Niches / Top-Down Shooter + Tower Defense

Niche

Top-Down Shooter + Tower Defense

Games tagged both Top-Down Shooter and Tower Defense: 45 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". 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 26,280 indie paid launches 12 to 36 months old, data of 3 Oct 2026. How it is measured.

Price Under $5

All prices1 in 17 hit $100k+Under $51 in 219 hit $100k+$5 to $101 in 30 hit $100k+$10 to $2018 in 100 hit $100k+$20 to $4040 in 100 hit $100k+

Base rate: indie paid launches 12 to 36 months old, 26,280 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 Top-Down Shooter + Tower Defense priced under $5.

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

Top-Down Shooter + Tower Defense is too small to compare with Top-Down Shooter and is too small to compare with Tower Defense: 0 of its 24 launches earned $100k+ priced under $5, against 3 of 503 launches for Top-Down Shooter and 1 of 406 launches for Tower Defense.

Small sample: 24 launches, 0 hits.

TIEA tie

Tag oneTop-Down Shooter

3 of 503launches earned
$100k+ small

Odds3 of 503 launches

Typical earnings$125

Launches503 / 3 hits

Pair against ittoo few hits to compare

TIEA tie

This pairTop-Down Shooter + Tower Defense

0 of 24launches earned
$100k+ small

Odds0 of 24 launches

Typical earnings$51

Launches24 / 0 hits

Expected0.5 in 100

TIEA tie

Tag twoTower Defense

1 of 406launches earned
$100k+ small

Odds1 of 406 launches

Typical earnings$111

Launches406 / 1 hits

Pair against ittoo few hits to compare

All indie launches under $5: 0.5 in 100 earned $100k+ (1 in 219), typical $169, from 13,780 launches.each block is 0.5 in 100 all indie at under $5

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: 40.0 in 100), so read it within a price band.

Price bandswitches the whole page

All prices45 in pair Under $524 in pair $5 to $1015 in pair$10 to $206: too few$20 to $40no launches

What the overlap means

The overlap is this niche: the 24 games tagged both Top-Down Shooter and Tower Defense priced under $5. 0 of 24 of them earned $100k+, against 3 of 479 for Top-Down Shooter-only games and 1 of 382 for Tower Defense-only games, so the mix is too small to compare with Top-Down Shooter alone and is too small to compare with Tower Defense alone.

Both: 24 games priced under $5; 0 of 24 earned $100k+, typical first-year earnings $51.

Circle areas follow launch counts; the gold overlap is exactly the pair's 24 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

Cluckmech Oasisleads this pair51.7%

PairCluckmech Oasis51.7%

Top-Down ShooterDeep Rock Galactic: Survivor35.9%

Tower DefenseStronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition11.6%

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 Top-Down Shooter + 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

Cluckmech Oasis earned 51.7% of the estimated first-year money of the 45 Top-Down Shooter + Tower Defense launches.
Top-Down Shooter is led by Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor, with 35.9% of its money.
Tower Defense is led by Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition, with 11.6% 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

Top-Down Shooter + Tower Defense is one-hit market: one game earned over half the money.

Top-Down Shooter + Tower Defense through every lens, all prices
This pair	BaseStandardevery launch	West-facing view41 of 45 launches	Without the breakout44 of 45 launches	Last 18 months15 of 45 launches
Launches counted	452 hits	410 hits	441 hits	150 hits
Earned $100k+	2 of 45too few for a rate	0 of 41too few for a rate	1 of 44too few for a rate	0 of 15too few for a rate
Typical first-year earnings	$303top tenth $6,585+	$303	$303	$419
Chance against standard	the base	-100.0%4.4 fewer in 100; too few to tell	-48.9%2.2 fewer in 100	-100.0%4.4 fewer in 100; too few to tell
Typical against standard	the base	0.0%no change; too few to tell	0.0%no change	+38.3%$116 more; too few to tell
Does it hold?	The base view	Too few to tell	Moves the answer	Too few to tell

BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged both Top-Down Shooter and Tower Defense, 12 to 36 months old: 45 launches.

Launches counted: 452 hits
Earned $100k+: 2 of 45too few for a rate
Typical first-year earnings: $303top tenth $6,585+
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 45 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted: 410 hits
Earned $100k+: 0 of 41too few for a rate
Typical first-year earnings: $303
Chance against standard: -100.0%4.4 fewer in 100; too few to tell
Typical against standard: 0.0%no change; too few to tell

Without the breakoutMoves the answer

Drops the single biggest earner, Cluckmech Oasis (51.7% of the money): 44 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted: 441 hits
Earned $100k+: 1 of 44too few for a rate
Typical first-year earnings: $303
Chance against standard: -48.9%2.2 fewer in 100
Typical against standard: 0.0%no change

Last 18 monthsToo few to tell

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 15 of 45.

Launches counted: 150 hits
Earned $100k+: 0 of 15too few for a rate
Typical first-year earnings: $419
Chance against standard: -100.0%4.4 fewer in 100; too few to tell
Typical against standard: +38.3%$116 more; too few to tell

Standard: Every indie paid launch tagged both Top-Down Shooter and Tower Defense, 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: 4 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, Cluckmech Oasis (51.7% 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: 15 of 45.

Top-Down Shooter 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.

Top-Down Shooter through every lens, all prices
Top-Down Shooter	BaseStandardevery launch	West-facing view789 of 832 launches	Without the breakout831 of 832 launches	Last 18 months226 of 832 launches
Launches counted	83225 hits	78922 hits	83124 hits	2264 hits
Earned $100k+	3.0 in 1001 in 33	2.8 in 1001 in 36	2.9 in 1001 in 35	4 of 226too few for a rate
Typical first-year earnings	$287top tenth $12,267+	$303	$287	$266
Chance against standard	the base	-7.2%0.2 fewer in 100	-3.9%0.1 fewer in 100	-41.1%1.2 fewer in 100; too few to tell
Typical against standard	the base	+5.6%$16 more	0.0%no change	-7.3%$21 less
Does it hold?	The base view	Holds	Holds	Holds

BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Top-Down Shooter, 12 to 36 months old: 832 launches.

Launches counted: 83225 hits
Earned $100k+: 3.0 in 1001 in 33
Typical first-year earnings: $287top tenth $12,267+
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: 43 of 832 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted: 78922 hits
Earned $100k+: 2.8 in 1001 in 36
Typical first-year earnings: $303
Chance against standard: -7.2%0.2 fewer in 100
Typical against standard: +5.6%$16 more

Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor (35.9% of the money): 831 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted: 83124 hits
Earned $100k+: 2.9 in 1001 in 35
Typical first-year earnings: $287
Chance against standard: -3.9%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard: 0.0%no change

Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 226 of 832.

Launches counted: 2264 hits
Earned $100k+: 4 of 226too few for a rate
Typical first-year earnings: $266
Chance against standard: -41.1%1.2 fewer in 100; too few to tell
Typical against standard: -7.3%$21 less

Standard: Every indie paid launch tagged Top-Down Shooter, 12 to 36 months old: 832 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: 43 of 832 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 (35.9% of the money): 831 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: 226 of 832.

Tower Defense 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.

Tower Defense through every lens, all prices
Tower Defense	BaseStandardevery launch	West-facing view740 of 787 launches	Without the breakout786 of 787 launches	Last 18 months222 of 787 launches
Launches counted	78744 hits	74039 hits	78643 hits	22212 hits
Earned $100k+	5.6 in 1001 in 18	5.3 in 1001 in 19	5.5 in 1001 in 18	5.4 in 1001 in 19
Typical first-year earnings	$383top tenth $32,058+	$405	$383	$383
Chance against standard	the base	-5.7%0.3 fewer in 100	-2.1%0.1 fewer in 100	-3.3%0.2 fewer in 100
Typical against standard	the base	+5.7%$22 more	0.0%no change	0.0%no change
Does it hold?	The base view	Holds	Holds	Holds

BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Tower Defense, 12 to 36 months old: 787 launches.

Launches counted: 78744 hits
Earned $100k+: 5.6 in 1001 in 18
Typical first-year earnings: $383top tenth $32,058+
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: 47 of 787 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted: 74039 hits
Earned $100k+: 5.3 in 1001 in 19
Typical first-year earnings: $405
Chance against standard: -5.7%0.3 fewer in 100
Typical against standard: +5.7%$22 more

Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition (11.6% of the money): 786 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted: 78643 hits
Earned $100k+: 5.5 in 1001 in 18
Typical first-year earnings: $383
Chance against standard: -2.1%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard: 0.0%no change

Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 222 of 787.

Launches counted: 22212 hits
Earned $100k+: 5.4 in 1001 in 19
Typical first-year earnings: $383
Chance against standard: -3.3%0.2 fewer in 100
Typical against standard: 0.0%no change

Standard: Every indie paid launch tagged Tower Defense, 12 to 36 months old: 787 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: 47 of 787 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): 786 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: 222 of 787.

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 Top-Down Shooter + 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.