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on 3 Oct 2026

Niches / Side Scroller + Story Rich

Niche

Side Scroller + Story Rich

Games tagged both Side Scroller and Story Rich: 71 indie paid launches, 2 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 Side Scroller + Story Rich 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

Side Scroller + Story Rich is too small to compare with Side Scroller and is too small to compare with Story Rich: 1 of its 12 launches earned $100k+ priced $10 to $20, against 16.1 in 100 for Side Scroller and 22.1 in 100 for Story Rich.

Small sample: 12 launches, 1 hits.

TIETied
Tag onemood tagSide Scroller
16.1in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds16.1 in 100
Typical earnings$10,294
Launches143 / 23 hits
Pair against ittoo few hits to compare
TIEA tie
This pairSide Scroller + Story Rich
1 of 12launches earned
$100k+ small
Odds1 of 12 launches
$1k+11 of 12 launches
$10k+5 of 12 launches
Launches12 / 1 hits
Expected20.4 in 100
TIEA tie
Tag twomood tagStory Rich
22.1in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds22.1 in 100
Typical earnings$13,989
Launches652 / 144 hits
Pair against ittoo few hits to compare
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 $20Side Scroller 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 prices71 in pairUnder $543 in pair$5 to $1013 in pair$10 to $2012 in pair$20 to $403: too few
What the overlap means

The overlap is this niche: the 12 games tagged both Side Scroller and Story Rich priced $10 to $20. 1 of 12 of them earned $100k+, against 16.8 in 100 for Side Scroller-only games and 22.3 in 100 for Story Rich-only games, so the mix is too small to compare with Side Scroller alone and is too small to compare with Story Rich alone.

Both: 12 games priced $10 to $20; 1 of 12 earned $100k+, odds by size $1k+ 11 of 12 launches · $10k+ 5 of 12 launches · $100k+ 1 of 12 launches.

Circle areas follow launch counts; the gold overlap is exactly the pair's 12 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

TEVIleads this pair52.1%
PairTEVI52.1%
Side ScrollerMandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree9.5%
Story RichDELTARUNE15.5%
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 Side Scroller + Story Rich

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

  • TEVI earned 52.1% of the estimated first-year money of the 71 Side Scroller + Story Rich launches.
  • Side Scroller is led by Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree, with 9.5% of its money.
  • Story Rich is led by DELTARUNE, with 15.5% 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

Side Scroller + Story Rich is one-hit market: one game earned over half the money.

Side Scroller + Story Rich through every lens, all prices
This pairBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view69 of 71 launchesWithout the breakout70 of 71 launchesLast 18 months21 of 71 launches
Launches counted712 hits691 hits701 hits210 hits
Earned $100k+2 of 71too few for a rate1 of 69too few for a rate1 of 70too few for a rate0 of 21too few for a rate
Chance of $10k+17 in 100chance of $10k+; $1k+ 77 in 100under 100 launchesunder 100 launchesunder 100 launches
Chance against standardthe base-48.6%1.4 fewer in 100; too few to tell-49.3%1.4 fewer in 100-100.0%2.8 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 Side Scroller and Story Rich, 12 to 36 months old: 71 launches.

Launches counted
712 hits
Earned $100k+
2 of 71too few for a rate
Chance of $10k+
17 in 100chance of $10k+; $1k+ 77 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: 2 of 71 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
691 hits
Earned $100k+
1 of 69too few for a rate
Chance of $10k+
under 100 launches
Chance against standard
-48.6%1.4 fewer in 100; too few to tell
Typical against standard
under 100 launches
Without the breakoutMoves the answer

Drops the single biggest earner, TEVI (52.1% of the money): 70 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
701 hits
Earned $100k+
1 of 70too few for a rate
Chance of $10k+
under 100 launches
Chance against standard
-49.3%1.4 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
under 100 launches
Last 18 monthsToo few to tell

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 21 of 71.

Launches counted
210 hits
Earned $100k+
0 of 21too few for a rate
Chance of $10k+
under 100 launches
Chance against standard
-100.0%2.8 fewer in 100; too few to tell
Typical against standard
under 100 launches
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged both Side Scroller and Story Rich, 12 to 36 months old: 71 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 71 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, TEVI (52.1% of the money): 70 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: 21 of 71.

Side Scroller 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.

Side Scroller through every lens, all prices
Side ScrollerBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view1,042 of 1,065 launchesWithout the breakout1,064 of 1,065 launchesLast 18 months288 of 1,065 launches
Launches counted1,06542 hits1,04241 hits1,06441 hits28814 hits
Earned $100k+3.9 in 1001 in 253.9 in 1001 in 253.9 in 1001 in 264.9 in 1001 in 21
Typical first-year earnings$346top tenth $23,350+$346$346$268
Chance against standardthe base-0.2%no change-2.3%0.1 fewer in 100+23.3%0.9 more in 100
Typical against standardthe base0.0%no change0.0%no change-22.5%$78 less
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Side Scroller, 12 to 36 months old: 1,065 launches.

Launches counted
1,06542 hits
Earned $100k+
3.9 in 1001 in 25
Typical first-year earnings
$346top tenth $23,350+
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 1,065 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
1,04241 hits
Earned $100k+
3.9 in 1001 in 25
Typical first-year earnings
$346
Chance against standard
-0.2%no change
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree (9.5% of the money): 1,064 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
1,06441 hits
Earned $100k+
3.9 in 1001 in 26
Typical first-year earnings
$346
Chance against standard
-2.3%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 288 of 1,065.

Launches counted
28814 hits
Earned $100k+
4.9 in 1001 in 21
Typical first-year earnings
$268
Chance against standard
+23.3%0.9 more in 100
Typical against standard
-22.5%$78 less
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged Side Scroller, 12 to 36 months old: 1,065 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 1,065 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, Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree (9.5% of the money): 1,064 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: 288 of 1,065.

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

Story Rich through every lens, all prices
Story RichBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view2,238 of 2,468 launchesWithout the breakout2,467 of 2,468 launchesLast 18 months713 of 2,468 launches
Launches counted2,468293 hits2,238250 hits2,467292 hits71387 hits
Earned $100k+11.9 in 10011.2 in 10011.8 in 10012.2 in 100
Typical first-year earnings$2,047top tenth $138,218+$2,044$2,044$2,472
Chance against standardthe base-5.9%0.7 fewer in 100-0.3%no change+2.8%0.3 more in 100
Typical against standardthe base-0.1%$3 less-0.1%$3 less+20.8%$425 more
Does it hold?The base viewMoves the answerHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Story Rich, 12 to 36 months old: 2,468 launches.

Launches counted
2,468293 hits
Earned $100k+
11.9 in 100
Typical first-year earnings
$2,047top tenth $138,218+
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: 230 of 2,468 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
2,238250 hits
Earned $100k+
11.2 in 100
Typical first-year earnings
$2,044
Chance against standard
-5.9%0.7 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-0.1%$3 less
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, DELTARUNE (15.5% of the money): 2,467 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
2,467292 hits
Earned $100k+
11.8 in 100
Typical first-year earnings
$2,044
Chance against standard
-0.3%no change
Typical against standard
-0.1%$3 less
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 713 of 2,468.

Launches counted
71387 hits
Earned $100k+
12.2 in 100
Typical first-year earnings
$2,472
Chance against standard
+2.8%0.3 more in 100
Typical against standard
+20.8%$425 more
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged Story Rich, 12 to 36 months old: 2,468 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: 230 of 2,468 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, DELTARUNE (15.5% of the money): 2,467 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: 713 of 2,468.

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 Side Scroller + Story Rich 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.