I forgot about games like this. Games that are basically reimaginations/highly inspired by classics usually do very well too. Like Mutant Mudds, Shovel Night, etc. But even some games like that, Beard Blade, don't make it. What Faelco said really plays into this.

I don't like pixel art game anymore so i am out !

Poncho sold around 20.000 copies on PC according to Steamspy.

For comparison: Up to now Stardew Valley has sold 2 million copies on PC alone (indie hit of the year 2016, a Switch port is confirmed btw), Undertale 2.2 million, Don't Starve 4 million, The Binding of Isaac 4.7 million, Prison Architect 2.1 milion, Kerbal Space Program 1.7 million, Papers Please 1.7 million (still the biggest indie surprise imo), Darkest Dungeon 1.1 million. RimWorld 500.000 (though still in EA) - to name a few successful examples.

There are quite a few successful indie games. You don't necessarily have to be original to be successful as an indie developer but you have to strike a nerve.

Do I feel bad for the Poncho developers? Not really.

Some of the better point & click adventure games of recent years sell like crap (e.g. The Book of Unwritten Tales 2: 64.000 copies against a budget of several 100.000 €, Shardlight: 7000 copies), which shows yet again that one of my most favorite genres is dead like Jazz.

Gorgeous platformer Owlboy unfortunately seem to be a mild flop as well.

This is in a lot of ways i started to hate indies because great games one of the best indie games of 2016 OwlBoy flopped but it was amazing.
To much is being published and way too little exposure.