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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 11 Nov 2026

Niches / Puzzle + Side Scroller

Niche

Puzzle + Side Scroller

Games tagged both Puzzle and Side Scroller: 179 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 26,758 indie paid launches 12 to 36 months old, data of 2 Nov 2026. How it is measured.

Showing Puzzle + Side Scroller 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 + Side Scroller is too small to compare with Puzzle and is too small to compare with Side Scroller: 0 of its 13 launches earned $100k+ priced $10 to $20, against 15.0 in 100 for Puzzle and 16.9 in 100 for Side Scroller.

Small sample: 13 launches, 0 hits.

TIEA tie
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 + Side Scroller
0 of 13launches earned
$100k+ small
Odds0 of 13 launches
$1k+10 of 13 launches
$10k+3 of 13 launches
Launches13 / 0 hits
Expected20.5 in 100
TIEA tie
Tag twomood tagSide Scroller
16.9in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds16.9 in 100
Typical earnings$10,139
Launches142 / 24 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 $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
What the overlap means

The overlap is this niche: the 13 games tagged both Puzzle and Side Scroller priced $10 to $20. 0 of 13 of them earned $100k+, against 15.3 in 100 for Puzzle-only games and 18.6 in 100 for Side Scroller-only games, so the mix is too small to compare with Puzzle alone and is too small to compare with Side Scroller alone.

Both: 13 games priced $10 to $20; 0 of 13 earned $100k+, odds by size $1k+ 10 of 13 launches · $10k+ 3 of 13 launches · $100k+ 0 of 13 launches.

Circle areas follow launch counts; the gold overlap is exactly the pair's 13 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

Drag and Drop Medievalleads this pair10.8%
PairDrag and Drop Medieval10.8%
PuzzleBlue Prince7.2%
Side ScrollerAbsolum18.1%
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 Puzzle + 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

  • Drag and Drop Medieval earned 10.8% of the estimated first-year money of the 179 Puzzle + Side Scroller launches.
  • Puzzle is led by Blue Prince, with 7.2% 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

Puzzle + Side Scroller 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.

Puzzle + Side Scroller through every lens, all prices
This pairBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view176 of 179 launchesWithout the breakout178 of 179 launchesLast 18 months43 of 179 launches
Launches counted1790 hits1760 hits1780 hits430 hits
Earned $100k+0 of 179too few for a rate0 of 176too few for a rate0 of 178too few for a rate0 of 43too few for a rate
Typical first-year earnings$214top tenth $5,801+$216$214under 100 launches
Chance against standardthe base0.0%no change; too few to tell0.0%no change0.0%no change; too few to tell
Typical against standardthe base+0.9%$2 more0.0%no changeunder 100 launches
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsToo few to tell
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged both Puzzle and Side Scroller, 12 to 36 months old: 179 launches.

Launches counted
1790 hits
Earned $100k+
0 of 179too few for a rate
Typical first-year earnings
$214top tenth $5,801+
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: 3 of 179 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
1760 hits
Earned $100k+
0 of 176too few for a rate
Typical first-year earnings
$216
Chance against standard
0.0%no change; too few to tell
Typical against standard
+0.9%$2 more
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Drag and Drop Medieval (10.8% of the money): 178 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
1780 hits
Earned $100k+
0 of 178too few for a rate
Typical first-year earnings
$214
Chance against standard
0.0%no change
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Last 18 monthsToo few to tell

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 43 of 179.

Launches counted
430 hits
Earned $100k+
0 of 43too few for a rate
Typical first-year earnings
under 100 launches
Chance against standard
0.0%no change; too few to tell
Typical against standard
under 100 launches
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged both Puzzle and Side Scroller, 12 to 36 months old: 179 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: 3 of 179 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, Drag and Drop Medieval (10.8% of the money): 178 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: 43 of 179.

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
PuzzleBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view5,129 of 5,329 launchesWithout the breakout5,328 of 5,329 launchesLast 18 months1,514 of 5,329 launches
Launches counted5,329188 hits5,129177 hits5,328187 hits1,51458 hits
Earned $100k+3.5 in 1001 in 283.5 in 1001 in 293.5 in 1001 in 283.8 in 1001 in 26
Typical first-year earnings$417top tenth $14,053+$429$417$454
Chance against standardthe base-2.2%0.1 fewer in 100-0.5%no change+8.6%0.3 more in 100
Typical against standardthe base+2.9%$12 more0.0%no change+8.9%$37 more
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
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.

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 Puzzle + 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.