Niche

Interactive Fiction + Linear

Games tagged both Interactive Fiction and Linear: 40 indie paid launches, 0 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 26,280 indie paid launches 12 to 36 months old, data of 3 Oct 2026. How it is measured.

Price Under $5

All prices1 in 17 hit $100k+Under $51 in 219 hit $100k+$5 to $101 in 30 hit $100k+$10 to $2018 in 100 hit $100k+$20 to $4040 in 100 hit $100k+

Base rate: indie paid launches 12 to 36 months old, 26,280 launches. Odds compare best within one price.

Lens Standard

Standard West-facing view Without the breakout Last 18 months

All indie paid launches 12 to 36 months old. Lens figures exist at all prices only; inside a price band this page shows the standard figures.

Sample 10+

10+ launchesshow small samples 30+ launches 100+ launchesonly big markets

Hides anything measured on fewer launches.

Under $5

Showing Interactive Fiction + Linear priced under $5.

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

Interactive Fiction + Linear is too small to compare with Interactive Fiction and is too small to compare with Linear: 0 of its 27 launches earned $100k+ priced under $5, against 4 of 606 launches for Interactive Fiction and 3 of 653 launches for Linear.

Small sample: 27 launches, 0 hits.

TIEA tie

Tag oneInteractive Fiction

4 of 606launches earned
$100k+ small

Odds4 of 606 launches

Typical earnings$255

Launches606 / 4 hits

Pair against ittoo few hits to compare

TIEA tie

This pairInteractive Fiction + Linear

0 of 27launches earned
$100k+ small

Odds0 of 27 launches

Typical earnings$202

Launches27 / 0 hits

Expected0.5 in 100

TIEA tie

Tag twomood tagLinear

3 of 653launches earned
$100k+ small

Odds3 of 653 launches

Typical earnings$191

Launches653 / 3 hits

Pair against ittoo few hits to compare

All indie launches under $5: 0.5 in 100 earned $100k+ (1 in 219), typical $169, from 13,780 launches.each block is 0.5 in 100 all indie at under $5Linear 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: 40.0 in 100), so read it within a price band.

Price bandswitches the whole page

All prices40 in pair Under $527 in pair$5 to $108: too few$10 to $204: too few$20 to $401: too few

What the overlap means

The overlap is this niche: the 27 games tagged both Interactive Fiction and Linear priced under $5. 0 of 27 of them earned $100k+, against 4 of 579 for Interactive Fiction-only games and 3 of 626 for Linear-only games, so the mix is too small to compare with Interactive Fiction alone and is too small to compare with Linear alone.

Both: 27 games priced under $5; 0 of 27 earned $100k+, typical first-year earnings $202.

Circle areas follow launch counts; the gold overlap is exactly the pair's 27 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

HOPELESS JUNCTION: cuppy dog barf girl and co.leads this pair32.7%

PairHOPELESS JUNCTION: cuppy dog barf girl and co.32.7%

Interactive FictionThe Hungry Lamb: Traveling in the Late Ming Dynasty12.4%

LinearSpilled!11.0%

CheckOne game over half?no

NextNearest hitsnot computed yet

Lens checkHolds in 1 of 3, 2 too few to tell. Standard: the base the others are compared with. West-facing view: too few to tell. Without the breakout: holds. Last 18 months: too few to tell.

Open free preview

ComparablesFree until launchClick to unlockWho leads Interactive Fiction + Linear

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

HOPELESS JUNCTION: cuppy dog barf girl and co. earned 32.7% of the estimated first-year money of the 40 Interactive Fiction + Linear launches.
Interactive Fiction is led by The Hungry Lamb: Traveling in the Late Ming Dynasty, with 12.4% of its money.
Linear is led by Spilled!, with 11.0% 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

Interactive Fiction + Linear holds in Without the breakout; too few to tell in West-facing view and Last 18 months. No lens moves the chance or typical earnings more than chance alone would.

Interactive Fiction + Linear through every lens, all prices
This pair	BaseStandardevery launch	West-facing view38 of 40 launches	Without the breakout39 of 40 launches	Last 18 months12 of 40 launches
Launches counted	400 hits	380 hits	390 hits	120 hits
Earned $100k+	0 of 40too few for a rate	0 of 38too few for a rate	0 of 39too few for a rate	0 of 12too few for a rate
Typical first-year earnings	$454top tenth $11,710+	$459	$405	$285
Chance against standard	the base	0.0%no change; too few to tell	0.0%no change	0.0%no change; too few to tell
Typical against standard	the base	+1.1%$5 more; too few to tell	-10.8%$49 less	-37.2%$169 less; too few to tell
Does it hold?	The base view	Too few to tell	Holds	Too few to tell

BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged both Interactive Fiction and Linear, 12 to 36 months old: 40 launches.

Launches counted: 400 hits
Earned $100k+: 0 of 40too few for a rate
Typical first-year earnings: $454top tenth $11,710+
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: 2 of 40 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted: 380 hits
Earned $100k+: 0 of 38too few for a rate
Typical first-year earnings: $459
Chance against standard: 0.0%no change; too few to tell
Typical against standard: +1.1%$5 more; too few to tell

Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, HOPELESS JUNCTION: cuppy dog barf girl and co. (32.7% of the money): 39 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted: 390 hits
Earned $100k+: 0 of 39too few for a rate
Typical first-year earnings: $405
Chance against standard: 0.0%no change
Typical against standard: -10.8%$49 less

Last 18 monthsToo few to tell

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 12 of 40.

Launches counted: 120 hits
Earned $100k+: 0 of 12too few for a rate
Typical first-year earnings: $285
Chance against standard: 0.0%no change; too few to tell
Typical against standard: -37.2%$169 less; too few to tell

Standard: Every indie paid launch tagged both Interactive Fiction and Linear, 12 to 36 months old: 40 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: 2 of 40 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, HOPELESS JUNCTION: cuppy dog barf girl and co. (32.7% of the money): 39 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: 12 of 40.

Interactive Fiction 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.

Interactive Fiction through every lens, all prices
Interactive Fiction	BaseStandardevery launch	West-facing view1,096 of 1,254 launches	Without the breakout1,253 of 1,254 launches	Last 18 months381 of 1,254 launches
Launches counted	1,25462 hits	1,09644 hits	1,25361 hits	38128 hits
Earned $100k+	4.9 in 1001 in 20	4.0 in 1001 in 25	4.9 in 1001 in 21	7.3 in 1001 in 14
Typical first-year earnings	$794top tenth $29,590+	$794	$794	$919
Chance against standard	the base	-18.8%0.9 fewer in 100	-1.5%0.1 fewer in 100	+48.6%2.4 more in 100
Typical against standard	the base	0.0%no change	0.0%no change	+15.7%$125 more
Does it hold?	The base view	Moves the answer	Holds	Moves the answer

BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Interactive Fiction, 12 to 36 months old: 1,254 launches.

Launches counted: 1,25462 hits
Earned $100k+: 4.9 in 1001 in 20
Typical first-year earnings: $794top tenth $29,590+
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: 158 of 1,254 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted: 1,09644 hits
Earned $100k+: 4.0 in 1001 in 25
Typical first-year earnings: $794
Chance against standard: -18.8%0.9 fewer in 100
Typical against standard: 0.0%no change

Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, The Hungry Lamb: Traveling in the Late Ming Dynasty (12.4% of the money): 1,253 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted: 1,25361 hits
Earned $100k+: 4.9 in 1001 in 21
Typical first-year earnings: $794
Chance against standard: -1.5%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard: 0.0%no change

Last 18 monthsMoves the answer

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 381 of 1,254.

Launches counted: 38128 hits
Earned $100k+: 7.3 in 1001 in 14
Typical first-year earnings: $919
Chance against standard: +48.6%2.4 more in 100
Typical against standard: +15.7%$125 more

Standard: Every indie paid launch tagged Interactive Fiction, 12 to 36 months old: 1,254 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: 158 of 1,254 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, The Hungry Lamb: Traveling in the Late Ming Dynasty (12.4% of the money): 1,253 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: 381 of 1,254.

Linear is audience split: West-facing view moves the answer more than chance alone would. It holds in Without the breakout and Last 18 months.

Linear through every lens, all prices
Linear	BaseStandardevery launch	West-facing view1,010 of 1,038 launches	Without the breakout1,037 of 1,038 launches	Last 18 months289 of 1,038 launches
Launches counted	1,0389 hits	1,0107 hits	1,0378 hits	2894 hits
Earned $100k+	0.9 in 1001 in 115	0.7 in 1001 in 144	0.8 in 1001 in 130	4 of 289too few for a rate
Typical first-year earnings	$313top tenth $5,620+	$328	$313	$287
Chance against standard	the base	-20.1%0.2 fewer in 100	-11.0%0.1 fewer in 100	+59.6%0.5 more in 100; too few to tell
Typical against standard	the base	+4.8%$15 more	0.0%no change	-8.3%$26 less
Does it hold?	The base view	Moves the answer	Holds	Holds

BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Linear, 12 to 36 months old: 1,038 launches.

Launches counted: 1,0389 hits
Earned $100k+: 0.9 in 1001 in 115
Typical first-year earnings: $313top tenth $5,620+
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: 28 of 1,038 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted: 1,0107 hits
Earned $100k+: 0.7 in 1001 in 144
Typical first-year earnings: $328
Chance against standard: -20.1%0.2 fewer in 100
Typical against standard: +4.8%$15 more

Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Spilled! (11.0% of the money): 1,037 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted: 1,0378 hits
Earned $100k+: 0.8 in 1001 in 130
Typical first-year earnings: $313
Chance against standard: -11.0%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard: 0.0%no change

Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 289 of 1,038.

Launches counted: 2894 hits
Earned $100k+: 4 of 289too few for a rate
Typical first-year earnings: $287
Chance against standard: +59.6%0.5 more in 100; too few to tell
Typical against standard: -8.3%$26 less

Standard: Every indie paid launch tagged Linear, 12 to 36 months old: 1,038 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: 28 of 1,038 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, Spilled! (11.0% of the money): 1,037 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: 289 of 1,038.

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 Interactive Fiction + Linear moves, comparables the day they land, and every lens for every pair and price. Free until launch.

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