Niche

Investigation + Realistic

Games tagged both Investigation and Realistic: 44 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 26,291 indie paid launches 12 to 36 months old, data of 3 Oct 2026. How it is measured.

Price Under $5

All prices1 in 15 hit $100k+Under $51 in 238 hit $100k+$5 to $101 in 28 hit $100k+$10 to $2020 in 100 hit $100k+$20 to $4044 in 100 hit $100k+

Base rate: indie paid launches 12 to 36 months old, 26,291 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.

Under $5

Showing Investigation + Realistic priced under $5.

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

Investigation + Realistic is too small to compare with Investigation and is too small to compare with Realistic: 0 of its 20 launches earned $100k+ priced under $5, against 0 of 178 launches for Investigation and 1 of 751 launches for Realistic.

Small sample: 20 launches, 0 hits.

TIEA tie

Tag oneInvestigation

0 of 178launches earned
$100k+ small

Odds0 of 178 launches

Typical earnings$251

Launches178 / 0 hits

Pair against ittoo few hits to compare

TIEA tie

This pairInvestigation + Realistic

0 of 20launches earned
$100k+ small

Odds0 of 20 launches

$1k+4 of 20 launches

$10k+0 of 20 launches

Launches20 / 0 hits

Expected0.4 in 100

TIEA tie

Tag twomood tagRealistic

1 of 751launches earned
$100k+ small

Odds1 of 751 launches

Typical earnings$292

Launches751 / 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 $5Realistic 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 prices44 in pair Under $520 in pair $5 to $1015 in pair$10 to $206: too few$20 to $403: too few

What the overlap means

The overlap is this niche: the 20 games tagged both Investigation and Realistic priced under $5. 0 of 20 of them earned $100k+, against 0 of 158 for Investigation-only games and 1 of 731 for Realistic-only games, so the mix is too small to compare with Investigation alone and is too small to compare with Realistic alone.

Both: 20 games priced under $5; 0 of 20 earned $100k+, odds by size $1k+ 4 of 20 launches · $10k+ 0 of 20 launches · $100k+ 0 of 20 launches.

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.

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

Scene Investigatorsleads this pair56.1%

PairScene Investigators56.1%

InvestigationBlue Prince23.7%

RealisticGray Zone Warfare25.1%

CheckOne game over half?yes

NextNearest hitsnot computed yet

Lens checkOne-hit market. Standard: the base the others are compared with. West-facing view: too few to tell. Without the breakout: moves the answer. Last 18 months: too few to tell.

Open free preview

ComparablesFree until launchClick to unlockWho leads Investigation + Realistic

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

Scene Investigators earned 56.1% of the estimated first-year money of the 44 Investigation + Realistic launches.
Investigation is led by Blue Prince, with 23.7% of its money.
Realistic is led by Gray Zone Warfare, with 25.1% of its money.
One game holds over half of this pair's money: read every figure here as that game's story.

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

Investigation + Realistic is one-hit market: one game earned over half the money.

Investigation + Realistic through every lens, all prices
This pair	BaseStandardevery launch	West-facing view41 of 44 launches	Without the breakout43 of 44 launches	Last 18 months16 of 44 launches
Launches counted	441 hits	411 hits	430 hits	160 hits
Earned $100k+	1 of 44too few for a rate	1 of 41too few for a rate	0 of 43too few for a rate	0 of 16too few for a rate
Chance of $10k+	14 in 100chance of $10k+; $1k+ 50 in 100	under 100 launches	under 100 launches	under 100 launches
Chance against standard	the base	+7.3%0.2 more in 100; too few to tell	-100.0%2.3 fewer in 100	-100.0%2.3 fewer 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	Too few to tell	Moves the answer	Too few to tell

BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged both Investigation and Realistic, 12 to 36 months old: 44 launches.

Launches counted: 441 hits
Earned $100k+: 1 of 44too few for a rate
Chance of $10k+: 14 in 100chance of $10k+; $1k+ 50 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: 3 of 44 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted: 411 hits
Earned $100k+: 1 of 41too few for a rate
Chance of $10k+: under 100 launches
Chance against standard: +7.3%0.2 more in 100; too few to tell
Typical against standard: under 100 launches

Without the breakoutMoves the answer

Drops the single biggest earner, Scene Investigators (56.1% of the money): 43 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted: 430 hits
Earned $100k+: 0 of 43too few for a rate
Chance of $10k+: under 100 launches
Chance against standard: -100.0%2.3 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 44.

Launches counted: 160 hits
Earned $100k+: 0 of 16too few for a rate
Chance of $10k+: under 100 launches
Chance against standard: -100.0%2.3 fewer in 100; too few to tell
Typical against standard: under 100 launches

Standard: Every indie paid launch tagged both Investigation and Realistic, 12 to 36 months old: 44 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: 3 of 44 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, Scene Investigators (56.1% of the money): 43 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 44.

Investigation is changed recently: Last 18 months moves the answer more than chance alone would. It holds in West-facing view and Without the breakout.

Investigation through every lens, all prices
Investigation	BaseStandardevery launch	West-facing view430 of 450 launches	Without the breakout449 of 450 launches	Last 18 months112 of 450 launches
Launches counted	45050 hits	43047 hits	44949 hits	11216 hits
Earned $100k+	11.1 in 100	10.9 in 100	10.9 in 100	14.3 in 100
Typical first-year earnings	$1,316top tenth $116,635+	$1,259	$1,259	$2,318
Chance against standard	the base	-1.6%0.2 fewer in 100	-1.8%0.2 fewer in 100	+28.6%3.2 more in 100
Typical against standard	the base	-4.3%$57 less	-4.3%$57 less	+76.1%$1,002 more
Does it hold?	The base view	Holds	Holds	Moves the answer

BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Investigation, 12 to 36 months old: 450 launches.

Launches counted: 45050 hits
Earned $100k+: 11.1 in 100
Typical first-year earnings: $1,316top tenth $116,635+
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: 20 of 450 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted: 43047 hits
Earned $100k+: 10.9 in 100
Typical first-year earnings: $1,259
Chance against standard: -1.6%0.2 fewer in 100
Typical against standard: -4.3%$57 less

Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Blue Prince (23.7% of the money): 449 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted: 44949 hits
Earned $100k+: 10.9 in 100
Typical first-year earnings: $1,259
Chance against standard: -1.8%0.2 fewer in 100
Typical against standard: -4.3%$57 less

Last 18 monthsMoves the answer

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 112 of 450.

Launches counted: 11216 hits
Earned $100k+: 14.3 in 100
Typical first-year earnings: $2,318
Chance against standard: +28.6%3.2 more in 100
Typical against standard: +76.1%$1,002 more

Standard: Every indie paid launch tagged Investigation, 12 to 36 months old: 450 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: 20 of 450 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, Blue Prince (23.7% of the money): 449 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: 112 of 450.

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

Realistic through every lens, all prices
Realistic	BaseStandardevery launch	West-facing view1,452 of 1,485 launches	Without the breakout1,484 of 1,485 launches	Last 18 months428 of 1,485 launches
Launches counted	1,485112 hits	1,452112 hits	1,484111 hits	42836 hits
Earned $100k+	7.5 in 1001 in 13	7.7 in 1001 in 13	7.5 in 1001 in 13	8.4 in 1001 in 12
Typical first-year earnings	$945top tenth $56,843+	$994	$945	$1,053
Chance against standard	the base	+2.3%0.2 more in 100	-0.8%0.1 fewer in 100	+11.5%0.9 more in 100
Typical against standard	the base	+5.2%$49 more	0.0%no change	+11.4%$108 more
Does it hold?	The base view	Moves the answer	Holds	Holds

BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Realistic, 12 to 36 months old: 1,485 launches.

Launches counted: 1,485112 hits
Earned $100k+: 7.5 in 1001 in 13
Typical first-year earnings: $945top tenth $56,843+
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: 33 of 1,485 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted: 1,452112 hits
Earned $100k+: 7.7 in 1001 in 13
Typical first-year earnings: $994
Chance against standard: +2.3%0.2 more in 100
Typical against standard: +5.2%$49 more

Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Gray Zone Warfare (25.1% of the money): 1,484 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted: 1,484111 hits
Earned $100k+: 7.5 in 1001 in 13
Typical first-year earnings: $945
Chance against standard: -0.8%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard: 0.0%no change

Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 428 of 1,485.

Launches counted: 42836 hits
Earned $100k+: 8.4 in 1001 in 12
Typical first-year earnings: $1,053
Chance against standard: +11.5%0.9 more in 100
Typical against standard: +11.4%$108 more

Standard: Every indie paid launch tagged Realistic, 12 to 36 months old: 1,485 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: 33 of 1,485 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, Gray Zone Warfare (25.1% of the money): 1,484 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: 428 of 1,485.

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 Investigation + Realistic 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.