Niches / 1990's + Exploration

Niche

1990's + Exploration

Games tagged both 1990's and Exploration: 94 indie paid launches, 6 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.

Price $10 to $20

All prices1 in 15 hit $100k+Under $51 in 238 hit $100k+$5 to $101 in 28 hit $100k+$10 to $2020 in 100 hit $100k+$20 to $4044 in 100 hit $100k+

Base rate: indie paid launches 12 to 36 months old, 26,291 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.

$10 to $20

Showing 1990's + Exploration priced $10 to $20. This filter changes the answer: at all prices the pair is about level with 1990's and is about level with Exploration; priced $10 to $20 it is too small to compare with 1990's and is too small to compare with Exploration.

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

1990's + Exploration is too small to compare with 1990's and is too small to compare with Exploration: 2 of its 14 launches earned $100k+ priced $10 to $20, against 17.4 in 100 for 1990's and 20.8 in 100 for Exploration.

Small sample: 14 launches, 2 hits.

TIETied

Tag one1990's

17.4in 100 earned
$100k+

Odds17.4 in 100

Typical earnings$11,661

Launches109 / 19 hits

Pair against ittoo few hits to compare

TIEA tie

This pair1990's + Exploration

2 of 14launches earned
$100k+ small

Odds2 of 14 launches

$1k+13 of 14 launches

$10k+8 of 14 launches

Launches14 / 2 hits

Expected20.4 in 100

TIEA tie

Tag twomood tagExploration

20.8in 100 earned
$100k+

Odds20.8 in 100

Typical earnings$12,514

Launches878 / 183 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 $20Exploration 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 prices94 in pair Under $548 in pair $5 to $1030 in pair $10 to $2014 in pair$20 to $402: too few

What the overlap means

The overlap is this niche: the 14 games tagged both 1990's and Exploration priced $10 to $20. 2 of 14 of them earned $100k+, against 17.9 in 100 for 1990's-only games and 20.9 in 100 for Exploration-only games, so the mix is too small to compare with 1990's alone and is too small to compare with Exploration alone.

Both: 14 games priced $10 to $20; 2 of 14 earned $100k+, odds by size $1k+ 13 of 14 launches · $10k+ 8 of 14 launches · $100k+ 2 of 14 launches.

Circle areas follow launch counts; the gold overlap is exactly the pair's 14 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

Crow Countryleads this pair56.8%

PairCrow Country56.8%

1990'sLost Records: Bloom & Rage21.2%

ExplorationHollow Knight: Silksong22.3%

CheckOne game over half?yes

NextNearest hitsnot computed yet

Lens checkOne-hit market. Standard: the base the others are compared with. West-facing view: holds. Without the breakout: moves the answer. Last 18 months: too few to tell.

Open free preview

ComparablesFree until launchClick to unlockWho leads 1990's + Exploration

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

Crow Country earned 56.8% of the estimated first-year money of the 94 1990's + Exploration launches.
1990's is led by Lost Records: Bloom & Rage, with 21.2% of its money.
Exploration is led by Hollow Knight: Silksong, with 22.3% 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

1990's + Exploration is one-hit market: one game earned over half the money. It holds in West-facing view.

1990's + Exploration through every lens, all prices
This pair	BaseStandardevery launch	West-facing view93 of 94 launches	Without the breakout93 of 94 launches	Last 18 months31 of 94 launches
Launches counted	946 hits	936 hits	935 hits	310 hits
Earned $100k+	6.4 in 1001 in 16	6.5 in 1001 in 16	5.4 in 1001 in 19	0 of 31too few for a rate
Chance of $10k+	19 in 100chance of $10k+; $1k+ 49 in 100	under 100 launches	under 100 launches	under 100 launches
Chance against standard	the base	+1.1%0.1 more in 100	-15.8%1.0 fewer in 100	-100.0%6.4 fewer in 100; too few to tell
Typical against standard	the base	under 100 launches	under 100 launches	under 100 launches
Does it hold?	The base view	Holds	Moves the answer	Too few to tell

BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged both 1990's and Exploration, 12 to 36 months old: 94 launches.

Launches counted: 946 hits
Earned $100k+: 6.4 in 1001 in 16
Chance of $10k+: 19 in 100chance of $10k+; $1k+ 49 in 100
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: 1 of 94 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted: 936 hits
Earned $100k+: 6.5 in 1001 in 16
Chance of $10k+: under 100 launches
Chance against standard: +1.1%0.1 more in 100
Typical against standard: under 100 launches

Without the breakoutMoves the answer

Drops the single biggest earner, Crow Country (56.8% of the money): 93 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted: 935 hits
Earned $100k+: 5.4 in 1001 in 19
Chance of $10k+: under 100 launches
Chance against standard: -15.8%1.0 fewer in 100
Typical against standard: under 100 launches

Last 18 monthsToo few to tell

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 31 of 94.

Launches counted: 310 hits
Earned $100k+: 0 of 31too few for a rate
Chance of $10k+: under 100 launches
Chance against standard: -100.0%6.4 fewer in 100; too few to tell
Typical against standard: under 100 launches

Standard: Every indie paid launch tagged both 1990's and Exploration, 12 to 36 months old: 94 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: 1 of 94 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, Crow Country (56.8% of the money): 93 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: 31 of 94.

1990's is changed recently: Last 18 months moves the answer more than chance alone would. It holds in West-facing view and Without the breakout.

1990's through every lens, all prices
1990's	BaseStandardevery launch	West-facing view648 of 673 launches	Without the breakout672 of 673 launches	Last 18 months188 of 673 launches
Launches counted	67338 hits	64837 hits	67237 hits	18813 hits
Earned $100k+	5.6 in 1001 in 18	5.7 in 1001 in 18	5.5 in 1001 in 18	6.9 in 1001 in 14
Typical first-year earnings	$512top tenth $31,322+	$530	$512	$758
Chance against standard	the base	+1.1%0.1 more in 100	-2.5%0.1 fewer in 100	+22.5%1.3 more in 100
Typical against standard	the base	+3.5%$18 more	0.0%no change	+48.0%$246 more
Does it hold?	The base view	Holds	Holds	Moves the answer

BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged 1990's, 12 to 36 months old: 673 launches.

Launches counted: 67338 hits
Earned $100k+: 5.6 in 1001 in 18
Typical first-year earnings: $512top tenth $31,322+
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: 25 of 673 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted: 64837 hits
Earned $100k+: 5.7 in 1001 in 18
Typical first-year earnings: $530
Chance against standard: +1.1%0.1 more in 100
Typical against standard: +3.5%$18 more

Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Lost Records: Bloom & Rage (21.2% of the money): 672 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted: 67237 hits
Earned $100k+: 5.5 in 1001 in 18
Typical first-year earnings: $512
Chance against standard: -2.5%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: 188 of 673.

Launches counted: 18813 hits
Earned $100k+: 6.9 in 1001 in 14
Typical first-year earnings: $758
Chance against standard: +22.5%1.3 more in 100
Typical against standard: +48.0%$246 more

Standard: Every indie paid launch tagged 1990's, 12 to 36 months old: 673 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: 25 of 673 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, Lost Records: Bloom & Rage (21.2% of the money): 672 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: 188 of 673.

Exploration 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.

Exploration through every lens, all prices
Exploration	BaseStandardevery launch	West-facing view4,381 of 4,582 launches	Without the breakout4,581 of 4,582 launches	Last 18 months1,268 of 4,582 launches
Launches counted	4,582382 hits	4,381366 hits	4,581381 hits	1,268105 hits
Earned $100k+	8.3 in 1001 in 12	8.4 in 1001 in 12	8.3 in 1001 in 12	8.3 in 1001 in 12
Typical first-year earnings	$877top tenth $65,025+	$901	$877	$884
Chance against standard	the base	+0.2%no change	-0.2%no change	-0.7%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard	the base	+2.7%$24 more	0.0%no change	+0.8%$7 more
Does it hold?	The base view	Holds	Holds	Holds

BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Exploration, 12 to 36 months old: 4,582 launches.

Launches counted: 4,582382 hits
Earned $100k+: 8.3 in 1001 in 12
Typical first-year earnings: $877top tenth $65,025+
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 4,582 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted: 4,381366 hits
Earned $100k+: 8.4 in 1001 in 12
Typical first-year earnings: $901
Chance against standard: +0.2%no change
Typical against standard: +2.7%$24 more

Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Hollow Knight: Silksong (22.3% of the money): 4,581 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted: 4,581381 hits
Earned $100k+: 8.3 in 1001 in 12
Typical first-year earnings: $877
Chance against standard: -0.2%no change
Typical against standard: 0.0%no change

Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 1,268 of 4,582.

Launches counted: 1,268105 hits
Earned $100k+: 8.3 in 1001 in 12
Typical first-year earnings: $884
Chance against standard: -0.7%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard: +0.8%$7 more

Standard: Every indie paid launch tagged Exploration, 12 to 36 months old: 4,582 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 4,582 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 (22.3% of the money): 4,581 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: 1,268 of 4,582.

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 1990's + Exploration 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.