Niche

Action RPG + Retro

Games tagged both Action RPG and Retro: 43 indie paid launches, 1 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 26,280 indie paid launches 12 to 36 months old, data of 3 Oct 2026. How it is measured.

Price Under $5

All prices1 in 17 hit $100k+Under $51 in 219 hit $100k+$5 to $101 in 30 hit $100k+$10 to $2018 in 100 hit $100k+$20 to $4040 in 100 hit $100k+

Base rate: indie paid launches 12 to 36 months old, 26,280 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.

Under $5

Showing Action RPG + Retro priced under $5.

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?Under $5

Action RPG + Retro is too small to compare with Action RPG and is too small to compare with Retro: 0 of its 18 launches earned $100k+ priced under $5, against 1 of 590 launches for Action RPG and 1 of 735 launches for Retro.

Small sample: 18 launches, 0 hits.

TIEA tie

Tag oneAction RPG

1 of 590launches earned
$100k+ small

Odds1 of 590 launches

Typical earnings$101

Launches590 / 1 hits

Pair against ittoo few hits to compare

TIEA tie

This pairAction RPG + Retro

0 of 18launches earned
$100k+ small

Odds0 of 18 launches

Typical earnings$630

Launches18 / 0 hits

Expected0.5 in 100

TIEA tie

Tag twomood tagRetro

1 of 735launches earned
$100k+ small

Odds1 of 735 launches

Typical earnings$191

Launches735 / 1 hits

Pair against ittoo few hits to compare

All indie launches under $5: 0.5 in 100 earned $100k+ (1 in 219), typical $169, from 13,780 launches.each block is 0.5 in 100 all indie at under $5Retro 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: 40.0 in 100), so read it within a price band.

Price bandswitches the whole page

All prices43 in pair Under $518 in pair $5 to $1016 in pair$10 to $209: too few$20 to $40no launches

What the overlap means

The overlap is this niche: the 18 games tagged both Action RPG and Retro priced under $5. 0 of 18 of them earned $100k+, against 1 of 572 for Action RPG-only games and 1 of 717 for Retro-only games, so the mix is too small to compare with Action RPG alone and is too small to compare with Retro alone.

Both: 18 games priced under $5; 0 of 18 earned $100k+, typical first-year earnings $630.

Circle areas follow launch counts; the gold overlap is exactly the pair's 18 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

Shadow of the Ninja - Rebornleads this pair54.7%

PairShadow of the Ninja - Reborn54.7%

Action RPGPath of Exile 235.1%

RetroMouthwashing20.9%

CheckOne game over half?yes

NextNearest hitsnot computed yet

Lens checkOne-hit market. Standard: the base the others are compared with. West-facing view: too few to tell. Without the breakout: moves the answer. Last 18 months: too few to tell.

Open free preview

ComparablesFree until launchClick to unlockWho leads Action RPG + 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

Shadow of the Ninja - Reborn earned 54.7% of the estimated first-year money of the 43 Action RPG + Retro launches.
Action RPG is led by Path of Exile 2, with 35.1% of its money.
Retro is led by Mouthwashing, with 20.9% of its money.
One game holds over half of this pair's money: read every figure here as that game's story.

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 + Retro is one-hit market: one game earned over half the money.

Action RPG + Retro through every lens, all prices
This pair	BaseStandardevery launch	West-facing view41 of 43 launches	Without the breakout42 of 43 launches	Last 18 months16 of 43 launches
Launches counted	431 hits	411 hits	420 hits	160 hits
Earned $100k+	1 of 43too few for a rate	1 of 41too few for a rate	0 of 42too few for a rate	0 of 16too few for a rate
Typical first-year earnings	$766top tenth $10,685+	$921	$766	$1,148
Chance against standard	the base	+4.9%0.1 more in 100; too few to tell	-100.0%2.3 fewer in 100	-100.0%2.3 fewer in 100; too few to tell
Typical against standard	the base	+20.2%$155 more; too few to tell	0.0%no change	+49.9%$382 more; too few to tell
Does it hold?	The base view	Too few to tell	Moves the answer	Too few to tell

BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged both Action RPG and Retro, 12 to 36 months old: 43 launches.

Launches counted: 431 hits
Earned $100k+: 1 of 43too few for a rate
Typical first-year earnings: $766top tenth $10,685+
Chance against standard: the base
Typical against standard: the base

West-facing viewToo few to tell

Games mostly reviewed outside China. Drops games mostly reviewed in Chinese, meaning 35% or more of their reviews are in Simplified Chinese: 2 of 43 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted: 411 hits
Earned $100k+: 1 of 41too few for a rate
Typical first-year earnings: $921
Chance against standard: +4.9%0.1 more in 100; too few to tell
Typical against standard: +20.2%$155 more; too few to tell

Without the breakoutMoves the answer

Drops the single biggest earner, Shadow of the Ninja - Reborn (54.7% of the money): 42 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted: 420 hits
Earned $100k+: 0 of 42too few for a rate
Typical first-year earnings: $766
Chance against standard: -100.0%2.3 fewer in 100
Typical against standard: 0.0%no change

Last 18 monthsToo few to tell

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 16 of 43.

Launches counted: 160 hits
Earned $100k+: 0 of 16too few for a rate
Typical first-year earnings: $1,148
Chance against standard: -100.0%2.3 fewer in 100; too few to tell
Typical against standard: +49.9%$382 more; too few to tell

Standard: Every indie paid launch tagged both Action RPG and Retro, 12 to 36 months old: 43 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 43 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, Shadow of the Ninja - Reborn (54.7% of the money): 42 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: 16 of 43.

Action RPG is audience split +1: West-facing view moves the answer more than chance alone would, and 1 more lens too. It holds in Without the breakout.

Action RPG through every lens, all prices
Action RPG	BaseStandardevery launch	West-facing view1,240 of 1,346 launches	Without the breakout1,345 of 1,346 launches	Last 18 months330 of 1,346 launches
Launches counted	1,346100 hits	1,24087 hits	1,34599 hits	33023 hits
Earned $100k+	7.4 in 1001 in 13	7.0 in 1001 in 14	7.4 in 1001 in 14	7.0 in 1001 in 14
Typical first-year earnings	$455top tenth $54,279+	$496	$426	$574
Chance against standard	the base	-5.6%0.4 fewer in 100	-0.9%0.1 fewer in 100	-6.2%0.5 fewer in 100
Typical against standard	the base	+9.0%$41 more	-6.4%$29 less	+26.2%$119 more
Does it hold?	The base view	Moves the answer	Holds	Moves the answer

BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Action RPG, 12 to 36 months old: 1,346 launches.

Launches counted: 1,346100 hits
Earned $100k+: 7.4 in 1001 in 13
Typical first-year earnings: $455top tenth $54,279+
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: 106 of 1,346 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted: 1,24087 hits
Earned $100k+: 7.0 in 1001 in 14
Typical first-year earnings: $496
Chance against standard: -5.6%0.4 fewer in 100
Typical against standard: +9.0%$41 more

Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Path of Exile 2 (35.1% of the money): 1,345 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted: 1,34599 hits
Earned $100k+: 7.4 in 1001 in 14
Typical first-year earnings: $426
Chance against standard: -0.9%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard: -6.4%$29 less

Last 18 monthsMoves the answer

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 330 of 1,346.

Launches counted: 33023 hits
Earned $100k+: 7.0 in 1001 in 14
Typical first-year earnings: $574
Chance against standard: -6.2%0.5 fewer in 100
Typical against standard: +26.2%$119 more

Standard: Every indie paid launch tagged Action RPG, 12 to 36 months old: 1,346 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 1,346 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 (35.1% of the money): 1,345 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: 330 of 1,346.

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
Retro	BaseStandardevery launch	West-facing view1,266 of 1,299 launches	Without the breakout1,298 of 1,299 launches	Last 18 months361 of 1,299 launches
Launches counted	1,29954 hits	1,26653 hits	1,29853 hits	36112 hits
Earned $100k+	4.2 in 1001 in 24	4.2 in 1001 in 24	4.1 in 1001 in 24	3.3 in 1001 in 30
Typical first-year earnings	$574top tenth $19,804+	$574	$574	$459
Chance against standard	the base	+0.7%no change	-1.8%0.1 fewer in 100	-20.0%0.8 fewer in 100
Typical against standard	the base	0.0%no change	0.0%no change	-20.0%$115 less
Does it hold?	The base view	Holds	Holds	Holds

BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Retro, 12 to 36 months old: 1,299 launches.

Launches counted: 1,29954 hits
Earned $100k+: 4.2 in 1001 in 24
Typical first-year earnings: $574top tenth $19,804+
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 1,299 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted: 1,26653 hits
Earned $100k+: 4.2 in 1001 in 24
Typical first-year earnings: $574
Chance against standard: +0.7%no change
Typical against standard: 0.0%no change

Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Mouthwashing (20.9% of the money): 1,298 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted: 1,29853 hits
Earned $100k+: 4.1 in 1001 in 24
Typical first-year earnings: $574
Chance against standard: -1.8%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard: 0.0%no change

Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 361 of 1,299.

Launches counted: 36112 hits
Earned $100k+: 3.3 in 1001 in 30
Typical first-year earnings: $459
Chance against standard: -20.0%0.8 fewer in 100
Typical against standard: -20.0%$115 less

Standard: Every indie paid launch tagged Retro, 12 to 36 months old: 1,299 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 1,299 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 (20.9% of the money): 1,298 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: 361 of 1,299.

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 + 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.