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on 3 Oct 2026

Niches / Exploration + Fantasy

Niche

Exploration + Fantasy

Games tagged both Exploration and Fantasy: 228 indie paid launches, 15 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 26,280 indie paid launches 12 to 36 months old, data of 3 Oct 2026. How it is measured.

Showing Exploration + Fantasy priced $10 to $20, last 18 months. 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 is about level with Exploration and is about level with Fantasy; priced $10 to $20 it trails Exploration and is about level with Fantasy.

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

Exploration + Fantasy trails Exploration and is about level with Fantasy: 10.2 in 100 of its launches earned $100k+ priced $10 to $20, against 17.3 in 100 for Exploration and 10.7 in 100 for Fantasy.

That is about 0.6 times the 17.6 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.

1STWinner
Tag onemood tagExploration
17.3in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds17.3 in 100
Typical earnings$9,369
Launches878 / 152 hits
Pair trails by7.1 in 100
TIETied
This pairExploration + Fantasy
10.2in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds10.2 in 100
Typical earnings$5,317
Launches59 / 6 hits
Expected17.6 in 100
TIETied
Tag twomood tagFantasy
10.7in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds10.7 in 100
Typical earnings$3,505
Launches402 / 43 hits
A tie, apart by0.5 in 100
All indie launches $10 to $20: 17.6 in 100 earned $100k+, typical $8,234, from 4,301 launches.each block is 1 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: 40.0 in 100), so read it within a price band.

Price bandswitches the whole page
All prices228 in pairUnder $582 in pair$5 to $1069 in pair$10 to $2059 in pair$20 to $4018 in pair
What the overlap means

The overlap is this niche: the 59 games tagged both Exploration and Fantasy priced $10 to $20. 10.2 in 100 of them earned $100k+, against 17.8 in 100 for Exploration-only games and 10.8 in 100 for Fantasy-only games, so the mix trails Exploration alone and is about level with Fantasy alone.

Both: 59 games priced $10 to $20; 10.2 in 100 earned $100k+, typical first-year earnings $5,317.

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 last 18 months 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

Song of Nunu: A League of Legends Storyleads this pair13.8%
PairSong of Nunu: A League of Legends Story13.8%
ExplorationHollow Knight: Silksong21.4%
FantasyGranblue Fantasy: Relink23.2%
CheckOne game over half?no
NextNearest hitsnot computed yet

Lens checkHolds in 3 of 3. Standard: the base the others are compared with. West-facing view: holds. Without the breakout: holds. Last 18 months: holds.

Open free preview
ComparablesFree until launchClick to unlockWho leads Exploration + Fantasy

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

  • Song of Nunu: A League of Legends Story earned 13.8% of the estimated first-year money of the 228 Exploration + Fantasy launches.
  • Exploration is led by Hollow Knight: Silksong, with 21.4% of its money.
  • Fantasy is led by Granblue Fantasy: Relink, with 23.2% 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

Exploration + Fantasy 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 + Fantasy through every lens, all prices
This pairBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view221 of 228 launchesWithout the breakout227 of 228 launchesLast 18 months58 of 228 launches
Launches counted22815 hits22115 hits22714 hits586 hits
Earned $100k+6.6 in 1001 in 156.8 in 1001 in 156.2 in 1001 in 1610.3 in 100
Typical first-year earnings$766top tenth $48,769+$669$669$1,149
Chance against standardthe base+3.2%0.2 more in 100-6.3%0.4 fewer in 100+57.2%3.8 more in 100
Typical against standardthe base-12.7%$97 less-12.7%$97 less+50.0%$383 more; too few to tell
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged both Exploration and Fantasy, 12 to 36 months old: 228 launches.

Launches counted
22815 hits
Earned $100k+
6.6 in 1001 in 15
Typical first-year earnings
$766top tenth $48,769+
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: 7 of 228 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
22115 hits
Earned $100k+
6.8 in 1001 in 15
Typical first-year earnings
$669
Chance against standard
+3.2%0.2 more in 100
Typical against standard
-12.7%$97 less
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Song of Nunu: A League of Legends Story (13.8% of the money): 227 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
22714 hits
Earned $100k+
6.2 in 1001 in 16
Typical first-year earnings
$669
Chance against standard
-6.3%0.4 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-12.7%$97 less
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 58 of 228.

Launches counted
586 hits
Earned $100k+
10.3 in 100
Typical first-year earnings
$1,149
Chance against standard
+57.2%3.8 more in 100
Typical against standard
+50.0%$383 more; too few to tell
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged both Exploration and Fantasy, 12 to 36 months old: 228 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: 7 of 228 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, Song of Nunu: A League of Legends Story (13.8% of the money): 227 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: 58 of 228.

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 view4,379 of 4,579 launchesWithout the breakout4,578 of 4,579 launchesLast 18 months1,268 of 4,579 launches
Launches counted4,579337 hits4,379321 hits4,578336 hits1,26896 hits
Earned $100k+7.4 in 1001 in 147.3 in 1001 in 147.3 in 1001 in 147.6 in 1001 in 13
Typical first-year earnings$861top tenth $53,530+$862$861$861
Chance against standardthe base-0.4%no change-0.3%no change+2.9%0.2 more in 100
Typical against standardthe base+0.1%$1 more0.0%no change0.0%no change
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Exploration, 12 to 36 months old: 4,579 launches.

Launches counted
4,579337 hits
Earned $100k+
7.4 in 1001 in 14
Typical first-year earnings
$861top tenth $53,530+
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: 200 of 4,579 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
4,379321 hits
Earned $100k+
7.3 in 1001 in 14
Typical first-year earnings
$862
Chance against standard
-0.4%no change
Typical against standard
+0.1%$1 more
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Hollow Knight: Silksong (21.4% of the money): 4,578 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
4,578336 hits
Earned $100k+
7.3 in 1001 in 14
Typical first-year earnings
$861
Chance against standard
-0.3%no change
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 1,268 of 4,579.

Launches counted
1,26896 hits
Earned $100k+
7.6 in 1001 in 13
Typical first-year earnings
$861
Chance against standard
+2.9%0.2 more in 100
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged Exploration, 12 to 36 months old: 4,579 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: 200 of 4,579 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 (21.4% of the money): 4,578 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 4,579.

Fantasy 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.

Fantasy through every lens, all prices
FantasyBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view1,687 of 1,767 launchesWithout the breakout1,766 of 1,767 launchesLast 18 months515 of 1,767 launches
Launches counted1,76790 hits1,68786 hits1,76689 hits51529 hits
Earned $100k+5.1 in 1001 in 205.1 in 1001 in 205.0 in 1001 in 205.6 in 1001 in 18
Typical first-year earnings$563top tenth $26,247+$568$563$574
Chance against standardthe base+0.1%no change-1.1%0.1 fewer in 100+10.6%0.5 more in 100
Typical against standardthe base+0.9%$5 more0.0%no change+2.0%$11 more
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Fantasy, 12 to 36 months old: 1,767 launches.

Launches counted
1,76790 hits
Earned $100k+
5.1 in 1001 in 20
Typical first-year earnings
$563top tenth $26,247+
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: 80 of 1,767 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
1,68786 hits
Earned $100k+
5.1 in 1001 in 20
Typical first-year earnings
$568
Chance against standard
+0.1%no change
Typical against standard
+0.9%$5 more
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Granblue Fantasy: Relink (23.2% of the money): 1,766 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
1,76689 hits
Earned $100k+
5.0 in 1001 in 20
Typical first-year earnings
$563
Chance against standard
-1.1%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 515 of 1,767.

Launches counted
51529 hits
Earned $100k+
5.6 in 1001 in 18
Typical first-year earnings
$574
Chance against standard
+10.6%0.5 more in 100
Typical against standard
+2.0%$11 more
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged Fantasy, 12 to 36 months old: 1,767 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: 80 of 1,767 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, Granblue Fantasy: Relink (23.2% of the money): 1,766 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: 515 of 1,767.

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 Exploration + Fantasy 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.