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on 2 Oct 2026

Niches / Top-Down + Tower Defense

Niche

Top-Down + Tower Defense

Games tagged both Top-Down and Tower Defense: 172 indie paid launches, 2 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".
  • Price moves the odds more than genre does, so the page opens on one price band. The keys in section 2 switch it.
  • From 29,637 indie paid launches 6 to 30 months old, data of 1 Oct 2026. How it is measured.

Showing Top-Down + Tower Defense 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

Top-Down + Tower Defense trails both its tags: 0 of its 18 launches earned $100k+ priced $10 to $20, against 14.0 in 100 for Top-Down and 23.8 in 100 for Tower Defense.

Small sample: 18 launches, 0 hits.

2NDRunner-up
Tag onemood tagTop-Down
14.0in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds14.0 in 100
Typical earnings$6,556
Launches221 / 31 hits
Pair trails by14.0 in 100
3RDThird
This pairTop-Down + Tower Defense
0 of 18launches earned
$100k+ small
Odds0 of 18 launches
Typical earnings$6,477
Launches18 / 0 hits
Expected18.6 in 100
1STWinner
Tag twoTower Defense
23.8in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds23.8 in 100
Typical earnings$7,628
Launches143 / 34 hits
Pair trails by23.8 in 100
All indie launches $10 to $20: 18.6 in 100 earned $100k+, typical $9,226, from 4,810 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: 0.5 in 100 launches earned $100k+; $20 to $40: 42.4 in 100), so read it within a price band.

Price bandswitches the whole page
All prices172 in pairUnder $597 in pair$5 to $1057 in pair$10 to $2018 in pair$20 to $40no launches
What the overlap means

The overlap is this niche: the 18 games tagged both Top-Down and Tower Defense priced $10 to $20. 0.0 in 100 of them earned $100k+, against 15.3 for Top-Down-only games and 27.2 for Tower Defense-only games, so games with both tags did worse than games with either tag alone.

Both: 18 games priced $10 to $20; 0.0 in 100 earned $100k+, typical first-year earnings $6,477.

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

Monsters are Coming!leads this pair43.3%
PairMonsters are Coming!43.3%
Top-DownShape of Dreams16.8%
Tower DefenseStronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition11.6%
CheckOne game over half?no
NextNearest hitsnot computed yet

Lens checkChanged recently +1. Standard: the yardstick. West-facing view: holds. Without the breakout: moves the answer. Last 18 months: moves the answer.

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

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

  • Monsters are Coming! earned 43.3% of the estimated first-year money of the 172 Top-Down + Tower Defense launches.
  • Top-Down is led by Shape of Dreams, with 16.8% of its money.
  • Tower Defense is led by Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition, with 11.6% 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: those with a mostly Chinese audience, the single biggest earner, and everything older than 18 months.

Does the answer hold?

All prices

Top-Down + Tower Defense is changed recently +1: Last 18 months moves the answer by more than a quarter, and 1 more lens too. It holds in 1 of 3.

Top-Down + Tower Defense through every lens, all prices
This pairBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view167 of 172 launchesWithout the breakout171 of 172 launchesLast 18 months105 of 172 launches
Launches counted1722 hits1672 hits1711 hits1052 hits
Earned $100k+1.2 in 1001 in 831.2 in 1001 in 830.6 in 1001 in 1671.9 in 1001 in 53
Typical first-year earnings$263top tenth $7,285+$263$243$201
Chance against standardthe yardstick0.0%no change-50.0%0.6 fewer in 100+58.3%0.7 more in 100
Typical against standardthe yardstick0.0%no change-7.6%$20 less-23.6%$62 less
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsMoves the answerMoves the answer
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged both Top-Down and Tower Defense, 6 to 30 months old: 172 launches.

Launches counted
1722 hits
Earned $100k+
1.2 in 1001 in 83
Typical first-year earnings
$263top tenth $7,285+
Chance against standard
the yardstick
Typical against standard
the yardstick
West-facing viewHolds

Games mostly reviewed outside China. Drops games whose audience is mostly Chinese, meaning 35% or more of their reviews are in Simplified Chinese: 5 of 172 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
1672 hits
Earned $100k+
1.2 in 1001 in 83
Typical first-year earnings
$263
Chance against standard
0.0%no change
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Without the breakoutMoves the answer

Drops the single biggest earner, Monsters are Coming! (43.3% of the money): 171 launches left.

Launches counted
1711 hits
Earned $100k+
0.6 in 1001 in 167
Typical first-year earnings
$243
Chance against standard
-50.0%0.6 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-7.6%$20 less
Last 18 monthsMoves the answer

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 105 of 172.

Launches counted
1052 hits
Earned $100k+
1.9 in 1001 in 53
Typical first-year earnings
$201
Chance against standard
+58.3%0.7 more in 100
Typical against standard
-23.6%$62 less
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged both Top-Down and Tower Defense, 6 to 30 months old: 172 launches.
West-facing view
Games mostly reviewed outside China. Drops games whose audience is mostly Chinese, meaning 35% or more of their reviews are in Simplified Chinese: 5 of 172 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, Monsters are Coming! (43.3% of the money): 171 launches left.
Last 18 months
Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 105 of 172.

Top-Down is changed recently: Last 18 months moves the answer by more than a quarter. It holds in 2 of 3.

Top-Down through every lens, all prices
Top-DownBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view1,975 of 2,055 launchesWithout the breakout2,054 of 2,055 launchesLast 18 months1,144 of 2,055 launches
Launches counted2,05561 hits1,97554 hits2,05460 hits1,14432 hits
Earned $100k+3.0 in 1001 in 332.7 in 1001 in 372.9 in 1001 in 342.8 in 1001 in 36
Typical first-year earnings$301top tenth $9,109+$303$301$202
Chance against standardthe yardstick-10.0%0.3 fewer in 100-3.3%0.1 fewer in 100-6.7%0.2 fewer in 100
Typical against standardthe yardstick+0.7%$2 more0.0%no change-32.9%$99 less
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsMoves the answer
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Top-Down, 6 to 30 months old: 2,055 launches.

Launches counted
2,05561 hits
Earned $100k+
3.0 in 1001 in 33
Typical first-year earnings
$301top tenth $9,109+
Chance against standard
the yardstick
Typical against standard
the yardstick
West-facing viewHolds

Games mostly reviewed outside China. Drops games whose audience is mostly Chinese, meaning 35% or more of their reviews are in Simplified Chinese: 80 of 2,055 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
1,97554 hits
Earned $100k+
2.7 in 1001 in 37
Typical first-year earnings
$303
Chance against standard
-10.0%0.3 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
+0.7%$2 more
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Shape of Dreams (16.8% of the money): 2,054 launches left.

Launches counted
2,05460 hits
Earned $100k+
2.9 in 1001 in 34
Typical first-year earnings
$301
Chance against standard
-3.3%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: 1,144 of 2,055.

Launches counted
1,14432 hits
Earned $100k+
2.8 in 1001 in 36
Typical first-year earnings
$202
Chance against standard
-6.7%0.2 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-32.9%$99 less
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged Top-Down, 6 to 30 months old: 2,055 launches.
West-facing view
Games mostly reviewed outside China. Drops games whose audience is mostly Chinese, meaning 35% or more of their reviews are in Simplified Chinese: 80 of 2,055 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, Shape of Dreams (16.8% of the money): 2,054 launches left.
Last 18 months
Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 1,144 of 2,055.

Tower Defense holds in 3 of 3: every lens keeps the chance and typical earnings within a quarter of the standard figures.

Tower Defense through every lens, all prices
Tower DefenseBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view853 of 897 launchesWithout the breakout896 of 897 launchesLast 18 months491 of 897 launches
Launches counted89753 hits85350 hits89652 hits49129 hits
Earned $100k+5.9 in 1001 in 175.9 in 1001 in 175.8 in 1001 in 175.9 in 1001 in 17
Typical first-year earnings$484top tenth $35,412+$485$484$443
Chance against standardthe yardstick0.0%no change-1.7%0.1 fewer in 1000.0%no change
Typical against standardthe yardstick+0.2%$1 more0.0%no change-8.5%$41 less
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Tower Defense, 6 to 30 months old: 897 launches.

Launches counted
89753 hits
Earned $100k+
5.9 in 1001 in 17
Typical first-year earnings
$484top tenth $35,412+
Chance against standard
the yardstick
Typical against standard
the yardstick
West-facing viewHolds

Games mostly reviewed outside China. Drops games whose audience is mostly Chinese, meaning 35% or more of their reviews are in Simplified Chinese: 44 of 897 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
85350 hits
Earned $100k+
5.9 in 1001 in 17
Typical first-year earnings
$485
Chance against standard
0.0%no change
Typical against standard
+0.2%$1 more
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition (11.6% of the money): 896 launches left.

Launches counted
89652 hits
Earned $100k+
5.8 in 1001 in 17
Typical first-year earnings
$484
Chance against standard
-1.7%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 491 of 897.

Launches counted
49129 hits
Earned $100k+
5.9 in 1001 in 17
Typical first-year earnings
$443
Chance against standard
0.0%no change
Typical against standard
-8.5%$41 less
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged Tower Defense, 6 to 30 months old: 897 launches.
West-facing view
Games mostly reviewed outside China. Drops games whose audience is mostly Chinese, meaning 35% or more of their reviews are in Simplified Chinese: 44 of 897 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, Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition (11.6% of the money): 896 launches left.
Last 18 months
Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 491 of 897.

A lens holds when chance and typical earnings both stay within 25% of standard. Lens figures by price band are not computed yet, so this table is for all prices.

5Premium early list

Alerts when Top-Down + Tower Defense 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.