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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 11 Nov 2026

Niches / Arcade + Dark

Niche

Arcade + Dark

Games tagged both Arcade and Dark: 51 indie paid launches, 0 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 26,758 indie paid launches 12 to 36 months old, data of 2 Nov 2026. How it is measured.

Showing Arcade + Dark 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

Arcade + Dark is too small to compare with Arcade and is too small to compare with Dark: 0 of its 37 launches earned $100k+ priced under $5, against 0.3 in 100 for Arcade and 4 of 741 launches for Dark.

Small sample: 37 launches, 0 hits.

TIEA tie
Tag oneArcade
0.3in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds1 in 381
Typical earnings$97
Launches2,284 / 6 hits
Pair against ittoo few hits to compare
TIEA tie
This pairArcade + Dark
0 of 37launches earned
$100k+ small
Odds0 of 37 launches
$1k+14 in 100
$10k+0 of 37 launches
Launches37 / 0 hits
Expected0.4 in 100
TIEA tie
Tag twomood tagDark
4 of 741launches earned
$100k+ small
Odds4 of 741 launches
Typical earnings$291
Launches741 / 4 hits
Pair against ittoo few hits to compare
All indie launches under $5: 0.4 in 100 earned $100k+ (1 in 230), typical $162, from 14,050 launches.each block is 0.5 in 100 all indie at under $5Dark 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 prices51 in pairUnder $537 in pair$5 to $1011 in pair$10 to $201: too few$20 to $402: too few
What the overlap means

The overlap is this niche: the 37 games tagged both Arcade and Dark priced under $5. 0 of 37 of them earned $100k+, against 0.3 in 100 for Arcade-only games and 4 of 704 for Dark-only games, so the mix is too small to compare with Arcade alone and is too small to compare with Dark alone.

Both: 37 games priced under $5; 0 of 37 earned $100k+, odds by size $1k+ 14 in 100 · $10k+ 0 of 37 launches · $100k+ 0 of 37 launches.

Circle areas follow launch counts; the gold overlap is exactly the pair's 37 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

Speedballleads this pair29.6%
PairSpeedball29.6%
ArcadeBALL x PIT14.9%
DarkNo, I'm not a Human13.9%
CheckOne game over half?no
NextNearest hitsnot computed yet

Lens checkHolds in 1 of 3, 2 too few to tell. Standard: the base the others are compared with. West-facing view: too few to tell. Without the breakout: holds. Last 18 months: too few to tell.

Open free preview
ComparablesFree until launchClick to unlockWho leads Arcade + Dark

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

  • Speedball earned 29.6% of the estimated first-year money of the 51 Arcade + Dark launches.
  • Arcade is led by BALL x PIT, with 14.9% of its money.
  • Dark is led by No, I'm not a Human, with 13.9% 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

Arcade + Dark holds in Without the breakout; too few to tell in West-facing view and Last 18 months. No lens moves the chance or typical earnings more than chance alone would.

Arcade + Dark through every lens, all prices
This pairBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view51 of 51 launchesWithout the breakout50 of 51 launchesLast 18 months19 of 51 launches
Launches counted510 hits510 hits500 hits190 hits
Earned $100k+0 of 51too few for a rate0 of 51too few for a rate0 of 50too few for a rate0 of 19too few for a rate
Chance of $10k+4 of 51 launchescleared $10k; $1k+ 27 in 100under 100 launchesunder 100 launchesunder 100 launches
Chance against standardthe base0.0%no change; too few to tell0.0%no change0.0%no change; too few to tell
Typical against standardthe baseunder 100 launchesunder 100 launchesunder 100 launches
Does it hold?The base viewToo few to tellHoldsToo few to tell
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged both Arcade and Dark, 12 to 36 months old: 51 launches.

Launches counted
510 hits
Earned $100k+
0 of 51too few for a rate
Chance of $10k+
4 of 51 launchescleared $10k; $1k+ 27 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: 0 of 51 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
510 hits
Earned $100k+
0 of 51too few for a rate
Chance of $10k+
under 100 launches
Chance against standard
0.0%no change; too few to tell
Typical against standard
under 100 launches
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Speedball (29.6% of the money): 50 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
500 hits
Earned $100k+
0 of 50too few for a rate
Chance of $10k+
under 100 launches
Chance against standard
0.0%no change
Typical against standard
under 100 launches
Last 18 monthsToo few to tell

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 19 of 51.

Launches counted
190 hits
Earned $100k+
0 of 19too few for a rate
Chance of $10k+
under 100 launches
Chance against standard
0.0%no change; too few to tell
Typical against standard
under 100 launches
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged both Arcade and Dark, 12 to 36 months old: 51 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: 0 of 51 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, Speedball (29.6% of the money): 50 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: 19 of 51.

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

Arcade through every lens, all prices
ArcadeBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view3,602 of 3,624 launchesWithout the breakout3,623 of 3,624 launchesLast 18 months1,016 of 3,624 launches
Launches counted3,62489 hits3,60288 hits3,62388 hits1,01634 hits
Earned $100k+2.5 in 1001 in 412.4 in 1001 in 412.4 in 1001 in 413.3 in 1001 in 30
Typical first-year earnings$221top tenth $8,880+$221$221$218
Chance against standardthe base-0.5%no change-1.1%no change+36.3%0.9 more in 100
Typical against standardthe base0.0%no change0.0%no change-1.4%$3 less
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsMoves the answer
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Arcade, 12 to 36 months old: 3,624 launches.

Launches counted
3,62489 hits
Earned $100k+
2.5 in 1001 in 41
Typical first-year earnings
$221top tenth $8,880+
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: 22 of 3,624 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
3,60288 hits
Earned $100k+
2.4 in 1001 in 41
Typical first-year earnings
$221
Chance against standard
-0.5%no change
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, BALL x PIT (14.9% of the money): 3,623 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
3,62388 hits
Earned $100k+
2.4 in 1001 in 41
Typical first-year earnings
$221
Chance against standard
-1.1%no change
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Last 18 monthsMoves the answer

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 1,016 of 3,624.

Launches counted
1,01634 hits
Earned $100k+
3.3 in 1001 in 30
Typical first-year earnings
$218
Chance against standard
+36.3%0.9 more in 100
Typical against standard
-1.4%$3 less
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged Arcade, 12 to 36 months old: 3,624 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: 22 of 3,624 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, BALL x PIT (14.9% of the money): 3,623 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: 1,016 of 3,624.

Dark 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.

Dark through every lens, all prices
DarkBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view1,242 of 1,266 launchesWithout the breakout1,265 of 1,266 launchesLast 18 months381 of 1,266 launches
Launches counted1,26670 hits1,24268 hits1,26569 hits38120 hits
Earned $100k+5.5 in 1001 in 185.5 in 1001 in 185.5 in 1001 in 185.2 in 1001 in 19
Typical first-year earnings$810top tenth $33,303+$811$799$797
Chance against standardthe base-1.0%0.1 fewer in 100-1.4%0.1 fewer in 100-5.1%0.3 fewer in 100
Typical against standardthe base+0.1%$1 more-1.4%$11 less-1.6%$13 less
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Dark, 12 to 36 months old: 1,266 launches.

Launches counted
1,26670 hits
Earned $100k+
5.5 in 1001 in 18
Typical first-year earnings
$810top tenth $33,303+
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: 24 of 1,266 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
1,24268 hits
Earned $100k+
5.5 in 1001 in 18
Typical first-year earnings
$811
Chance against standard
-1.0%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
+0.1%$1 more
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, No, I'm not a Human (13.9% of the money): 1,265 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
1,26569 hits
Earned $100k+
5.5 in 1001 in 18
Typical first-year earnings
$799
Chance against standard
-1.4%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-1.4%$11 less
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 381 of 1,266.

Launches counted
38120 hits
Earned $100k+
5.2 in 1001 in 19
Typical first-year earnings
$797
Chance against standard
-5.1%0.3 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-1.6%$13 less
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged Dark, 12 to 36 months old: 1,266 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: 24 of 1,266 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, No, I'm not a Human (13.9% of the money): 1,265 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: 381 of 1,266.

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 Arcade + Dark 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.