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on 3 Oct 2026

Niches / Linear + Puzzle

Niche

Linear + Puzzle

Games tagged both Linear and Puzzle: 297 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.

Showing Linear + Puzzle priced $10 to $20, west-facing view. Lens figures exist at all prices only, so inside a price band the page shows the standard figures.

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

Linear + Puzzle is too small to compare with Linear and is too small to compare with Puzzle: 1 of its 23 launches earned $100k+ priced $10 to $20, against 3 of 86 launches for Linear and 12.4 in 100 for Puzzle.

Lens figures by price band are not computed yet, so this band uses the standard figures. Small sample: 23 launches, 1 hits.

TIEA tie
Tag onemood tagLinear
3 of 86launches earned
$100k+ small
Odds3 of 86 launches
Typical earnings$3,511
Launches86 / 3 hits
Pair against ittoo few hits to compare
TIEA tie
This pairLinear + Puzzle
1 of 23launches earned
$100k+ small
Odds1 of 23 launches
Typical earnings$3,447
Launches23 / 1 hits
Expected17.6 in 100
TIEA tie
Tag twoPuzzle
12.4in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds12.4 in 100
Typical earnings$3,798
Launches686 / 85 hits
Pair against ittoo few hits to compare
All indie launches $10 to $20: 17.6 in 100 earned $100k+, typical $8,234, from 4,301 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: 40.0 in 100), so read it within a price band.

Price bandswitches the whole page
All prices297 in pairUnder $5173 in pair$5 to $1093 in pair$10 to $2023 in pair$20 to $408: too few
What the overlap means

The overlap is this niche: the 23 games tagged both Linear and Puzzle priced $10 to $20. 1 of 23 of them earned $100k+, against 2 of 63 for Linear-only games and 12.7 in 100 for Puzzle-only games, so the mix is too small to compare with Linear alone and is too small to compare with Puzzle alone.

Both: 23 games priced $10 to $20; 1 of 23 earned $100k+, typical first-year earnings $3,447.

Circle areas follow launch counts; the gold overlap is exactly the pair's 23 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. The west-facing view lens is not computed for the outer parts, so this diagram uses the standard figures.

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

Mindlock - The Apartmentleads this pair24.1%
PairMindlock - The Apartment24.1%
LinearSpilled!11.0%
PuzzleBlue Prince7.2%
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 Linear + Puzzle

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

  • Mindlock - The Apartment earned 24.1% of the estimated first-year money of the 297 Linear + Puzzle launches.
  • Linear is led by Spilled!, with 11.0% of its money.
  • Puzzle is led by Blue Prince, with 7.2% 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

Linear + Puzzle 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.

Linear + Puzzle through every lens, all prices
This pairBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view291 of 297 launchesWithout the breakout296 of 297 launchesLast 18 months79 of 297 launches
Launches counted2971 hits2911 hits2960 hits790 hits
Earned $100k+1 of 297too few for a rate1 of 291too few for a rate0 of 296too few for a rate0 of 79too few for a rate
Typical first-year earnings$342top tenth $3,996+$354$342$268
Chance against standardthe base+2.1%no change; too few to tell-100.0%0.3 fewer in 100-100.0%0.3 fewer in 100; too few to tell
Typical against standardthe base+3.5%$12 more0.0%no change-21.6%$74 less; too few to tell
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsToo few to tell
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged both Linear and Puzzle, 12 to 36 months old: 297 launches.

Launches counted
2971 hits
Earned $100k+
1 of 297too few for a rate
Typical first-year earnings
$342top tenth $3,996+
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: 6 of 297 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
2911 hits
Earned $100k+
1 of 291too few for a rate
Typical first-year earnings
$354
Chance against standard
+2.1%no change; too few to tell
Typical against standard
+3.5%$12 more
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Mindlock - The Apartment (24.1% of the money): 296 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
2960 hits
Earned $100k+
0 of 296too few for a rate
Typical first-year earnings
$342
Chance against standard
-100.0%0.3 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Last 18 monthsToo few to tell

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 79 of 297.

Launches counted
790 hits
Earned $100k+
0 of 79too few for a rate
Typical first-year earnings
$268
Chance against standard
-100.0%0.3 fewer in 100; too few to tell
Typical against standard
-21.6%$74 less; too few to tell
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged both Linear and Puzzle, 12 to 36 months old: 297 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: 6 of 297 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, Mindlock - The Apartment (24.1% of the money): 296 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: 79 of 297.

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

Linear through every lens, all prices
LinearBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view1,010 of 1,038 launchesWithout the breakout1,037 of 1,038 launchesLast 18 months289 of 1,038 launches
Launches counted1,0389 hits1,0107 hits1,0378 hits2894 hits
Earned $100k+0.9 in 1001 in 1150.7 in 1001 in 1440.8 in 1001 in 1304 of 289too few for a rate
Typical first-year earnings$313top tenth $5,620+$328$313$287
Chance against standardthe base-20.1%0.2 fewer in 100-11.0%0.1 fewer in 100+59.6%0.5 more in 100; too few to tell
Typical against standardthe base+4.8%$15 more0.0%no change-8.3%$26 less
Does it hold?The base viewMoves the answerHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Linear, 12 to 36 months old: 1,038 launches.

Launches counted
1,0389 hits
Earned $100k+
0.9 in 1001 in 115
Typical first-year earnings
$313top tenth $5,620+
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: 28 of 1,038 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
1,0107 hits
Earned $100k+
0.7 in 1001 in 144
Typical first-year earnings
$328
Chance against standard
-20.1%0.2 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
+4.8%$15 more
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Spilled! (11.0% of the money): 1,037 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
1,0378 hits
Earned $100k+
0.8 in 1001 in 130
Typical first-year earnings
$313
Chance against standard
-11.0%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 289 of 1,038.

Launches counted
2894 hits
Earned $100k+
4 of 289too few for a rate
Typical first-year earnings
$287
Chance against standard
+59.6%0.5 more in 100; too few to tell
Typical against standard
-8.3%$26 less
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged Linear, 12 to 36 months old: 1,038 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: 28 of 1,038 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, Spilled! (11.0% of the money): 1,037 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: 289 of 1,038.

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

Puzzle through every lens, all prices
PuzzleBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view5,057 of 5,257 launchesWithout the breakout5,256 of 5,257 launchesLast 18 months1,499 of 5,257 launches
Launches counted5,257163 hits5,057152 hits5,256162 hits1,49953 hits
Earned $100k+3.1 in 1001 in 323.0 in 1001 in 333.1 in 1001 in 323.5 in 1001 in 28
Typical first-year earnings$405top tenth $12,506+$421$405$402
Chance against standardthe base-3.1%0.1 fewer in 100-0.6%no change+14.0%0.4 more in 100
Typical against standardthe base+4.0%$16 more0.0%no change-0.7%$3 less
Does it hold?The base viewMoves the answerHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Puzzle, 12 to 36 months old: 5,257 launches.

Launches counted
5,257163 hits
Earned $100k+
3.1 in 1001 in 32
Typical first-year earnings
$405top tenth $12,506+
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: 200 of 5,257 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
5,057152 hits
Earned $100k+
3.0 in 1001 in 33
Typical first-year earnings
$421
Chance against standard
-3.1%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
+4.0%$16 more
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Blue Prince (7.2% of the money): 5,256 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
5,256162 hits
Earned $100k+
3.1 in 1001 in 32
Typical first-year earnings
$405
Chance against standard
-0.6%no change
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 1,499 of 5,257.

Launches counted
1,49953 hits
Earned $100k+
3.5 in 1001 in 28
Typical first-year earnings
$402
Chance against standard
+14.0%0.4 more in 100
Typical against standard
-0.7%$3 less
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged Puzzle, 12 to 36 months old: 5,257 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: 200 of 5,257 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 (7.2% of the money): 5,256 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: 1,499 of 5,257.

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 Linear + Puzzle 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.