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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 / Cute + Strategy

Niche

Cute + Strategy

Games tagged both Cute and Strategy: 541 indie paid launches, 20 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 Cute + Strategy priced $10 to $20, hiding samples under 30 launches.

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

Cute + Strategy trails both its tags: 8.6 in 100 of its launches earned $100k+ priced $10 to $20, against 16.3 in 100 for Cute and 16.5 in 100 for Strategy.

That is 1 in 12, about 0.5 times the 18.6 in 100 expected for any launch at this price.

1STTied winner
Tag onemood tagCute
16.3in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds16.3 in 100
Typical earnings$9,124
Launches615 / 100 hits
Pair trails by7.7 in 100
3RDThird
This pairCute + Strategy
8.6in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds1 in 12
Typical earnings$5,262
Launches81 / 7 hits
Expected18.6 in 100
1STTied winner
Tag twoStrategy
16.5in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds16.5 in 100
Typical earnings$9,226
Launches978 / 161 hits
Pair trails by7.9 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 $20Cute 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.

What the overlap means

The overlap is this niche: the 81 games tagged both Cute and Strategy priced $10 to $20. 8.6 in 100 of them earned $100k+, against 17.4 for Cute-only games and 17.2 for Strategy-only games, so games with both tags did worse than games with either tag alone.

Both: 81 games priced $10 to $20; 8.6 in 100 earned $100k+ (1 in 12), typical first-year earnings $5,262.

Circle areas follow launch counts; the gold overlap is exactly the pair's 81 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

Town to Cityleads this pair32.9%
PairTown to City32.9%
CuteMewgenics15.9%
StrategySlay the Spire 217.1%
CheckOne game over half?no
NextNearest hitsnot computed yet

Lens checkHolds in 3 of 3. Standard: the yardstick. West-facing view: holds. Without the breakout: holds. Last 18 months: holds.

Open free preview
ComparablesFree until launchClick to unlockWho leads Cute + 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

  • Town to City earned 32.9% of the estimated first-year money of the 541 Cute + Strategy launches.
  • Cute is led by Mewgenics, with 15.9% 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

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

Cute + Strategy through every lens, all prices
This pairBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view514 of 541 launchesWithout the breakout540 of 541 launchesLast 18 months289 of 541 launches
Launches counted54120 hits51418 hits54019 hits2899 hits
Earned $100k+3.7 in 1001 in 273.5 in 1001 in 293.5 in 1001 in 293.1 in 1001 in 32
Typical first-year earnings$481top tenth $17,302+$484$481$405
Chance against standardthe yardstick-5.4%0.2 fewer in 100-5.4%0.2 fewer in 100-16.2%0.6 fewer in 100
Typical against standardthe yardstick+0.6%$3 more0.0%no change-15.8%$76 less
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged both Cute and Strategy, 6 to 30 months old: 541 launches.

Launches counted
54120 hits
Earned $100k+
3.7 in 1001 in 27
Typical first-year earnings
$481top tenth $17,302+
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: 27 of 541 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
51418 hits
Earned $100k+
3.5 in 1001 in 29
Typical first-year earnings
$484
Chance against standard
-5.4%0.2 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
+0.6%$3 more
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Town to City (32.9% of the money): 540 launches left.

Launches counted
54019 hits
Earned $100k+
3.5 in 1001 in 29
Typical first-year earnings
$481
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: 289 of 541.

Launches counted
2899 hits
Earned $100k+
3.1 in 1001 in 32
Typical first-year earnings
$405
Chance against standard
-16.2%0.6 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-15.8%$76 less
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged both Cute and Strategy, 6 to 30 months old: 541 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: 27 of 541 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, Town to City (32.9% of the money): 540 launches left.
Last 18 months
Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 289 of 541.

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

Cute through every lens, all prices
CuteBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view4,089 of 4,279 launchesWithout the breakout4,278 of 4,279 launchesLast 18 months2,326 of 4,279 launches
Launches counted4,279218 hits4,089200 hits4,278217 hits2,326111 hits
Earned $100k+5.1 in 1001 in 204.9 in 1001 in 205.1 in 1001 in 204.8 in 1001 in 21
Typical first-year earnings$725top tenth $28,533+$727$725$642
Chance against standardthe yardstick-3.9%0.2 fewer in 1000.0%no change-5.9%0.3 fewer in 100
Typical against standardthe yardstick+0.3%$2 more0.0%no change-11.4%$83 less
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Cute, 6 to 30 months old: 4,279 launches.

Launches counted
4,279218 hits
Earned $100k+
5.1 in 1001 in 20
Typical first-year earnings
$725top tenth $28,533+
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: 190 of 4,279 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
4,089200 hits
Earned $100k+
4.9 in 1001 in 20
Typical first-year earnings
$727
Chance against standard
-3.9%0.2 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
+0.3%$2 more
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Mewgenics (15.9% of the money): 4,278 launches left.

Launches counted
4,278217 hits
Earned $100k+
5.1 in 1001 in 20
Typical first-year earnings
$725
Chance against standard
0.0%no change
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 2,326 of 4,279.

Launches counted
2,326111 hits
Earned $100k+
4.8 in 1001 in 21
Typical first-year earnings
$642
Chance against standard
-5.9%0.3 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-11.4%$83 less
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged Cute, 6 to 30 months old: 4,279 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: 190 of 4,279 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, Mewgenics (15.9% of the money): 4,278 launches left.
Last 18 months
Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 2,326 of 4,279.

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 Cute + 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.