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on 3 Oct 2026

Niches / 2D Platformer + Side Scroller

Niche

2D Platformer + Side Scroller

Games tagged both 2D Platformer and Side Scroller: 466 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 26,280 indie paid launches 12 to 36 months old, data of 3 Oct 2026. How it is measured.

Showing 2D Platformer + Side Scroller priced $10 to $20, hiding samples under 30 launches.

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 Platformer + Side Scroller is about level with 2D Platformer and is about level with Side Scroller: 14.5 in 100 of its launches earned $100k+ priced $10 to $20, against 14.5 in 100 for 2D Platformer and 12.6 in 100 for Side Scroller.

That is about 0.8 times the 17.6 in 100 expected for any launch at this price.

TIEA tie
14.5in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds14.5 in 100
Typical earnings$6,569
Launches311 / 45 hits
A tie, apart by0.0 in 100
TIEA tie
This pair2D Platformer + Side Scroller
14.5in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds14.5 in 100
Typical earnings$8,103
Launches62 / 9 hits
Expected17.6 in 100
TIEA tie
Tag twomood tagSide Scroller
12.6in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds12.6 in 100
Typical earnings$7,717
Launches143 / 18 hits
A tie, apart by1.9 in 100
All indie launches $10 to $20: 17.6 in 100 earned $100k+, typical $8,234, from 4,301 launches.each block is 1 in 100 all indie at $10 to $20Side Scroller 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: 0.5 in 100 launches earned $100k+; $20 to $40: 40.0 in 100), so read it within a price band.

What the overlap means

The overlap is this niche: the 62 games tagged both 2D Platformer and Side Scroller priced $10 to $20. 14.5 in 100 of them earned $100k+, against 14.5 in 100 for 2D Platformer-only games and 11.1 in 100 for Side Scroller-only games, so the mix is about level with 2D Platformer alone and beats Side Scroller alone.

Both: 62 games priced $10 to $20; 14.5 in 100 earned $100k+, typical first-year earnings $8,103.

Circle areas follow launch counts; the gold overlap is exactly the pair's 62 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

Anomaly Agentleads this pair18.3%
PairAnomaly Agent18.3%
2D PlatformerNeva6.7%
Side ScrollerMandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree9.3%
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 Platformer + Side Scroller

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

  • Anomaly Agent earned 18.3% of the estimated first-year money of the 466 2D Platformer + Side Scroller launches.
  • 2D Platformer is led by Neva, with 6.7% of its money.
  • Side Scroller is led by Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree, with 9.3% 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 Platformer + Side Scroller 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 Platformer + Side Scroller through every lens, all prices
This pairBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view452 of 466 launchesWithout the breakout465 of 466 launchesLast 18 months118 of 466 launches
Launches counted46614 hits45214 hits46513 hits1187 hits
Earned $100k+3.0 in 1001 in 333.1 in 1001 in 322.8 in 1001 in 365.9 in 1001 in 17
Typical first-year earnings$382top tenth $16,751+$383$382$383
Chance against standardthe base+3.1%0.1 more in 100-6.9%0.2 fewer in 100+97.5%2.9 more in 100
Typical against standardthe base+0.3%$1 more0.0%no change+0.3%$1 more
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsMoves the answer
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged both 2D Platformer and Side Scroller, 12 to 36 months old: 466 launches.

Launches counted
46614 hits
Earned $100k+
3.0 in 1001 in 33
Typical first-year earnings
$382top tenth $16,751+
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: 14 of 466 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
45214 hits
Earned $100k+
3.1 in 1001 in 32
Typical first-year earnings
$383
Chance against standard
+3.1%0.1 more in 100
Typical against standard
+0.3%$1 more
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Anomaly Agent (18.3% of the money): 465 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
46513 hits
Earned $100k+
2.8 in 1001 in 36
Typical first-year earnings
$382
Chance against standard
-6.9%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: 118 of 466.

Launches counted
1187 hits
Earned $100k+
5.9 in 1001 in 17
Typical first-year earnings
$383
Chance against standard
+97.5%2.9 more in 100
Typical against standard
+0.3%$1 more
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged both 2D Platformer and Side Scroller, 12 to 36 months old: 466 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: 14 of 466 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, Anomaly Agent (18.3% of the money): 465 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: 118 of 466.

2D Platformer 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 Platformer through every lens, all prices
2D PlatformerBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view2,294 of 2,530 launchesWithout the breakout2,529 of 2,530 launchesLast 18 months681 of 2,530 launches
Launches counted2,53078 hits2,29470 hits2,52977 hits68125 hits
Earned $100k+3.1 in 1001 in 323.1 in 1001 in 333.0 in 1001 in 333.7 in 1001 in 27
Typical first-year earnings$191top tenth $9,404+$202$191$191
Chance against standardthe base-1.0%no change-1.2%no change+19.1%0.6 more in 100
Typical against standardthe base+5.8%$11 more0.0%no change0.0%no change
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged 2D Platformer, 12 to 36 months old: 2,530 launches.

Launches counted
2,53078 hits
Earned $100k+
3.1 in 1001 in 32
Typical first-year earnings
$191top tenth $9,404+
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: 236 of 2,530 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
2,29470 hits
Earned $100k+
3.1 in 1001 in 33
Typical first-year earnings
$202
Chance against standard
-1.0%no change
Typical against standard
+5.8%$11 more
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Neva (6.7% of the money): 2,529 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
2,52977 hits
Earned $100k+
3.0 in 1001 in 33
Typical first-year earnings
$191
Chance against standard
-1.2%no change
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 681 of 2,530.

Launches counted
68125 hits
Earned $100k+
3.7 in 1001 in 27
Typical first-year earnings
$191
Chance against standard
+19.1%0.6 more in 100
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged 2D Platformer, 12 to 36 months old: 2,530 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: 236 of 2,530 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, Neva (6.7% of the money): 2,529 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: 681 of 2,530.

Side Scroller 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.

Side Scroller through every lens, all prices
Side ScrollerBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view1,041 of 1,064 launchesWithout the breakout1,063 of 1,064 launchesLast 18 months288 of 1,064 launches
Launches counted1,06434 hits1,04133 hits1,06333 hits28811 hits
Earned $100k+3.2 in 1001 in 313.2 in 1001 in 323.1 in 1001 in 323.8 in 1001 in 26
Typical first-year earnings$354top tenth $17,816+$354$351$287
Chance against standardthe base-0.8%no change-2.8%0.1 fewer in 100+19.5%0.6 more in 100
Typical against standardthe base0.0%no change-0.8%$3 less-18.9%$67 less
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Side Scroller, 12 to 36 months old: 1,064 launches.

Launches counted
1,06434 hits
Earned $100k+
3.2 in 1001 in 31
Typical first-year earnings
$354top tenth $17,816+
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: 23 of 1,064 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
1,04133 hits
Earned $100k+
3.2 in 1001 in 32
Typical first-year earnings
$354
Chance against standard
-0.8%no change
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree (9.3% of the money): 1,063 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
1,06333 hits
Earned $100k+
3.1 in 1001 in 32
Typical first-year earnings
$351
Chance against standard
-2.8%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-0.8%$3 less
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 288 of 1,064.

Launches counted
28811 hits
Earned $100k+
3.8 in 1001 in 26
Typical first-year earnings
$287
Chance against standard
+19.5%0.6 more in 100
Typical against standard
-18.9%$67 less
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged Side Scroller, 12 to 36 months old: 1,064 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: 23 of 1,064 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, Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree (9.3% of the money): 1,063 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: 288 of 1,064.

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 Platformer + Side Scroller 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.