Niche

Hidden Object + Surreal

Games tagged both Hidden Object and Surreal: 49 indie paid launches, 1 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 26,280 indie paid launches 12 to 36 months old, data of 3 Oct 2026. How it is measured.

Price Under $5

All prices1 in 17 hit $100k+Under $51 in 219 hit $100k+$5 to $101 in 30 hit $100k+$10 to $2018 in 100 hit $100k+$20 to $4040 in 100 hit $100k+

Base rate: indie paid launches 12 to 36 months old, 26,280 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 30+

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

Hides anything measured on fewer launches.

Under $5 30+ launches Reset

Showing Hidden Object + Surreal 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

Hidden Object + Surreal is too small to compare with Hidden Object and is too small to compare with Surreal: 0 of its 32 launches earned $100k+ priced under $5, against 1 of 1,036 launches for Hidden Object and 1.5 in 100 for Surreal.

Small sample: 32 launches, 0 hits.

TIEA tie

Tag oneHidden Object

1 of 1,036launches earned
$100k+ small

Odds1 of 1,036 launches

Typical earnings$371

Launches1,036 / 1 hits

Pair against ittoo few hits to compare

TIEA tie

This pairHidden Object + Surreal

0 of 32launches earned
$100k+ small

Odds0 of 32 launches

Typical earnings$455

Launches32 / 0 hits

Expected0.5 in 100

TIEA tie

Tag twomood tagSurreal

1.5in 100 earned
$100k+

Odds1 in 66

Typical earnings$425

Launches329 / 5 hits

Pair against ittoo few hits to compare

All indie launches under $5: 0.5 in 100 earned $100k+ (1 in 219), typical $169, from 13,780 launches.each block is 0.5 in 100 all indie at under $5Surreal 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: 40.0 in 100), so read it within a price band.

Price bandswitches the whole page

All prices49 in pair Under $532 in pair $5 to $1010 in pair$10 to $207: too few$20 to $40no launches

What the overlap means

The overlap is this niche: the 32 games tagged both Hidden Object and Surreal priced under $5. 0 of 32 of them earned $100k+, against 1 of 1,004 for Hidden Object-only games and 1.7 in 100 for Surreal-only games, so the mix is too small to compare with Hidden Object alone and is too small to compare with Surreal alone.

Both: 32 games priced under $5; 0 of 32 earned $100k+, typical first-year earnings $455.

Circle areas follow launch counts; the gold overlap is exactly the pair's 32 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

BLACKSHARDleads this pair40.0%

PairBLACKSHARD40.0%

Hidden ObjectWhisper of the House11.8%

SurrealINDIKA12.6%

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 Hidden Object + Surreal

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

BLACKSHARD earned 40.0% of the estimated first-year money of the 49 Hidden Object + Surreal launches.
Hidden Object is led by Whisper of the House, with 11.8% of its money.
Surreal is led by INDIKA, with 12.6% 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

Hidden Object + Surreal 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.

Hidden Object + Surreal through every lens, all prices
This pair	BaseStandardevery launch	West-facing view48 of 49 launches	Without the breakout48 of 49 launches	Last 18 months12 of 49 launches
Launches counted	491 hits	481 hits	480 hits	120 hits
Earned $100k+	1 of 49too few for a rate	1 of 48too few for a rate	0 of 48too few for a rate	0 of 12too few for a rate
Typical first-year earnings	$623top tenth $9,938+	$623	$623	$954
Chance against standard	the base	+2.1%no change; too few to tell	-100.0%2.0 fewer in 100	-100.0%2.0 fewer in 100; too few to tell
Typical against standard	the base	0.0%no change; too few to tell	0.0%no change	+53.1%$331 more; too few to tell
Does it hold?	The base view	Too few to tell	Holds	Too few to tell

BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged both Hidden Object and Surreal, 12 to 36 months old: 49 launches.

Launches counted: 491 hits
Earned $100k+: 1 of 49too few for a rate
Typical first-year earnings: $623top tenth $9,938+
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: 1 of 49 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted: 481 hits
Earned $100k+: 1 of 48too few for a rate
Typical first-year earnings: $623
Chance against standard: +2.1%no change; too few to tell
Typical against standard: 0.0%no change; too few to tell

Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, BLACKSHARD (40.0% of the money): 48 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted: 480 hits
Earned $100k+: 0 of 48too few for a rate
Typical first-year earnings: $623
Chance against standard: -100.0%2.0 fewer in 100
Typical against standard: 0.0%no change

Last 18 monthsToo few to tell

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 12 of 49.

Launches counted: 120 hits
Earned $100k+: 0 of 12too few for a rate
Typical first-year earnings: $954
Chance against standard: -100.0%2.0 fewer in 100; too few to tell
Typical against standard: +53.1%$331 more; too few to tell

Standard: Every indie paid launch tagged both Hidden Object and Surreal, 12 to 36 months old: 49 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 49 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, BLACKSHARD (40.0% of the money): 48 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: 12 of 49.

Hidden Object 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.

Hidden Object through every lens, all prices
Hidden Object	BaseStandardevery launch	West-facing view1,584 of 1,626 launches	Without the breakout1,625 of 1,626 launches	Last 18 months466 of 1,626 launches
Launches counted	1,62620 hits	1,58419 hits	1,62519 hits	4669 hits
Earned $100k+	1.2 in 1001 in 81	1.2 in 1001 in 83	1.2 in 1001 in 86	1.9 in 1001 in 52
Typical first-year earnings	$548top tenth $6,135+	$548	$535	$455
Chance against standard	the base	-2.5%no change	-4.9%0.1 fewer in 100	+57.0%0.7 more in 100
Typical against standard	the base	0.0%no change	-2.4%$13 less	-17.0%$93 less
Does it hold?	The base view	Holds	Holds	Holds

BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Hidden Object, 12 to 36 months old: 1,626 launches.

Launches counted: 1,62620 hits
Earned $100k+: 1.2 in 1001 in 81
Typical first-year earnings: $548top tenth $6,135+
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: 42 of 1,626 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted: 1,58419 hits
Earned $100k+: 1.2 in 1001 in 83
Typical first-year earnings: $548
Chance against standard: -2.5%no change
Typical against standard: 0.0%no change

Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Whisper of the House (11.8% of the money): 1,625 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted: 1,62519 hits
Earned $100k+: 1.2 in 1001 in 86
Typical first-year earnings: $535
Chance against standard: -4.9%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard: -2.4%$13 less

Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 466 of 1,626.

Launches counted: 4669 hits
Earned $100k+: 1.9 in 1001 in 52
Typical first-year earnings: $455
Chance against standard: +57.0%0.7 more in 100
Typical against standard: -17.0%$93 less

Standard: Every indie paid launch tagged Hidden Object, 12 to 36 months old: 1,626 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: 42 of 1,626 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, Whisper of the House (11.8% of the money): 1,625 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: 466 of 1,626.

Surreal 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.

Surreal through every lens, all prices
Surreal	BaseStandardevery launch	West-facing view552 of 578 launches	Without the breakout577 of 578 launches	Last 18 months156 of 578 launches
Launches counted	57831 hits	55229 hits	57730 hits	1566 hits
Earned $100k+	5.4 in 1001 in 19	5.3 in 1001 in 19	5.2 in 1001 in 19	3.8 in 1001 in 26
Typical first-year earnings	$1,019top tenth $36,298+	$1,012	$1,018	$1,243
Chance against standard	the base	-2.0%0.1 fewer in 100	-3.1%0.2 fewer in 100	-28.3%1.5 fewer in 100
Typical against standard	the base	-0.7%$7 less	-0.1%$1 less	+22.0%$224 more
Does it hold?	The base view	Holds	Holds	Holds

BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Surreal, 12 to 36 months old: 578 launches.

Launches counted: 57831 hits
Earned $100k+: 5.4 in 1001 in 19
Typical first-year earnings: $1,019top tenth $36,298+
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: 26 of 578 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted: 55229 hits
Earned $100k+: 5.3 in 1001 in 19
Typical first-year earnings: $1,012
Chance against standard: -2.0%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard: -0.7%$7 less

Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, INDIKA (12.6% of the money): 577 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted: 57730 hits
Earned $100k+: 5.2 in 1001 in 19
Typical first-year earnings: $1,018
Chance against standard: -3.1%0.2 fewer in 100
Typical against standard: -0.1%$1 less

Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 156 of 578.

Launches counted: 1566 hits
Earned $100k+: 3.8 in 1001 in 26
Typical first-year earnings: $1,243
Chance against standard: -28.3%1.5 fewer in 100
Typical against standard: +22.0%$224 more

Standard: Every indie paid launch tagged Surreal, 12 to 36 months old: 578 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: 26 of 578 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, INDIKA (12.6% of the money): 577 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: 156 of 578.

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 Hidden Object + Surreal 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.