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on 3 Oct 2026

Niches / Bullet Hell + Shoot 'Em Up

Niche

Bullet Hell + Shoot 'Em Up

Games tagged both Bullet Hell and Shoot 'Em Up: 394 indie paid launches, 13 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 Bullet Hell + Shoot 'Em Up priced $10 to $20. This filter changes the answer: at all prices the pair is about level with Bullet Hell and is about level with Shoot 'Em Up; priced $10 to $20 it trails Bullet Hell and is about level with Shoot 'Em Up.

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

Bullet Hell + Shoot 'Em Up trails Bullet Hell and is about level with Shoot 'Em Up: 14.3 in 100 of its launches earned $100k+ priced $10 to $20, against 17.5 in 100 for Bullet Hell and 12.3 in 100 for Shoot 'Em Up.

That is about 0.8 times the 17.6 in 100 expected for any launch at this price.

1STWinner
Tag oneBullet Hell
17.5in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds17.5 in 100
Typical earnings$7,849
Launches126 / 22 hits
Pair trails by3.2 in 100
TIETied
This pairBullet Hell + Shoot 'Em Up
14.3in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds14.3 in 100
Typical earnings$7,849
Launches42 / 6 hits
Expected17.6 in 100
TIETied
Tag twoShoot 'Em Up
12.3in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds12.3 in 100
Typical earnings$5,630
Launches106 / 13 hits
A tie, apart by2.0 in 100
All indie launches $10 to $20: 17.6 in 100 earned $100k+, typical $8,234, from 4,301 launches.each block is 1 in 100 all indie at $10 to $20

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 prices394 in pairUnder $5232 in pair$5 to $10111 in pair$10 to $2042 in pair$20 to $409: too few
What the overlap means

The overlap is this niche: the 42 games tagged both Bullet Hell and Shoot 'Em Up priced $10 to $20. 14.3 in 100 of them earned $100k+, against 19.0 in 100 for Bullet Hell-only games and 10.9 in 100 for Shoot 'Em Up-only games, so the mix trails Bullet Hell alone and beats Shoot 'Em Up alone.

Both: 42 games priced $10 to $20; 14.3 in 100 earned $100k+, typical first-year earnings $7,849.

Circle areas follow launch counts; the gold overlap is exactly the pair's 42 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

Apocalypse Partyleads this pair11.1%
PairApocalypse Party11.1%
Bullet HellDELTARUNE44.0%
Shoot 'Em UpAlex Jones: NWO Wars6.0%
CheckOne game over half?no
NextNearest hitsnot computed yet

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

Open free preview
ComparablesFree until launchClick to unlockWho leads Bullet Hell + Shoot 'Em Up

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

  • Apocalypse Party earned 11.1% of the estimated first-year money of the 394 Bullet Hell + Shoot 'Em Up launches.
  • Bullet Hell is led by DELTARUNE, with 44.0% of its money.
  • Shoot 'Em Up is led by Alex Jones: NWO Wars, with 6.0% 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

Bullet Hell + Shoot 'Em Up is audience split: West-facing view moves the answer more than chance alone would. It holds in Without the breakout.

Bullet Hell + Shoot 'Em Up through every lens, all prices
This pairBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view377 of 394 launchesWithout the breakout393 of 394 launchesLast 18 months95 of 394 launches
Launches counted39413 hits3779 hits39312 hits953 hits
Earned $100k+3.3 in 1001 in 302.4 in 1001 in 423.1 in 1001 in 333 of 95too few for a rate
Typical first-year earnings$590top tenth $16,320+$548$567$689
Chance against standardthe base-27.6%0.9 fewer in 100-7.5%0.2 fewer in 100-4.3%0.1 fewer in 100; too few to tell
Typical against standardthe base-7.1%$42 less-3.9%$23 less+16.8%$99 more; too few to tell
Does it hold?The base viewMoves the answerHoldsToo few to tell
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged both Bullet Hell and Shoot 'Em Up, 12 to 36 months old: 394 launches.

Launches counted
39413 hits
Earned $100k+
3.3 in 1001 in 30
Typical first-year earnings
$590top tenth $16,320+
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: 17 of 394 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
3779 hits
Earned $100k+
2.4 in 1001 in 42
Typical first-year earnings
$548
Chance against standard
-27.6%0.9 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-7.1%$42 less
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Apocalypse Party (11.1% of the money): 393 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
39312 hits
Earned $100k+
3.1 in 1001 in 33
Typical first-year earnings
$567
Chance against standard
-7.5%0.2 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-3.9%$23 less
Last 18 monthsToo few to tell

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 95 of 394.

Launches counted
953 hits
Earned $100k+
3 of 95too few for a rate
Typical first-year earnings
$689
Chance against standard
-4.3%0.1 fewer in 100; too few to tell
Typical against standard
+16.8%$99 more; too few to tell
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged both Bullet Hell and Shoot 'Em Up, 12 to 36 months old: 394 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: 17 of 394 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, Apocalypse Party (11.1% of the money): 393 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: 95 of 394.

Bullet Hell is audience split: West-facing view moves the answer more than chance alone would. It holds in Without the breakout and Last 18 months.

Bullet Hell through every lens, all prices
Bullet HellBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view1,303 of 1,359 launchesWithout the breakout1,358 of 1,359 launchesLast 18 months377 of 1,359 launches
Launches counted1,35955 hits1,30348 hits1,35854 hits37715 hits
Earned $100k+4.0 in 1001 in 253.7 in 1001 in 274.0 in 1001 in 254.0 in 1001 in 25
Typical first-year earnings$501top tenth $22,489+$505$501$574
Chance against standardthe base-9.0%0.4 fewer in 100-1.7%0.1 fewer in 100-1.7%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standardthe base+0.8%$4 more0.0%no change+14.6%$73 more
Does it hold?The base viewMoves the answerHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Bullet Hell, 12 to 36 months old: 1,359 launches.

Launches counted
1,35955 hits
Earned $100k+
4.0 in 1001 in 25
Typical first-year earnings
$501top tenth $22,489+
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: 56 of 1,359 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
1,30348 hits
Earned $100k+
3.7 in 1001 in 27
Typical first-year earnings
$505
Chance against standard
-9.0%0.4 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
+0.8%$4 more
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, DELTARUNE (44.0% of the money): 1,358 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
1,35854 hits
Earned $100k+
4.0 in 1001 in 25
Typical first-year earnings
$501
Chance against standard
-1.7%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 377 of 1,359.

Launches counted
37715 hits
Earned $100k+
4.0 in 1001 in 25
Typical first-year earnings
$574
Chance against standard
-1.7%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
+14.6%$73 more
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged Bullet Hell, 12 to 36 months old: 1,359 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: 56 of 1,359 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, DELTARUNE (44.0% of the money): 1,358 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: 377 of 1,359.

Shoot 'Em Up is audience split: West-facing view moves the answer more than chance alone would. It holds in Without the breakout and Last 18 months.

Shoot 'Em Up through every lens, all prices
Shoot 'Em UpBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view874 of 898 launchesWithout the breakout897 of 898 launchesLast 18 months233 of 898 launches
Launches counted89822 hits87418 hits89721 hits2336 hits
Earned $100k+2.4 in 1001 in 412.1 in 1001 in 492.3 in 1001 in 432.6 in 1001 in 39
Typical first-year earnings$284top tenth $11,936+$283$284$229
Chance against standardthe base-15.9%0.4 fewer in 100-4.4%0.1 fewer in 100+5.1%0.1 more in 100
Typical against standardthe base-0.4%$1 less0.0%no change-19.4%$55 less
Does it hold?The base viewMoves the answerHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Shoot 'Em Up, 12 to 36 months old: 898 launches.

Launches counted
89822 hits
Earned $100k+
2.4 in 1001 in 41
Typical first-year earnings
$284top tenth $11,936+
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: 24 of 898 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
87418 hits
Earned $100k+
2.1 in 1001 in 49
Typical first-year earnings
$283
Chance against standard
-15.9%0.4 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-0.4%$1 less
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Alex Jones: NWO Wars (6.0% of the money): 897 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
89721 hits
Earned $100k+
2.3 in 1001 in 43
Typical first-year earnings
$284
Chance against standard
-4.4%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 233 of 898.

Launches counted
2336 hits
Earned $100k+
2.6 in 1001 in 39
Typical first-year earnings
$229
Chance against standard
+5.1%0.1 more in 100
Typical against standard
-19.4%$55 less
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged Shoot 'Em Up, 12 to 36 months old: 898 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 898 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, Alex Jones: NWO Wars (6.0% of the money): 897 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: 233 of 898.

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 Bullet Hell + Shoot 'Em Up 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.

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