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on 2 Oct 2026

Niches / Female Protagonist + Side Scroller

Niche

Female Protagonist + Side Scroller

Games tagged both Female Protagonist and Side Scroller: 83 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 Female Protagonist + Side Scroller priced $10 to $20. This filter changes the answer: at all prices the pair trails Female Protagonist and beats Side Scroller; priced $10 to $20 it beats both its tags.

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

Female Protagonist + Side Scroller beats both its tags: 4 of its 16 launches earned $100k+ priced $10 to $20, against 17.0 in 100 for Female Protagonist and 12.8 in 100 for Side Scroller.

Small sample: 16 launches, 4 hits.

2NDRunner-up
Tag onemood tagFemale Protagonist
17.0in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds17.0 in 100
Typical earnings$10,259
Launches388 / 66 hits
Pair leads by8.0 in 100
1STWinner
This pairFemale Protagonist + Side Scroller
4 of 16launches earned
$100k+ small
Odds4 of 16 launches
Typical earnings$18,695
Launches16 / 4 hits
Expected18.6 in 100
3RDThird
Tag twomood tagSide Scroller
12.8in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds12.8 in 100
Typical earnings$10,120
Launches149 / 19 hits
Pair leads by12.2 in 100
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 $20Female Protagonist 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
All prices83 in pairUnder $529 in pair$5 to $1035 in pair$10 to $2016 in pair$20 to $403: too few
What the overlap means

The overlap is this niche: the 16 games tagged both Female Protagonist and Side Scroller priced $10 to $20. 25.0 in 100 of them earned $100k+, against 16.7 for Female Protagonist-only games and 11.3 for Side Scroller-only games, so games with both tags did better than games with either tag alone.

Both: 16 games priced $10 to $20; 25.0 in 100 earned $100k+, typical first-year earnings $18,695.

Circle areas follow launch counts; the gold overlap is exactly the pair's 16 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

Star Fire: Eternal Cycleleads this pair17.6%
PairStar Fire: Eternal Cycle17.6%
Female ProtagonistHollow Knight: Silksong44.6%
Side ScrollerAbsolum17.8%
CheckOne game over half?no
NextNearest hitsnot computed yet

Lens checkChanged recently. Standard: the yardstick. West-facing view: holds. Without the breakout: holds. Last 18 months: moves the answer.

Open free preview
ComparablesFree until launchClick to unlockWho leads Female Protagonist + Side Scroller

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

  • Star Fire: Eternal Cycle earned 17.6% of the estimated first-year money of the 83 Female Protagonist + Side Scroller launches.
  • Female Protagonist is led by Hollow Knight: Silksong, with 44.6% of its money.
  • Side Scroller is led by Absolum, with 17.8% 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

Female Protagonist + Side Scroller is changed recently: Last 18 months moves the answer by more than a quarter. It holds in 2 of 3.

Female Protagonist + Side Scroller through every lens, all prices
This pairBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view79 of 83 launchesWithout the breakout82 of 83 launchesLast 18 months38 of 83 launches
Launches counted836 hits796 hits825 hits384 hits
Earned $100k+7.2 in 1001 in 147.6 in 1001 in 136.1 in 1001 in 1610.5 in 100
Typical first-year earnings$1,456top tenth $52,977+$1,456$1,456$2,104
Chance against standardthe yardstick+5.6%0.4 more in 100-15.3%1.1 fewer in 100+45.8%3.3 more in 100
Typical against standardthe yardstick0.0%no change0.0%no change+44.5%$648 more
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsMoves the answer
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged both Female Protagonist and Side Scroller, 6 to 30 months old: 83 launches.

Launches counted
836 hits
Earned $100k+
7.2 in 1001 in 14
Typical first-year earnings
$1,456top tenth $52,977+
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: 4 of 83 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
796 hits
Earned $100k+
7.6 in 1001 in 13
Typical first-year earnings
$1,456
Chance against standard
+5.6%0.4 more in 100
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Star Fire: Eternal Cycle (17.6% of the money): 82 launches left.

Launches counted
825 hits
Earned $100k+
6.1 in 1001 in 16
Typical first-year earnings
$1,456
Chance against standard
-15.3%1.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Last 18 monthsMoves the answer

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 38 of 83.

Launches counted
384 hits
Earned $100k+
10.5 in 100
Typical first-year earnings
$2,104
Chance against standard
+45.8%3.3 more in 100
Typical against standard
+44.5%$648 more
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged both Female Protagonist and Side Scroller, 6 to 30 months old: 83 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: 4 of 83 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, Star Fire: Eternal Cycle (17.6% of the money): 82 launches left.
Last 18 months
Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 38 of 83.

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

Female Protagonist through every lens, all prices
Female ProtagonistBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view1,385 of 1,533 launchesWithout the breakout1,532 of 1,533 launchesLast 18 months842 of 1,533 launches
Launches counted1,533136 hits1,385114 hits1,532135 hits84276 hits
Earned $100k+8.9 in 1001 in 118.2 in 1001 in 128.8 in 1001 in 119.0 in 1001 in 11
Typical first-year earnings$1,698top tenth $79,226+$1,618$1,698$1,718
Chance against standardthe yardstick-7.9%0.7 fewer in 100-1.1%0.1 fewer in 100+1.1%0.1 more in 100
Typical against standardthe yardstick-4.7%$80 less0.0%no change+1.2%$20 more
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Female Protagonist, 6 to 30 months old: 1,533 launches.

Launches counted
1,533136 hits
Earned $100k+
8.9 in 1001 in 11
Typical first-year earnings
$1,698top tenth $79,226+
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: 148 of 1,533 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
1,385114 hits
Earned $100k+
8.2 in 1001 in 12
Typical first-year earnings
$1,618
Chance against standard
-7.9%0.7 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-4.7%$80 less
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Hollow Knight: Silksong (44.6% of the money): 1,532 launches left.

Launches counted
1,532135 hits
Earned $100k+
8.8 in 1001 in 11
Typical first-year earnings
$1,698
Chance against standard
-1.1%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 842 of 1,533.

Launches counted
84276 hits
Earned $100k+
9.0 in 1001 in 11
Typical first-year earnings
$1,718
Chance against standard
+1.1%0.1 more in 100
Typical against standard
+1.2%$20 more
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged Female Protagonist, 6 to 30 months old: 1,533 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: 148 of 1,533 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 (44.6% of the money): 1,532 launches left.
Last 18 months
Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 842 of 1,533.

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

Side Scroller through every lens, all prices
Side ScrollerBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view1,105 of 1,126 launchesWithout the breakout1,125 of 1,126 launchesLast 18 months592 of 1,126 launches
Launches counted1,12638 hits1,10538 hits1,12537 hits59222 hits
Earned $100k+3.4 in 1001 in 293.4 in 1001 in 293.3 in 1001 in 303.7 in 1001 in 27
Typical first-year earnings$401top tenth $18,826+$385$385$303
Chance against standardthe yardstick0.0%no change-2.9%0.1 fewer in 100+8.8%0.3 more in 100
Typical against standardthe yardstick-4.0%$16 less-4.0%$16 less-24.4%$98 less
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Side Scroller, 6 to 30 months old: 1,126 launches.

Launches counted
1,12638 hits
Earned $100k+
3.4 in 1001 in 29
Typical first-year earnings
$401top tenth $18,826+
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: 21 of 1,126 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
1,10538 hits
Earned $100k+
3.4 in 1001 in 29
Typical first-year earnings
$385
Chance against standard
0.0%no change
Typical against standard
-4.0%$16 less
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Absolum (17.8% of the money): 1,125 launches left.

Launches counted
1,12537 hits
Earned $100k+
3.3 in 1001 in 30
Typical first-year earnings
$385
Chance against standard
-2.9%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-4.0%$16 less
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 592 of 1,126.

Launches counted
59222 hits
Earned $100k+
3.7 in 1001 in 27
Typical first-year earnings
$303
Chance against standard
+8.8%0.3 more in 100
Typical against standard
-24.4%$98 less
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged Side Scroller, 6 to 30 months old: 1,126 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: 21 of 1,126 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, Absolum (17.8% of the money): 1,125 launches left.
Last 18 months
Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 592 of 1,126.

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 Female Protagonist + Side Scroller 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.