Genres

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.

Settings
Text size
Game Market DataBuild what sells
Live games
191,979
on 2 Oct 2026

Niches / Dark + Strategy

Niche

Dark + Strategy

Games tagged both Dark and Strategy: 107 indie paid launches, 2 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 Dark + Strategy priced $10 to $20, last 18 months. Lens figures exist at all prices only, so inside a price band the page shows the standard figures.

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

Dark + Strategy is too small to compare with Dark and is too small to compare with Strategy: 0 of its 13 launches earned $100k+ priced $10 to $20, against 21.5 in 100 for Dark and 16.0 in 100 for Strategy.

Lens figures by price band are not computed yet, so this band uses the standard figures. Small sample: 13 launches, 0 hits.

TIEA tie
Tag onemood tagDark
21.5in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds21.5 in 100
Typical earnings$11,698
Launches149 / 32 hits
Pair against ittoo few hits to compare
TIEA tie
This pairDark + Strategy
0 of 13launches earned
$100k+ small
Odds0 of 13 launches
Typical earnings$13,844
Launches13 / 0 hits
Expected17.6 in 100
TIETied
Tag twoStrategy
16.0in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds16.0 in 100
Typical earnings$7,843
Launches844 / 135 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 $20Dark 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 prices107 in pairUnder $573 in pair$5 to $1018 in pair$10 to $2013 in pair$20 to $403: too few
What the overlap means

The overlap is this niche: the 13 games tagged both Dark and Strategy priced $10 to $20. 0 of 13 of them earned $100k+, against 23.5 in 100 for Dark-only games and 16.2 in 100 for Strategy-only games, so the mix is too small to compare with Dark alone and is too small to compare with Strategy alone.

Both: 13 games priced $10 to $20; 0 of 13 earned $100k+, typical first-year earnings $13,844.

Circle areas follow launch counts; the gold overlap is exactly the pair's 13 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. The last 18 months lens is not computed for the outer parts, so this diagram uses the standard figures.

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

Buckshot Rouletteleads this pair65.3%
PairBuckshot Roulette65.3%
DarkNo, I'm not a Human12.2%
StrategyManor Lords14.8%
CheckOne game over half?yes
NextNearest hitsnot computed yet

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

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

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

  • Buckshot Roulette earned 65.3% of the estimated first-year money of the 107 Dark + Strategy launches.
  • Dark is led by No, I'm not a Human, with 12.2% of its money.
  • Strategy is led by Manor Lords, with 14.8% 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

Dark + Strategy is one-hit market: one game earned over half the money. It holds in West-facing view.

Dark + Strategy through every lens, all prices
This pairBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view105 of 107 launchesWithout the breakout106 of 107 launchesLast 18 months30 of 107 launches
Launches counted1072 hits1052 hits1061 hits300 hits
Earned $100k+2 of 107too few for a rate2 of 105too few for a rate1 of 106too few for a rate0 of 30too few for a rate
Typical first-year earnings$284top tenth $17,506+$284$284$306
Chance against standardthe base+1.9%no change; too few to tell-49.5%0.9 fewer in 100-100.0%1.9 fewer in 100; too few to tell
Typical against standardthe base0.0%no change0.0%no change+7.7%$22 more; too few to tell
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsMoves the answerToo few to tell
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged both Dark and Strategy, 12 to 36 months old: 107 launches.

Launches counted
1072 hits
Earned $100k+
2 of 107too few for a rate
Typical first-year earnings
$284top tenth $17,506+
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: 2 of 107 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
1052 hits
Earned $100k+
2 of 105too few for a rate
Typical first-year earnings
$284
Chance against standard
+1.9%no change; too few to tell
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Without the breakoutMoves the answer

Drops the single biggest earner, Buckshot Roulette (65.3% of the money): 106 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
1061 hits
Earned $100k+
1 of 106too few for a rate
Typical first-year earnings
$284
Chance against standard
-49.5%0.9 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Last 18 monthsToo few to tell

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 30 of 107.

Launches counted
300 hits
Earned $100k+
0 of 30too few for a rate
Typical first-year earnings
$306
Chance against standard
-100.0%1.9 fewer in 100; too few to tell
Typical against standard
+7.7%$22 more; too few to tell
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged both Dark and Strategy, 12 to 36 months old: 107 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 107 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, Buckshot Roulette (65.3% of the money): 106 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: 30 of 107.

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 view1,200 of 1,223 launchesWithout the breakout1,222 of 1,223 launchesLast 18 months340 of 1,223 launches
Launches counted1,22367 hits1,20065 hits1,22266 hits34019 hits
Earned $100k+5.5 in 1001 in 185.4 in 1001 in 185.4 in 1001 in 195.6 in 1001 in 18
Typical first-year earnings$843top tenth $31,969+$844$843$861
Chance against standardthe base-1.1%0.1 fewer in 100-1.4%0.1 fewer in 100+2.0%0.1 more in 100
Typical against standardthe base+0.1%$1 more0.0%no change+2.1%$18 more
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Dark, 12 to 36 months old: 1,223 launches.

Launches counted
1,22367 hits
Earned $100k+
5.5 in 1001 in 18
Typical first-year earnings
$843top tenth $31,969+
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 1,223 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
1,20065 hits
Earned $100k+
5.4 in 1001 in 18
Typical first-year earnings
$844
Chance against standard
-1.1%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 (12.2% of the money): 1,222 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
1,22266 hits
Earned $100k+
5.4 in 1001 in 19
Typical first-year earnings
$843
Chance against standard
-1.4%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 340 of 1,223.

Launches counted
34019 hits
Earned $100k+
5.6 in 1001 in 18
Typical first-year earnings
$861
Chance against standard
+2.0%0.1 more in 100
Typical against standard
+2.1%$18 more
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged Dark, 12 to 36 months old: 1,223 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 1,223 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 (12.2% of the money): 1,222 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: 340 of 1,223.

Strategy 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.

Strategy through every lens, all prices
StrategyBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view4,305 of 4,686 launchesWithout the breakout4,685 of 4,686 launchesLast 18 months1,463 of 4,686 launches
Launches counted4,686290 hits4,305262 hits4,685289 hits1,46397 hits
Earned $100k+6.2 in 1001 in 166.1 in 1001 in 166.2 in 1001 in 166.6 in 1001 in 15
Typical first-year earnings$426top tenth $39,428+$472$426$498
Chance against standardthe base-1.7%0.1 fewer in 100-0.3%no change+7.1%0.4 more in 100
Typical against standardthe base+10.8%$46 more0.0%no change+16.9%$72 more
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Strategy, 12 to 36 months old: 4,686 launches.

Launches counted
4,686290 hits
Earned $100k+
6.2 in 1001 in 16
Typical first-year earnings
$426top tenth $39,428+
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: 381 of 4,686 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
4,305262 hits
Earned $100k+
6.1 in 1001 in 16
Typical first-year earnings
$472
Chance against standard
-1.7%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
+10.8%$46 more
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Manor Lords (14.8% of the money): 4,685 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
4,685289 hits
Earned $100k+
6.2 in 1001 in 16
Typical first-year earnings
$426
Chance against standard
-0.3%no change
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 1,463 of 4,686.

Launches counted
1,46397 hits
Earned $100k+
6.6 in 1001 in 15
Typical first-year earnings
$498
Chance against standard
+7.1%0.4 more in 100
Typical against standard
+16.9%$72 more
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged Strategy, 12 to 36 months old: 4,686 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: 381 of 4,686 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, Manor Lords (14.8% of the money): 4,685 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: 1,463 of 4,686.

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 Dark + Strategy 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.