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on 30 Sep 2026

Niches / Action Roguelike + Difficult

Niche

Action Roguelike + Difficult

Games tagged both Action Roguelike and Difficult: 131 indie paid launches, 12 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 Roguelike + Difficult priced $10 to $20, without the breakout. 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 both its tags; priced $10 to $20 it trails Action Roguelike and beats 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 Roguelike + Difficult trails Action Roguelike and beats Difficult: 23.3 in 100 of its launches earned $100k+ priced $10 to $20, against 26.9 in 100 for Action Roguelike and 22.5 in 100 for Difficult.

That is about 1.3 times the 18.6 in 100 expected for any launch at this price. Lens figures by price band are not computed yet, so this band uses the standard figures.

1STWinner
26.9in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds26.9 in 100
Typical earnings$16,088
Launches268 / 72 hits
Pair trails by3.6 in 100
2NDRunner-up
This pairAction Roguelike + Difficult
23.3in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds23.3 in 100
Typical earnings$19,731
Launches43 / 10 hits
Expected18.6 in 100
3RDThird
Tag twomood tagDifficult
22.5in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds22.5 in 100
Typical earnings$19,202
Launches213 / 48 hits
Pair leads by0.8 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
What the overlap means

The overlap is this niche: the 43 games tagged both Action Roguelike and Difficult priced $10 to $20. 23.3 in 100 of them earned $100k+, against 27.6 for Action Roguelike-only games and 22.4 for Difficult-only games, so the mix trails Action Roguelike alone and beats Difficult alone.

Both: 43 games priced $10 to $20; 23.3 in 100 earned $100k+, typical first-year earnings $19,731.

Circle areas follow launch counts; the gold overlap is exactly the pair's 43 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 without the breakout 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

Rabbit and Steelleads this pair34.5%
PairRabbit and Steel34.5%
Action RoguelikeHades II33.9%
DifficultHollow Knight: Silksong57.2%
CheckOne game over half?no
NextNearest hitsnot computed yet

Lens checkHolds in 3 of 3. Standard: the yardstick. West-facing view: holds. Without the breakout: holds. Last 18 months: holds.

Open free preview
ComparablesFree until launchClick to unlockWho leads Action Roguelike + 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

  • Rabbit and Steel earned 34.5% of the estimated first-year money of the 131 Action Roguelike + Difficult launches.
  • Action Roguelike is led by Hades II, with 33.9% 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 Roguelike + Difficult holds in 3 of 3: every lens keeps the chance and typical earnings within a quarter of the standard figures.

Action Roguelike + Difficult through every lens, all prices
This pairBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view130 of 131 launchesWithout the breakout130 of 131 launchesLast 18 months64 of 131 launches
Launches counted13112 hits13012 hits13011 hits647 hits
Earned $100k+9.2 in 1001 in 119.2 in 1001 in 118.5 in 1001 in 1210.9 in 100
Typical first-year earnings$2,262top tenth $90,546+$2,425$2,262$2,223
Chance against standardthe yardstick0.0%no change-7.6%0.7 fewer in 100+18.5%1.7 more in 100
Typical against standardthe yardstick+7.2%$163 more0.0%no change-1.7%$39 less
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged both Action Roguelike and Difficult, 6 to 30 months old: 131 launches.

Launches counted
13112 hits
Earned $100k+
9.2 in 1001 in 11
Typical first-year earnings
$2,262top tenth $90,546+
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: 1 of 131 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
13012 hits
Earned $100k+
9.2 in 1001 in 11
Typical first-year earnings
$2,425
Chance against standard
0.0%no change
Typical against standard
+7.2%$163 more
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Rabbit and Steel (34.5% of the money): 130 launches left.

Launches counted
13011 hits
Earned $100k+
8.5 in 1001 in 12
Typical first-year earnings
$2,262
Chance against standard
-7.6%0.7 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 64 of 131.

Launches counted
647 hits
Earned $100k+
10.9 in 100
Typical first-year earnings
$2,223
Chance against standard
+18.5%1.7 more in 100
Typical against standard
-1.7%$39 less
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged both Action Roguelike and Difficult, 6 to 30 months old: 131 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: 1 of 131 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, Rabbit and Steel (34.5% of the money): 130 launches left.
Last 18 months
Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 64 of 131.

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

Action Roguelike through every lens, all prices
Action RoguelikeBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view1,862 of 1,947 launchesWithout the breakout1,946 of 1,947 launchesLast 18 months1,082 of 1,947 launches
Launches counted1,947119 hits1,862110 hits1,946118 hits1,08257 hits
Earned $100k+6.1 in 1001 in 165.9 in 1001 in 176.1 in 1001 in 165.3 in 1001 in 19
Typical first-year earnings$645top tenth $41,876+$666$645$534
Chance against standardthe yardstick-3.3%0.2 fewer in 1000.0%no change-13.1%0.8 fewer in 100
Typical against standardthe yardstick+3.3%$21 more0.0%no change-17.2%$111 less
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Action Roguelike, 6 to 30 months old: 1,947 launches.

Launches counted
1,947119 hits
Earned $100k+
6.1 in 1001 in 16
Typical first-year earnings
$645top tenth $41,876+
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: 85 of 1,947 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
1,862110 hits
Earned $100k+
5.9 in 1001 in 17
Typical first-year earnings
$666
Chance against standard
-3.3%0.2 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
+3.3%$21 more
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Hades II (33.9% of the money): 1,946 launches left.

Launches counted
1,946118 hits
Earned $100k+
6.1 in 1001 in 16
Typical first-year earnings
$645
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: 1,082 of 1,947.

Launches counted
1,08257 hits
Earned $100k+
5.3 in 1001 in 19
Typical first-year earnings
$534
Chance against standard
-13.1%0.8 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-17.2%$111 less
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged Action Roguelike, 6 to 30 months old: 1,947 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: 85 of 1,947 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, Hades II (33.9% of the money): 1,946 launches left.
Last 18 months
Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 1,082 of 1,947.

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 Roguelike + 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.