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on 30 Sep 2026

Niches / Action-Adventure + Difficult

Niche

Action-Adventure + Difficult

Games tagged both Action-Adventure and Difficult: 98 indie paid launches, 7 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".
  • Price moves the odds more than genre does, so the page opens on one price band. The keys in section 2 switch it.
  • From 29,637 indie paid launches 6 to 30 months old, data of 1 Oct 2026. How it is measured.

Showing Action-Adventure + Difficult priced $10 to $20, west-facing view. Lens figures exist at all prices only, so inside a price band the page shows the standard figures. This filter changes the answer: at all prices the pair beats Action-Adventure and is level with Difficult; priced $10 to $20 it beats Action-Adventure and trails Difficult.

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-Adventure + Difficult beats Action-Adventure and trails Difficult: 4 of its 22 launches earned $100k+ priced $10 to $20, against 15.2 in 100 for Action-Adventure and 22.5 in 100 for Difficult.

Lens figures by price band are not computed yet, so this band uses the standard figures. Small sample: 22 launches, 4 hits.

3RDThird
Tag oneAction-Adventure
15.2in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds15.2 in 100
Typical earnings$5,767
Launches572 / 87 hits
Pair leads by3.0 in 100
2NDRunner-up
This pairAction-Adventure + Difficult
4 of 22launches earned
$100k+ small
Odds4 of 22 launches
Typical earnings$11,838
Launches22 / 4 hits
Expected18.6 in 100
1STWinner
Tag twomood tagDifficult
22.5in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds22.5 in 100
Typical earnings$19,202
Launches213 / 48 hits
Pair trails by4.3 in 100
All indie launches $10 to $20: 18.6 in 100 earned $100k+, typical $9,226, from 4,810 launches.each block is 2 in 100 all indie at $10 to $20Difficult 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: 42.4 in 100), so read it within a price band.

Price bandswitches the whole page
All prices98 in pairUnder $544 in pair$5 to $1027 in pair$10 to $2022 in pair$20 to $405: too few
What the overlap means

The overlap is this niche: the 22 games tagged both Action-Adventure and Difficult priced $10 to $20. 18.2 in 100 of them earned $100k+, against 15.1 for Action-Adventure-only games and 23.0 for Difficult-only games, so the mix beats Action-Adventure alone and trails Difficult alone.

Both: 22 games priced $10 to $20; 18.2 in 100 earned $100k+, typical first-year earnings $11,838.

Circle areas follow launch counts; the gold overlap is exactly the pair's 22 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. The west-facing view lens is not computed for the outer parts, so this diagram uses the standard figures.

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

Tails of Iron 2: Whiskers of Winterleads this pair28.0%
PairTails of Iron 2: Whiskers of Winter28.0%
Action-AdventureAI LIMIT7.3%
DifficultHollow Knight: Silksong57.2%
CheckOne game over half?no
NextNearest hitsnot computed yet

Lens checkChanged recently. Standard: the yardstick. West-facing view: holds. Without the breakout: holds. Last 18 months: moves the answer.

Open free preview
ComparablesFree until launchClick to unlockWho leads Action-Adventure + Difficult

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

  • Tails of Iron 2: Whiskers of Winter earned 28.0% of the estimated first-year money of the 98 Action-Adventure + Difficult launches.
  • Action-Adventure is led by AI LIMIT, with 7.3% of its money.
  • Difficult is led by Hollow Knight: Silksong, with 57.2% of its money. That is close to a one-hit market.
  • 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: those with a mostly Chinese audience, the single biggest earner, and everything older than 18 months.

Does the answer hold?

All prices

Action-Adventure + Difficult is changed recently: Last 18 months moves the answer by more than a quarter. It holds in 2 of 3.

Action-Adventure + Difficult through every lens, all prices
This pairBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view95 of 98 launchesWithout the breakout97 of 98 launchesLast 18 months46 of 98 launches
Launches counted987 hits957 hits976 hits461 hits
Earned $100k+7.1 in 1001 in 147.4 in 1001 in 146.2 in 1001 in 162.2 in 1001 in 45
Typical first-year earnings$1,133top tenth $64,768+$1,213$991$969
Chance against standardthe yardstick+4.2%0.3 more in 100-12.7%0.9 fewer in 100-69.0%4.9 fewer in 100
Typical against standardthe yardstick+7.1%$80 more-12.5%$142 less-14.5%$164 less
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsMoves the answer
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged both Action-Adventure and Difficult, 6 to 30 months old: 98 launches.

Launches counted
987 hits
Earned $100k+
7.1 in 1001 in 14
Typical first-year earnings
$1,133top tenth $64,768+
Chance against standard
the yardstick
Typical against standard
the yardstick
West-facing viewHolds

Games mostly reviewed outside China. Drops games whose audience is mostly Chinese, meaning 35% or more of their reviews are in Simplified Chinese: 3 of 98 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
957 hits
Earned $100k+
7.4 in 1001 in 14
Typical first-year earnings
$1,213
Chance against standard
+4.2%0.3 more in 100
Typical against standard
+7.1%$80 more
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Tails of Iron 2: Whiskers of Winter (28.0% of the money): 97 launches left.

Launches counted
976 hits
Earned $100k+
6.2 in 1001 in 16
Typical first-year earnings
$991
Chance against standard
-12.7%0.9 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-12.5%$142 less
Last 18 monthsMoves the answer

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 46 of 98.

Launches counted
461 hits
Earned $100k+
2.2 in 1001 in 45
Typical first-year earnings
$969
Chance against standard
-69.0%4.9 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-14.5%$164 less
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged both Action-Adventure and Difficult, 6 to 30 months old: 98 launches.
West-facing view
Games mostly reviewed outside China. Drops games whose audience is mostly Chinese, meaning 35% or more of their reviews are in Simplified Chinese: 3 of 98 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, Tails of Iron 2: Whiskers of Winter (28.0% of the money): 97 launches left.
Last 18 months
Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 46 of 98.

Action-Adventure holds in 3 of 3: every lens keeps the chance and typical earnings within a quarter of the standard figures.

Action-Adventure through every lens, all prices
Action-AdventureBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view3,443 of 3,592 launchesWithout the breakout3,591 of 3,592 launchesLast 18 months1,851 of 3,592 launches
Launches counted3,592194 hits3,443186 hits3,591193 hits1,85195 hits
Earned $100k+5.4 in 1001 in 195.4 in 1001 in 195.4 in 1001 in 195.1 in 1001 in 20
Typical first-year earnings$404top tenth $23,070+$405$404$363
Chance against standardthe yardstick0.0%no change0.0%no change-5.6%0.3 fewer in 100
Typical against standardthe yardstick+0.2%$1 more0.0%no change-10.1%$41 less
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Action-Adventure, 6 to 30 months old: 3,592 launches.

Launches counted
3,592194 hits
Earned $100k+
5.4 in 1001 in 19
Typical first-year earnings
$404top tenth $23,070+
Chance against standard
the yardstick
Typical against standard
the yardstick
West-facing viewHolds

Games mostly reviewed outside China. Drops games whose audience is mostly Chinese, meaning 35% or more of their reviews are in Simplified Chinese: 149 of 3,592 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
3,443186 hits
Earned $100k+
5.4 in 1001 in 19
Typical first-year earnings
$405
Chance against standard
0.0%no change
Typical against standard
+0.2%$1 more
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, AI LIMIT (7.3% of the money): 3,591 launches left.

Launches counted
3,591193 hits
Earned $100k+
5.4 in 1001 in 19
Typical first-year earnings
$404
Chance against standard
0.0%no change
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 1,851 of 3,592.

Launches counted
1,85195 hits
Earned $100k+
5.1 in 1001 in 20
Typical first-year earnings
$363
Chance against standard
-5.6%0.3 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-10.1%$41 less
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged Action-Adventure, 6 to 30 months old: 3,592 launches.
West-facing view
Games mostly reviewed outside China. Drops games whose audience is mostly Chinese, meaning 35% or more of their reviews are in Simplified Chinese: 149 of 3,592 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, AI LIMIT (7.3% of the money): 3,591 launches left.
Last 18 months
Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 1,851 of 3,592.

Difficult holds in 3 of 3: every lens keeps the chance and typical earnings within a quarter of the standard figures.

Difficult through every lens, all prices
DifficultBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view1,038 of 1,051 launchesWithout the breakout1,050 of 1,051 launchesLast 18 months541 of 1,051 launches
Launches counted1,05171 hits1,03870 hits1,05070 hits54132 hits
Earned $100k+6.8 in 1001 in 156.7 in 1001 in 156.7 in 1001 in 155.9 in 1001 in 17
Typical first-year earnings$1,133top tenth $56,182+$1,150$1,133$971
Chance against standardthe yardstick-1.5%0.1 fewer in 100-1.5%0.1 fewer in 100-13.2%0.9 fewer in 100
Typical against standardthe yardstick+1.5%$17 more0.0%no change-14.3%$162 less
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Difficult, 6 to 30 months old: 1,051 launches.

Launches counted
1,05171 hits
Earned $100k+
6.8 in 1001 in 15
Typical first-year earnings
$1,133top tenth $56,182+
Chance against standard
the yardstick
Typical against standard
the yardstick
West-facing viewHolds

Games mostly reviewed outside China. Drops games whose audience is mostly Chinese, meaning 35% or more of their reviews are in Simplified Chinese: 13 of 1,051 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
1,03870 hits
Earned $100k+
6.7 in 1001 in 15
Typical first-year earnings
$1,150
Chance against standard
-1.5%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
+1.5%$17 more
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Hollow Knight: Silksong (57.2% of the money): 1,050 launches left.

Launches counted
1,05070 hits
Earned $100k+
6.7 in 1001 in 15
Typical first-year earnings
$1,133
Chance against standard
-1.5%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 541 of 1,051.

Launches counted
54132 hits
Earned $100k+
5.9 in 1001 in 17
Typical first-year earnings
$971
Chance against standard
-13.2%0.9 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-14.3%$162 less
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged Difficult, 6 to 30 months old: 1,051 launches.
West-facing view
Games mostly reviewed outside China. Drops games whose audience is mostly Chinese, meaning 35% or more of their reviews are in Simplified Chinese: 13 of 1,051 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 (57.2% of the money): 1,050 launches left.
Last 18 months
Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 541 of 1,051.

A lens holds when chance and typical earnings both stay within 25% of standard. Lens figures by price band are not computed yet, so this table is for all prices.

5Premium early list

Alerts when Action-Adventure + Difficult 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.