Niche

Linear + Puzzle

Games tagged both Linear and Puzzle: 340 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".
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.

Price $10 to $20

All prices1 in 16 hit $100k+Under $51 in 200 hit $100k+$5 to $101 in 26 hit $100k+$10 to $2019 in 100 hit $100k+$20 to $4042 in 100 hit $100k+

Base rate: indie paid launches 6 to 30 months old, 29,637 launches. Odds compare best within one price.

Lens Standard

Standard West-facing view Without the breakout Last 18 months

All indie paid launches 6 to 30 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.

$10 to $20 30+ launches Reset

Showing Linear + Puzzle priced $10 to $20, hiding samples under 30 launches. This filter changes the answer: at all prices the pair is level with Linear and trails Puzzle; priced $10 to $20 it beats Linear and trails Puzzle.

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 beats Linear and trails Puzzle: 5.9 in 100 of its launches earned $100k+ priced $10 to $20, against 4.3 in 100 for Linear and 13.8 in 100 for Puzzle.

That is 1 in 17, about 0.3 times the 18.6 in 100 expected for any launch at this price.

3RDThird

Tag onemood tagLinear

4.3in 100 earned
$100k+

Odds1 in 23

Typical earnings$3,157

Launches115 / 5 hits

Pair leads by1.6 in 100

2NDRunner-up

This pairLinear + Puzzle

5.9in 100 earned
$100k+

Odds1 in 17

Typical earnings$3,643

Launches34 / 2 hits

Expected18.6 in 100

1STWinner

Tag twoPuzzle

13.8in 100 earned
$100k+

Odds13.8 in 100

Typical earnings$4,553

Launches775 / 107 hits

Pair trails by7.9 in 100

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

All prices340 in pair Under $5198 in pair $5 to $10102 in pair $10 to $2034 in pair$20 to $406: too few

What the overlap means

The overlap is this niche: the 34 games tagged both Linear and Puzzle priced $10 to $20. 5.9 in 100 of them earned $100k+, against 3.7 for Linear-only games and 14.2 for Puzzle-only games, so the mix beats Linear alone and trails Puzzle alone.

Both: 34 games priced $10 to $20; 5.9 in 100 earned $100k+ (1 in 17), typical first-year earnings $3,643.

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

Crisol: Theater of Idolsleads this pair56.8%

PairCrisol: Theater of Idols56.8%

LinearCrisol: Theater of Idols17.3%

PuzzleBlue Prince7.0%

CheckOne game over half?yes

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 + 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

Crisol: Theater of Idols earned 56.8% of the estimated first-year money of the 340 Linear + Puzzle launches.
It also leads Linear, with 17.3% of that tag's money.
Puzzle is led by Blue Prince, with 7.0% 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: those with a mostly Chinese audience, the single biggest earner, and everything older than 18 months.

Does the answer hold?

All prices

Linear + Puzzle 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 + Puzzle through every lens, all prices
This pair	BaseStandardevery launch	West-facing view332 of 340 launches	Without the breakout339 of 340 launches	Last 18 months170 of 340 launches
Launches counted	3403 hits	3323 hits	3392 hits	1702 hits
Earned $100k+	0.9 in 1001 in 111	0.9 in 1001 in 111	0.6 in 1001 in 167	1.2 in 1001 in 83
Typical first-year earnings	$323top tenth $4,850+	$341	$323	$242
Chance against standard	the yardstick	0.0%no change	-33.3%0.3 fewer in 100	+33.3%0.3 more in 100
Typical against standard	the yardstick	+5.6%$18 more	0.0%no change	-25.1%$81 less
Does it hold?	The base view	Holds	Moves the answer	Moves the answer

BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged both Linear and Puzzle, 6 to 30 months old: 340 launches.

Launches counted: 3403 hits
Earned $100k+: 0.9 in 1001 in 111
Typical first-year earnings: $323top tenth $4,850+
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: 8 of 340 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted: 3323 hits
Earned $100k+: 0.9 in 1001 in 111
Typical first-year earnings: $341
Chance against standard: 0.0%no change
Typical against standard: +5.6%$18 more

Without the breakoutMoves the answer

Drops the single biggest earner, Crisol: Theater of Idols (56.8% of the money): 339 launches left.

Launches counted: 3392 hits
Earned $100k+: 0.6 in 1001 in 167
Typical first-year earnings: $323
Chance against standard: -33.3%0.3 fewer in 100
Typical against standard: 0.0%no change

Last 18 monthsMoves the answer

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 170 of 340.

Launches counted: 1702 hits
Earned $100k+: 1.2 in 1001 in 83
Typical first-year earnings: $242
Chance against standard: +33.3%0.3 more in 100
Typical against standard: -25.1%$81 less

Standard: Every indie paid launch tagged both Linear and Puzzle, 6 to 30 months old: 340 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: 8 of 340 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 (56.8% of the money): 339 launches left.
Last 18 months: Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 170 of 340.

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
Linear	BaseStandardevery launch	West-facing view1,153 of 1,188 launches	Without the breakout1,187 of 1,188 launches	Last 18 months639 of 1,188 launches
Launches counted	1,18814 hits	1,15312 hits	1,18713 hits	6399 hits
Earned $100k+	1.2 in 1001 in 83	1.0 in 1001 in 100	1.1 in 1001 in 91	1.4 in 1001 in 71
Typical first-year earnings	$323top tenth $6,871+	$323	$322	$243
Chance against standard	the yardstick	-16.7%0.2 fewer in 100	-8.3%0.1 fewer in 100	+16.7%0.2 more in 100
Typical against standard	the yardstick	0.0%no change	-0.3%$1 less	-24.8%$80 less
Does it hold?	The base view	Holds	Holds	Holds

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.

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

Puzzle through every lens, all prices
Puzzle	BaseStandardevery launch	West-facing view5,529 of 5,739 launches	Without the breakout5,738 of 5,739 launches	Last 18 months3,111 of 5,739 launches
Launches counted	5,739203 hits	5,529192 hits	5,738202 hits	3,111106 hits
Earned $100k+	3.5 in 1001 in 29	3.5 in 1001 in 29	3.5 in 1001 in 29	3.4 in 1001 in 29
Typical first-year earnings	$443top tenth $14,400+	$461	$443	$405
Chance against standard	the yardstick	0.0%no change	0.0%no change	-2.9%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard	the yardstick	+4.1%$18 more	0.0%no change	-8.6%$38 less
Does it hold?	The base view	Holds	Holds	Holds

BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Puzzle, 6 to 30 months old: 5,739 launches.

Launches counted: 5,739203 hits
Earned $100k+: 3.5 in 1001 in 29
Typical first-year earnings: $443top tenth $14,400+
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: 210 of 5,739 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted: 5,529192 hits
Earned $100k+: 3.5 in 1001 in 29
Typical first-year earnings: $461
Chance against standard: 0.0%no change
Typical against standard: +4.1%$18 more

Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Blue Prince (7.0% of the money): 5,738 launches left.

Launches counted: 5,738202 hits
Earned $100k+: 3.5 in 1001 in 29
Typical first-year earnings: $443
Chance against standard: 0.0%no change
Typical against standard: 0.0%no change

Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 3,111 of 5,739.

Launches counted: 3,111106 hits
Earned $100k+: 3.4 in 1001 in 29
Typical first-year earnings: $405
Chance against standard: -2.9%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard: -8.6%$38 less

Standard: Every indie paid launch tagged Puzzle, 6 to 30 months old: 5,739 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: 210 of 5,739 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 (7.0% of the money): 5,738 launches left.
Last 18 months: Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 3,111 of 5,739.

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 + 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.