Genres

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.

Settings
Text size
Game Market DataBuild what sells
Live games
191,514
on 30 Sep 2026

Niches / Cute + Exploration

Niche

Cute + Exploration

Games tagged both Cute and Exploration: 539 indie paid launches, 39 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 Cute + Exploration priced $10 to $20, hiding samples under 100 launches. This filter changes the answer: at all prices the pair beats Cute and trails Exploration; priced $10 to $20 it is level with Cute 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

Cute + Exploration is level with Cute and trails Exploration: 16.5 in 100 of its launches earned $100k+ priced $10 to $20, against 16.3 in 100 for Cute 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.

2NDTied
Tag onemood tagCute
16.3in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds16.3 in 100
Typical earnings$9,124
Launches615 / 100 hits
Pair is level0.2 in 100
2NDTied
This pairCute + Exploration
16.5in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds16.5 in 100
Typical earnings$12,749
Launches109 / 18 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 by3.6 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 $20Cute 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 prices539 in pairUnder $5238 in pair$5 to $10161 in pair$10 to $20109 in pair$20 to $4031 in pair
What the overlap means

The overlap is this niche: the 109 games tagged both Cute and Exploration priced $10 to $20. 16.5 in 100 of them earned $100k+, against 16.2 for Cute-only games and 20.6 for Exploration-only games, so the mix is level with Cute alone and trails Exploration alone.

Both: 109 games priced $10 to $20; 16.5 in 100 earned $100k+, typical first-year earnings $12,749.

Circle areas follow launch counts; the gold overlap is exactly the pair's 109 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

Hello Kitty Island Adventureleads this pair21.9%
PairHello Kitty Island Adventure21.9%
CuteMewgenics15.9%
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 Cute + 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

  • Hello Kitty Island Adventure earned 21.9% of the estimated first-year money of the 539 Cute + Exploration launches.
  • Cute is led by Mewgenics, with 15.9% 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

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

Cute + Exploration through every lens, all prices
This pairBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view514 of 539 launchesWithout the breakout538 of 539 launchesLast 18 months270 of 539 launches
Launches counted53939 hits51438 hits53838 hits27014 hits
Earned $100k+7.2 in 1001 in 147.4 in 1001 in 147.1 in 1001 in 145.2 in 1001 in 19
Typical first-year earnings$1,456top tenth $50,242+$1,516$1,456$1,456
Chance against standardthe yardstick+2.8%0.2 more in 100-1.4%0.1 fewer in 100-27.8%2.0 fewer in 100
Typical against standardthe yardstick+4.1%$60 more0.0%no change0.0%no change
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsMoves the answer
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged both Cute and Exploration, 6 to 30 months old: 539 launches.

Launches counted
53939 hits
Earned $100k+
7.2 in 1001 in 14
Typical first-year earnings
$1,456top tenth $50,242+
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: 25 of 539 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
51438 hits
Earned $100k+
7.4 in 1001 in 14
Typical first-year earnings
$1,516
Chance against standard
+2.8%0.2 more in 100
Typical against standard
+4.1%$60 more
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Hello Kitty Island Adventure (21.9% of the money): 538 launches left.

Launches counted
53838 hits
Earned $100k+
7.1 in 1001 in 14
Typical first-year earnings
$1,456
Chance against standard
-1.4%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: 270 of 539.

Launches counted
27014 hits
Earned $100k+
5.2 in 1001 in 19
Typical first-year earnings
$1,456
Chance against standard
-27.8%2.0 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged both Cute and Exploration, 6 to 30 months old: 539 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: 25 of 539 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, Hello Kitty Island Adventure (21.9% of the money): 538 launches left.
Last 18 months
Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 270 of 539.

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

Cute through every lens, all prices
CuteBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view4,089 of 4,279 launchesWithout the breakout4,278 of 4,279 launchesLast 18 months2,326 of 4,279 launches
Launches counted4,279218 hits4,089200 hits4,278217 hits2,326111 hits
Earned $100k+5.1 in 1001 in 204.9 in 1001 in 205.1 in 1001 in 204.8 in 1001 in 21
Typical first-year earnings$725top tenth $28,533+$727$725$642
Chance against standardthe yardstick-3.9%0.2 fewer in 1000.0%no change-5.9%0.3 fewer in 100
Typical against standardthe yardstick+0.3%$2 more0.0%no change-11.4%$83 less
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Cute, 6 to 30 months old: 4,279 launches.

Launches counted
4,279218 hits
Earned $100k+
5.1 in 1001 in 20
Typical first-year earnings
$725top tenth $28,533+
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: 190 of 4,279 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
4,089200 hits
Earned $100k+
4.9 in 1001 in 20
Typical first-year earnings
$727
Chance against standard
-3.9%0.2 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
+0.3%$2 more
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Mewgenics (15.9% of the money): 4,278 launches left.

Launches counted
4,278217 hits
Earned $100k+
5.1 in 1001 in 20
Typical first-year earnings
$725
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: 2,326 of 4,279.

Launches counted
2,326111 hits
Earned $100k+
4.8 in 1001 in 21
Typical first-year earnings
$642
Chance against standard
-5.9%0.3 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-11.4%$83 less
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged Cute, 6 to 30 months old: 4,279 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: 190 of 4,279 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, Mewgenics (15.9% of the money): 4,278 launches left.
Last 18 months
Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 2,326 of 4,279.

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 Cute + 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.