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Ticker: price and year-over-year change for 40 genres. Price is the median estimated first-year revenue of indie paid launches. The change shows for genres with 100+ launches. The same figures are on the Genres page.

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on 3 Oct 2026

Niches / Action RPG + Retro

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 26,291 indie paid launches 12 to 36 months old, data of 3 Oct 2026. How it is measured.

Showing Action RPG + Retro priced under $5, hiding samples under 100 launches. This filter changes the answer: at all prices the pair is too small to compare with Action RPG and is too small to compare with Retro; priced under $5 it has too few launches to read.

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

18 launches, under your minimum sample of 100.

Pick another price band, or lower the minimum sample.

TIEA tie
Tag oneAction RPG
1 of 590launches earned
$100k+ small
Odds1 of 590 launches
Typical earnings$94
Launches590 / 1 hits
Pairno reading
--No reading
This pairAction RPG + Retro
--too few
to read
Odds--
Typical earnings--
Launches18

18 launches, under your minimum sample of 100.

TIEA tie
Tag twomood tagRetro
1 of 736launches earned
$100k+ small
Odds1 of 736 launches
Typical earnings$179
Launches736 / 1 hits
Pairno reading
All indie launches under $5: 0.4 in 100 earned $100k+ (1 in 238), typical $158, from 13,785 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: 0.4 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 prices43 in pairUnder $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 718 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+, odds by size $1k+ 6 of 18 launches · $10k+ 0 of 18 launches · $100k+ 0 of 18 launches.

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 pair56.4%
PairShadow of the Ninja - Reborn56.4%
Action RPGPath of Exile 235.4%
RetroMouthwashing21.8%
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 56.4% of the estimated first-year money of the 43 Action RPG + Retro launches.
  • Action RPG is led by Path of Exile 2, with 35.4% of its money.
  • Retro is led by Mouthwashing, with 21.8% 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 pairBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view41 of 43 launchesWithout the breakout42 of 43 launchesLast 18 months16 of 43 launches
Launches counted431 hits411 hits420 hits160 hits
Earned $100k+1 of 43too few for a rate1 of 41too few for a rate0 of 42too few for a rate0 of 16too few for a rate
Chance of $10k+14 in 100chance of $10k+; $1k+ 44 in 100under 100 launchesunder 100 launchesunder 100 launches
Chance against standardthe 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 standardthe baseunder 100 launchesunder 100 launchesunder 100 launches
Does it hold?The base viewToo few to tellMoves the answerToo 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
Chance of $10k+
14 in 100chance of $10k+; $1k+ 44 in 100
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
Chance of $10k+
under 100 launches
Chance against standard
+4.9%0.1 more in 100; too few to tell
Typical against standard
under 100 launches
Without the breakoutMoves the answer

Drops the single biggest earner, Shadow of the Ninja - Reborn (56.4% 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
Chance of $10k+
under 100 launches
Chance against standard
-100.0%2.3 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
under 100 launches
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
Chance of $10k+
under 100 launches
Chance against standard
-100.0%2.3 fewer in 100; too few to tell
Typical against standard
under 100 launches
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 (56.4% 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 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 RPGBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view1,241 of 1,347 launchesWithout the breakout1,346 of 1,347 launchesLast 18 months332 of 1,347 launches
Launches counted1,347109 hits1,24196 hits1,346108 hits33223 hits
Earned $100k+8.1 in 1001 in 127.7 in 1001 in 138.0 in 1001 in 126.9 in 1001 in 14
Typical first-year earnings$469top tenth $67,900+$526$469$589
Chance against standardthe base-4.4%0.4 fewer in 100-0.8%0.1 fewer in 100-14.4%1.2 fewer in 100
Typical against standardthe base+12.2%$57 more0.0%no change+25.6%$120 more
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsMoves 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.

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
RetroBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view1,267 of 1,300 launchesWithout the breakout1,299 of 1,300 launchesLast 18 months361 of 1,300 launches
Launches counted1,30060 hits1,26759 hits1,29959 hits36115 hits
Earned $100k+4.6 in 1001 in 224.7 in 1001 in 214.5 in 1001 in 224.2 in 1001 in 24
Typical first-year earnings$569top tenth $24,754+$596$567$505
Chance against standardthe base+0.9%no change-1.6%0.1 fewer in 100-10.0%0.5 fewer in 100
Typical against standardthe base+4.7%$27 more-0.4%$2 less-11.2%$64 less
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Retro, 12 to 36 months old: 1,300 launches.

Launches counted
1,30060 hits
Earned $100k+
4.6 in 1001 in 22
Typical first-year earnings
$569top tenth $24,754+
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 1,300 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
1,26759 hits
Earned $100k+
4.7 in 1001 in 21
Typical first-year earnings
$596
Chance against standard
+0.9%no change
Typical against standard
+4.7%$27 more
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Mouthwashing (21.8% of the money): 1,299 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
1,29959 hits
Earned $100k+
4.5 in 1001 in 22
Typical first-year earnings
$567
Chance against standard
-1.6%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-0.4%$2 less
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 361 of 1,300.

Launches counted
36115 hits
Earned $100k+
4.2 in 1001 in 24
Typical first-year earnings
$505
Chance against standard
-10.0%0.5 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-11.2%$64 less
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged Retro, 12 to 36 months old: 1,300 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 1,300 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 (21.8% of the money): 1,299 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 1,300.

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.

Releases

Ticker: 30 upcoming games dated within 90 days, with wishlist rank, release date and followers. The same list is on the Upcoming page.