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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 / Strategy + Top-Down

Niche

Strategy + Top-Down

Games tagged both Strategy and Top-Down: 503 indie paid launches, 18 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 Strategy + Top-Down priced $10 to $20. This filter changes the answer: at all prices the pair trails Strategy and is about level with Top-Down; priced $10 to $20 it trails both its tags.

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

Strategy + Top-Down trails both its tags: 8.6 in 100 of its launches earned $100k+ priced $10 to $20, against 19.5 in 100 for Strategy and 17.4 in 100 for Top-Down.

That is 1 in 12, about 0.4 times the 20.5 in 100 expected for any launch at this price.

TIEA tie
Tag oneStrategy
19.5in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds19.5 in 100
Typical earnings$11,272
Launches860 / 168 hits
Pair trails by10.9 in 100
3RDThird
This pairStrategy + Top-Down
8.6in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds1 in 12
$1k+86 in 100
$10k+55 in 100
Launches58 / 5 hits
Expected20.5 in 100
TIEA tie
Tag twomood tagTop-Down
17.4in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds17.4 in 100
Typical earnings$9,694
Launches190 / 33 hits
Pair trails by8.7 in 100
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 $20Top-Down 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 prices503 in pairUnder $5266 in pair$5 to $10162 in pair$10 to $2058 in pair$20 to $4017 in pair
What the overlap means

The overlap is this niche: the 58 games tagged both Strategy and Top-Down priced $10 to $20. 8.6 in 100 of them earned $100k+, against 20.3 in 100 for Strategy-only games and 21.2 in 100 for Top-Down-only games, so games with both tags did worse than games with either tag alone.

Both: 58 games priced $10 to $20; 8.6 in 100 earned $100k+ (1 in 12), odds by size $1k+ 86 in 100 · $10k+ 55 in 100 · $100k+ 9 in 100.

Circle areas follow launch counts; the gold overlap is exactly the pair's 58 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

Reverse Collapse: Code Name Bakeryleads this pair16.4%
PairReverse Collapse: Code Name Bakery16.4%
StrategyManor Lords14.9%
Top-DownDeep Rock Galactic: Survivor18.3%
CheckOne game over half?no
NextNearest hitsnot computed yet

Lens checkAudience split. Standard: the base the others are compared with. West-facing view: moves the answer. Without the breakout: holds. Last 18 months: holds.

Open free preview
ComparablesFree until launchClick to unlockWho leads Strategy + Top-Down

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

  • Reverse Collapse: Code Name Bakery earned 16.4% of the estimated first-year money of the 503 Strategy + Top-Down launches.
  • Strategy is led by Manor Lords, with 14.9% of its money.
  • Top-Down is led by Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor, with 18.3% 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

Strategy + Top-Down is audience split: West-facing view moves the answer more than chance alone would. It holds in Without the breakout and Last 18 months.

Strategy + Top-Down through every lens, all prices
This pairBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view472 of 503 launchesWithout the breakout502 of 503 launchesLast 18 months135 of 503 launches
Launches counted50318 hits47215 hits50217 hits1354 hits
Earned $100k+3.6 in 1001 in 283.2 in 1001 in 313.4 in 1001 in 304 of 135too few for a rate
Typical first-year earnings$345top tenth $14,202+$368$345$300
Chance against standardthe base-11.2%0.4 fewer in 100-5.4%0.2 fewer in 100-17.2%0.6 fewer in 100; too few to tell
Typical against standardthe base+6.7%$23 more0.0%no change-13.0%$45 less
Does it hold?The base viewMoves the answerHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged both Strategy and Top-Down, 12 to 36 months old: 503 launches.

Launches counted
50318 hits
Earned $100k+
3.6 in 1001 in 28
Typical first-year earnings
$345top tenth $14,202+
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: 31 of 503 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
47215 hits
Earned $100k+
3.2 in 1001 in 31
Typical first-year earnings
$368
Chance against standard
-11.2%0.4 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
+6.7%$23 more
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Reverse Collapse: Code Name Bakery (16.4% of the money): 502 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
50217 hits
Earned $100k+
3.4 in 1001 in 30
Typical first-year earnings
$345
Chance against standard
-5.4%0.2 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 135 of 503.

Launches counted
1354 hits
Earned $100k+
4 of 135too few for a rate
Typical first-year earnings
$300
Chance against standard
-17.2%0.6 fewer in 100; too few to tell
Typical against standard
-13.0%$45 less
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged both Strategy and Top-Down, 12 to 36 months old: 503 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: 31 of 503 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, Reverse Collapse: Code Name Bakery (16.4% of the money): 502 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: 135 of 503.

Strategy 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.

Strategy through every lens, all prices
StrategyBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view4,385 of 4,762 launchesWithout the breakout4,761 of 4,762 launchesLast 18 months1,438 of 4,762 launches
Launches counted4,762337 hits4,385309 hits4,761336 hits1,438111 hits
Earned $100k+7.1 in 1001 in 147.0 in 1001 in 147.1 in 1001 in 147.7 in 1001 in 13
Typical first-year earnings$454top tenth $51,271+$509$454$543
Chance against standardthe base-0.4%no change-0.3%no change+9.1%0.6 more in 100
Typical against standardthe base+12.1%$55 more0.0%no change+19.6%$89 more
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Strategy, 12 to 36 months old: 4,762 launches.

Launches counted
4,762337 hits
Earned $100k+
7.1 in 1001 in 14
Typical first-year earnings
$454top tenth $51,271+
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: 377 of 4,762 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
4,385309 hits
Earned $100k+
7.0 in 1001 in 14
Typical first-year earnings
$509
Chance against standard
-0.4%no change
Typical against standard
+12.1%$55 more
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Manor Lords (14.9% of the money): 4,761 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
4,761336 hits
Earned $100k+
7.1 in 1001 in 14
Typical first-year earnings
$454
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: 1,438 of 4,762.

Launches counted
1,438111 hits
Earned $100k+
7.7 in 1001 in 13
Typical first-year earnings
$543
Chance against standard
+9.1%0.6 more in 100
Typical against standard
+19.6%$89 more
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged Strategy, 12 to 36 months old: 4,762 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: 377 of 4,762 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, Manor Lords (14.9% of the money): 4,761 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: 1,438 of 4,762.

Top-Down 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.

Top-Down through every lens, all prices
Top-DownBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view1,803 of 1,885 launchesWithout the breakout1,884 of 1,885 launchesLast 18 months496 of 1,885 launches
Launches counted1,88559 hits1,80352 hits1,88458 hits49615 hits
Earned $100k+3.1 in 1001 in 322.9 in 1001 in 353.1 in 1001 in 323.0 in 1001 in 33
Typical first-year earnings$270top tenth $10,036+$278$270$182
Chance against standardthe base-7.9%0.2 fewer in 100-1.6%0.1 fewer in 100-3.4%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standardthe base+3.0%$8 more0.0%no change-32.6%$88 less
Does it hold?The base viewMoves the answerHoldsMoves the answer
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Top-Down, 12 to 36 months old: 1,885 launches.

Launches counted
1,88559 hits
Earned $100k+
3.1 in 1001 in 32
Typical first-year earnings
$270top tenth $10,036+
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: 82 of 1,885 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
1,80352 hits
Earned $100k+
2.9 in 1001 in 35
Typical first-year earnings
$278
Chance against standard
-7.9%0.2 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
+3.0%$8 more
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor (18.3% of the money): 1,884 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
1,88458 hits
Earned $100k+
3.1 in 1001 in 32
Typical first-year earnings
$270
Chance against standard
-1.6%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Last 18 monthsMoves the answer

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 496 of 1,885.

Launches counted
49615 hits
Earned $100k+
3.0 in 1001 in 33
Typical first-year earnings
$182
Chance against standard
-3.4%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-32.6%$88 less
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged Top-Down, 12 to 36 months old: 1,885 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: 82 of 1,885 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, Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor (18.3% of the money): 1,884 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: 496 of 1,885.

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 Strategy + Top-Down 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.