Genres

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.

Settings
Text size
Game Market DataBuild what sells
Live games
201,879
on 11 Nov 2026

Niches / Platformer + Side Scroller

Niche

Platformer + Side Scroller

Games tagged both Platformer and Side Scroller: 419 indie paid launches, 17 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 26,758 indie paid launches 12 to 36 months old, data of 2 Nov 2026. How it is measured.

Showing Platformer + Side Scroller priced $10 to $20. This filter changes the answer: at all prices the pair is about level with Platformer and is about level with Side Scroller; priced $10 to $20 it beats both its tags.

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

Platformer + Side Scroller beats both its tags: 24.5 in 100 of its launches earned $100k+ priced $10 to $20, against 17.5 in 100 for Platformer and 16.9 in 100 for Side Scroller.

That is about 1.2 times the 20.5 in 100 expected for any launch at this price.

TIETied
Tag onePlatformer
17.5in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds17.5 in 100
Typical earnings$9,763
Launches303 / 53 hits
Pair leads by7.0 in 100
1STWinner
This pairPlatformer + Side Scroller
24.5in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds24.5 in 100
$1k+88 in 100
$10k+59 in 100
Launches49 / 12 hits
Expected20.5 in 100
TIETied
Tag twomood tagSide Scroller
16.9in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds16.9 in 100
Typical earnings$10,139
Launches142 / 24 hits
Pair leads by7.6 in 100
All indie launches $10 to $20: 20.5 in 100 earned $100k+, typical $11,233, from 4,337 launches.each block is 2 in 100 all indie at $10 to $20Side Scroller 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 prices419 in pairUnder $5227 in pair$5 to $10122 in pair$10 to $2049 in pair$20 to $4021 in pair
What the overlap means

The overlap is this niche: the 49 games tagged both Platformer and Side Scroller priced $10 to $20. 24.5 in 100 of them earned $100k+, against 16.1 in 100 for Platformer-only games and 12.9 in 100 for Side Scroller-only games, so games with both tags did better than games with either tag alone.

Both: 49 games priced $10 to $20; 24.5 in 100 earned $100k+, odds by size $1k+ 88 in 100 · $10k+ 59 in 100 · $100k+ 24 in 100.

Circle areas follow launch counts; the gold overlap is exactly the pair's 49 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

Anomaly Agentleads this pair21.0%
PairAnomaly Agent21.0%
PlatformerHollow Knight: Silksong66.0%
Side ScrollerAbsolum18.1%
CheckOne game over half?no
NextNearest hitsnot computed yet

Lens checkHolds in 3 of 3. Standard: the base the others are compared with. West-facing view: holds. Without the breakout: holds. Last 18 months: holds.

Open free preview
ComparablesFree until launchClick to unlockWho leads Platformer + Side Scroller

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

  • Anomaly Agent earned 21.0% of the estimated first-year money of the 419 Platformer + Side Scroller launches.
  • Platformer is led by Hollow Knight: Silksong, with 66.0% of its money.
  • Side Scroller is led by Absolum, with 18.1% 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

Platformer + Side Scroller 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.

Platformer + Side Scroller through every lens, all prices
This pairBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view410 of 419 launchesWithout the breakout418 of 419 launchesLast 18 months114 of 419 launches
Launches counted41917 hits41017 hits41816 hits1145 hits
Earned $100k+4.1 in 1001 in 254.1 in 1001 in 243.8 in 1001 in 264.4 in 1001 in 23
Typical first-year earnings$326top tenth $22,423+$341$326$273
Chance against standardthe base+2.2%0.1 more in 100-5.7%0.2 fewer in 100+8.1%0.3 more in 100
Typical against standardthe base+4.6%$15 more0.0%no change-16.3%$53 less
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged both Platformer and Side Scroller, 12 to 36 months old: 419 launches.

Launches counted
41917 hits
Earned $100k+
4.1 in 1001 in 25
Typical first-year earnings
$326top tenth $22,423+
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: 9 of 419 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
41017 hits
Earned $100k+
4.1 in 1001 in 24
Typical first-year earnings
$341
Chance against standard
+2.2%0.1 more in 100
Typical against standard
+4.6%$15 more
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Anomaly Agent (21.0% of the money): 418 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
41816 hits
Earned $100k+
3.8 in 1001 in 26
Typical first-year earnings
$326
Chance against standard
-5.7%0.2 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 114 of 419.

Launches counted
1145 hits
Earned $100k+
4.4 in 1001 in 23
Typical first-year earnings
$273
Chance against standard
+8.1%0.3 more in 100
Typical against standard
-16.3%$53 less
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged both Platformer and Side Scroller, 12 to 36 months old: 419 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: 9 of 419 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, Anomaly Agent (21.0% of the money): 418 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: 114 of 419.

Platformer is audience split +1: West-facing view moves the answer more than chance alone would, and 1 more lens too. It holds in Last 18 months.

Platformer through every lens, all prices
PlatformerBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view2,384 of 2,429 launchesWithout the breakout2,428 of 2,429 launchesLast 18 months639 of 2,429 launches
Launches counted2,42994 hits2,38487 hits2,42893 hits63927 hits
Earned $100k+3.9 in 1001 in 263.6 in 1001 in 273.8 in 1001 in 264.2 in 1001 in 24
Typical first-year earnings$273top tenth $13,791+$278$273$218
Chance against standardthe base-5.7%0.2 fewer in 100-1.0%no change+9.2%0.4 more in 100
Typical against standardthe base+1.8%$5 more0.0%no change-20.1%$55 less
Does it hold?The base viewMoves the answerMoves the answerHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Platformer, 12 to 36 months old: 2,429 launches.

Launches counted
2,42994 hits
Earned $100k+
3.9 in 1001 in 26
Typical first-year earnings
$273top tenth $13,791+
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: 45 of 2,429 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
2,38487 hits
Earned $100k+
3.6 in 1001 in 27
Typical first-year earnings
$278
Chance against standard
-5.7%0.2 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
+1.8%$5 more
Without the breakoutMoves the answer

Drops the single biggest earner, Hollow Knight: Silksong (66.0% of the money): 2,428 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
2,42893 hits
Earned $100k+
3.8 in 1001 in 26
Typical first-year earnings
$273
Chance against standard
-1.0%no change
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 639 of 2,429.

Launches counted
63927 hits
Earned $100k+
4.2 in 1001 in 24
Typical first-year earnings
$218
Chance against standard
+9.2%0.4 more in 100
Typical against standard
-20.1%$55 less
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged Platformer, 12 to 36 months old: 2,429 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: 45 of 2,429 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 (66.0% of the money): 2,428 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: 639 of 2,429.

Side Scroller 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.

Side Scroller through every lens, all prices
Side ScrollerBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view1,054 of 1,076 launchesWithout the breakout1,075 of 1,076 launchesLast 18 months284 of 1,076 launches
Launches counted1,07644 hits1,05443 hits1,07543 hits28411 hits
Earned $100k+4.1 in 1001 in 244.1 in 1001 in 254.0 in 1001 in 253.9 in 1001 in 26
Typical first-year earnings$349top tenth $21,855+$349$348$291
Chance against standardthe base-0.2%no change-2.2%0.1 fewer in 100-5.3%0.2 fewer in 100
Typical against standardthe base0.0%no change-0.3%$1 less-16.6%$58 less
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Side Scroller, 12 to 36 months old: 1,076 launches.

Launches counted
1,07644 hits
Earned $100k+
4.1 in 1001 in 24
Typical first-year earnings
$349top tenth $21,855+
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: 22 of 1,076 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
1,05443 hits
Earned $100k+
4.1 in 1001 in 25
Typical first-year earnings
$349
Chance against standard
-0.2%no change
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Absolum (18.1% of the money): 1,075 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
1,07543 hits
Earned $100k+
4.0 in 1001 in 25
Typical first-year earnings
$348
Chance against standard
-2.2%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-0.3%$1 less
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 284 of 1,076.

Launches counted
28411 hits
Earned $100k+
3.9 in 1001 in 26
Typical first-year earnings
$291
Chance against standard
-5.3%0.2 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-16.6%$58 less
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged Side Scroller, 12 to 36 months old: 1,076 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: 22 of 1,076 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, Absolum (18.1% of the money): 1,075 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: 284 of 1,076.

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 Platformer + Side Scroller 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.