Niche

Action + Sandbox

Games tagged both Action and Sandbox: 176 indie paid launches, 23 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 $10 to $20

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.

$10 to $20

Showing Action + Sandbox priced $10 to $20. This filter changes the answer: at all prices the pair beats Action and trails Sandbox; priced $10 to $20 it beats both its tags.

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 + Sandbox beats both its tags: 38.3 in 100 of its launches earned $100k+ priced $10 to $20, against 18.9 in 100 for Action and 33.7 in 100 for Sandbox.

That is about 1.9 times the 20.5 in 100 expected for any launch at this price.

3RDThird

Tag onemood tagAction

18.9in 100 earned
$100k+

Odds18.9 in 100

Typical earnings$8,369

Launches1,093 / 207 hits

Pair leads by19.4 in 100

1STWinner

This pairAction + Sandbox

38.3in 100 earned
$100k+

Odds38.3 in 100

$1k+87 in 100

$10k+53 in 100

Launches47 / 18 hits

Expected20.5 in 100

2NDRunner-up

Tag twoSandbox

33.7in 100 earned
$100k+

Odds33.7 in 100

Typical earnings$32,569

Launches362 / 122 hits

Pair leads by4.6 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.

Price bandswitches the whole page

All prices176 in pair Under $570 in pair $5 to $1048 in pair $10 to $2047 in pair $20 to $4011 in pair

What the overlap means

The overlap is this niche: the 47 games tagged both Action and Sandbox priced $10 to $20. 38.3 in 100 of them earned $100k+, against 18.1 in 100 for Action-only games and 33.0 in 100 for Sandbox-only games, so games with both tags did better than games with either tag alone.

Both: 47 games priced $10 to $20; 38.3 in 100 earned $100k+, odds by size $1k+ 87 in 100 · $10k+ 53 in 100 · $100k+ 38 in 100.

Circle areas follow launch counts; the gold overlap is exactly the pair's 47 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

Drug Dealer Simulator 2leads this pair21.6%

PairDrug Dealer Simulator 221.6%

ActionPath of Exile 215.3%

SandboxManor Lords22.4%

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 Action + Sandbox

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

Drug Dealer Simulator 2 earned 21.6% of the estimated first-year money of the 176 Action + Sandbox launches.
Action is led by Path of Exile 2, with 15.3% of its money.
Sandbox is led by Manor Lords, with 22.4% 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 + Sandbox 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.

Action + Sandbox through every lens, all prices
This pair	BaseStandardevery launch	West-facing view170 of 176 launches	Without the breakout175 of 176 launches	Last 18 months53 of 176 launches
Launches counted	17623 hits	17021 hits	17522 hits	533 hits
Earned $100k+	13.1 in 100	12.4 in 100	12.6 in 100	3 of 53too few for a rate
Typical first-year earnings	$818top tenth $160,957+	$843	$772	under 100 launches
Chance against standard	the base	-5.5%0.7 fewer in 100	-3.8%0.5 fewer in 100	-56.7%7.4 fewer in 100; too few to tell
Typical against standard	the base	+3.1%$25 more	-5.6%$46 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 Action and Sandbox, 12 to 36 months old: 176 launches.

Launches counted: 17623 hits
Earned $100k+: 13.1 in 100
Typical first-year earnings: $818top tenth $160,957+
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: 6 of 176 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted: 17021 hits
Earned $100k+: 12.4 in 100
Typical first-year earnings: $843
Chance against standard: -5.5%0.7 fewer in 100
Typical against standard: +3.1%$25 more

Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Drug Dealer Simulator 2 (21.6% of the money): 175 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted: 17522 hits
Earned $100k+: 12.6 in 100
Typical first-year earnings: $772
Chance against standard: -3.8%0.5 fewer in 100
Typical against standard: -5.6%$46 less

Last 18 monthsToo few to tell

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 53 of 176.

Launches counted: 533 hits
Earned $100k+: 3 of 53too few for a rate
Typical first-year earnings: under 100 launches
Chance against standard: -56.7%7.4 fewer in 100; too few to tell
Typical against standard: under 100 launches

Standard: Every indie paid launch tagged both Action and Sandbox, 12 to 36 months old: 176 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: 6 of 176 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, Drug Dealer Simulator 2 (21.6% of the money): 175 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 176.

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
Action	BaseStandardevery launch	West-facing view7,762 of 8,002 launches	Without the breakout8,001 of 8,002 launches	Last 18 months2,181 of 8,002 launches
Launches counted	8,002415 hits	7,762398 hits	8,001414 hits	2,181126 hits
Earned $100k+	5.2 in 1001 in 19	5.1 in 1001 in 20	5.2 in 1001 in 19	5.8 in 1001 in 17
Typical first-year earnings	$378top tenth $23,253+	$383	$378	$386
Chance against standard	the base	-1.1%0.1 fewer in 100	-0.2%no change	+11.4%0.6 more in 100
Typical against standard	the base	+1.3%$5 more	0.0%no change	+2.1%$8 more
Does it hold?	The base view	Holds	Holds	Holds

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.

Sandbox is audience split: West-facing view moves the answer more than chance alone would. It holds in Without the breakout and Last 18 months.

Sandbox through every lens, all prices
Sandbox	BaseStandardevery launch	West-facing view1,187 of 1,229 launches	Without the breakout1,228 of 1,229 launches	Last 18 months380 of 1,229 launches
Launches counted	1,229210 hits	1,187198 hits	1,228209 hits	38062 hits
Earned $100k+	17.1 in 100	16.7 in 100	17.0 in 100	16.3 in 100
Typical first-year earnings	$2,212top tenth $299,853+	$2,212	$2,212	$1,950
Chance against standard	the base	-2.4%0.4 fewer in 100	-0.4%0.1 fewer in 100	-4.5%0.8 fewer in 100
Typical against standard	the base	0.0%no change	0.0%no change	-11.8%$262 less
Does it hold?	The base view	Moves the answer	Holds	Holds

BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Sandbox, 12 to 36 months old: 1,229 launches.

Launches counted: 1,229210 hits
Earned $100k+: 17.1 in 100
Typical first-year earnings: $2,212top tenth $299,853+
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: 42 of 1,229 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted: 1,187198 hits
Earned $100k+: 16.7 in 100
Typical first-year earnings: $2,212
Chance against standard: -2.4%0.4 fewer in 100
Typical against standard: 0.0%no change

Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Manor Lords (22.4% of the money): 1,228 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted: 1,228209 hits
Earned $100k+: 17.0 in 100
Typical first-year earnings: $2,212
Chance against standard: -0.4%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard: 0.0%no change

Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 380 of 1,229.

Launches counted: 38062 hits
Earned $100k+: 16.3 in 100
Typical first-year earnings: $1,950
Chance against standard: -4.5%0.8 fewer in 100
Typical against standard: -11.8%$262 less

Standard: Every indie paid launch tagged Sandbox, 12 to 36 months old: 1,229 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: 42 of 1,229 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, Manor Lords (22.4% of the money): 1,228 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: 380 of 1,229.

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 + Sandbox 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.