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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 same figures are on the Genres page.

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on 30 Sep 2026

Niches / Difficult + Physics

Niche

Difficult + Physics

Games tagged both Difficult and Physics: 151 indie paid launches, 6 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".
  • Price moves the odds more than genre does, so the page opens on one price band. The keys in section 2 switch it.
  • From 29,637 indie paid launches 6 to 30 months old, data of 1 Oct 2026. How it is measured.

Showing Difficult + Physics priced $10 to $20, without the breakout, hiding samples under 100 launches. Lens figures exist at all prices only, so inside a price band the page shows the standard figures. This filter changes the answer: at all prices the pair trails both its tags; priced $10 to $20 it has too few launches to read.

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

20 launches, under your minimum sample of 100.

Pick another price band, or lower the minimum sample.

1STWinner
Tag onemood tagDifficult
22.5in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds22.5 in 100
Typical earnings$19,202
Launches213 / 48 hits
Pairno reading
--No reading
This pairDifficult + Physics
--too few
to read
Odds--
Typical earnings--
Launches20

20 launches, under your minimum sample of 100.

2NDRunner-up
Tag twomood tagPhysics
17.5in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds17.5 in 100
Typical earnings$11,350
Launches183 / 32 hits
Pairno reading
All indie launches $10 to $20: 18.6 in 100 earned $100k+, typical $9,226, from 4,810 launches.each block is 2 in 100 all indie at $10 to $20Difficult 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: 42.4 in 100), so read it within a price band.

Price bandswitches the whole page
What the overlap means

The overlap is this niche: the 20 games tagged both Difficult and Physics priced $10 to $20. 15.0 in 100 of them earned $100k+, against 23.3 for Difficult-only games and 17.8 for Physics-only games, so games with both tags did worse than games with either tag alone.

Both: 20 games priced $10 to $20; 15.0 in 100 earned $100k+, typical first-year earnings $13,660.

Circle areas follow launch counts; the gold overlap is exactly the pair's 20 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 without the breakout 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

VOID/BREAKERleads this pair43.3%
PairVOID/BREAKER43.3%
DifficultHollow Knight: Silksong57.2%
PhysicsR.E.P.O.29.2%
CheckOne game over half?no
NextNearest hitsnot computed yet

Lens checkHolds in 3 of 3. Standard: the yardstick. West-facing view: holds. Without the breakout: holds. Last 18 months: holds.

Open free preview
ComparablesFree until launchClick to unlockWho leads Difficult + Physics

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

  • VOID/BREAKER earned 43.3% of the estimated first-year money of the 151 Difficult + Physics launches.
  • Difficult is led by Hollow Knight: Silksong, with 57.2% of its money.
  • Physics is led by R.E.P.O., with 29.2% 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: those with a mostly Chinese audience, the single biggest earner, and everything older than 18 months.

Does the answer hold?

All prices

Difficult + Physics holds in 3 of 3: every lens keeps the chance and typical earnings within a quarter of the standard figures.

Difficult + Physics through every lens, all prices
This pairBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view148 of 151 launchesWithout the breakout150 of 151 launchesLast 18 months76 of 151 launches
Launches counted1516 hits1486 hits1505 hits763 hits
Earned $100k+4.0 in 1001 in 254.1 in 1001 in 243.3 in 1001 in 303.9 in 1001 in 26
Typical first-year earnings$806top tenth $17,977+$806$806$806
Chance against standardthe yardstick+2.5%0.1 more in 100-17.5%0.7 fewer in 100-2.5%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standardthe yardstick0.0%no change0.0%no change0.0%no change
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged both Difficult and Physics, 6 to 30 months old: 151 launches.

Launches counted
1516 hits
Earned $100k+
4.0 in 1001 in 25
Typical first-year earnings
$806top tenth $17,977+
Chance against standard
the yardstick
Typical against standard
the yardstick
West-facing viewHolds

Games mostly reviewed outside China. Drops games whose audience is mostly Chinese, meaning 35% or more of their reviews are in Simplified Chinese: 3 of 151 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
1486 hits
Earned $100k+
4.1 in 1001 in 24
Typical first-year earnings
$806
Chance against standard
+2.5%0.1 more in 100
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, VOID/BREAKER (43.3% of the money): 150 launches left.

Launches counted
1505 hits
Earned $100k+
3.3 in 1001 in 30
Typical first-year earnings
$806
Chance against standard
-17.5%0.7 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 76 of 151.

Launches counted
763 hits
Earned $100k+
3.9 in 1001 in 26
Typical first-year earnings
$806
Chance against standard
-2.5%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged both Difficult and Physics, 6 to 30 months old: 151 launches.
West-facing view
Games mostly reviewed outside China. Drops games whose audience is mostly Chinese, meaning 35% or more of their reviews are in Simplified Chinese: 3 of 151 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, VOID/BREAKER (43.3% of the money): 150 launches left.
Last 18 months
Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 76 of 151.

Difficult holds in 3 of 3: every lens keeps the chance and typical earnings within a quarter of the standard figures.

Difficult through every lens, all prices
DifficultBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view1,038 of 1,051 launchesWithout the breakout1,050 of 1,051 launchesLast 18 months541 of 1,051 launches
Launches counted1,05171 hits1,03870 hits1,05070 hits54132 hits
Earned $100k+6.8 in 1001 in 156.7 in 1001 in 156.7 in 1001 in 155.9 in 1001 in 17
Typical first-year earnings$1,133top tenth $56,182+$1,150$1,133$971
Chance against standardthe yardstick-1.5%0.1 fewer in 100-1.5%0.1 fewer in 100-13.2%0.9 fewer in 100
Typical against standardthe yardstick+1.5%$17 more0.0%no change-14.3%$162 less
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Difficult, 6 to 30 months old: 1,051 launches.

Launches counted
1,05171 hits
Earned $100k+
6.8 in 1001 in 15
Typical first-year earnings
$1,133top tenth $56,182+
Chance against standard
the yardstick
Typical against standard
the yardstick
West-facing viewHolds

Games mostly reviewed outside China. Drops games whose audience is mostly Chinese, meaning 35% or more of their reviews are in Simplified Chinese: 13 of 1,051 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
1,03870 hits
Earned $100k+
6.7 in 1001 in 15
Typical first-year earnings
$1,150
Chance against standard
-1.5%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
+1.5%$17 more
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Hollow Knight: Silksong (57.2% of the money): 1,050 launches left.

Launches counted
1,05070 hits
Earned $100k+
6.7 in 1001 in 15
Typical first-year earnings
$1,133
Chance against standard
-1.5%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 541 of 1,051.

Launches counted
54132 hits
Earned $100k+
5.9 in 1001 in 17
Typical first-year earnings
$971
Chance against standard
-13.2%0.9 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-14.3%$162 less
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged Difficult, 6 to 30 months old: 1,051 launches.
West-facing view
Games mostly reviewed outside China. Drops games whose audience is mostly Chinese, meaning 35% or more of their reviews are in Simplified Chinese: 13 of 1,051 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 (57.2% of the money): 1,050 launches left.
Last 18 months
Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 541 of 1,051.

Physics holds in 3 of 3: every lens keeps the chance and typical earnings within a quarter of the standard figures.

Physics through every lens, all prices
PhysicsBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view1,277 of 1,303 launchesWithout the breakout1,302 of 1,303 launchesLast 18 months723 of 1,303 launches
Launches counted1,30384 hits1,27783 hits1,30283 hits72352 hits
Earned $100k+6.4 in 1001 in 166.5 in 1001 in 156.4 in 1001 in 167.2 in 1001 in 14
Typical first-year earnings$527top tenth $34,097+$564$527$606
Chance against standardthe yardstick+1.6%0.1 more in 1000.0%no change+12.5%0.8 more in 100
Typical against standardthe yardstick+7.0%$37 more0.0%no change+15.0%$79 more
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Physics, 6 to 30 months old: 1,303 launches.

Launches counted
1,30384 hits
Earned $100k+
6.4 in 1001 in 16
Typical first-year earnings
$527top tenth $34,097+
Chance against standard
the yardstick
Typical against standard
the yardstick
West-facing viewHolds

Games mostly reviewed outside China. Drops games whose audience is mostly Chinese, meaning 35% or more of their reviews are in Simplified Chinese: 26 of 1,303 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
1,27783 hits
Earned $100k+
6.5 in 1001 in 15
Typical first-year earnings
$564
Chance against standard
+1.6%0.1 more in 100
Typical against standard
+7.0%$37 more
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, R.E.P.O. (29.2% of the money): 1,302 launches left.

Launches counted
1,30283 hits
Earned $100k+
6.4 in 1001 in 16
Typical first-year earnings
$527
Chance against standard
0.0%no change
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 723 of 1,303.

Launches counted
72352 hits
Earned $100k+
7.2 in 1001 in 14
Typical first-year earnings
$606
Chance against standard
+12.5%0.8 more in 100
Typical against standard
+15.0%$79 more
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged Physics, 6 to 30 months old: 1,303 launches.
West-facing view
Games mostly reviewed outside China. Drops games whose audience is mostly Chinese, meaning 35% or more of their reviews are in Simplified Chinese: 26 of 1,303 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, R.E.P.O. (29.2% of the money): 1,302 launches left.
Last 18 months
Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 723 of 1,303.

A lens holds when chance and typical earnings both stay within 25% of standard. Lens figures by price band are not computed yet, so this table is for all prices.

5Premium early list

Alerts when Difficult + Physics 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.