Niche

Puzzle + Realistic

Games tagged both Puzzle and Realistic: 275 indie paid launches, 2 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.

Price $10 to $20

All prices1 in 15 hit $100k+Under $51 in 230 hit $100k+$5 to $101 in 28 hit $100k+$10 to $2021 in 100 hit $100k+$20 to $4044 in 100 hit $100k+

Base rate: indie paid launches 12 to 36 months old, 26,758 launches. Odds compare best within one price.

Lens Standard

Standard West-facing view Without the breakout Last 18 months

All indie paid launches 12 to 36 months old. Lens figures exist at all prices only; inside a price band this page shows the standard figures.

Sample 10+

10+ launchesshow small samples 30+ launches 100+ launchesonly big markets

Hides anything measured on fewer launches.

$10 to $20

Showing Puzzle + Realistic priced $10 to $20.

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

Puzzle + Realistic is too small to compare with Puzzle and is too small to compare with Realistic: 2 of its 27 launches earned $100k+ priced $10 to $20, against 15.0 in 100 for Puzzle and 21.2 in 100 for Realistic.

Small sample: 27 launches, 2 hits.

TIETied

Tag onePuzzle

15.0in 100 earned
$100k+

Odds15.0 in 100

Typical earnings$5,373

Launches680 / 102 hits

Pair against ittoo few hits to compare

TIEA tie

This pairPuzzle + Realistic

2 of 27launches earned
$100k+ small

Odds2 of 27 launches

$1k+15 of 27 launches

$10k+7 of 27 launches

Launches27 / 2 hits

Expected20.5 in 100

TIEA tie

Tag twomood tagRealistic

21.2in 100 earned
$100k+

Odds21.2 in 100

Typical earnings$11,856

Launches250 / 53 hits

Pair against ittoo few hits to compare

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 $20Realistic 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 prices275 in pair Under $5155 in pair $5 to $1092 in pair $10 to $2027 in pair$20 to $401: too few

What the overlap means

The overlap is this niche: the 27 games tagged both Puzzle and Realistic priced $10 to $20. 2 of 27 of them earned $100k+, against 15.3 in 100 for Puzzle-only games and 22.9 in 100 for Realistic-only games, so the mix is too small to compare with Puzzle alone and is too small to compare with Realistic alone.

Both: 27 games priced $10 to $20; 2 of 27 earned $100k+, odds by size $1k+ 15 of 27 launches · $10k+ 7 of 27 launches · $100k+ 2 of 27 launches.

Circle areas follow launch counts; the gold overlap is exactly the pair's 27 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

VLADiK BRUTALleads this pair71.1%

PairVLADiK BRUTAL71.1%

PuzzleBlue Prince7.2%

RealisticGray Zone Warfare25.2%

CheckOne game over half?yes

NextNearest hitsnot computed yet

Lens checkOne-hit market. Standard: the base the others are compared with. West-facing view: holds. Without the breakout: moves the answer. Last 18 months: too few to tell.

Open free preview

ComparablesFree until launchClick to unlockWho leads Puzzle + Realistic

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

VLADiK BRUTAL earned 71.1% of the estimated first-year money of the 275 Puzzle + Realistic launches.
Puzzle is led by Blue Prince, with 7.2% of its money.
Realistic is led by Gray Zone Warfare, with 25.2% 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: games mostly reviewed in Chinese, the single biggest earner, and everything older than 18 months.

Does the answer hold?

All prices

Puzzle + Realistic is one-hit market: one game earned over half the money. It holds in West-facing view.

Puzzle + Realistic through every lens, all prices
This pair	BaseStandardevery launch	West-facing view269 of 275 launches	Without the breakout274 of 275 launches	Last 18 months71 of 275 launches
Launches counted	2752 hits	2692 hits	2741 hits	710 hits
Earned $100k+	2 of 275too few for a rate	2 of 269too few for a rate	1 of 274too few for a rate	0 of 71too few for a rate
Typical first-year earnings	$405top tenth $6,759+	$412	$405	under 100 launches
Chance against standard	the base	+2.2%no change; too few to tell	-49.8%0.4 fewer in 100	-100.0%0.7 fewer in 100; too few to tell
Typical against standard	the base	+1.7%$7 more	0.0%no change	under 100 launches
Does it hold?	The base view	Holds	Moves the answer	Too few to tell

BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged both Puzzle and Realistic, 12 to 36 months old: 275 launches.

Launches counted: 2752 hits
Earned $100k+: 2 of 275too few for a rate
Typical first-year earnings: $405top tenth $6,759+
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 275 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted: 2692 hits
Earned $100k+: 2 of 269too few for a rate
Typical first-year earnings: $412
Chance against standard: +2.2%no change; too few to tell
Typical against standard: +1.7%$7 more

Without the breakoutMoves the answer

Drops the single biggest earner, VLADiK BRUTAL (71.1% of the money): 274 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted: 2741 hits
Earned $100k+: 1 of 274too few for a rate
Typical first-year earnings: $405
Chance against standard: -49.8%0.4 fewer in 100
Typical against standard: 0.0%no change

Last 18 monthsToo few to tell

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 71 of 275.

Launches counted: 710 hits
Earned $100k+: 0 of 71too few for a rate
Typical first-year earnings: under 100 launches
Chance against standard: -100.0%0.7 fewer in 100; too few to tell
Typical against standard: under 100 launches

Standard: Every indie paid launch tagged both Puzzle and Realistic, 12 to 36 months old: 275 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 275 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, VLADiK BRUTAL (71.1% of the money): 274 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: 71 of 275.

Puzzle 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.

Puzzle through every lens, all prices
Puzzle	BaseStandardevery launch	West-facing view5,129 of 5,329 launches	Without the breakout5,328 of 5,329 launches	Last 18 months1,514 of 5,329 launches
Launches counted	5,329188 hits	5,129177 hits	5,328187 hits	1,51458 hits
Earned $100k+	3.5 in 1001 in 28	3.5 in 1001 in 29	3.5 in 1001 in 28	3.8 in 1001 in 26
Typical first-year earnings	$417top tenth $14,053+	$429	$417	$454
Chance against standard	the base	-2.2%0.1 fewer in 100	-0.5%no change	+8.6%0.3 more in 100
Typical against standard	the base	+2.9%$12 more	0.0%no change	+8.9%$37 more
Does it hold?	The base view	Holds	Holds	Holds

BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Puzzle, 12 to 36 months old: 5,329 launches.

Launches counted: 5,329188 hits
Earned $100k+: 3.5 in 1001 in 28
Typical first-year earnings: $417top tenth $14,053+
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: 200 of 5,329 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted: 5,129177 hits
Earned $100k+: 3.5 in 1001 in 29
Typical first-year earnings: $429
Chance against standard: -2.2%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard: +2.9%$12 more

Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Blue Prince (7.2% of the money): 5,328 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted: 5,328187 hits
Earned $100k+: 3.5 in 1001 in 28
Typical first-year earnings: $417
Chance against standard: -0.5%no change
Typical against standard: 0.0%no change

Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 1,514 of 5,329.

Launches counted: 1,51458 hits
Earned $100k+: 3.8 in 1001 in 26
Typical first-year earnings: $454
Chance against standard: +8.6%0.3 more in 100
Typical against standard: +8.9%$37 more

Standard: Every indie paid launch tagged Puzzle, 12 to 36 months old: 5,329 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 5,329 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): 5,328 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: 1,514 of 5,329.

Realistic 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.

Realistic through every lens, all prices
Realistic	BaseStandardevery launch	West-facing view1,488 of 1,520 launches	Without the breakout1,519 of 1,520 launches	Last 18 months431 of 1,520 launches
Launches counted	1,520112 hits	1,488112 hits	1,519111 hits	43134 hits
Earned $100k+	7.4 in 1001 in 14	7.5 in 1001 in 13	7.3 in 1001 in 14	7.9 in 1001 in 13
Typical first-year earnings	$975top tenth $57,388+	$981	$975	$1,029
Chance against standard	the base	+2.2%0.2 more in 100	-0.8%0.1 fewer in 100	+7.1%0.5 more in 100
Typical against standard	the base	+0.6%$6 more	0.0%no change	+5.5%$54 more
Does it hold?	The base view	Holds	Holds	Holds

BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Realistic, 12 to 36 months old: 1,520 launches.

Launches counted: 1,520112 hits
Earned $100k+: 7.4 in 1001 in 14
Typical first-year earnings: $975top tenth $57,388+
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: 32 of 1,520 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted: 1,488112 hits
Earned $100k+: 7.5 in 1001 in 13
Typical first-year earnings: $981
Chance against standard: +2.2%0.2 more in 100
Typical against standard: +0.6%$6 more

Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Gray Zone Warfare (25.2% of the money): 1,519 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted: 1,519111 hits
Earned $100k+: 7.3 in 1001 in 14
Typical first-year earnings: $975
Chance against standard: -0.8%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard: 0.0%no change

Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 431 of 1,520.

Launches counted: 43134 hits
Earned $100k+: 7.9 in 1001 in 13
Typical first-year earnings: $1,029
Chance against standard: +7.1%0.5 more in 100
Typical against standard: +5.5%$54 more

Standard: Every indie paid launch tagged Realistic, 12 to 36 months old: 1,520 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: 32 of 1,520 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, Gray Zone Warfare (25.2% of the money): 1,519 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: 431 of 1,520.

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 Puzzle + Realistic 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.