Niche

Hack and Slash + Side Scroller

Games tagged both Hack and Slash and Side Scroller: 73 indie paid launches, 8 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 26,758 indie paid launches 12 to 36 months old, data of 2 Nov 2026. How it is measured.

Price $10 to $20

All prices1 in 15 hit $100k+Under $51 in 230 hit $100k+$5 to $101 in 28 hit $100k+$10 to $2021 in 100 hit $100k+$20 to $4044 in 100 hit $100k+

Base rate: indie paid launches 12 to 36 months old, 26,758 launches. Odds compare best within one price.

Lens Standard

Standard West-facing view Without the breakout Last 18 months

All indie paid launches 12 to 36 months old. Lens figures exist at all prices only; inside a price band this page shows the standard figures.

Sample 10+

10+ launchesshow small samples 30+ launches 100+ launchesonly big markets

Hides anything measured on fewer launches.

$10 to $20

Showing Hack and Slash + Side Scroller priced $10 to $20. This filter changes the answer: at all prices the pair is about level with Hack and Slash and beats Side Scroller; priced $10 to $20 it is too small to compare with Hack and Slash and is too small to compare with Side Scroller.

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

Hack and Slash + Side Scroller is too small to compare with Hack and Slash and is too small to compare with Side Scroller: 3 of its 18 launches earned $100k+ priced $10 to $20, against 26.0 in 100 for Hack and Slash and 16.9 in 100 for Side Scroller.

Small sample: 18 launches, 3 hits.

TIEA tie

Tag oneHack and Slash

26.0in 100 earned
$100k+

Odds26.0 in 100

Typical earnings$19,584

Launches181 / 47 hits

Pair against ittoo few hits to compare

TIEA tie

This pairHack and Slash + Side Scroller

3 of 18launches earned
$100k+ small

Odds3 of 18 launches

$1k+17 of 18 launches

$10k+11 of 18 launches

Launches18 / 3 hits

Expected20.5 in 100

TIETied

Tag twomood tagSide Scroller

16.9in 100 earned
$100k+

Odds16.9 in 100

Typical earnings$10,139

Launches142 / 24 hits

Pair against ittoo few hits to compare

All indie launches $10 to $20: 20.5 in 100 earned $100k+, typical $11,233, from 4,337 launches.each block is 2 in 100 all indie at $10 to $20Side Scroller 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 prices73 in pair Under $534 in pair $5 to $1015 in pair $10 to $2018 in pair$20 to $406: too few

What the overlap means

The overlap is this niche: the 18 games tagged both Hack and Slash and Side Scroller priced $10 to $20. 3 of 18 of them earned $100k+, against 27.0 in 100 for Hack and Slash-only games and 16.9 in 100 for Side Scroller-only games, so the mix is too small to compare with Hack and Slash alone and is too small to compare with Side Scroller alone.

Both: 18 games priced $10 to $20; 3 of 18 earned $100k+, odds by size $1k+ 17 of 18 launches · $10k+ 11 of 18 launches · $100k+ 3 of 18 launches.

Circle areas follow launch counts; the gold overlap is exactly the pair's 18 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

Anomaly Agentleads this pair38.6%

PairAnomaly Agent38.6%

Hack and SlashPath of Exile 240.7%

Side ScrollerAbsolum18.1%

CheckOne game over half?no

NextNearest hitsnot computed yet

Lens checkHolds in 2 of 3, 1 too few to tell. Standard: the base the others are compared with. West-facing view: holds. Without the breakout: holds. Last 18 months: too few to tell.

Open free preview

ComparablesFree until launchClick to unlockWho leads Hack and Slash + 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

Anomaly Agent earned 38.6% of the estimated first-year money of the 73 Hack and Slash + Side Scroller launches.
Hack and Slash is led by Path of Exile 2, with 40.7% of its money.
Side Scroller is led by Absolum, with 18.1% 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

Hack and Slash + Side Scroller holds in West-facing view and Without the breakout; too few to tell in Last 18 months. No lens moves the chance or typical earnings more than chance alone would.

Hack and Slash + Side Scroller through every lens, all prices
This pair	BaseStandardevery launch	West-facing view72 of 73 launches	Without the breakout72 of 73 launches	Last 18 months16 of 73 launches
Launches counted	738 hits	728 hits	727 hits	163 hits
Earned $100k+	11.0 in 100	11.1 in 100	9.7 in 1001 in 10	3 of 16too few for a rate
Chance of $10k+	25 in 100chance of $10k+; $1k+ 49 in 100	under 100 launches	under 100 launches	under 100 launches
Chance against standard	the base	+1.4%0.2 more in 100	-11.3%1.2 fewer in 100	+71.1%7.8 more in 100; too few to tell
Typical against standard	the base	under 100 launches	under 100 launches	under 100 launches
Does it hold?	The base view	Holds	Holds	Too few to tell

BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged both Hack and Slash and Side Scroller, 12 to 36 months old: 73 launches.

Launches counted: 738 hits
Earned $100k+: 11.0 in 100
Chance of $10k+: 25 in 100chance of $10k+; $1k+ 49 in 100
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: 1 of 73 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted: 728 hits
Earned $100k+: 11.1 in 100
Chance of $10k+: under 100 launches
Chance against standard: +1.4%0.2 more in 100
Typical against standard: under 100 launches

Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Anomaly Agent (38.6% of the money): 72 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted: 727 hits
Earned $100k+: 9.7 in 1001 in 10
Chance of $10k+: under 100 launches
Chance against standard: -11.3%1.2 fewer in 100
Typical against standard: under 100 launches

Last 18 monthsToo few to tell

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 16 of 73.

Launches counted: 163 hits
Earned $100k+: 3 of 16too few for a rate
Chance of $10k+: under 100 launches
Chance against standard: +71.1%7.8 more in 100; too few to tell
Typical against standard: under 100 launches

Standard: Every indie paid launch tagged both Hack and Slash and Side Scroller, 12 to 36 months old: 73 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: 1 of 73 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, Anomaly Agent (38.6% of the money): 72 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: 16 of 73.

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

Hack and Slash through every lens, all prices
Hack and Slash	BaseStandardevery launch	West-facing view808 of 844 launches	Without the breakout843 of 844 launches	Last 18 months231 of 844 launches
Launches counted	84490 hits	80882 hits	84389 hits	23122 hits
Earned $100k+	10.7 in 100	10.1 in 100	10.6 in 100	9.5 in 1001 in 11
Typical first-year earnings	$872top tenth $115,463+	$894	$865	$872
Chance against standard	the base	-4.8%0.5 fewer in 100	-1.0%0.1 fewer in 100	-10.7%1.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard	the base	+2.5%$22 more	-0.8%$7 less	0.0%no change
Does it hold?	The base view	Moves the answer	Holds	Holds

BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Hack and Slash, 12 to 36 months old: 844 launches.

Launches counted: 84490 hits
Earned $100k+: 10.7 in 100
Typical first-year earnings: $872top tenth $115,463+
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: 36 of 844 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted: 80882 hits
Earned $100k+: 10.1 in 100
Typical first-year earnings: $894
Chance against standard: -4.8%0.5 fewer in 100
Typical against standard: +2.5%$22 more

Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Path of Exile 2 (40.7% of the money): 843 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted: 84389 hits
Earned $100k+: 10.6 in 100
Typical first-year earnings: $865
Chance against standard: -1.0%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard: -0.8%$7 less

Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 231 of 844.

Launches counted: 23122 hits
Earned $100k+: 9.5 in 1001 in 11
Typical first-year earnings: $872
Chance against standard: -10.7%1.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard: 0.0%no change

Standard: Every indie paid launch tagged Hack and Slash, 12 to 36 months old: 844 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: 36 of 844 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, Path of Exile 2 (40.7% of the money): 843 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: 231 of 844.

Side Scroller 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.

Side Scroller through every lens, all prices
Side Scroller	BaseStandardevery launch	West-facing view1,054 of 1,076 launches	Without the breakout1,075 of 1,076 launches	Last 18 months284 of 1,076 launches
Launches counted	1,07644 hits	1,05443 hits	1,07543 hits	28411 hits
Earned $100k+	4.1 in 1001 in 24	4.1 in 1001 in 25	4.0 in 1001 in 25	3.9 in 1001 in 26
Typical first-year earnings	$349top tenth $21,855+	$349	$348	$291
Chance against standard	the base	-0.2%no change	-2.2%0.1 fewer in 100	-5.3%0.2 fewer in 100
Typical against standard	the base	0.0%no change	-0.3%$1 less	-16.6%$58 less
Does it hold?	The base view	Holds	Holds	Holds

BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Side Scroller, 12 to 36 months old: 1,076 launches.

Launches counted: 1,07644 hits
Earned $100k+: 4.1 in 1001 in 24
Typical first-year earnings: $349top tenth $21,855+
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: 22 of 1,076 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted: 1,05443 hits
Earned $100k+: 4.1 in 1001 in 25
Typical first-year earnings: $349
Chance against standard: -0.2%no change
Typical against standard: 0.0%no change

Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Absolum (18.1% of the money): 1,075 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted: 1,07543 hits
Earned $100k+: 4.0 in 1001 in 25
Typical first-year earnings: $348
Chance against standard: -2.2%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard: -0.3%$1 less

Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 284 of 1,076.

Launches counted: 28411 hits
Earned $100k+: 3.9 in 1001 in 26
Typical first-year earnings: $291
Chance against standard: -5.3%0.2 fewer in 100
Typical against standard: -16.6%$58 less

Standard: Every indie paid launch tagged Side Scroller, 12 to 36 months old: 1,076 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: 22 of 1,076 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 (18.1% of the money): 1,075 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: 284 of 1,076.

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 Hack and Slash + Side Scroller moves, comparables the day they land, and every lens for every pair and price. Free until launch.

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Keep gold access after launch: alerts, comparables, every lens.