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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 / Difficult + First-Person

Niche

Difficult + First-Person

Games tagged both Difficult and First-Person: 57 indie paid launches, 4 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 Difficult + First-Person 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

Difficult + First-Person is too small to compare with Difficult and is too small to compare with First-Person: 0 of its 27 launches earned $100k+ priced under $5, against 0 of 465 launches for Difficult and 0.6 in 100 for First-Person.

Small sample: 27 launches, 0 hits.

TIEA tie
Tag onemood tagDifficult
0 of 465launches earned
$100k+ small
Odds0 of 465 launches
Typical earnings$220
Launches465 / 0 hits
Pair against ittoo few hits to compare
TIEA tie
This pairDifficult + First-Person
0 of 27launches earned
$100k+ small
Odds0 of 27 launches
$1k+8 of 27 launches
$10k+0 of 27 launches
Launches27 / 0 hits
Expected0.4 in 100
TIEA tie
Tag twomood tagFirst-Person
0.6in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds1 in 168
Typical earnings$289
Launches2,014 / 12 hits
Pair against ittoo few hits to compare
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 $5Difficult 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 prices57 in pairUnder $527 in pair$5 to $1021 in pair$10 to $207: too few$20 to $402: too few
What the overlap means

The overlap is this niche: the 27 games tagged both Difficult and First-Person priced under $5. 0 of 27 of them earned $100k+, against 0 of 438 for Difficult-only games and 0.6 in 100 for First-Person-only games, so the mix is too small to compare with Difficult alone and is too small to compare with First-Person alone.

Both: 27 games priced under $5; 0 of 27 earned $100k+, odds by size $1k+ 8 of 27 launches · $10k+ 0 of 27 launches · $100k+ 0 of 27 launches.

Circle areas follow launch counts; the gold overlap is exactly the pair's 27 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

Ghostrunner 2leads this pair70.1%
PairGhostrunner 270.1%
DifficultHollow Knight: Silksong66.3%
First-PersonSchedule I17.7%
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 Difficult + First-Person

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

  • Ghostrunner 2 earned 70.1% of the estimated first-year money of the 57 Difficult + First-Person launches.
  • Difficult is led by Hollow Knight: Silksong, with 66.3% of its money.
  • First-Person is led by Schedule I, with 17.7% 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

Difficult + First-Person is one-hit market: one game earned over half the money.

Difficult + First-Person through every lens, all prices
This pairBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view57 of 57 launchesWithout the breakout56 of 57 launchesLast 18 months15 of 57 launches
Launches counted574 hits574 hits563 hits151 hits
Earned $100k+4 of 57too few for a rate4 of 57too few for a rate3 of 56too few for a rate1 of 15too few for a rate
Chance of $10k+19 in 100chance of $10k+; $1k+ 49 in 100under 100 launchesunder 100 launchesunder 100 launches
Chance against standardthe base0.0%no change; too few to tell-23.7%1.7 fewer in 100-5.0%0.4 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 Difficult and First-Person, 12 to 36 months old: 57 launches.

Launches counted
574 hits
Earned $100k+
4 of 57too few for a rate
Chance of $10k+
19 in 100chance of $10k+; $1k+ 49 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 57 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
574 hits
Earned $100k+
4 of 57too 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 breakoutMoves the answer

Drops the single biggest earner, Ghostrunner 2 (70.1% of the money): 56 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
563 hits
Earned $100k+
3 of 56too few for a rate
Chance of $10k+
under 100 launches
Chance against standard
-23.7%1.7 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
under 100 launches
Last 18 monthsToo few to tell

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 15 of 57.

Launches counted
151 hits
Earned $100k+
1 of 15too few for a rate
Chance of $10k+
under 100 launches
Chance against standard
-5.0%0.4 fewer in 100; too few to tell
Typical against standard
under 100 launches
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged both Difficult and First-Person, 12 to 36 months old: 57 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 57 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, Ghostrunner 2 (70.1% of the money): 56 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: 15 of 57.

Difficult is one-hit market: one game earned over half the money. It holds in West-facing view and Last 18 months.

Difficult through every lens, all prices
DifficultBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view940 of 953 launchesWithout the breakout952 of 953 launchesLast 18 months252 of 953 launches
Launches counted95372 hits94071 hits95271 hits25222 hits
Earned $100k+7.6 in 1001 in 137.6 in 1001 in 137.5 in 1001 in 138.7 in 1001 in 11
Typical first-year earnings$1,032top tenth $69,523+$1,071$1,032$1,263
Chance against standardthe base0.0%no change-1.3%0.1 fewer in 100+15.6%1.2 more in 100
Typical against standardthe base+3.8%$39 more0.0%no change+22.4%$231 more
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsMoves the answerHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Difficult, 12 to 36 months old: 953 launches.

Launches counted
95372 hits
Earned $100k+
7.6 in 1001 in 13
Typical first-year earnings
$1,032top tenth $69,523+
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: 13 of 953 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
94071 hits
Earned $100k+
7.6 in 1001 in 13
Typical first-year earnings
$1,071
Chance against standard
0.0%no change
Typical against standard
+3.8%$39 more
Without the breakoutMoves the answer

Drops the single biggest earner, Hollow Knight: Silksong (66.3% of the money): 952 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
95271 hits
Earned $100k+
7.5 in 1001 in 13
Typical first-year earnings
$1,032
Chance against standard
-1.3%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 252 of 953.

Launches counted
25222 hits
Earned $100k+
8.7 in 1001 in 11
Typical first-year earnings
$1,263
Chance against standard
+15.6%1.2 more in 100
Typical against standard
+22.4%$231 more
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged Difficult, 12 to 36 months old: 953 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: 13 of 953 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, Hollow Knight: Silksong (66.3% of the money): 952 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: 252 of 953.

First-Person 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.

First-Person through every lens, all prices
First-PersonBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view3,583 of 3,714 launchesWithout the breakout3,713 of 3,714 launchesLast 18 months1,097 of 3,714 launches
Launches counted3,714262 hits3,583254 hits3,713261 hits1,09785 hits
Earned $100k+7.1 in 1001 in 147.1 in 1001 in 147.0 in 1001 in 147.7 in 1001 in 13
Typical first-year earnings$817top tenth $44,279+$827$811$766
Chance against standardthe base+0.5%no change-0.4%no change+9.8%0.7 more in 100
Typical against standardthe base+1.2%$10 more-0.7%$6 less-6.2%$51 less
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged First-Person, 12 to 36 months old: 3,714 launches.

Launches counted
3,714262 hits
Earned $100k+
7.1 in 1001 in 14
Typical first-year earnings
$817top tenth $44,279+
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: 131 of 3,714 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
3,583254 hits
Earned $100k+
7.1 in 1001 in 14
Typical first-year earnings
$827
Chance against standard
+0.5%no change
Typical against standard
+1.2%$10 more
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Schedule I (17.7% of the money): 3,713 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
3,713261 hits
Earned $100k+
7.0 in 1001 in 14
Typical first-year earnings
$811
Chance against standard
-0.4%no change
Typical against standard
-0.7%$6 less
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 1,097 of 3,714.

Launches counted
1,09785 hits
Earned $100k+
7.7 in 1001 in 13
Typical first-year earnings
$766
Chance against standard
+9.8%0.7 more in 100
Typical against standard
-6.2%$51 less
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged First-Person, 12 to 36 months old: 3,714 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: 131 of 3,714 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, Schedule I (17.7% of the money): 3,713 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: 1,097 of 3,714.

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 Difficult + First-Person 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.