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on 30 Sep 2026

Niches / 2D Platformer + Exploration

Niche

2D Platformer + Exploration

Games tagged both 2D Platformer and Exploration: 322 indie paid launches, 19 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 Platformer + Exploration priced $10 to $20, without the breakout. Lens figures exist at all prices only, so inside a price band the page shows the standard figures.

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 Platformer + Exploration beats 2D Platformer and trails Exploration: 16.9 in 100 of its launches earned $100k+ priced $10 to $20, against 12.9 in 100 for 2D Platformer and 20.1 in 100 for Exploration.

That is about 0.9 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 one2D Platformer
12.9in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds12.9 in 100
Typical earnings$6,193
Launches317 / 41 hits
Pair leads by4.0 in 100
2NDRunner-up
This pair2D Platformer + Exploration
16.9in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds16.9 in 100
Typical earnings$14,208
Launches59 / 10 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 by3.2 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 $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: 0.5 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 prices322 in pairUnder $5158 in pair$5 to $1095 in pair$10 to $2059 in pair$20 to $4010 in pair
What the overlap means

The overlap is this niche: the 59 games tagged both 2D Platformer and Exploration priced $10 to $20. 16.9 in 100 of them earned $100k+, against 12.0 for 2D Platformer-only games and 20.3 for Exploration-only games, so the mix beats 2D Platformer alone and trails Exploration alone.

Both: 59 games priced $10 to $20; 16.9 in 100 earned $100k+, typical first-year earnings $14,208.

Circle areas follow launch counts; the gold overlap is exactly the pair's 59 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 without the breakout 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

Thank Goodness You're Here!leads this pair23.8%
PairThank Goodness You're Here!23.8%
2D PlatformerNeva7.9%
ExplorationHollow Knight: Silksong20.7%
CheckOne game over half?no
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 Platformer + 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

  • Thank Goodness You're Here! earned 23.8% of the estimated first-year money of the 322 2D Platformer + Exploration launches.
  • 2D Platformer is led by Neva, with 7.9% 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

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

2D Platformer + Exploration through every lens, all prices
This pairBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view289 of 322 launchesWithout the breakout321 of 322 launchesLast 18 months160 of 322 launches
Launches counted32219 hits28917 hits32118 hits1606 hits
Earned $100k+5.9 in 1001 in 175.9 in 1001 in 175.6 in 1001 in 183.8 in 1001 in 26
Typical first-year earnings$443top tenth $33,694+$485$441$485
Chance against standardthe yardstick0.0%no change-5.1%0.3 fewer in 100-35.6%2.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standardthe yardstick+9.5%$42 more-0.5%$2 less+9.5%$42 more
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsMoves the answer
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged both 2D Platformer and Exploration, 6 to 30 months old: 322 launches.

Launches counted
32219 hits
Earned $100k+
5.9 in 1001 in 17
Typical first-year earnings
$443top tenth $33,694+
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: 33 of 322 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
28917 hits
Earned $100k+
5.9 in 1001 in 17
Typical first-year earnings
$485
Chance against standard
0.0%no change
Typical against standard
+9.5%$42 more
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Thank Goodness You're Here! (23.8% of the money): 321 launches left.

Launches counted
32118 hits
Earned $100k+
5.6 in 1001 in 18
Typical first-year earnings
$441
Chance against standard
-5.1%0.3 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-0.5%$2 less
Last 18 monthsMoves the answer

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 160 of 322.

Launches counted
1606 hits
Earned $100k+
3.8 in 1001 in 26
Typical first-year earnings
$485
Chance against standard
-35.6%2.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
+9.5%$42 more
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged both 2D Platformer and Exploration, 6 to 30 months old: 322 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: 33 of 322 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, Thank Goodness You're Here! (23.8% of the money): 321 launches left.
Last 18 months
Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 160 of 322.

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

2D Platformer through every lens, all prices
2D PlatformerBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view2,483 of 2,738 launchesWithout the breakout2,737 of 2,738 launchesLast 18 months1,430 of 2,738 launches
Launches counted2,73876 hits2,48368 hits2,73775 hits1,43033 hits
Earned $100k+2.8 in 1001 in 362.7 in 1001 in 372.7 in 1001 in 372.3 in 1001 in 43
Typical first-year earnings$202top tenth $10,206+$221$202$201
Chance against standardthe yardstick-3.6%0.1 fewer in 100-3.6%0.1 fewer in 100-17.9%0.5 fewer in 100
Typical against standardthe yardstick+9.4%$19 more0.0%no change-0.5%$1 less
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged 2D Platformer, 6 to 30 months old: 2,738 launches.

Launches counted
2,73876 hits
Earned $100k+
2.8 in 1001 in 36
Typical first-year earnings
$202top tenth $10,206+
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: 255 of 2,738 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
2,48368 hits
Earned $100k+
2.7 in 1001 in 37
Typical first-year earnings
$221
Chance against standard
-3.6%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
+9.4%$19 more
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Neva (7.9% of the money): 2,737 launches left.

Launches counted
2,73775 hits
Earned $100k+
2.7 in 1001 in 37
Typical first-year earnings
$202
Chance against standard
-3.6%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 1,430 of 2,738.

Launches counted
1,43033 hits
Earned $100k+
2.3 in 1001 in 43
Typical first-year earnings
$201
Chance against standard
-17.9%0.5 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-0.5%$1 less
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged 2D Platformer, 6 to 30 months old: 2,738 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: 255 of 2,738 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, Neva (7.9% of the money): 2,737 launches left.
Last 18 months
Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 1,430 of 2,738.

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 Platformer + 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.