24	5.5 in 1001 in 18	3.9 in 1001 in 25	2 of 110too few for a rate
Typical first-year earnings	$454top tenth $20,907+	$541	$454	$595
Chance against standard	the base	+31.1%1.3 more in 100	-6.4%0.3 fewer in 100	-56.7%2.4 fewer in 100; too few to tell
Typical against standard	the base	+19.2%$87 more	0.0%no change	+31.1%$141 more
Does it hold?	The base view	Moves the answer	Holds	Moves the answer

BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Word Game, 12 to 36 months old: 357 launches.

Launches counted: 35715 hits
Earned $100k+: 4.2 in 1001 in 24
Typical first-year earnings: $454top tenth $20,907+
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: 121 of 357 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted: 23613 hits
Earned $100k+: 5.5 in 1001 in 18
Typical first-year earnings: $541
Chance against standard: +31.1%1.3 more in 100
Typical against standard: +19.2%$87 more

Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Homicipher (27.3% of the money): 356 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted: 35614 hits
Earned $100k+: 3.9 in 1001 in 25
Typical first-year earnings: $454
Chance against standard: -6.4%0.3 fewer in 100
Typical against standard: 0.0%no change

Last 18 monthsMoves the answer

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 110 of 357.

Launches counted: 1102 hits
Earned $100k+: 2 of 110too few for a rate
Typical first-year earnings: $595
Chance against standard: -56.7%2.4 fewer in 100; too few to tell
Typical against standard: +31.1%$141 more

Standard: Every indie paid launch tagged Word Game, 12 to 36 months old: 357 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: 121 of 357 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, Homicipher (27.3% of the money): 356 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: 110 of 357.

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 + Word Game 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.