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 / RPG + Side Scroller

Niche

RPG + Side Scroller

Games tagged both RPG and Side Scroller: 82 indie paid launches, 4 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 RPG + 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

RPG + Side Scroller is too small to compare with RPG and is too small to compare with Side Scroller: 2 of its 18 launches earned $100k+ priced $10 to $20, against 20.6 in 100 for RPG and 16.9 in 100 for Side Scroller.

Small sample: 18 launches, 2 hits.

TIEA tie
Tag oneRPG
20.6in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds20.6 in 100
Typical earnings$11,889
Launches796 / 164 hits
Pair against ittoo few hits to compare
TIEA tie
This pairRPG + Side Scroller
2 of 18launches earned
$100k+ small
Odds2 of 18 launches
$1k+14 of 18 launches
$10k+9 of 18 launches
Launches18 / 2 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 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
All prices82 in pairUnder $541 in pair$5 to $1017 in pair$10 to $2018 in pair$20 to $406: too few
What the overlap means

The overlap is this niche: the 18 games tagged both RPG and Side Scroller priced $10 to $20. 2 of 18 of them earned $100k+, against 20.8 in 100 for RPG-only games and 17.7 in 100 for Side Scroller-only games, so the mix is too small to compare with RPG alone and is too small to compare with Side Scroller alone.

Both: 18 games priced $10 to $20; 2 of 18 earned $100k+, odds by size $1k+ 14 of 18 launches · $10k+ 9 of 18 launches · $100k+ 2 of 18 launches.

Circle areas follow launch counts; the gold overlap is exactly the pair's 18 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

Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Treeleads this pair53.3%
PairMandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree53.3%
RPGPath of Exile 218.7%
Side ScrollerAbsolum18.1%
CheckOne game over half?yes
NextNearest hitsnot computed yet

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

Open free preview
ComparablesFree until launchClick to unlockWho leads RPG + 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

  • Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree earned 53.3% of the estimated first-year money of the 82 RPG + Side Scroller launches.
  • RPG is led by Path of Exile 2, with 18.7% of its money.
  • Side Scroller is led by Absolum, with 18.1% 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

RPG + Side Scroller is one-hit market: one game earned over half the money.

RPG + Side Scroller through every lens, all prices
This pairBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view79 of 82 launchesWithout the breakout81 of 82 launchesLast 18 months15 of 82 launches
Launches counted824 hits794 hits813 hits151 hits
Earned $100k+4 of 82too few for a rate4 of 79too few for a rate3 of 81too few for a rate1 of 15too few for a rate
Chance of $10k+20 in 100chance of $10k+; $1k+ 41 in 100under 100 launchesunder 100 launchesunder 100 launches
Chance against standardthe base+3.8%0.2 more in 100; too few to tell-24.1%1.2 fewer in 100+36.7%1.8 more in 100; too few to tell
Typical against standardthe baseunder 100 launchesunder 100 launchesunder 100 launches
Does it hold?The base viewToo few to tellMoves the answerToo few to tell
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged both RPG and Side Scroller, 12 to 36 months old: 82 launches.

Launches counted
824 hits
Earned $100k+
4 of 82too few for a rate
Chance of $10k+
20 in 100chance of $10k+; $1k+ 41 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: 3 of 82 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
794 hits
Earned $100k+
4 of 79too few for a rate
Chance of $10k+
under 100 launches
Chance against standard
+3.8%0.2 more in 100; too few to tell
Typical against standard
under 100 launches
Without the breakoutMoves the answer

Drops the single biggest earner, Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree (53.3% of the money): 81 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
813 hits
Earned $100k+
3 of 81too few for a rate
Chance of $10k+
under 100 launches
Chance against standard
-24.1%1.2 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
under 100 launches
Last 18 monthsToo few to tell

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 15 of 82.

Launches counted
151 hits
Earned $100k+
1 of 15too few for a rate
Chance of $10k+
under 100 launches
Chance against standard
+36.7%1.8 more in 100; too few to tell
Typical against standard
under 100 launches
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged both RPG and Side Scroller, 12 to 36 months old: 82 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 82 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, Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree (53.3% of the money): 81 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: 15 of 82.

RPG 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.

RPG through every lens, all prices
RPGBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view3,170 of 3,764 launchesWithout the breakout3,763 of 3,764 launchesLast 18 months1,023 of 3,764 launches
Launches counted3,764305 hits3,170261 hits3,763304 hits1,02386 hits
Earned $100k+8.1 in 1001 in 128.2 in 1001 in 128.1 in 1001 in 128.4 in 1001 in 12
Typical first-year earnings$696top tenth $68,337+$769$696$858
Chance against standardthe base+1.6%0.1 more in 100-0.3%no change+3.7%0.3 more in 100
Typical against standardthe base+10.5%$73 more0.0%no change+23.3%$162 more
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged RPG, 12 to 36 months old: 3,764 launches.

Launches counted
3,764305 hits
Earned $100k+
8.1 in 1001 in 12
Typical first-year earnings
$696top tenth $68,337+
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: 594 of 3,764 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
3,170261 hits
Earned $100k+
8.2 in 1001 in 12
Typical first-year earnings
$769
Chance against standard
+1.6%0.1 more in 100
Typical against standard
+10.5%$73 more
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Path of Exile 2 (18.7% of the money): 3,763 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
3,763304 hits
Earned $100k+
8.1 in 1001 in 12
Typical first-year earnings
$696
Chance against standard
-0.3%no change
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 1,023 of 3,764.

Launches counted
1,02386 hits
Earned $100k+
8.4 in 1001 in 12
Typical first-year earnings
$858
Chance against standard
+3.7%0.3 more in 100
Typical against standard
+23.3%$162 more
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged RPG, 12 to 36 months old: 3,764 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: 594 of 3,764 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, Path of Exile 2 (18.7% of the money): 3,763 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: 1,023 of 3,764.

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 RPG + 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.