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on 3 Oct 2026

Niches / Dark + Hidden Object

Niche

Dark + Hidden Object

Games tagged both Dark and Hidden Object: 94 indie paid launches, 1 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 26,291 indie paid launches 12 to 36 months old, data of 3 Oct 2026. How it is measured.

Showing Dark + Hidden Object priced under $5, last 18 months. Lens figures exist at all prices only, so inside a price band the page shows the standard figures.

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

Dark + Hidden Object is too small to compare with Dark and is too small to compare with Hidden Object: 0 of its 56 launches earned $100k+ priced under $5, against 4 of 705 launches for Dark and 1 of 1,036 launches for Hidden Object.

Lens figures by price band are not computed yet, so this band uses the standard figures. Small sample: 56 launches, 0 hits.

TIEA tie
Tag onemood tagDark
4 of 705launches earned
$100k+ small
Odds4 of 705 launches
Typical earnings$315
Launches705 / 4 hits
Pair against ittoo few hits to compare
TIEA tie
This pairDark + Hidden Object
0 of 56launches earned
$100k+ small
Odds0 of 56 launches
$1k+16 in 100
$10k+0 of 56 launches
Launches56 / 0 hits
Expected0.4 in 100
TIEA tie
Tag twoHidden Object
1 of 1,036launches earned
$100k+ small
Odds1 of 1,036 launches
Typical earnings$346
Launches1,036 / 1 hits
Pair against ittoo few hits to compare
All indie launches under $5: 0.4 in 100 earned $100k+ (1 in 238), typical $158, from 13,785 launches.each block is 0.5 in 100 all indie at under $5Dark 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 prices94 in pairUnder $556 in pair$5 to $1032 in pair$10 to $205: too few$20 to $401: too few
What the overlap means

The overlap is this niche: the 56 games tagged both Dark and Hidden Object priced under $5. 0 of 56 of them earned $100k+, against 4 of 649 for Dark-only games and 1 of 980 for Hidden Object-only games, so the mix is too small to compare with Dark alone and is too small to compare with Hidden Object alone.

Both: 56 games priced under $5; 0 of 56 earned $100k+, odds by size $1k+ 16 in 100 · $10k+ 0 of 56 launches · $100k+ 0 of 56 launches.

Circle areas follow launch counts; the gold overlap is exactly the pair's 56 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. The last 18 months lens is not computed for the outer parts, so this diagram uses the standard figures.

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

Dead Signalleads this pair61.7%
PairDead Signal61.7%
DarkNo, I'm not a Human12.9%
Hidden ObjectWhisper of the House12.9%
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 Dark + Hidden Object

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

  • Dead Signal earned 61.7% of the estimated first-year money of the 94 Dark + Hidden Object launches.
  • Dark is led by No, I'm not a Human, with 12.9% of its money.
  • Hidden Object is led by Whisper of the House, with 12.9% 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

Dark + Hidden Object is one-hit market: one game earned over half the money.

Dark + Hidden Object through every lens, all prices
This pairBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view93 of 94 launchesWithout the breakout93 of 94 launchesLast 18 months25 of 94 launches
Launches counted941 hits931 hits930 hits250 hits
Earned $100k+1 of 94too few for a rate1 of 93too few for a rate0 of 93too few for a rate0 of 25too few for a rate
Chance of $10k+4 of 94 launchescleared $10k; $1k+ 32 in 100under 100 launchesunder 100 launchesunder 100 launches
Chance against standardthe base+1.1%no change; too few to tell-100.0%1.1 fewer in 100-100.0%1.1 fewer in 100; too few to tell
Typical against standardthe baseunder 100 launchesunder 100 launchesunder 100 launches
Does it hold?The base viewToo few to tellMoves the answerToo few to tell
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged both Dark and Hidden Object, 12 to 36 months old: 94 launches.

Launches counted
941 hits
Earned $100k+
1 of 94too few for a rate
Chance of $10k+
4 of 94 launchescleared $10k; $1k+ 32 in 100
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: 1 of 94 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
931 hits
Earned $100k+
1 of 93too few for a rate
Chance of $10k+
under 100 launches
Chance against standard
+1.1%no change; too few to tell
Typical against standard
under 100 launches
Without the breakoutMoves the answer

Drops the single biggest earner, Dead Signal (61.7% of the money): 93 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
930 hits
Earned $100k+
0 of 93too few for a rate
Chance of $10k+
under 100 launches
Chance against standard
-100.0%1.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
under 100 launches
Last 18 monthsToo few to tell

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 25 of 94.

Launches counted
250 hits
Earned $100k+
0 of 25too few for a rate
Chance of $10k+
under 100 launches
Chance against standard
-100.0%1.1 fewer in 100; too few to tell
Typical against standard
under 100 launches
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged both Dark and Hidden Object, 12 to 36 months old: 94 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: 1 of 94 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, Dead Signal (61.7% of the money): 93 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: 25 of 94.

Dark 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.

Dark through every lens, all prices
DarkBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view1,201 of 1,224 launchesWithout the breakout1,223 of 1,224 launchesLast 18 months343 of 1,224 launches
Launches counted1,22473 hits1,20171 hits1,22372 hits34320 hits
Earned $100k+6.0 in 1001 in 175.9 in 1001 in 175.9 in 1001 in 175.8 in 1001 in 17
Typical first-year earnings$884top tenth $36,744+$884$862$884
Chance against standardthe base-0.9%0.1 fewer in 100-1.3%0.1 fewer in 100-2.2%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standardthe base0.0%no change-2.5%$22 less0.0%no change
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Dark, 12 to 36 months old: 1,224 launches.

Launches counted
1,22473 hits
Earned $100k+
6.0 in 1001 in 17
Typical first-year earnings
$884top tenth $36,744+
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: 23 of 1,224 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
1,20171 hits
Earned $100k+
5.9 in 1001 in 17
Typical first-year earnings
$884
Chance against standard
-0.9%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, No, I'm not a Human (12.9% of the money): 1,223 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
1,22372 hits
Earned $100k+
5.9 in 1001 in 17
Typical first-year earnings
$862
Chance against standard
-1.3%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-2.5%$22 less
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 343 of 1,224.

Launches counted
34320 hits
Earned $100k+
5.8 in 1001 in 17
Typical first-year earnings
$884
Chance against standard
-2.2%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged Dark, 12 to 36 months old: 1,224 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: 23 of 1,224 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, No, I'm not a Human (12.9% of the money): 1,223 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: 343 of 1,224.

Hidden Object 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.

Hidden Object through every lens, all prices
Hidden ObjectBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view1,583 of 1,625 launchesWithout the breakout1,624 of 1,625 launchesLast 18 months464 of 1,625 launches
Launches counted1,62525 hits1,58324 hits1,62424 hits4649 hits
Earned $100k+1.5 in 1001 in 651.5 in 1001 in 661.5 in 1001 in 681.9 in 1001 in 52
Typical first-year earnings$536top tenth $6,591+$536$536$463
Chance against standardthe base-1.5%no change-3.9%0.1 fewer in 100+26.1%0.4 more in 100
Typical against standardthe base0.0%no change0.0%no change-13.6%$73 less
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Hidden Object, 12 to 36 months old: 1,625 launches.

Launches counted
1,62525 hits
Earned $100k+
1.5 in 1001 in 65
Typical first-year earnings
$536top tenth $6,591+
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: 42 of 1,625 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
1,58324 hits
Earned $100k+
1.5 in 1001 in 66
Typical first-year earnings
$536
Chance against standard
-1.5%no change
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Whisper of the House (12.9% of the money): 1,624 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
1,62424 hits
Earned $100k+
1.5 in 1001 in 68
Typical first-year earnings
$536
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: 464 of 1,625.

Launches counted
4649 hits
Earned $100k+
1.9 in 1001 in 52
Typical first-year earnings
$463
Chance against standard
+26.1%0.4 more in 100
Typical against standard
-13.6%$73 less
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged Hidden Object, 12 to 36 months old: 1,625 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: 42 of 1,625 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, Whisper of the House (12.9% of the money): 1,624 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: 464 of 1,625.

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 Dark + Hidden Object 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.