Niche

PvE + Souls-like

Games tagged both PvE and Souls-like: 45 indie paid launches, 5 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 Under $5

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.

Under $5

Showing PvE + Souls-like priced under $5. This filter changes the answer: at all prices the pair beats PvE and is about level with Souls-like; priced under $5 it is too small to compare with PvE and is too small to compare with Souls-like.

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

PvE + Souls-like is too small to compare with PvE and is too small to compare with Souls-like: 0 of its 19 launches earned $100k+ priced under $5, against 2 of 733 launches for PvE and 1 of 156 launches for Souls-like.

Small sample: 19 launches, 0 hits.

TIEA tie

Tag onemood tagPvE

2 of 733launches earned
$100k+ small

Odds2 of 733 launches

Typical earnings$145

Launches733 / 2 hits

Pair against ittoo few hits to compare

TIEA tie

This pairPvE + Souls-like

0 of 19launches earned
$100k+ small

Odds0 of 19 launches

$1k+4 of 19 launches

$10k+2 of 19 launches

Launches19 / 0 hits

Expected0.4 in 100

TIEA tie

Tag twoSouls-like

1 of 156launches earned
$100k+ small

Odds1 of 156 launches

Typical earnings$147

Launches156 / 1 hits

Pair against ittoo few hits to compare

All indie launches under $5: 0.4 in 100 earned $100k+ (1 in 230), typical $162, from 14,050 launches.each block is 0.5 in 100 all indie at under $5PvE 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 prices45 in pair Under $519 in pair $5 to $1015 in pair$10 to $207: too few$20 to $404: too few

What the overlap means

The overlap is this niche: the 19 games tagged both PvE and Souls-like priced under $5. 0 of 19 of them earned $100k+, against 2 of 714 for PvE-only games and 1 of 137 for Souls-like-only games, so the mix is too small to compare with PvE alone and is too small to compare with Souls-like alone.

Both: 19 games priced under $5; 0 of 19 earned $100k+, odds by size $1k+ 4 of 19 launches · $10k+ 2 of 19 launches · $100k+ 0 of 19 launches.

Circle areas follow launch counts; the gold overlap is exactly the pair's 19 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

Witchfireleads this pair88.5%

PairWitchfire88.5%

PvEGray Zone Warfare21.2%

Souls-likeHollow Knight: Silksong44.7%

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 PvE + Souls-like

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

Witchfire earned 88.5% of the estimated first-year money of the 45 PvE + Souls-like launches.
PvE is led by Gray Zone Warfare, with 21.2% of its money.
Souls-like is led by Hollow Knight: Silksong, with 44.7% 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

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

PvE + Souls-like through every lens, all prices
This pair	BaseStandardevery launch	West-facing view44 of 45 launches	Without the breakout44 of 45 launches	Last 18 months12 of 45 launches
Launches counted	455 hits	445 hits	444 hits	122 hits
Earned $100k+	11.1 in 100	11.4 in 100	4 of 44too few for a rate	2 of 12too few for a rate
Chance of $10k+	22 in 100chance of $10k+; $1k+ 40 in 100	under 100 launches	under 100 launches	under 100 launches
Chance against standard	the base	+2.3%0.3 more in 100	-18.2%2.0 fewer in 100	+50.0%5.6 more in 100; too few to tell
Typical against standard	the base	under 100 launches	under 100 launches	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 PvE and Souls-like, 12 to 36 months old: 45 launches.

Launches counted: 455 hits
Earned $100k+: 11.1 in 100
Chance of $10k+: 22 in 100chance of $10k+; $1k+ 40 in 100
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: 1 of 45 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted: 445 hits
Earned $100k+: 11.4 in 100
Chance of $10k+: under 100 launches
Chance against standard: +2.3%0.3 more in 100
Typical against standard: under 100 launches

Without the breakoutMoves the answer

Drops the single biggest earner, Witchfire (88.5% of the money): 44 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted: 444 hits
Earned $100k+: 4 of 44too few for a rate
Chance of $10k+: under 100 launches
Chance against standard: -18.2%2.0 fewer in 100
Typical against standard: under 100 launches

Last 18 monthsToo few to tell

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 12 of 45.

Launches counted: 122 hits
Earned $100k+: 2 of 12too few for a rate
Chance of $10k+: under 100 launches
Chance against standard: +50.0%5.6 more in 100; too few to tell
Typical against standard: under 100 launches

Standard: Every indie paid launch tagged both PvE and Souls-like, 12 to 36 months old: 45 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: 1 of 45 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, Witchfire (88.5% of the money): 44 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: 12 of 45.

PvE is audience split +1: West-facing view moves the answer more than chance alone would, and 1 more lens too. It holds in Without the breakout.

PvE through every lens, all prices
PvE	BaseStandardevery launch	West-facing view1,338 of 1,360 launches	Without the breakout1,359 of 1,360 launches	Last 18 months405 of 1,360 launches
Launches counted	1,36072 hits	1,33868 hits	1,35971 hits	40528 hits
Earned $100k+	5.3 in 1001 in 19	5.1 in 1001 in 20	5.2 in 1001 in 19	6.9 in 1001 in 14
Typical first-year earnings	$402top tenth $29,739+	$411	$390	$363
Chance against standard	the base	-4.0%0.2 fewer in 100	-1.3%0.1 fewer in 100	+30.6%1.6 more in 100
Typical against standard	the base	+2.2%$9 more	-3.0%$12 less	-9.7%$39 less
Does it hold?	The base view	Moves the answer	Holds	Moves the answer

BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged PvE, 12 to 36 months old: 1,360 launches.

Launches counted: 1,36072 hits
Earned $100k+: 5.3 in 1001 in 19
Typical first-year earnings: $402top tenth $29,739+
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: 22 of 1,360 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted: 1,33868 hits
Earned $100k+: 5.1 in 1001 in 20
Typical first-year earnings: $411
Chance against standard: -4.0%0.2 fewer in 100
Typical against standard: +2.2%$9 more

Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Gray Zone Warfare (21.2% of the money): 1,359 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted: 1,35971 hits
Earned $100k+: 5.2 in 1001 in 19
Typical first-year earnings: $390
Chance against standard: -1.3%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard: -3.0%$12 less

Last 18 monthsMoves the answer

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 405 of 1,360.

Launches counted: 40528 hits
Earned $100k+: 6.9 in 1001 in 14
Typical first-year earnings: $363
Chance against standard: +30.6%1.6 more in 100
Typical against standard: -9.7%$39 less

Standard: Every indie paid launch tagged PvE, 12 to 36 months old: 1,360 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 1,360 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 (21.2% of the money): 1,359 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: 405 of 1,360.

Souls-like 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.

Souls-like through every lens, all prices
Souls-like	BaseStandardevery launch	West-facing view372 of 389 launches	Without the breakout388 of 389 launches	Last 18 months94 of 389 launches
Launches counted	38949 hits	37247 hits	38848 hits	9411 hits
Earned $100k+	12.6 in 100	12.6 in 100	12.4 in 100	11.7 in 100
Typical first-year earnings	$1,072top tenth $161,131+	$1,148	$1,072	under 100 launches
Chance against standard	the base	+0.3%no change	-1.8%0.2 fewer in 100	-7.1%0.9 fewer in 100
Typical against standard	the base	+7.1%$76 more	0.0%no change	under 100 launches
Does it hold?	The base view	Holds	Holds	Holds

BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Souls-like, 12 to 36 months old: 389 launches.

Launches counted: 38949 hits
Earned $100k+: 12.6 in 100
Typical first-year earnings: $1,072top tenth $161,131+
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: 17 of 389 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted: 37247 hits
Earned $100k+: 12.6 in 100
Typical first-year earnings: $1,148
Chance against standard: +0.3%no change
Typical against standard: +7.1%$76 more

Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Hollow Knight: Silksong (44.7% of the money): 388 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted: 38848 hits
Earned $100k+: 12.4 in 100
Typical first-year earnings: $1,072
Chance against standard: -1.8%0.2 fewer in 100
Typical against standard: 0.0%no change

Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 94 of 389.

Launches counted: 9411 hits
Earned $100k+: 11.7 in 100
Typical first-year earnings: under 100 launches
Chance against standard: -7.1%0.9 fewer in 100
Typical against standard: under 100 launches

Standard: Every indie paid launch tagged Souls-like, 12 to 36 months old: 389 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: 17 of 389 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 (44.7% of the money): 388 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: 94 of 389.

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 PvE + Souls-like 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.