Niche

2.5D + Exploration

Games tagged both 2.5D and Exploration: 109 indie paid launches, 10 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".
Price moves the odds more than genre does, so the page opens on one price band. The keys in section 2 switch it.
From 29,637 indie paid launches 6 to 30 months old, data of 1 Oct 2026. How it is measured.

Price $10 to $20

All prices1 in 16 hit $100k+Under $51 in 200 hit $100k+$5 to $101 in 26 hit $100k+$10 to $2019 in 100 hit $100k+$20 to $4042 in 100 hit $100k+

Base rate: indie paid launches 6 to 30 months old, 29,637 launches. Odds compare best within one price.

Lens Standard

Standard West-facing view Without the breakout Last 18 months

All indie paid launches 6 to 30 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 2.5D + Exploration priced $10 to $20. This filter changes the answer: at all prices the pair beats both its tags; priced $10 to $20 it beats 2.5D and trails 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

2.5D + Exploration beats 2.5D and trails Exploration: 5 of its 29 launches earned $100k+ priced $10 to $20, against 12.9 in 100 for 2.5D and 20.1 in 100 for Exploration.

Small sample: 29 launches, 5 hits.

3RDThird

Tag onemood tag2.5D

12.9in 100 earned
$100k+

Odds12.9 in 100

Typical earnings$6,882

Launches132 / 17 hits

Pair leads by4.3 in 100

2NDRunner-up

This pair2.5D + Exploration

5 of 29launches earned
$100k+ small

Odds5 of 29 launches

Typical earnings$16,392

Launches29 / 5 hits

Expected18.6 in 100

1STWinner

Tag twomood tagExploration

20.1in 100 earned
$100k+

Odds20.1 in 100

Typical earnings$11,535

Launches988 / 199 hits

Pair trails by2.9 in 100

All indie launches $10 to $20: 18.6 in 100 earned $100k+, typical $9,226, from 4,810 launches.each block is 2 in 100 all indie at $10 to $202.5D 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: 42.4 in 100), so read it within a price band.

Price bandswitches the whole page

All prices109 in pair Under $544 in pair $5 to $1029 in pair $10 to $2029 in pair$20 to $407: too few

What the overlap means

The overlap is this niche: the 29 games tagged both 2.5D and Exploration priced $10 to $20. 17.2 in 100 of them earned $100k+, against 11.7 for 2.5D-only games and 20.2 for Exploration-only games, so the mix beats 2.5D alone and trails Exploration alone.

Both: 29 games priced $10 to $20; 17.2 in 100 earned $100k+, typical first-year earnings $16,392.

Circle areas follow launch counts; the gold overlap is exactly the pair's 29 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

Cat Quest IIIleads this pair21.5%

PairCat Quest III21.5%

2.5DRivals of Aether II13.0%

ExplorationHollow Knight: Silksong20.7%

CheckOne game over half?no

NextNearest hitsnot computed yet

Lens checkAudience-sensitive +1. Standard: the yardstick. West-facing view: moves the answer. Without the breakout: holds. Last 18 months: moves the answer.

Open free preview

ComparablesFree until launchClick to unlockWho leads 2.5D + 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

Cat Quest III earned 21.5% of the estimated first-year money of the 109 2.5D + Exploration launches.
2.5D is led by Rivals of Aether II, with 13.0% of its money.
Exploration is led by Hollow Knight: Silksong, with 20.7% 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: those with a mostly Chinese audience, the single biggest earner, and everything older than 18 months.

Does the answer hold?

All prices

2.5D + Exploration is audience-sensitive +1: West-facing view moves the answer by more than a quarter, and 1 more lens too. It holds in 1 of 3.

2.5D + Exploration through every lens, all prices
This pair	BaseStandardevery launch	West-facing view104 of 109 launches	Without the breakout108 of 109 launches	Last 18 months57 of 109 launches
Launches counted	10910 hits	10410 hits	1089 hits	572 hits
Earned $100k+	9.2 in 1001 in 11	9.6 in 1001 in 10	8.3 in 1001 in 12	3.5 in 1001 in 29
Typical first-year earnings	$505top tenth $80,960+	$1,011	$505	$443
Chance against standard	the yardstick	+4.3%0.4 more in 100	-9.8%0.9 fewer in 100	-62.0%5.7 fewer in 100
Typical against standard	the yardstick	+100.2%$506 more	0.0%no change	-12.3%$62 less
Does it hold?	The base view	Moves the answer	Holds	Moves the answer

BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged both 2.5D and Exploration, 6 to 30 months old: 109 launches.

Launches counted: 10910 hits
Earned $100k+: 9.2 in 1001 in 11
Typical first-year earnings: $505top tenth $80,960+
Chance against standard: the yardstick
Typical against standard: the yardstick

West-facing viewMoves the answer

Games mostly reviewed outside China. Drops games whose audience is mostly Chinese, meaning 35% or more of their reviews are in Simplified Chinese: 5 of 109 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted: 10410 hits
Earned $100k+: 9.6 in 1001 in 10
Typical first-year earnings: $1,011
Chance against standard: +4.3%0.4 more in 100
Typical against standard: +100.2%$506 more

Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Cat Quest III (21.5% of the money): 108 launches left.

Launches counted: 1089 hits
Earned $100k+: 8.3 in 1001 in 12
Typical first-year earnings: $505
Chance against standard: -9.8%0.9 fewer in 100
Typical against standard: 0.0%no change

Last 18 monthsMoves the answer

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 57 of 109.

Launches counted: 572 hits
Earned $100k+: 3.5 in 1001 in 29
Typical first-year earnings: $443
Chance against standard: -62.0%5.7 fewer in 100
Typical against standard: -12.3%$62 less

Standard: Every indie paid launch tagged both 2.5D and Exploration, 6 to 30 months old: 109 launches.
West-facing view: Games mostly reviewed outside China. Drops games whose audience is mostly Chinese, meaning 35% or more of their reviews are in Simplified Chinese: 5 of 109 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, Cat Quest III (21.5% of the money): 108 launches left.
Last 18 months: Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 57 of 109.

2.5D is changed recently: Last 18 months moves the answer by more than a quarter. It holds in 2 of 3.

2.5D through every lens, all prices
2.5D	BaseStandardevery launch	West-facing view650 of 686 launches	Without the breakout685 of 686 launches	Last 18 months378 of 686 launches
Launches counted	68636 hits	65034 hits	68535 hits	37812 hits
Earned $100k+	5.2 in 1001 in 19	5.2 in 1001 in 19	5.1 in 1001 in 20	3.2 in 1001 in 31
Typical first-year earnings	$404top tenth $23,883+	$404	$403	$324
Chance against standard	the yardstick	0.0%no change	-1.9%0.1 fewer in 100	-38.5%2.0 fewer in 100
Typical against standard	the yardstick	0.0%no change	-0.2%$1 less	-19.8%$80 less
Does it hold?	The base view	Holds	Holds	Moves the answer

BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged 2.5D, 6 to 30 months old: 686 launches.

Launches counted: 68636 hits
Earned $100k+: 5.2 in 1001 in 19
Typical first-year earnings: $404top tenth $23,883+
Chance against standard: the yardstick
Typical against standard: the yardstick

West-facing viewHolds

Games mostly reviewed outside China. Drops games whose audience is mostly Chinese, meaning 35% or more of their reviews are in Simplified Chinese: 36 of 686 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted: 65034 hits
Earned $100k+: 5.2 in 1001 in 19
Typical first-year earnings: $404
Chance against standard: 0.0%no change
Typical against standard: 0.0%no change

Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Rivals of Aether II (13.0% of the money): 685 launches left.

Launches counted: 68535 hits
Earned $100k+: 5.1 in 1001 in 20
Typical first-year earnings: $403
Chance against standard: -1.9%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard: -0.2%$1 less

Last 18 monthsMoves the answer

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 378 of 686.

Launches counted: 37812 hits
Earned $100k+: 3.2 in 1001 in 31
Typical first-year earnings: $324
Chance against standard: -38.5%2.0 fewer in 100
Typical against standard: -19.8%$80 less

Standard: Every indie paid launch tagged 2.5D, 6 to 30 months old: 686 launches.
West-facing view: Games mostly reviewed outside China. Drops games whose audience is mostly Chinese, meaning 35% or more of their reviews are in Simplified Chinese: 36 of 686 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, Rivals of Aether II (13.0% of the money): 685 launches left.
Last 18 months: Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 378 of 686.

Exploration holds in 3 of 3: every lens keeps the chance and typical earnings within a quarter of the standard figures.

Exploration through every lens, all prices
Exploration	BaseStandardevery launch	West-facing view4,867 of 5,078 launches	Without the breakout5,077 of 5,078 launches	Last 18 months2,727 of 5,078 launches
Launches counted	5,078397 hits	4,867377 hits	5,077396 hits	2,727190 hits
Earned $100k+	7.8 in 1001 in 13	7.7 in 1001 in 13	7.8 in 1001 in 13	7.0 in 1001 in 14
Typical first-year earnings	$908top tenth $58,608+	$909	$902	$728
Chance against standard	the yardstick	-1.3%0.1 fewer in 100	0.0%no change	-10.3%0.8 fewer in 100
Typical against standard	the yardstick	+0.1%$1 more	-0.7%$6 less	-19.8%$180 less
Does it hold?	The base view	Holds	Holds	Holds

BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Exploration, 6 to 30 months old: 5,078 launches.

Launches counted: 5,078397 hits
Earned $100k+: 7.8 in 1001 in 13
Typical first-year earnings: $908top tenth $58,608+
Chance against standard: the yardstick
Typical against standard: the yardstick

West-facing viewHolds

Games mostly reviewed outside China. Drops games whose audience is mostly Chinese, meaning 35% or more of their reviews are in Simplified Chinese: 211 of 5,078 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted: 4,867377 hits
Earned $100k+: 7.7 in 1001 in 13
Typical first-year earnings: $909
Chance against standard: -1.3%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard: +0.1%$1 more

Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Hollow Knight: Silksong (20.7% of the money): 5,077 launches left.

Launches counted: 5,077396 hits
Earned $100k+: 7.8 in 1001 in 13
Typical first-year earnings: $902
Chance against standard: 0.0%no change
Typical against standard: -0.7%$6 less

Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 2,727 of 5,078.

Launches counted: 2,727190 hits
Earned $100k+: 7.0 in 1001 in 14
Typical first-year earnings: $728
Chance against standard: -10.3%0.8 fewer in 100
Typical against standard: -19.8%$180 less

Standard: Every indie paid launch tagged Exploration, 6 to 30 months old: 5,078 launches.
West-facing view: Games mostly reviewed outside China. Drops games whose audience is mostly Chinese, meaning 35% or more of their reviews are in Simplified Chinese: 211 of 5,078 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 (20.7% of the money): 5,077 launches left.
Last 18 months: Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 2,727 of 5,078.

A lens holds when chance and typical earnings both stay within 25% of standard. Lens figures by price band are not computed yet, so this table is for all prices.

5Premium early list

Alerts when 2.5D + 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.