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on 3 Oct 2026

Niches / Demons + Exploration

Niche

Demons + Exploration

Games tagged both Demons and Exploration: 44 indie paid launches, 1 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.

Showing Demons + Exploration priced under $5.

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?Under $5

Demons + Exploration is too small to compare with Demons and is too small to compare with Exploration: 0 of its 24 launches earned $100k+ priced under $5, against 0 of 174 launches for Demons and 0.3 in 100 for Exploration.

Small sample: 24 launches, 0 hits.

TIEA tie
Tag oneDemons
0 of 174launches earned
$100k+ small
Odds0 of 174 launches
Typical earnings$214
Launches174 / 0 hits
Pair against ittoo few hits to compare
TIEA tie
This pairDemons + Exploration
0 of 24launches earned
$100k+ small
Odds0 of 24 launches
$1k+10 of 24 launches
$10k+2 of 24 launches
Launches24 / 0 hits
Expected0.4 in 100
TIEA tie
Tag twomood tagExploration
0.3in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds1 in 309
Typical earnings$215
Launches2,160 / 7 hits
Pair against ittoo few hits to compare
All indie launches under $5: 0.4 in 100 earned $100k+ (1 in 238), typical $158, from 13,785 launches.each block is 0.5 in 100 all indie at under $5Exploration 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 prices44 in pairUnder $524 in pair$5 to $1015 in pair$10 to $204: too few$20 to $401: too few
What the overlap means

The overlap is this niche: the 24 games tagged both Demons and Exploration priced under $5. 0 of 24 of them earned $100k+, against 0 of 150 for Demons-only games and 0.3 in 100 for Exploration-only games, so the mix is too small to compare with Demons alone and is too small to compare with Exploration alone.

Both: 24 games priced under $5; 0 of 24 earned $100k+, odds by size $1k+ 10 of 24 launches · $10k+ 2 of 24 launches · $100k+ 0 of 24 launches.

Circle areas follow launch counts; the gold overlap is exactly the pair's 24 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

MADiSON VRleads this pair47.9%
PairMADiSON VR47.9%
DemonsMonster Train 247.0%
ExplorationHollow Knight: Silksong22.3%
CheckOne game over half?no
NextNearest hitsnot computed yet

Lens checkHolds in 1 of 3, 2 too few to tell. Standard: the base the others are compared with. West-facing view: too few to tell. Without the breakout: holds. Last 18 months: too few to tell.

Open free preview
ComparablesFree until launchClick to unlockWho leads Demons + 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

  • MADiSON VR earned 47.9% of the estimated first-year money of the 44 Demons + Exploration launches.
  • Demons is led by Monster Train 2, with 47.0% of its money.
  • Exploration is led by Hollow Knight: Silksong, with 22.3% 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: games mostly reviewed in Chinese, the single biggest earner, and everything older than 18 months.

Does the answer hold?

All prices

Demons + Exploration holds in Without the breakout; too few to tell in West-facing view and Last 18 months. No lens moves the chance or typical earnings more than chance alone would.

Demons + Exploration through every lens, all prices
This pairBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view44 of 44 launchesWithout the breakout43 of 44 launchesLast 18 months13 of 44 launches
Launches counted441 hits441 hits430 hits130 hits
Earned $100k+1 of 44too few for a rate1 of 44too few for a rate0 of 43too few for a rate0 of 13too few for a rate
Chance of $10k+14 in 100chance of $10k+; $1k+ 50 in 100under 100 launchesunder 100 launchesunder 100 launches
Chance against standardthe base0.0%no change; too few to tell-100.0%2.3 fewer in 100-100.0%2.3 fewer in 100; too few to tell
Typical against standardthe baseunder 100 launchesunder 100 launchesunder 100 launches
Does it hold?The base viewToo few to tellHoldsToo few to tell
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged both Demons and Exploration, 12 to 36 months old: 44 launches.

Launches counted
441 hits
Earned $100k+
1 of 44too few for a rate
Chance of $10k+
14 in 100chance of $10k+; $1k+ 50 in 100
Chance against standard
the base
Typical against standard
the base
West-facing viewToo few to tell

Games mostly reviewed outside China. Drops games mostly reviewed in Chinese, meaning 35% or more of their reviews are in Simplified Chinese: 0 of 44 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
441 hits
Earned $100k+
1 of 44too few for a rate
Chance of $10k+
under 100 launches
Chance against standard
0.0%no change; too few to tell
Typical against standard
under 100 launches
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, MADiSON VR (47.9% of the money): 43 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
430 hits
Earned $100k+
0 of 43too few for a rate
Chance of $10k+
under 100 launches
Chance against standard
-100.0%2.3 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
under 100 launches
Last 18 monthsToo few to tell

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 13 of 44.

Launches counted
130 hits
Earned $100k+
0 of 13too few for a rate
Chance of $10k+
under 100 launches
Chance against standard
-100.0%2.3 fewer in 100; too few to tell
Typical against standard
under 100 launches
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged both Demons and Exploration, 12 to 36 months old: 44 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: 0 of 44 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, MADiSON VR (47.9% of the money): 43 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: 13 of 44.

Demons holds in West-facing view and Without the breakout; too few to tell in Last 18 months. No lens moves the chance or typical earnings more than chance alone would.

Demons through every lens, all prices
DemonsBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view333 of 338 launchesWithout the breakout337 of 338 launchesLast 18 months82 of 338 launches
Launches counted33813 hits33313 hits33712 hits821 hits
Earned $100k+3.8 in 1001 in 263.9 in 1001 in 263.6 in 1001 in 281 of 82too few for a rate
Typical first-year earnings$566top tenth $16,691+$558$558under 100 launches
Chance against standardthe base+1.5%0.1 more in 100-7.4%0.3 fewer in 100-68.3%2.6 fewer in 100; too few to tell
Typical against standardthe base-1.4%$8 less-1.4%$8 lessunder 100 launches
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsToo few to tell
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Demons, 12 to 36 months old: 338 launches.

Launches counted
33813 hits
Earned $100k+
3.8 in 1001 in 26
Typical first-year earnings
$566top tenth $16,691+
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: 5 of 338 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
33313 hits
Earned $100k+
3.9 in 1001 in 26
Typical first-year earnings
$558
Chance against standard
+1.5%0.1 more in 100
Typical against standard
-1.4%$8 less
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Monster Train 2 (47.0% of the money): 337 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
33712 hits
Earned $100k+
3.6 in 1001 in 28
Typical first-year earnings
$558
Chance against standard
-7.4%0.3 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-1.4%$8 less
Last 18 monthsToo few to tell

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 82 of 338.

Launches counted
821 hits
Earned $100k+
1 of 82too few for a rate
Typical first-year earnings
under 100 launches
Chance against standard
-68.3%2.6 fewer in 100; too few to tell
Typical against standard
under 100 launches
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged Demons, 12 to 36 months old: 338 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: 5 of 338 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, Monster Train 2 (47.0% of the money): 337 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: 82 of 338.

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
ExplorationBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view4,381 of 4,582 launchesWithout the breakout4,581 of 4,582 launchesLast 18 months1,268 of 4,582 launches
Launches counted4,582382 hits4,381366 hits4,581381 hits1,268105 hits
Earned $100k+8.3 in 1001 in 128.4 in 1001 in 128.3 in 1001 in 128.3 in 1001 in 12
Typical first-year earnings$877top tenth $65,025+$901$877$884
Chance against standardthe base+0.2%no change-0.2%no change-0.7%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standardthe base+2.7%$24 more0.0%no change+0.8%$7 more
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
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 Demons + 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.