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on 5 Oct 2026

Niches / Female Protagonist + Puzzle

Niche

Female Protagonist + Puzzle

Games tagged both Female Protagonist and Puzzle: 278 indie paid launches, 22 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 Female Protagonist + Puzzle 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

Female Protagonist + Puzzle is about level with Female Protagonist and beats Puzzle: 20.7 in 100 of its launches earned $100k+ priced $10 to $20, against 19.9 in 100 for Female Protagonist and 14.3 in 100 for Puzzle.

That is about 1.0 times the 20.4 in 100 expected for any launch at this price.

TIEA tie
Tag onemood tagFemale Protagonist
19.9in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds19.9 in 100
Typical earnings$12,618
Launches342 / 68 hits
A tie, apart by0.8 in 100
TIEA tie
This pairFemale Protagonist + Puzzle
20.7in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds20.7 in 100
$1k+88 in 100
$10k+64 in 100
Launches58 / 12 hits
Expected20.4 in 100
3RDThird
Tag twoPuzzle
14.3in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds14.3 in 100
Typical earnings$5,070
Launches684 / 98 hits
Pair leads by6.4 in 100
All indie launches $10 to $20: 20.4 in 100 earned $100k+, typical $10,978, from 4,304 launches.each block is 2 in 100 all indie at $10 to $20Female Protagonist 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 prices278 in pairUnder $5105 in pair$5 to $10102 in pair$10 to $2058 in pair$20 to $4013 in pair
What the overlap means

The overlap is this niche: the 58 games tagged both Female Protagonist and Puzzle priced $10 to $20. 20.7 in 100 of them earned $100k+, against 19.7 in 100 for Female Protagonist-only games and 13.7 in 100 for Puzzle-only games, so the mix is about level with Female Protagonist alone and beats Puzzle alone.

Both: 58 games priced $10 to $20; 20.7 in 100 earned $100k+, odds by size $1k+ 88 in 100 · $10k+ 64 in 100 · $100k+ 21 in 100.

Circle areas follow launch counts; the gold overlap is exactly the pair's 58 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

Tomb Raider I-III Remastered Starring Lara Croftleads this pair22.5%
PairTomb Raider I-III Remastered Starring Lara Croft22.5%
Female ProtagonistHollow Knight: Silksong48.3%
PuzzleBlue Prince7.4%
CheckOne game over half?no
NextNearest hitsnot computed yet

Lens checkHolds in 3 of 3. Standard: the base the others are compared with. West-facing view: holds. Without the breakout: holds. Last 18 months: holds.

Open free preview
ComparablesFree until launchClick to unlockWho leads Female Protagonist + Puzzle

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

  • Tomb Raider I-III Remastered Starring Lara Croft earned 22.5% of the estimated first-year money of the 278 Female Protagonist + Puzzle launches.
  • Female Protagonist is led by Hollow Knight: Silksong, with 48.3% of its money.
  • Puzzle is led by Blue Prince, with 7.4% 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: games mostly reviewed in Chinese, the single biggest earner, and everything older than 18 months.

Does the answer hold?

All prices

Female Protagonist + Puzzle 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.

Female Protagonist + Puzzle through every lens, all prices
This pairBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view254 of 278 launchesWithout the breakout277 of 278 launchesLast 18 months74 of 278 launches
Launches counted27822 hits25422 hits27721 hits746 hits
Earned $100k+7.9 in 1001 in 138.7 in 1001 in 127.6 in 1001 in 138.1 in 1001 in 12
Typical first-year earnings$1,003top tenth $58,027+$1,040$950under 100 launches
Chance against standardthe base+9.4%0.7 more in 100-4.2%0.3 fewer in 100+2.5%0.2 more in 100
Typical against standardthe base+3.7%$37 more-5.3%$53 lessunder 100 launches
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged both Female Protagonist and Puzzle, 12 to 36 months old: 278 launches.

Launches counted
27822 hits
Earned $100k+
7.9 in 1001 in 13
Typical first-year earnings
$1,003top tenth $58,027+
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: 24 of 278 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
25422 hits
Earned $100k+
8.7 in 1001 in 12
Typical first-year earnings
$1,040
Chance against standard
+9.4%0.7 more in 100
Typical against standard
+3.7%$37 more
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Tomb Raider I-III Remastered Starring Lara Croft (22.5% of the money): 277 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
27721 hits
Earned $100k+
7.6 in 1001 in 13
Typical first-year earnings
$950
Chance against standard
-4.2%0.3 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-5.3%$53 less
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 74 of 278.

Launches counted
746 hits
Earned $100k+
8.1 in 1001 in 12
Typical first-year earnings
under 100 launches
Chance against standard
+2.5%0.2 more in 100
Typical against standard
under 100 launches
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged both Female Protagonist and Puzzle, 12 to 36 months old: 278 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: 24 of 278 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, Tomb Raider I-III Remastered Starring Lara Croft (22.5% of the money): 277 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: 74 of 278.

Female Protagonist is audience split +1: West-facing view moves the answer more than chance alone would, and 1 more lens too. It holds in Without the breakout.

Female Protagonist through every lens, all prices
Female ProtagonistBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view1,264 of 1,406 launchesWithout the breakout1,405 of 1,406 launchesLast 18 months399 of 1,406 launches
Launches counted1,406134 hits1,264111 hits1,405133 hits39943 hits
Earned $100k+9.5 in 1001 in 108.8 in 1001 in 119.5 in 1001 in 1110.8 in 100
Typical first-year earnings$1,590top tenth $95,667+$1,535$1,575$1,992
Chance against standardthe base-7.9%0.7 fewer in 100-0.7%0.1 fewer in 100+13.1%1.2 more in 100
Typical against standardthe base-3.5%$55 less-0.9%$15 less+25.3%$402 more
Does it hold?The base viewMoves the answerHoldsMoves the answer
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Female Protagonist, 12 to 36 months old: 1,406 launches.

Launches counted
1,406134 hits
Earned $100k+
9.5 in 1001 in 10
Typical first-year earnings
$1,590top tenth $95,667+
Chance against standard
the base
Typical against standard
the base
West-facing viewMoves the answer

Games mostly reviewed outside China. Drops games mostly reviewed in Chinese, meaning 35% or more of their reviews are in Simplified Chinese: 142 of 1,406 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
1,264111 hits
Earned $100k+
8.8 in 1001 in 11
Typical first-year earnings
$1,535
Chance against standard
-7.9%0.7 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-3.5%$55 less
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Hollow Knight: Silksong (48.3% of the money): 1,405 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
1,405133 hits
Earned $100k+
9.5 in 1001 in 11
Typical first-year earnings
$1,575
Chance against standard
-0.7%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-0.9%$15 less
Last 18 monthsMoves the answer

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 399 of 1,406.

Launches counted
39943 hits
Earned $100k+
10.8 in 100
Typical first-year earnings
$1,992
Chance against standard
+13.1%1.2 more in 100
Typical against standard
+25.3%$402 more
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged Female Protagonist, 12 to 36 months old: 1,406 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: 142 of 1,406 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, Hollow Knight: Silksong (48.3% of the money): 1,405 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: 399 of 1,406.

Puzzle 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.

Puzzle through every lens, all prices
PuzzleBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view5,055 of 5,256 launchesWithout the breakout5,255 of 5,256 launchesLast 18 months1,493 of 5,256 launches
Launches counted5,256185 hits5,055174 hits5,255184 hits1,49359 hits
Earned $100k+3.5 in 1001 in 283.4 in 1001 in 293.5 in 1001 in 294.0 in 1001 in 25
Typical first-year earnings$421top tenth $14,242+$428$421$428
Chance against standardthe base-2.2%0.1 fewer in 100-0.5%no change+12.3%0.4 more in 100
Typical against standardthe base+1.7%$7 more0.0%no change+1.7%$7 more
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Puzzle, 12 to 36 months old: 5,256 launches.

Launches counted
5,256185 hits
Earned $100k+
3.5 in 1001 in 28
Typical first-year earnings
$421top tenth $14,242+
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: 201 of 5,256 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
5,055174 hits
Earned $100k+
3.4 in 1001 in 29
Typical first-year earnings
$428
Chance against standard
-2.2%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
+1.7%$7 more
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Blue Prince (7.4% of the money): 5,255 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
5,255184 hits
Earned $100k+
3.5 in 1001 in 29
Typical first-year earnings
$421
Chance against standard
-0.5%no change
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 1,493 of 5,256.

Launches counted
1,49359 hits
Earned $100k+
4.0 in 1001 in 25
Typical first-year earnings
$428
Chance against standard
+12.3%0.4 more in 100
Typical against standard
+1.7%$7 more
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged Puzzle, 12 to 36 months old: 5,256 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: 201 of 5,256 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, Blue Prince (7.4% of the money): 5,255 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: 1,493 of 5,256.

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 Female Protagonist + Puzzle 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

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