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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 / Dark + Horror

Niche

Dark + Horror

Games tagged both Dark and Horror: 829 indie paid launches, 43 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 Dark + Horror 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

Dark + Horror is level with Dark and trails Horror: 17.1 in 100 of its launches earned $100k+ priced $10 to $20, against 16.7 in 100 for Dark and 19.9 in 100 for Horror.

That is about 0.9 times the 18.6 in 100 expected for any launch at this price.

2NDTied
Tag onemood tagDark
16.7in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds16.7 in 100
Typical earnings$10,525
Launches168 / 28 hits
Pair is level0.4 in 100
2NDTied
This pairDark + Horror
17.1in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds17.1 in 100
Typical earnings$12,140
Launches76 / 13 hits
Expected18.6 in 100
1STWinner
Tag twoHorror
19.9in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds19.9 in 100
Typical earnings$10,460
Launches397 / 79 hits
Pair trails by2.8 in 100
All indie launches $10 to $20: 18.6 in 100 earned $100k+, typical $9,226, from 4,810 launches.each block is 1 in 100 all indie at $10 to $20Dark 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 76 games tagged both Dark and Horror priced $10 to $20. 17.1 in 100 of them earned $100k+, against 16.3 for Dark-only games and 20.6 for Horror-only games, so the mix beats Dark alone and trails Horror alone.

Both: 76 games priced $10 to $20; 17.1 in 100 earned $100k+, typical first-year earnings $12,140.

Circle areas follow launch counts; the gold overlap is exactly the pair's 76 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

Mouthwashingleads this pair15.9%
PairMouthwashing15.9%
DarkMouthwashing11.5%
HorrorR.E.P.O.18.8%
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 Dark + Horror

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

  • Mouthwashing earned 15.9% of the estimated first-year money of the 829 Dark + Horror launches.
  • It also leads Dark, with 11.5% of that tag's money.
  • Horror is led by R.E.P.O., with 18.8% 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

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

Dark + Horror through every lens, all prices
This pairBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view815 of 829 launchesWithout the breakout828 of 829 launchesLast 18 months434 of 829 launches
Launches counted82943 hits81542 hits82842 hits43419 hits
Earned $100k+5.2 in 1001 in 195.2 in 1001 in 195.1 in 1001 in 204.4 in 1001 in 23
Typical first-year earnings$1,090top tenth $31,494+$1,088$1,090$1,010
Chance against standardthe yardstick0.0%no change-1.9%0.1 fewer in 100-15.4%0.8 fewer in 100
Typical against standardthe yardstick-0.2%$2 less0.0%no change-7.3%$80 less
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged both Dark and Horror, 6 to 30 months old: 829 launches.

Launches counted
82943 hits
Earned $100k+
5.2 in 1001 in 19
Typical first-year earnings
$1,090top tenth $31,494+
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: 14 of 829 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
81542 hits
Earned $100k+
5.2 in 1001 in 19
Typical first-year earnings
$1,088
Chance against standard
0.0%no change
Typical against standard
-0.2%$2 less
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Mouthwashing (15.9% of the money): 828 launches left.

Launches counted
82842 hits
Earned $100k+
5.1 in 1001 in 20
Typical first-year earnings
$1,090
Chance against standard
-1.9%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 434 of 829.

Launches counted
43419 hits
Earned $100k+
4.4 in 1001 in 23
Typical first-year earnings
$1,010
Chance against standard
-15.4%0.8 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-7.3%$80 less
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged both Dark and Horror, 6 to 30 months old: 829 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: 14 of 829 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, Mouthwashing (15.9% of the money): 828 launches left.
Last 18 months
Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 434 of 829.

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

Dark through every lens, all prices
DarkBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view1,414 of 1,445 launchesWithout the breakout1,444 of 1,445 launchesLast 18 months785 of 1,445 launches
Launches counted1,44574 hits1,41472 hits1,44473 hits78534 hits
Earned $100k+5.1 in 1001 in 205.1 in 1001 in 205.1 in 1001 in 204.3 in 1001 in 23
Typical first-year earnings$849top tenth $28,119+$887$849$808
Chance against standardthe yardstick0.0%no change0.0%no change-15.7%0.8 fewer in 100
Typical against standardthe yardstick+4.5%$38 more0.0%no change-4.8%$41 less
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Dark, 6 to 30 months old: 1,445 launches.

Launches counted
1,44574 hits
Earned $100k+
5.1 in 1001 in 20
Typical first-year earnings
$849top tenth $28,119+
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: 31 of 1,445 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
1,41472 hits
Earned $100k+
5.1 in 1001 in 20
Typical first-year earnings
$887
Chance against standard
0.0%no change
Typical against standard
+4.5%$38 more
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Mouthwashing (11.5% of the money): 1,444 launches left.

Launches counted
1,44473 hits
Earned $100k+
5.1 in 1001 in 20
Typical first-year earnings
$849
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: 785 of 1,445.

Launches counted
78534 hits
Earned $100k+
4.3 in 1001 in 23
Typical first-year earnings
$808
Chance against standard
-15.7%0.8 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-4.8%$41 less
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged Dark, 6 to 30 months old: 1,445 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: 31 of 1,445 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, Mouthwashing (11.5% of the money): 1,444 launches left.
Last 18 months
Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 785 of 1,445.

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

Horror through every lens, all prices
HorrorBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view3,529 of 3,676 launchesWithout the breakout3,675 of 3,676 launchesLast 18 months2,001 of 3,676 launches
Launches counted3,676218 hits3,529211 hits3,675217 hits2,00197 hits
Earned $100k+5.9 in 1001 in 176.0 in 1001 in 175.9 in 1001 in 174.8 in 1001 in 21
Typical first-year earnings$1,029top tenth $35,417+$1,029$1,029$909
Chance against standardthe yardstick+1.7%0.1 more in 1000.0%no change-18.6%1.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standardthe yardstick0.0%no change0.0%no change-11.7%$120 less
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Horror, 6 to 30 months old: 3,676 launches.

Launches counted
3,676218 hits
Earned $100k+
5.9 in 1001 in 17
Typical first-year earnings
$1,029top tenth $35,417+
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: 147 of 3,676 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
3,529211 hits
Earned $100k+
6.0 in 1001 in 17
Typical first-year earnings
$1,029
Chance against standard
+1.7%0.1 more in 100
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, R.E.P.O. (18.8% of the money): 3,675 launches left.

Launches counted
3,675217 hits
Earned $100k+
5.9 in 1001 in 17
Typical first-year earnings
$1,029
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: 2,001 of 3,676.

Launches counted
2,00197 hits
Earned $100k+
4.8 in 1001 in 21
Typical first-year earnings
$909
Chance against standard
-18.6%1.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-11.7%$120 less
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged Horror, 6 to 30 months old: 3,676 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: 147 of 3,676 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, R.E.P.O. (18.8% of the money): 3,675 launches left.
Last 18 months
Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 2,001 of 3,676.

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 Dark + Horror 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.