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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 + Side Scroller

Niche

Action RPG + Side Scroller

Games tagged both Action RPG and Side Scroller: 66 indie paid launches, 8 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.

Showing Action RPG + Side Scroller priced $10 to $20. This filter changes the answer: at all prices the pair beats both its tags; priced $10 to $20 it is too small to compare with Action RPG and is too small to compare with Side Scroller.

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 RPG + Side Scroller is too small to compare with Action RPG and is too small to compare with Side Scroller: 6 of its 17 launches earned $100k+ priced $10 to $20, against 19.2 in 100 for Action RPG and 12.6 in 100 for Side Scroller.

Small sample: 17 launches, 6 hits.

TIEA tie
Tag oneAction RPG
19.2in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds19.2 in 100
Typical earnings$7,717
Launches281 / 54 hits
Pair against ittoo few hits to compare
TIEA tie
This pairAction RPG + Side Scroller
6 of 17launches earned
$100k+ small
Odds6 of 17 launches
Typical earnings$23,699
Launches17 / 6 hits
Expected17.6 in 100
TIETied
Tag twomood tagSide Scroller
12.6in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds12.6 in 100
Typical earnings$7,717
Launches143 / 18 hits
Pair against ittoo few hits to compare
All indie launches $10 to $20: 17.6 in 100 earned $100k+, typical $8,234, from 4,301 launches.each block is 2 in 100 all indie at $10 to $20Side Scroller 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 prices66 in pairUnder $524 in pair$5 to $1018 in pair$10 to $2017 in pair$20 to $407: too few
What the overlap means

The overlap is this niche: the 17 games tagged both Action RPG and Side Scroller priced $10 to $20. 6 of 17 of them earned $100k+, against 18.2 in 100 for Action RPG-only games and 9.5 in 100 for Side Scroller-only games, so the mix is too small to compare with Action RPG alone and is too small to compare with Side Scroller alone.

Both: 17 games priced $10 to $20; 6 of 17 earned $100k+, typical first-year earnings $23,699.

Circle areas follow launch counts; the gold overlap is exactly the pair's 17 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

Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Treeleads this pair28.3%
PairMandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree28.3%
Action RPGPath of Exile 235.1%
Side ScrollerMandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree9.3%
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 + Side Scroller

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

  • Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree earned 28.3% of the estimated first-year money of the 66 Action RPG + Side Scroller launches.
  • Action RPG is led by Path of Exile 2, with 35.1% of its money.
  • It also leads Side Scroller, with 9.3% of that tag's 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 + Side Scroller 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 + Side Scroller through every lens, all prices
This pairBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view65 of 66 launchesWithout the breakout65 of 66 launchesLast 18 months14 of 66 launches
Launches counted668 hits658 hits657 hits144 hits
Earned $100k+12.1 in 10012.3 in 10010.8 in 1004 of 14too few for a rate
Typical first-year earnings$1,180top tenth $200,778+$1,180$1,136$4,789
Chance against standardthe base+1.5%0.2 more in 100-11.2%1.4 fewer in 100+135.7%16.5 more in 100; too few to tell
Typical against standardthe base0.0%no change; too few to tell-3.7%$44 less+305.8%$3,609 more; too few to tell
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsToo few to tell
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged both Action RPG and Side Scroller, 12 to 36 months old: 66 launches.

Launches counted
668 hits
Earned $100k+
12.1 in 100
Typical first-year earnings
$1,180top tenth $200,778+
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: 1 of 66 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
658 hits
Earned $100k+
12.3 in 100
Typical first-year earnings
$1,180
Chance against standard
+1.5%0.2 more in 100
Typical against standard
0.0%no change; too few to tell
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree (28.3% of the money): 65 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
657 hits
Earned $100k+
10.8 in 100
Typical first-year earnings
$1,136
Chance against standard
-11.2%1.4 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-3.7%$44 less
Last 18 monthsToo few to tell

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 14 of 66.

Launches counted
144 hits
Earned $100k+
4 of 14too few for a rate
Typical first-year earnings
$4,789
Chance against standard
+135.7%16.5 more in 100; too few to tell
Typical against standard
+305.8%$3,609 more; too few to tell
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged both Action RPG and Side Scroller, 12 to 36 months old: 66 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: 1 of 66 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, Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree (28.3% of the money): 65 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: 14 of 66.

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 RPGBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view1,240 of 1,346 launchesWithout the breakout1,345 of 1,346 launchesLast 18 months330 of 1,346 launches
Launches counted1,346100 hits1,24087 hits1,34599 hits33023 hits
Earned $100k+7.4 in 1001 in 137.0 in 1001 in 147.4 in 1001 in 147.0 in 1001 in 14
Typical first-year earnings$455top tenth $54,279+$496$426$574
Chance against standardthe base-5.6%0.4 fewer in 100-0.9%0.1 fewer in 100-6.2%0.5 fewer in 100
Typical against standardthe base+9.0%$41 more-6.4%$29 less+26.2%$119 more
Does it hold?The base viewMoves the answerHoldsMoves 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.

Side Scroller 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.

Side Scroller through every lens, all prices
Side ScrollerBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view1,041 of 1,064 launchesWithout the breakout1,063 of 1,064 launchesLast 18 months288 of 1,064 launches
Launches counted1,06434 hits1,04133 hits1,06333 hits28811 hits
Earned $100k+3.2 in 1001 in 313.2 in 1001 in 323.1 in 1001 in 323.8 in 1001 in 26
Typical first-year earnings$354top tenth $17,816+$354$351$287
Chance against standardthe base-0.8%no change-2.8%0.1 fewer in 100+19.5%0.6 more in 100
Typical against standardthe base0.0%no change-0.8%$3 less-18.9%$67 less
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Side Scroller, 12 to 36 months old: 1,064 launches.

Launches counted
1,06434 hits
Earned $100k+
3.2 in 1001 in 31
Typical first-year earnings
$354top tenth $17,816+
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: 23 of 1,064 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
1,04133 hits
Earned $100k+
3.2 in 1001 in 32
Typical first-year earnings
$354
Chance against standard
-0.8%no change
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree (9.3% of the money): 1,063 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
1,06333 hits
Earned $100k+
3.1 in 1001 in 32
Typical first-year earnings
$351
Chance against standard
-2.8%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-0.8%$3 less
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 288 of 1,064.

Launches counted
28811 hits
Earned $100k+
3.8 in 1001 in 26
Typical first-year earnings
$287
Chance against standard
+19.5%0.6 more in 100
Typical against standard
-18.9%$67 less
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged Side Scroller, 12 to 36 months old: 1,064 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: 23 of 1,064 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, Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree (9.3% of the money): 1,063 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: 288 of 1,064.

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 + Side Scroller 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.