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on 3 Oct 2026

Niches / Hand-drawn + Side Scroller

Niche

Hand-drawn + Side Scroller

Games tagged both Hand-drawn and Side Scroller: 54 indie paid launches, 3 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 Hand-drawn + Side Scroller priced under $5, hiding samples under 30 launches.

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

Hand-drawn + Side Scroller is too small to compare with Hand-drawn and is too small to compare with Side Scroller: 0 of its 34 launches earned $100k+ priced under $5, against 1 of 642 launches for Hand-drawn and 1 of 616 launches for Side Scroller.

Small sample: 34 launches, 0 hits.

TIEA tie
Tag onemood tagHand-drawn
1 of 642launches earned
$100k+ small
Odds1 of 642 launches
Typical earnings$394
Launches642 / 1 hits
Pair against ittoo few hits to compare
TIEA tie
This pairHand-drawn + Side Scroller
0 of 34launches earned
$100k+ small
Odds0 of 34 launches
$1k+15 in 100
$10k+1 of 34 launches
Launches34 / 0 hits
Expected0.4 in 100
TIEA tie
Tag twomood tagSide Scroller
1 of 616launches earned
$100k+ small
Odds1 of 616 launches
Typical earnings$107
Launches616 / 1 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 $5Hand-drawn 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 prices54 in pairUnder $534 in pair$5 to $1012 in pair$10 to $208: too few$20 to $40no launches
What the overlap means

The overlap is this niche: the 34 games tagged both Hand-drawn and Side Scroller priced under $5. 0 of 34 of them earned $100k+, against 1 of 608 for Hand-drawn-only games and 1 of 582 for Side Scroller-only games, so the mix is too small to compare with Hand-drawn alone and is too small to compare with Side Scroller alone.

Both: 34 games priced under $5; 0 of 34 earned $100k+, odds by size $1k+ 15 in 100 · $10k+ 1 of 34 launches · $100k+ 0 of 34 launches.

Circle areas follow launch counts; the gold overlap is exactly the pair's 34 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

HoloParadeleads this pair30.6%
PairHoloParade30.6%
Hand-drawnNine Sols31.7%
Side ScrollerMandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree9.5%
CheckOne game over half?no
NextNearest hitsnot computed yet

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

Open free preview
ComparablesFree until launchClick to unlockWho leads Hand-drawn + 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

  • HoloParade earned 30.6% of the estimated first-year money of the 54 Hand-drawn + Side Scroller launches.
  • Hand-drawn is led by Nine Sols, with 31.7% of its money.
  • Side Scroller is led by Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree, with 9.5% 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

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

Hand-drawn + Side Scroller through every lens, all prices
This pairBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view52 of 54 launchesWithout the breakout53 of 54 launchesLast 18 months13 of 54 launches
Launches counted543 hits523 hits532 hits131 hits
Earned $100k+3 of 54too few for a rate3 of 52too few for a rate2 of 53too few for a rate1 of 13too few for a rate
Chance of $10k+17 in 100chance of $10k+; $1k+ 35 in 100under 100 launchesunder 100 launchesunder 100 launches
Chance against standardthe base+3.8%0.2 more in 100; too few to tell-32.1%1.8 fewer in 100+38.5%2.1 more in 100; too few to tell
Typical against standardthe baseunder 100 launchesunder 100 launchesunder 100 launches
Does it hold?The base viewToo few to tellHoldsToo few to tell
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged both Hand-drawn and Side Scroller, 12 to 36 months old: 54 launches.

Launches counted
543 hits
Earned $100k+
3 of 54too few for a rate
Chance of $10k+
17 in 100chance of $10k+; $1k+ 35 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: 2 of 54 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
523 hits
Earned $100k+
3 of 52too few for a rate
Chance of $10k+
under 100 launches
Chance against standard
+3.8%0.2 more in 100; too few to tell
Typical against standard
under 100 launches
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, HoloParade (30.6% of the money): 53 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
532 hits
Earned $100k+
2 of 53too few for a rate
Chance of $10k+
under 100 launches
Chance against standard
-32.1%1.8 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
under 100 launches
Last 18 monthsToo few to tell

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 13 of 54.

Launches counted
131 hits
Earned $100k+
1 of 13too few for a rate
Chance of $10k+
under 100 launches
Chance against standard
+38.5%2.1 more in 100; too few to tell
Typical against standard
under 100 launches
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged both Hand-drawn and Side Scroller, 12 to 36 months old: 54 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 54 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, HoloParade (30.6% of the money): 53 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: 13 of 54.

Hand-drawn 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.

Hand-drawn through every lens, all prices
Hand-drawnBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view1,031 of 1,089 launchesWithout the breakout1,088 of 1,089 launchesLast 18 months266 of 1,089 launches
Launches counted1,08953 hits1,03152 hits1,08852 hits26614 hits
Earned $100k+4.9 in 1001 in 215.0 in 1001 in 204.8 in 1001 in 215.3 in 1001 in 19
Typical first-year earnings$856top tenth $32,534+$882$856$766
Chance against standardthe base+3.6%0.2 more in 100-1.8%0.1 fewer in 100+8.1%0.4 more in 100
Typical against standardthe base+3.0%$26 more0.0%no change-10.5%$90 less
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Hand-drawn, 12 to 36 months old: 1,089 launches.

Launches counted
1,08953 hits
Earned $100k+
4.9 in 1001 in 21
Typical first-year earnings
$856top tenth $32,534+
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: 58 of 1,089 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
1,03152 hits
Earned $100k+
5.0 in 1001 in 20
Typical first-year earnings
$882
Chance against standard
+3.6%0.2 more in 100
Typical against standard
+3.0%$26 more
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Nine Sols (31.7% of the money): 1,088 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
1,08852 hits
Earned $100k+
4.8 in 1001 in 21
Typical first-year earnings
$856
Chance against standard
-1.8%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 266 of 1,089.

Launches counted
26614 hits
Earned $100k+
5.3 in 1001 in 19
Typical first-year earnings
$766
Chance against standard
+8.1%0.4 more in 100
Typical against standard
-10.5%$90 less
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged Hand-drawn, 12 to 36 months old: 1,089 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: 58 of 1,089 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, Nine Sols (31.7% of the money): 1,088 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: 266 of 1,089.

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 ScrollerBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view1,042 of 1,065 launchesWithout the breakout1,064 of 1,065 launchesLast 18 months288 of 1,065 launches
Launches counted1,06542 hits1,04241 hits1,06441 hits28814 hits
Earned $100k+3.9 in 1001 in 253.9 in 1001 in 253.9 in 1001 in 264.9 in 1001 in 21
Typical first-year earnings$346top tenth $23,350+$346$346$268
Chance against standardthe base-0.2%no change-2.3%0.1 fewer in 100+23.3%0.9 more in 100
Typical against standardthe base0.0%no change0.0%no change-22.5%$78 less
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Side Scroller, 12 to 36 months old: 1,065 launches.

Launches counted
1,06542 hits
Earned $100k+
3.9 in 1001 in 25
Typical first-year earnings
$346top tenth $23,350+
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 1,065 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
1,04241 hits
Earned $100k+
3.9 in 1001 in 25
Typical first-year earnings
$346
Chance against standard
-0.2%no change
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree (9.5% of the money): 1,064 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
1,06441 hits
Earned $100k+
3.9 in 1001 in 26
Typical first-year earnings
$346
Chance against standard
-2.3%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 288 of 1,065.

Launches counted
28814 hits
Earned $100k+
4.9 in 1001 in 21
Typical first-year earnings
$268
Chance against standard
+23.3%0.9 more in 100
Typical against standard
-22.5%$78 less
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged Side Scroller, 12 to 36 months old: 1,065 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 1,065 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, Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree (9.5% of the money): 1,064 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: 288 of 1,065.

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 Hand-drawn + 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.