Niche

Action RPG + Difficult

Games tagged both Action RPG and Difficult: 42 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". 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 26,291 indie paid launches 12 to 36 months old, data of 3 Oct 2026. How it is measured.

Price $5 to $10

All prices1 in 15 hit $100k+Under $51 in 238 hit $100k+$5 to $101 in 28 hit $100k+$10 to $2020 in 100 hit $100k+$20 to $4044 in 100 hit $100k+

Base rate: indie paid launches 12 to 36 months old, 26,291 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.

$5 to $10

Showing Action RPG + Difficult priced $5 to $10. This filter changes the answer: at all prices the pair beats both its tags; priced $5 to $10 it is too small to compare with Action RPG and is too small to compare with 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?$5 to $10

Action RPG + Difficult is too small to compare with Action RPG and is too small to compare with Difficult: 0 of its 14 launches earned $100k+ priced $5 to $10, against 2.4 in 100 for Action RPG and 1 of 266 launches for Difficult.

Small sample: 14 launches, 0 hits.

TIEA tie

Tag oneAction RPG

2.4in 100 earned
$100k+

Odds1 in 42

Typical earnings$690

Launches375 / 9 hits

Pair against ittoo few hits to compare

TIEA tie

This pairAction RPG + Difficult

0 of 14launches earned
$100k+ small

Odds0 of 14 launches

$1k+8 of 14 launches

$10k+2 of 14 launches

Launches14 / 0 hits

Expected3.5 in 100

TIEA tie

Tag twomood tagDifficult

1 of 266launches earned
$100k+ small

Odds1 of 266 launches

Typical earnings$1,551

Launches266 / 1 hits

Pair against ittoo few hits to compare

All indie launches $5 to $10: 3.5 in 100 earned $100k+ (1 in 28), typical $1,208, from 6,979 launches.each block is 0.5 in 100 all indie at $5 to $10Difficult 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 prices42 in pair Under $513 in pair $5 to $1014 in pair$10 to $209: too few$20 to $406: too few

What the overlap means

The overlap is this niche: the 14 games tagged both Action RPG and Difficult priced $5 to $10. 0 of 14 of them earned $100k+, against 2.5 in 100 for Action RPG-only games and 1 of 252 for Difficult-only games, so the mix is too small to compare with Action RPG alone and is too small to compare with Difficult alone.

Both: 14 games priced $5 to $10; 0 of 14 earned $100k+, odds by size $1k+ 8 of 14 launches · $10k+ 2 of 14 launches · $100k+ 0 of 14 launches.

Circle areas follow launch counts; the gold overlap is exactly the pair's 14 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

SULFURleads this pair34.4%

PairSULFUR34.4%

Action RPGPath of Exile 235.4%

DifficultHollow Knight: Silksong66.3%

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 RPG + 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

SULFUR earned 34.4% of the estimated first-year money of the 42 Action RPG + Difficult launches.
Action RPG is led by Path of Exile 2, with 35.4% of its money.
Difficult is led by Hollow Knight: Silksong, with 66.3% 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

Action RPG + Difficult 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 RPG + Difficult through every lens, all prices
This pair	BaseStandardevery launch	West-facing view40 of 42 launches	Without the breakout41 of 42 launches	Last 18 months11 of 42 launches
Launches counted	427 hits	407 hits	416 hits	111 hits
Earned $100k+	16.7 in 100	17.5 in 100	14.6 in 100	1 of 11too few for a rate
Chance of $10k+	36 in 100chance of $10k+; $1k+ 64 in 100	under 100 launches	under 100 launches	under 100 launches
Chance against standard	the base	+5.0%0.8 more in 100	-12.2%2.0 fewer in 100	-45.5%7.6 fewer in 100; too few to tell
Typical against standard	the base	under 100 launches	under 100 launches	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 RPG and Difficult, 12 to 36 months old: 42 launches.

Launches counted: 427 hits
Earned $100k+: 16.7 in 100
Chance of $10k+: 36 in 100chance of $10k+; $1k+ 64 in 100
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: 2 of 42 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted: 407 hits
Earned $100k+: 17.5 in 100
Chance of $10k+: under 100 launches
Chance against standard: +5.0%0.8 more in 100
Typical against standard: under 100 launches

Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, SULFUR (34.4% of the money): 41 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted: 416 hits
Earned $100k+: 14.6 in 100
Chance of $10k+: under 100 launches
Chance against standard: -12.2%2.0 fewer in 100
Typical against standard: under 100 launches

Last 18 monthsToo few to tell

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 11 of 42.

Launches counted: 111 hits
Earned $100k+: 1 of 11too few for a rate
Chance of $10k+: under 100 launches
Chance against standard: -45.5%7.6 fewer in 100; too few to tell
Typical against standard: under 100 launches

Standard: Every indie paid launch tagged both Action RPG and Difficult, 12 to 36 months old: 42 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: 2 of 42 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, SULFUR (34.4% of the money): 41 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: 11 of 42.

Action RPG is changed recently: Last 18 months moves the answer more than chance alone would. It holds in West-facing view and Without the breakout.

Action RPG through every lens, all prices
Action RPG	BaseStandardevery launch	West-facing view1,241 of 1,347 launches	Without the breakout1,346 of 1,347 launches	Last 18 months332 of 1,347 launches
Launches counted	1,347109 hits	1,24196 hits	1,346108 hits	33223 hits
Earned $100k+	8.1 in 1001 in 12	7.7 in 1001 in 13	8.0 in 1001 in 12	6.9 in 1001 in 14
Typical first-year earnings	$469top tenth $67,900+	$526	$469	$589
Chance against standard	the base	-4.4%0.4 fewer in 100	-0.8%0.1 fewer in 100	-14.4%1.2 fewer in 100
Typical against standard	the base	+12.2%$57 more	0.0%no change	+25.6%$120 more
Does it hold?	The base view	Holds	Holds	Moves the answer

BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Action RPG, 12 to 36 months old: 1,347 launches.

Launches counted: 1,347109 hits
Earned $100k+: 8.1 in 1001 in 12
Typical first-year earnings: $469top tenth $67,900+
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: 106 of 1,347 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted: 1,24196 hits
Earned $100k+: 7.7 in 1001 in 13
Typical first-year earnings: $526
Chance against standard: -4.4%0.4 fewer in 100
Typical against standard: +12.2%$57 more

Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Path of Exile 2 (35.4% of the money): 1,346 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted: 1,346108 hits
Earned $100k+: 8.0 in 1001 in 12
Typical first-year earnings: $469
Chance against standard: -0.8%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard: 0.0%no change

Last 18 monthsMoves the answer

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 332 of 1,347.

Launches counted: 33223 hits
Earned $100k+: 6.9 in 1001 in 14
Typical first-year earnings: $589
Chance against standard: -14.4%1.2 fewer in 100
Typical against standard: +25.6%$120 more

Standard: Every indie paid launch tagged Action RPG, 12 to 36 months old: 1,347 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: 106 of 1,347 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 (35.4% of the money): 1,346 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: 332 of 1,347.

Difficult is one-hit market: one game earned over half the money. It holds in West-facing view and Last 18 months.

Difficult through every lens, all prices
Difficult	BaseStandardevery launch	West-facing view940 of 953 launches	Without the breakout952 of 953 launches	Last 18 months252 of 953 launches
Launches counted	95372 hits	94071 hits	95271 hits	25222 hits
Earned $100k+	7.6 in 1001 in 13	7.6 in 1001 in 13	7.5 in 1001 in 13	8.7 in 1001 in 11
Typical first-year earnings	$1,032top tenth $69,523+	$1,071	$1,032	$1,263
Chance against standard	the base	0.0%no change	-1.3%0.1 fewer in 100	+15.6%1.2 more in 100
Typical against standard	the base	+3.8%$39 more	0.0%no change	+22.4%$231 more
Does it hold?	The base view	Holds	Moves the answer	Holds

BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Difficult, 12 to 36 months old: 953 launches.

Launches counted: 95372 hits
Earned $100k+: 7.6 in 1001 in 13
Typical first-year earnings: $1,032top tenth $69,523+
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: 13 of 953 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted: 94071 hits
Earned $100k+: 7.6 in 1001 in 13
Typical first-year earnings: $1,071
Chance against standard: 0.0%no change
Typical against standard: +3.8%$39 more

Without the breakoutMoves the answer

Drops the single biggest earner, Hollow Knight: Silksong (66.3% of the money): 952 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted: 95271 hits
Earned $100k+: 7.5 in 1001 in 13
Typical first-year earnings: $1,032
Chance against standard: -1.3%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard: 0.0%no change

Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 252 of 953.

Launches counted: 25222 hits
Earned $100k+: 8.7 in 1001 in 11
Typical first-year earnings: $1,263
Chance against standard: +15.6%1.2 more in 100
Typical against standard: +22.4%$231 more

Standard: Every indie paid launch tagged Difficult, 12 to 36 months old: 953 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: 13 of 953 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 (66.3% of the money): 952 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: 252 of 953.

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 RPG + Difficult moves, comparables the day they land, and every lens for every pair and price. Free until launch.

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Keep gold access after launch: alerts, comparables, every lens.