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Ticker: price and year-over-year change for 40 genres. Price is the median estimated first-year revenue of indie paid launches. The same figures are on the Genres page.

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on 30 Sep 2026

Niches / 2D + Exploration

Niche

2D + Exploration

Games tagged both 2D and Exploration: 941 indie paid launches, 47 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.

Showing 2D + Exploration priced $10 to $20, west-facing view. Lens figures exist at all prices only, so inside a price band the page shows the standard figures. This filter changes the answer: at all prices the pair beats 2D and trails Exploration; priced $10 to $20 it beats both its tags.

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

2D + Exploration beats both its tags: 24.3 in 100 of its launches earned $100k+ priced $10 to $20, against 14.4 in 100 for 2D and 20.1 in 100 for Exploration.

That is about 1.3 times the 18.6 in 100 expected for any launch at this price. Lens figures by price band are not computed yet, so this band uses the standard figures.

3RDThird
Tag onemood tag2D
14.4in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds14.4 in 100
Typical earnings$6,072
Launches1,032 / 149 hits
Pair leads by9.9 in 100
1STWinner
This pair2D + Exploration
24.3in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds24.3 in 100
Typical earnings$15,783
Launches140 / 34 hits
Expected18.6 in 100
2NDRunner-up
Tag twomood tagExploration
20.1in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds20.1 in 100
Typical earnings$11,535
Launches988 / 199 hits
Pair leads by4.2 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 $202D 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 prices941 in pairUnder $5508 in pair$5 to $10271 in pair$10 to $20140 in pair$20 to $4022 in pair
What the overlap means

The overlap is this niche: the 140 games tagged both 2D and Exploration priced $10 to $20. 24.3 in 100 of them earned $100k+, against 12.9 for 2D-only games and 19.5 for Exploration-only games, so games with both tags did better than games with either tag alone.

Both: 140 games priced $10 to $20; 24.3 in 100 earned $100k+, typical first-year earnings $15,783.

Circle areas follow launch counts; the gold overlap is exactly the pair's 140 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. The west-facing view lens is not computed for the outer parts, so this diagram uses the standard figures.

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

Hollow Knight: Silksongleads this pair75.3%
PairHollow Knight: Silksong75.3%
2DHollow Knight: Silksong32.4%
ExplorationHollow Knight: Silksong20.7%
CheckOne game over half?yes
NextNearest hitsnot computed yet

Lens checkChanged recently. Standard: the yardstick. West-facing view: holds. Without the breakout: holds. Last 18 months: moves the answer.

Open free preview
ComparablesFree until launchClick to unlockWho leads 2D + 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

  • Hollow Knight: Silksong earned 75.3% of the estimated first-year money of the 941 2D + Exploration launches.
  • It also leads 2D, with 32.4% of that tag's money.
  • It also leads Exploration, with 20.7% of that tag's 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: those with a mostly Chinese audience, the single biggest earner, and everything older than 18 months.

Does the answer hold?

All prices

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

2D + Exploration through every lens, all prices
This pairBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view877 of 941 launchesWithout the breakout940 of 941 launchesLast 18 months506 of 941 launches
Launches counted94147 hits87745 hits94046 hits50613 hits
Earned $100k+5.0 in 1001 in 205.1 in 1001 in 204.9 in 1001 in 202.6 in 1001 in 38
Typical first-year earnings$481top tenth $26,042+$485$481$385
Chance against standardthe yardstick+2.0%0.1 more in 100-2.0%0.1 fewer in 100-48.0%2.4 fewer in 100
Typical against standardthe yardstick+0.8%$4 more0.0%no change-20.0%$96 less
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsMoves the answer
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged both 2D and Exploration, 6 to 30 months old: 941 launches.

Launches counted
94147 hits
Earned $100k+
5.0 in 1001 in 20
Typical first-year earnings
$481top tenth $26,042+
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: 64 of 941 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
87745 hits
Earned $100k+
5.1 in 1001 in 20
Typical first-year earnings
$485
Chance against standard
+2.0%0.1 more in 100
Typical against standard
+0.8%$4 more
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Hollow Knight: Silksong (75.3% of the money): 940 launches left.

Launches counted
94046 hits
Earned $100k+
4.9 in 1001 in 20
Typical first-year earnings
$481
Chance against standard
-2.0%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: 506 of 941.

Launches counted
50613 hits
Earned $100k+
2.6 in 1001 in 38
Typical first-year earnings
$385
Chance against standard
-48.0%2.4 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-20.0%$96 less
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged both 2D and Exploration, 6 to 30 months old: 941 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: 64 of 941 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 (75.3% of the money): 940 launches left.
Last 18 months
Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 506 of 941.

2D holds in 3 of 3: every lens keeps the chance and typical earnings within a quarter of the standard figures.

2D through every lens, all prices
2DBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view8,723 of 9,279 launchesWithout the breakout9,278 of 9,279 launchesLast 18 months5,071 of 9,279 launches
Launches counted9,279280 hits8,723261 hits9,278279 hits5,071141 hits
Earned $100k+3.0 in 1001 in 333.0 in 1001 in 333.0 in 1001 in 332.8 in 1001 in 36
Typical first-year earnings$303top tenth $12,749+$303$303$243
Chance against standardthe yardstick0.0%no change0.0%no change-6.7%0.2 fewer in 100
Typical against standardthe yardstick0.0%no change0.0%no change-19.8%$60 less
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged 2D, 6 to 30 months old: 9,279 launches.

Launches counted
9,279280 hits
Earned $100k+
3.0 in 1001 in 33
Typical first-year earnings
$303top tenth $12,749+
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: 556 of 9,279 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
8,723261 hits
Earned $100k+
3.0 in 1001 in 33
Typical first-year earnings
$303
Chance against standard
0.0%no change
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Hollow Knight: Silksong (32.4% of the money): 9,278 launches left.

Launches counted
9,278279 hits
Earned $100k+
3.0 in 1001 in 33
Typical first-year earnings
$303
Chance against standard
0.0%no change
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 5,071 of 9,279.

Launches counted
5,071141 hits
Earned $100k+
2.8 in 1001 in 36
Typical first-year earnings
$243
Chance against standard
-6.7%0.2 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-19.8%$60 less
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged 2D, 6 to 30 months old: 9,279 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: 556 of 9,279 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 (32.4% of the money): 9,278 launches left.
Last 18 months
Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 5,071 of 9,279.

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
ExplorationBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view4,867 of 5,078 launchesWithout the breakout5,077 of 5,078 launchesLast 18 months2,727 of 5,078 launches
Launches counted5,078397 hits4,867377 hits5,077396 hits2,727190 hits
Earned $100k+7.8 in 1001 in 137.7 in 1001 in 137.8 in 1001 in 137.0 in 1001 in 14
Typical first-year earnings$908top tenth $58,608+$909$902$728
Chance against standardthe yardstick-1.3%0.1 fewer in 1000.0%no change-10.3%0.8 fewer in 100
Typical against standardthe yardstick+0.1%$1 more-0.7%$6 less-19.8%$180 less
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
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 2D + 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.

Releases

Ticker: 30 upcoming games dated within 90 days, with wishlist rank, release date and followers. The same list is on the Upcoming page.