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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 same figures are on the Genres page.

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on 30 Sep 2026

Niches / 2.5D + Strategy

Niche

2.5D + Strategy

Games tagged both 2.5D and Strategy: 138 indie paid launches, 5 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 2.5D + Strategy 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

2.5D + Strategy trails both its tags: 3.2 in 100 of its launches earned $100k+ priced $10 to $20, against 12.9 in 100 for 2.5D and 16.5 in 100 for Strategy.

That is 1 in 31, about 0.2 times the 18.6 in 100 expected for any launch at this price.

2NDRunner-up
Tag onemood tag2.5D
12.9in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds12.9 in 100
Typical earnings$6,882
Launches132 / 17 hits
Pair trails by9.7 in 100
3RDThird
This pair2.5D + Strategy
3.2in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds1 in 31
Typical earnings$607
Launches31 / 1 hits
Expected18.6 in 100
1STWinner
Tag twoStrategy
16.5in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds16.5 in 100
Typical earnings$9,226
Launches978 / 161 hits
Pair trails by13.3 in 100
All indie launches $10 to $20: 18.6 in 100 earned $100k+, typical $9,226, from 4,810 launches.each block is 1 in 100 all indie at $10 to $202.5D 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
What the overlap means

The overlap is this niche: the 31 games tagged both 2.5D and Strategy priced $10 to $20. 3.2 in 100 of them earned $100k+, against 15.8 for 2.5D-only games and 16.9 for Strategy-only games, so games with both tags did worse than games with either tag alone.

Both: 31 games priced $10 to $20; 3.2 in 100 earned $100k+ (1 in 31), typical first-year earnings $607.

Circle areas follow launch counts; the gold overlap is exactly the pair's 31 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

ShapeHero Factoryleads this pair24.7%
PairShapeHero Factory24.7%
2.5DRivals of Aether II13.0%
StrategySlay the Spire 217.1%
CheckOne game over half?no
NextNearest hitsnot computed yet

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

Open free preview
ComparablesFree until launchClick to unlockWho leads 2.5D + Strategy

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

  • ShapeHero Factory earned 24.7% of the estimated first-year money of the 138 2.5D + Strategy launches.
  • 2.5D is led by Rivals of Aether II, with 13.0% of its money.
  • Strategy is led by Slay the Spire 2, with 17.1% 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

2.5D + Strategy is changed recently: Last 18 months moves the answer by more than a quarter. It holds in 2 of 3.

2.5D + Strategy through every lens, all prices
This pairBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view122 of 138 launchesWithout the breakout137 of 138 launchesLast 18 months86 of 138 launches
Launches counted1385 hits1225 hits1374 hits862 hits
Earned $100k+3.6 in 1001 in 284.1 in 1001 in 242.9 in 1001 in 342.3 in 1001 in 43
Typical first-year earnings$304top tenth $17,001+$322$304$364
Chance against standardthe yardstick+13.9%0.5 more in 100-19.4%0.7 fewer in 100-36.1%1.3 fewer in 100
Typical against standardthe yardstick+5.9%$18 more0.0%no change+19.7%$60 more
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsMoves the answer
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged both 2.5D and Strategy, 6 to 30 months old: 138 launches.

Launches counted
1385 hits
Earned $100k+
3.6 in 1001 in 28
Typical first-year earnings
$304top tenth $17,001+
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: 16 of 138 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
1225 hits
Earned $100k+
4.1 in 1001 in 24
Typical first-year earnings
$322
Chance against standard
+13.9%0.5 more in 100
Typical against standard
+5.9%$18 more
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, ShapeHero Factory (24.7% of the money): 137 launches left.

Launches counted
1374 hits
Earned $100k+
2.9 in 1001 in 34
Typical first-year earnings
$304
Chance against standard
-19.4%0.7 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Last 18 monthsMoves the answer

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 86 of 138.

Launches counted
862 hits
Earned $100k+
2.3 in 1001 in 43
Typical first-year earnings
$364
Chance against standard
-36.1%1.3 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
+19.7%$60 more
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged both 2.5D and Strategy, 6 to 30 months old: 138 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: 16 of 138 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, ShapeHero Factory (24.7% of the money): 137 launches left.
Last 18 months
Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 86 of 138.

2.5D is changed recently: Last 18 months moves the answer by more than a quarter. It holds in 2 of 3.

2.5D through every lens, all prices
2.5DBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view650 of 686 launchesWithout the breakout685 of 686 launchesLast 18 months378 of 686 launches
Launches counted68636 hits65034 hits68535 hits37812 hits
Earned $100k+5.2 in 1001 in 195.2 in 1001 in 195.1 in 1001 in 203.2 in 1001 in 31
Typical first-year earnings$404top tenth $23,883+$404$403$324
Chance against standardthe yardstick0.0%no change-1.9%0.1 fewer in 100-38.5%2.0 fewer in 100
Typical against standardthe yardstick0.0%no change-0.2%$1 less-19.8%$80 less
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsMoves the answer
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged 2.5D, 6 to 30 months old: 686 launches.

Launches counted
68636 hits
Earned $100k+
5.2 in 1001 in 19
Typical first-year earnings
$404top tenth $23,883+
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: 36 of 686 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
65034 hits
Earned $100k+
5.2 in 1001 in 19
Typical first-year earnings
$404
Chance against standard
0.0%no change
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Rivals of Aether II (13.0% of the money): 685 launches left.

Launches counted
68535 hits
Earned $100k+
5.1 in 1001 in 20
Typical first-year earnings
$403
Chance against standard
-1.9%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-0.2%$1 less
Last 18 monthsMoves the answer

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 378 of 686.

Launches counted
37812 hits
Earned $100k+
3.2 in 1001 in 31
Typical first-year earnings
$324
Chance against standard
-38.5%2.0 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-19.8%$80 less
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged 2.5D, 6 to 30 months old: 686 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: 36 of 686 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, Rivals of Aether II (13.0% of the money): 685 launches left.
Last 18 months
Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 378 of 686.

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

Strategy through every lens, all prices
StrategyBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view4,988 of 5,391 launchesWithout the breakout5,390 of 5,391 launchesLast 18 months3,128 of 5,391 launches
Launches counted5,391337 hits4,988308 hits5,390336 hits3,128178 hits
Earned $100k+6.3 in 1001 in 166.2 in 1001 in 166.2 in 1001 in 165.7 in 1001 in 18
Typical first-year earnings$505top tenth $44,532+$545$505$505
Chance against standardthe yardstick-1.6%0.1 fewer in 100-1.6%0.1 fewer in 100-9.5%0.6 fewer in 100
Typical against standardthe yardstick+7.9%$40 more0.0%no change0.0%no change
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Strategy, 6 to 30 months old: 5,391 launches.

Launches counted
5,391337 hits
Earned $100k+
6.3 in 1001 in 16
Typical first-year earnings
$505top tenth $44,532+
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: 403 of 5,391 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
4,988308 hits
Earned $100k+
6.2 in 1001 in 16
Typical first-year earnings
$545
Chance against standard
-1.6%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
+7.9%$40 more
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Slay the Spire 2 (17.1% of the money): 5,390 launches left.

Launches counted
5,390336 hits
Earned $100k+
6.2 in 1001 in 16
Typical first-year earnings
$505
Chance against standard
-1.6%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 3,128 of 5,391.

Launches counted
3,128178 hits
Earned $100k+
5.7 in 1001 in 18
Typical first-year earnings
$505
Chance against standard
-9.5%0.6 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged Strategy, 6 to 30 months old: 5,391 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: 403 of 5,391 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, Slay the Spire 2 (17.1% of the money): 5,390 launches left.
Last 18 months
Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 3,128 of 5,391.

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 2.5D + Strategy 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.