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Ticker: price and year-over-year change for 40 genres. Price is the median estimated first-year revenue of indie paid launches. The change shows for genres with 100+ launches. The same figures are on the Genres page.

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on 3 Oct 2026

Niches / Linear + Romance

Niche

Linear + Romance

Games tagged both Linear and Romance: 42 indie paid launches, 0 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.

Showing Linear + Romance 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

Linear + Romance is too small to compare with Linear and is too small to compare with Romance: 0 of its 23 launches earned $100k+ priced under $5, against 3 of 653 launches for Linear and 1 of 207 launches for Romance.

Small sample: 23 launches, 0 hits.

TIEA tie
Tag onemood tagLinear
3 of 653launches earned
$100k+ small
Odds3 of 653 launches
Typical earnings$178
Launches653 / 3 hits
Pair against ittoo few hits to compare
TIEA tie
This pairLinear + Romance
0 of 23launches earned
$100k+ small
Odds0 of 23 launches
$1k+6 of 23 launches
$10k+1 of 23 launches
Launches23 / 0 hits
Expected0.4 in 100
TIEA tie
Tag twoRomance
1 of 207launches earned
$100k+ small
Odds1 of 207 launches
Typical earnings$346
Launches207 / 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 $5Linear 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 prices42 in pairUnder $523 in pair$5 to $1012 in pair$10 to $207: too few$20 to $40no launches
What the overlap means

The overlap is this niche: the 23 games tagged both Linear and Romance priced under $5. 0 of 23 of them earned $100k+, against 3 of 630 for Linear-only games and 1 of 184 for Romance-only games, so the mix is too small to compare with Linear alone and is too small to compare with Romance alone.

Both: 23 games priced under $5; 0 of 23 earned $100k+, odds by size $1k+ 6 of 23 launches · $10k+ 1 of 23 launches · $100k+ 0 of 23 launches.

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.

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

Andromeda Sixleads this pair22.7%
PairAndromeda Six22.7%
LinearSpilled!10.6%
RomanceFields of Mistria16.6%
CheckOne game over half?no
NextNearest hitsnot computed yet

Lens checkHolds in 1 of 2, 1 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: not run yet.

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

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

  • Andromeda Six earned 22.7% of the estimated first-year money of the 42 Linear + Romance launches.
  • Linear is led by Spilled!, with 10.6% of its money.
  • Romance is led by Fields of Mistria, with 16.6% 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

Linear + Romance holds in Without the breakout; too few to tell in West-facing view. No lens moves the chance or typical earnings more than chance alone would.

Linear + Romance through every lens, all prices
This pairBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view42 of 42 launchesWithout the breakout41 of 42 launchesLast 18 monthstoo few
Launches counted420 hits420 hits410 hitstoo few
Earned $100k+0 of 42too few for a rate0 of 42too few for a rate0 of 41too few for a ratetoo few
Chance of $10k+12 in 100chance of $10k+; $1k+ 52 in 100under 100 launchesunder 100 launchestoo few
Chance against standardthe base0.0%no change; too few to tell0.0%no changetoo few
Typical against standardthe baseunder 100 launchesunder 100 launchestoo few
Does it hold?The base viewToo few to tellHoldsNot run yet
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged both Linear and Romance, 12 to 36 months old: 42 launches.

Launches counted
420 hits
Earned $100k+
0 of 42too few for a rate
Chance of $10k+
12 in 100chance of $10k+; $1k+ 52 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: 0 of 42 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
420 hits
Earned $100k+
0 of 42too few for a rate
Chance of $10k+
under 100 launches
Chance against standard
0.0%no change; too few to tell
Typical against standard
under 100 launches
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Andromeda Six (22.7% of the money): 41 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
410 hits
Earned $100k+
0 of 41too few for a rate
Chance of $10k+
under 100 launches
Chance against standard
0.0%no change
Typical against standard
under 100 launches
Last 18 monthsNot run yet

Too few launches to run this lens.

Launches counted
too few
Earned $100k+
too few
Chance of $10k+
too few
Chance against standard
too few
Typical against standard
too few
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged both Linear and Romance, 12 to 36 months old: 42 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: 0 of 42 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, Andromeda Six (22.7% of the money): 41 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.
Last 18 months
Too few launches to run this lens.

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 counted1,03811 hits1,0109 hits1,03710 hits2894 hits
Earned $100k+1.1 in 1001 in 940.9 in 1001 in 1121.0 in 1001 in 1044 of 289too few for a rate
Typical first-year earnings$310top tenth $6,319+$315$307$268
Chance against standardthe base-15.9%0.2 fewer in 100-9.0%0.1 fewer in 100+30.6%0.3 more in 100; too few to tell
Typical against standardthe base+1.6%$5 more-1.0%$3 less-13.5%$42 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
1,03811 hits
Earned $100k+
1.1 in 1001 in 94
Typical first-year earnings
$310top tenth $6,319+
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
1,0109 hits
Earned $100k+
0.9 in 1001 in 112
Typical first-year earnings
$315
Chance against standard
-15.9%0.2 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
+1.6%$5 more
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Spilled! (10.6% of the money): 1,037 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
1,03710 hits
Earned $100k+
1.0 in 1001 in 104
Typical first-year earnings
$307
Chance against standard
-9.0%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-1.0%$3 less
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
$268
Chance against standard
+30.6%0.3 more in 100; too few to tell
Typical against standard
-13.5%$42 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! (10.6% 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.

Romance 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.

Romance through every lens, all prices
RomanceBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view528 of 595 launchesWithout the breakout594 of 595 launchesLast 18 months148 of 595 launches
Launches counted59546 hits52840 hits59445 hits1489 hits
Earned $100k+7.7 in 1001 in 137.6 in 1001 in 137.6 in 1001 in 136.1 in 1001 in 16
Typical first-year earnings$2,254top tenth $54,363+$2,265$2,254$2,299
Chance against standardthe base-2.0%0.2 fewer in 100-2.0%0.2 fewer in 100-21.3%1.7 fewer in 100
Typical against standardthe base+0.5%$11 more0.0%no change+2.0%$45 more
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Romance, 12 to 36 months old: 595 launches.

Launches counted
59546 hits
Earned $100k+
7.7 in 1001 in 13
Typical first-year earnings
$2,254top tenth $54,363+
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: 67 of 595 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
52840 hits
Earned $100k+
7.6 in 1001 in 13
Typical first-year earnings
$2,265
Chance against standard
-2.0%0.2 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
+0.5%$11 more
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Fields of Mistria (16.6% of the money): 594 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
59445 hits
Earned $100k+
7.6 in 1001 in 13
Typical first-year earnings
$2,254
Chance against standard
-2.0%0.2 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 148 of 595.

Launches counted
1489 hits
Earned $100k+
6.1 in 1001 in 16
Typical first-year earnings
$2,299
Chance against standard
-21.3%1.7 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
+2.0%$45 more
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged Romance, 12 to 36 months old: 595 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: 67 of 595 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, Fields of Mistria (16.6% of the money): 594 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: 148 of 595.

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 + Romance 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.