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
192,217
on 3 Oct 2026

Niches / Runner + Side Scroller

Niche

Runner + Side Scroller

Games tagged both Runner and Side Scroller: 79 indie paid launches, 1 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 26,291 indie paid launches 12 to 36 months old, data of 3 Oct 2026. How it is measured.

Showing Runner + Side Scroller priced under $5, west-facing view. Lens figures exist at all prices only, so inside a price band the page shows the standard figures.

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

Runner + Side Scroller is too small to compare with Runner and is too small to compare with Side Scroller: 0 of its 59 launches earned $100k+ priced under $5, against 0 of 387 launches for Runner and 1 of 616 launches for Side Scroller.

Lens figures by price band are not computed yet, so this band uses the standard figures. Small sample: 59 launches, 0 hits.

TIEA tie
Tag oneRunner
0 of 387launches earned
$100k+ small
Odds0 of 387 launches
Typical earnings$71
Launches387 / 0 hits
Pair against ittoo few hits to compare
TIEA tie
This pairRunner + Side Scroller
0 of 59launches earned
$100k+ small
Odds0 of 59 launches
$1k+8 in 100
$10k+0 of 59 launches
Launches59 / 0 hits
Expected0.4 in 100
TIEA tie
Tag twomood tagSide Scroller
1 of 616launches earned
$100k+ small
Odds1 of 616 launches
Typical earnings$107
Launches616 / 1 hits
Pair against ittoo few hits to compare
All indie launches under $5: 0.4 in 100 earned $100k+ (1 in 238), typical $158, from 13,785 launches.each block is 0.5 in 100 all indie at under $5Side 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 prices79 in pairUnder $559 in pair$5 to $1014 in pair$10 to $206: too few$20 to $40no launches
What the overlap means

The overlap is this niche: the 59 games tagged both Runner and Side Scroller priced under $5. 0 of 59 of them earned $100k+, against 0 of 328 for Runner-only games and 1 of 557 for Side Scroller-only games, so the mix is too small to compare with Runner alone and is too small to compare with Side Scroller alone.

Both: 59 games priced under $5; 0 of 59 earned $100k+, odds by size $1k+ 8 in 100 · $10k+ 0 of 59 launches · $100k+ 0 of 59 launches.

Circle areas follow launch counts; the gold overlap is exactly the pair's 59 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. The west-facing view lens is not computed for the outer parts, so this diagram uses the standard figures.

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

Nitro Expressleads this pair87.1%
PairNitro Express87.1%
RunnerHaste45.0%
Side ScrollerMandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree9.5%
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 Runner + 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

  • Nitro Express earned 87.1% of the estimated first-year money of the 79 Runner + Side Scroller launches.
  • Runner is led by Haste, with 45.0% of its money.
  • Side Scroller is led by Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree, with 9.5% 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

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

Runner + Side Scroller through every lens, all prices
This pairBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view75 of 79 launchesWithout the breakout78 of 79 launchesLast 18 months25 of 79 launches
Launches counted791 hits751 hits780 hits251 hits
Earned $100k+1 of 79too few for a rate1 of 75too few for a rate0 of 78too few for a rate1 of 25too few for a rate
Chance of $10k+1 of 79 launchescleared $10k; $1k+ 19 in 100under 100 launchesunder 100 launchesunder 100 launches
Chance against standardthe base+5.3%0.1 more in 100; too few to tell-100.0%1.3 fewer in 100+216.0%2.7 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 Runner and Side Scroller, 12 to 36 months old: 79 launches.

Launches counted
791 hits
Earned $100k+
1 of 79too few for a rate
Chance of $10k+
1 of 79 launchescleared $10k; $1k+ 19 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: 4 of 79 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
751 hits
Earned $100k+
1 of 75too few for a rate
Chance of $10k+
under 100 launches
Chance against standard
+5.3%0.1 more in 100; too few to tell
Typical against standard
under 100 launches
Without the breakoutMoves the answer

Drops the single biggest earner, Nitro Express (87.1% of the money): 78 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
780 hits
Earned $100k+
0 of 78too few for a rate
Chance of $10k+
under 100 launches
Chance against standard
-100.0%1.3 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
under 100 launches
Last 18 monthsToo few to tell

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 25 of 79.

Launches counted
251 hits
Earned $100k+
1 of 25too few for a rate
Chance of $10k+
under 100 launches
Chance against standard
+216.0%2.7 more in 100; too few to tell
Typical against standard
under 100 launches
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged both Runner and Side Scroller, 12 to 36 months old: 79 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: 4 of 79 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, Nitro Express (87.1% of the money): 78 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: 25 of 79.

Runner 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.

Runner through every lens, all prices
RunnerBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view515 of 534 launchesWithout the breakout533 of 534 launchesLast 18 months136 of 534 launches
Launches counted5347 hits5157 hits5336 hits1363 hits
Earned $100k+1.3 in 1001 in 761.4 in 1001 in 741.1 in 1001 in 893 of 136too few for a rate
Typical first-year earnings$94top tenth $2,275+$94$94$107
Chance against standardthe base+3.7%no change-14.1%0.2 fewer in 100+68.3%0.9 more in 100; too few to tell
Typical against standardthe base0.0%no change0.0%no change+13.8%$13 more
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Runner, 12 to 36 months old: 534 launches.

Launches counted
5347 hits
Earned $100k+
1.3 in 1001 in 76
Typical first-year earnings
$94top tenth $2,275+
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: 19 of 534 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
5157 hits
Earned $100k+
1.4 in 1001 in 74
Typical first-year earnings
$94
Chance against standard
+3.7%no change
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Haste (45.0% of the money): 533 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
5336 hits
Earned $100k+
1.1 in 1001 in 89
Typical first-year earnings
$94
Chance against standard
-14.1%0.2 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 136 of 534.

Launches counted
1363 hits
Earned $100k+
3 of 136too few for a rate
Typical first-year earnings
$107
Chance against standard
+68.3%0.9 more in 100; too few to tell
Typical against standard
+13.8%$13 more
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged Runner, 12 to 36 months old: 534 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: 19 of 534 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, Haste (45.0% of the money): 533 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: 136 of 534.

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 view1,042 of 1,065 launchesWithout the breakout1,064 of 1,065 launchesLast 18 months288 of 1,065 launches
Launches counted1,06542 hits1,04241 hits1,06441 hits28814 hits
Earned $100k+3.9 in 1001 in 253.9 in 1001 in 253.9 in 1001 in 264.9 in 1001 in 21
Typical first-year earnings$346top tenth $23,350+$346$346$268
Chance against standardthe base-0.2%no change-2.3%0.1 fewer in 100+23.3%0.9 more in 100
Typical against standardthe base0.0%no change0.0%no change-22.5%$78 less
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Side Scroller, 12 to 36 months old: 1,065 launches.

Launches counted
1,06542 hits
Earned $100k+
3.9 in 1001 in 25
Typical first-year earnings
$346top tenth $23,350+
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: 23 of 1,065 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
1,04241 hits
Earned $100k+
3.9 in 1001 in 25
Typical first-year earnings
$346
Chance against standard
-0.2%no change
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree (9.5% of the money): 1,064 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
1,06441 hits
Earned $100k+
3.9 in 1001 in 26
Typical first-year earnings
$346
Chance against standard
-2.3%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 288 of 1,065.

Launches counted
28814 hits
Earned $100k+
4.9 in 1001 in 21
Typical first-year earnings
$268
Chance against standard
+23.3%0.9 more in 100
Typical against standard
-22.5%$78 less
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged Side Scroller, 12 to 36 months old: 1,065 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: 23 of 1,065 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 (9.5% of the money): 1,064 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: 288 of 1,065.

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 Runner + 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.