Genres

Ticker: price and year-over-year change for 40 genres. Price is the median estimated first-year revenue of indie paid launches. The same figures are on the Genres page.

Settings
Text size
Game Market DataBuild what sells
Live games
191,979
on 2 Oct 2026

Niches / Linear + Platformer

Niche

Linear + Platformer

Games tagged both Linear and Platformer: 183 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".
  • 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 Linear + Platformer priced $10 to $20, hiding samples under 100 launches. This filter changes the answer: at all prices the pair trails both its tags; priced $10 to $20 it has too few launches to read.

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

11 launches, under your minimum sample of 100.

Pick another price band, or lower the minimum sample.

2NDRunner-up
Tag onemood tagLinear
4.3in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds1 in 23
Typical earnings$3,157
Launches115 / 5 hits
Pairno reading
--No reading
This pairLinear + Platformer
--too few
to read
Odds--
Typical earnings--
Launches11

11 launches, under your minimum sample of 100.

1STWinner
Tag twoPlatformer
16.6in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds16.6 in 100
Typical earnings$7,285
Launches337 / 56 hits
Pairno reading
All indie launches $10 to $20: 18.6 in 100 earned $100k+, typical $9,226, from 4,810 launches.each block is 1 in 100 all indie at $10 to $20Linear 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
What the overlap means

The overlap is this niche: the 11 games tagged both Linear and Platformer priced $10 to $20. 0.0 in 100 of them earned $100k+, against 4.8 for Linear-only games and 17.2 for Platformer-only games, so games with both tags did worse than games with either tag alone.

Both: 11 games priced $10 to $20; 0.0 in 100 earned $100k+, typical first-year earnings $3,946.

Circle areas follow launch counts; the gold overlap is exactly the pair's 11 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

The Knightlingleads this pair45.5%
PairThe Knightling45.5%
LinearCrisol: Theater of Idols17.3%
PlatformerHollow Knight: Silksong59.3%
CheckOne game over half?no
NextNearest hitsnot computed yet

Lens checkChanged recently +1. Standard: the yardstick. West-facing view: holds. Without the breakout: moves the answer. Last 18 months: moves the answer.

Open free preview
ComparablesFree until launchClick to unlockWho leads Linear + Platformer

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

  • The Knightling earned 45.5% of the estimated first-year money of the 183 Linear + Platformer launches.
  • Linear is led by Crisol: Theater of Idols, with 17.3% of its money.
  • Platformer is led by Hollow Knight: Silksong, with 59.3% of its money. That is close to a one-hit market.
  • 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

Linear + Platformer is changed recently +1: Last 18 months moves the answer by more than a quarter, and 1 more lens too. It holds in 1 of 3.

Linear + Platformer through every lens, all prices
This pairBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view181 of 183 launchesWithout the breakout182 of 183 launchesLast 18 months92 of 183 launches
Launches counted1831 hits1811 hits1820 hits921 hits
Earned $100k+0.5 in 1001 in 2000.6 in 1001 in 1670.0 in 1001.1 in 1001 in 91
Typical first-year earnings$282top tenth $3,946+$282$282$182
Chance against standardthe yardstick+20.0%0.1 more in 100-100.0%0.5 fewer in 100+120.0%0.6 more in 100
Typical against standardthe yardstick0.0%no change0.0%no change-35.5%$100 less
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsMoves the answerMoves the answer
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged both Linear and Platformer, 6 to 30 months old: 183 launches.

Launches counted
1831 hits
Earned $100k+
0.5 in 1001 in 200
Typical first-year earnings
$282top tenth $3,946+
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: 2 of 183 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
1811 hits
Earned $100k+
0.6 in 1001 in 167
Typical first-year earnings
$282
Chance against standard
+20.0%0.1 more in 100
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Without the breakoutMoves the answer

Drops the single biggest earner, The Knightling (45.5% of the money): 182 launches left.

Launches counted
1820 hits
Earned $100k+
0.0 in 100
Typical first-year earnings
$282
Chance against standard
-100.0%0.5 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Last 18 monthsMoves the answer

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 92 of 183.

Launches counted
921 hits
Earned $100k+
1.1 in 1001 in 91
Typical first-year earnings
$182
Chance against standard
+120.0%0.6 more in 100
Typical against standard
-35.5%$100 less
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged both Linear and Platformer, 6 to 30 months old: 183 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: 2 of 183 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, The Knightling (45.5% of the money): 182 launches left.
Last 18 months
Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 92 of 183.

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

Linear through every lens, all prices
LinearBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view1,153 of 1,188 launchesWithout the breakout1,187 of 1,188 launchesLast 18 months639 of 1,188 launches
Launches counted1,18814 hits1,15312 hits1,18713 hits6399 hits
Earned $100k+1.2 in 1001 in 831.0 in 1001 in 1001.1 in 1001 in 911.4 in 1001 in 71
Typical first-year earnings$323top tenth $6,871+$323$322$243
Chance against standardthe yardstick-16.7%0.2 fewer in 100-8.3%0.1 fewer in 100+16.7%0.2 more in 100
Typical against standardthe yardstick0.0%no change-0.3%$1 less-24.8%$80 less
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Linear, 6 to 30 months old: 1,188 launches.

Launches counted
1,18814 hits
Earned $100k+
1.2 in 1001 in 83
Typical first-year earnings
$323top tenth $6,871+
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: 35 of 1,188 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
1,15312 hits
Earned $100k+
1.0 in 1001 in 100
Typical first-year earnings
$323
Chance against standard
-16.7%0.2 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Crisol: Theater of Idols (17.3% of the money): 1,187 launches left.

Launches counted
1,18713 hits
Earned $100k+
1.1 in 1001 in 91
Typical first-year earnings
$322
Chance against standard
-8.3%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-0.3%$1 less
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 639 of 1,188.

Launches counted
6399 hits
Earned $100k+
1.4 in 1001 in 71
Typical first-year earnings
$243
Chance against standard
+16.7%0.2 more in 100
Typical against standard
-24.8%$80 less
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged Linear, 6 to 30 months old: 1,188 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: 35 of 1,188 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, Crisol: Theater of Idols (17.3% of the money): 1,187 launches left.
Last 18 months
Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 639 of 1,188.

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

Platformer through every lens, all prices
PlatformerBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view2,538 of 2,585 launchesWithout the breakout2,584 of 2,585 launchesLast 18 months1,343 of 2,585 launches
Launches counted2,585100 hits2,53892 hits2,58499 hits1,34349 hits
Earned $100k+3.9 in 1001 in 263.6 in 1001 in 283.8 in 1001 in 263.6 in 1001 in 28
Typical first-year earnings$321top tenth $13,152+$323$321$281
Chance against standardthe yardstick-7.7%0.3 fewer in 100-2.6%0.1 fewer in 100-7.7%0.3 fewer in 100
Typical against standardthe yardstick+0.6%$2 more0.0%no change-12.5%$40 less
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Platformer, 6 to 30 months old: 2,585 launches.

Launches counted
2,585100 hits
Earned $100k+
3.9 in 1001 in 26
Typical first-year earnings
$321top tenth $13,152+
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: 47 of 2,585 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
2,53892 hits
Earned $100k+
3.6 in 1001 in 28
Typical first-year earnings
$323
Chance against standard
-7.7%0.3 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
+0.6%$2 more
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Hollow Knight: Silksong (59.3% of the money): 2,584 launches left.

Launches counted
2,58499 hits
Earned $100k+
3.8 in 1001 in 26
Typical first-year earnings
$321
Chance against standard
-2.6%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 1,343 of 2,585.

Launches counted
1,34349 hits
Earned $100k+
3.6 in 1001 in 28
Typical first-year earnings
$281
Chance against standard
-7.7%0.3 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-12.5%$40 less
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged Platformer, 6 to 30 months old: 2,585 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: 47 of 2,585 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 (59.3% of the money): 2,584 launches left.
Last 18 months
Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 1,343 of 2,585.

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 Linear + Platformer 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.