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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 / Action + Retro

Niche

Action + Retro

Games tagged both Action and Retro: 570 indie paid launches, 25 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 Action + Retro priced $10 to $20. This filter changes the answer: at all prices the pair is about level with Action and is about level with Retro; priced $10 to $20 it is about level with Action and trails Retro.

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

Action + Retro is about level with Action and trails Retro: 17.3 in 100 of its launches earned $100k+ priced $10 to $20, against 18.9 in 100 for Action and 21.0 in 100 for Retro.

That is about 0.8 times the 20.5 in 100 expected for any launch at this price.

TIEA tie
Tag onemood tagAction
18.9in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds18.9 in 100
Typical earnings$8,369
Launches1,093 / 207 hits
A tie, apart by1.6 in 100
TIETied
This pairAction + Retro
17.3in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds17.3 in 100
$1k+93 in 100
$10k+47 in 100
Launches75 / 13 hits
Expected20.5 in 100
TIEA tie
Tag twomood tagRetro
21.0in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds21.0 in 100
Typical earnings$12,902
Launches176 / 37 hits
Pair trails by3.7 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 $20Action 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.

What the overlap means

The overlap is this niche: the 75 games tagged both Action and Retro priced $10 to $20. 17.3 in 100 of them earned $100k+, against 19.1 in 100 for Action-only games and 23.8 in 100 for Retro-only games, so the mix is about level with Action alone and trails Retro alone.

Both: 75 games priced $10 to $20; 17.3 in 100 earned $100k+, odds by size $1k+ 93 in 100 · $10k+ 47 in 100 · $100k+ 17 in 100.

Circle areas follow launch counts; the gold overlap is exactly the pair's 75 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

UFO 50leads this pair21.0%
PairUFO 5021.0%
ActionPath of Exile 215.3%
RetroMouthwashing20.6%
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 Action + Retro

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

  • UFO 50 earned 21.0% of the estimated first-year money of the 570 Action + Retro launches.
  • Action is led by Path of Exile 2, with 15.3% of its money.
  • Retro is led by Mouthwashing, with 20.6% 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

Action + Retro 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.

Action + Retro through every lens, all prices
This pairBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view562 of 570 launchesWithout the breakout569 of 570 launchesLast 18 months163 of 570 launches
Launches counted57025 hits56225 hits56924 hits1637 hits
Earned $100k+4.4 in 1001 in 234.4 in 1001 in 224.2 in 1001 in 244.3 in 1001 in 23
Typical first-year earnings$551top tenth $21,571+$551$541$429
Chance against standardthe base+1.4%0.1 more in 100-3.8%0.2 fewer in 100-2.1%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standardthe base0.0%no change-1.8%$10 less-22.1%$122 less
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged both Action and Retro, 12 to 36 months old: 570 launches.

Launches counted
57025 hits
Earned $100k+
4.4 in 1001 in 23
Typical first-year earnings
$551top tenth $21,571+
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 570 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
56225 hits
Earned $100k+
4.4 in 1001 in 22
Typical first-year earnings
$551
Chance against standard
+1.4%0.1 more in 100
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, UFO 50 (21.0% of the money): 569 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
56924 hits
Earned $100k+
4.2 in 1001 in 24
Typical first-year earnings
$541
Chance against standard
-3.8%0.2 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-1.8%$10 less
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 163 of 570.

Launches counted
1637 hits
Earned $100k+
4.3 in 1001 in 23
Typical first-year earnings
$429
Chance against standard
-2.1%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-22.1%$122 less
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged both Action and Retro, 12 to 36 months old: 570 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 570 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, UFO 50 (21.0% of the money): 569 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 570.

Action 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.

Action through every lens, all prices
ActionBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view7,762 of 8,002 launchesWithout the breakout8,001 of 8,002 launchesLast 18 months2,181 of 8,002 launches
Launches counted8,002415 hits7,762398 hits8,001414 hits2,181126 hits
Earned $100k+5.2 in 1001 in 195.1 in 1001 in 205.2 in 1001 in 195.8 in 1001 in 17
Typical first-year earnings$378top tenth $23,253+$383$378$386
Chance against standardthe base-1.1%0.1 fewer in 100-0.2%no change+11.4%0.6 more in 100
Typical against standardthe base+1.3%$5 more0.0%no change+2.1%$8 more
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Action, 12 to 36 months old: 8,002 launches.

Launches counted
8,002415 hits
Earned $100k+
5.2 in 1001 in 19
Typical first-year earnings
$378top tenth $23,253+
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: 240 of 8,002 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
7,762398 hits
Earned $100k+
5.1 in 1001 in 20
Typical first-year earnings
$383
Chance against standard
-1.1%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
+1.3%$5 more
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Path of Exile 2 (15.3% of the money): 8,001 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
8,001414 hits
Earned $100k+
5.2 in 1001 in 19
Typical first-year earnings
$378
Chance against standard
-0.2%no change
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 2,181 of 8,002.

Launches counted
2,181126 hits
Earned $100k+
5.8 in 1001 in 17
Typical first-year earnings
$386
Chance against standard
+11.4%0.6 more in 100
Typical against standard
+2.1%$8 more
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged Action, 12 to 36 months old: 8,002 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: 240 of 8,002 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, Path of Exile 2 (15.3% of the money): 8,001 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: 2,181 of 8,002.

Retro 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.

Retro through every lens, all prices
RetroBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view1,310 of 1,343 launchesWithout the breakout1,342 of 1,343 launchesLast 18 months386 of 1,343 launches
Launches counted1,34366 hits1,31065 hits1,34265 hits38620 hits
Earned $100k+4.9 in 1001 in 205.0 in 1001 in 204.8 in 1001 in 215.2 in 1001 in 19
Typical first-year earnings$599top tenth $26,477+$638$599$545
Chance against standardthe base+1.0%no change-1.4%0.1 fewer in 100+5.4%0.3 more in 100
Typical against standardthe base+6.5%$39 more0.0%no change-9.0%$54 less
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Retro, 12 to 36 months old: 1,343 launches.

Launches counted
1,34366 hits
Earned $100k+
4.9 in 1001 in 20
Typical first-year earnings
$599top tenth $26,477+
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: 33 of 1,343 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
1,31065 hits
Earned $100k+
5.0 in 1001 in 20
Typical first-year earnings
$638
Chance against standard
+1.0%no change
Typical against standard
+6.5%$39 more
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Mouthwashing (20.6% of the money): 1,342 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
1,34265 hits
Earned $100k+
4.8 in 1001 in 21
Typical first-year earnings
$599
Chance against standard
-1.4%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 386 of 1,343.

Launches counted
38620 hits
Earned $100k+
5.2 in 1001 in 19
Typical first-year earnings
$545
Chance against standard
+5.4%0.3 more in 100
Typical against standard
-9.0%$54 less
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged Retro, 12 to 36 months old: 1,343 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: 33 of 1,343 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, Mouthwashing (20.6% of the money): 1,342 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: 386 of 1,343.

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 Action + Retro 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.