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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 change shows for genres with 100+ launches. The same figures are on the Genres page.

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on 11 Nov 2026

Niches / Exploration + Hand-drawn

Niche

Exploration + Hand-drawn

Games tagged both Exploration and Hand-drawn: 129 indie paid launches, 6 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 26,758 indie paid launches 12 to 36 months old, data of 2 Nov 2026. How it is measured.

Showing Exploration + Hand-drawn priced $10 to $20. This filter changes the answer: at all prices the pair trails Exploration and is about level with Hand-drawn; priced $10 to $20 it is about level with Exploration and is about level with Hand-drawn.

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 + Hand-drawn is about level with Exploration and is about level with Hand-drawn: 18.8 in 100 of its launches earned $100k+ priced $10 to $20, against 20.6 in 100 for Exploration and 18.6 in 100 for Hand-drawn.

That is about 0.9 times the 20.5 in 100 expected for any launch at this price.

TIEA tie
Tag onemood tagExploration
20.6in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds20.6 in 100
Typical earnings$12,769
Launches880 / 181 hits
A tie, apart by1.8 in 100
TIEA tie
This pairExploration + Hand-drawn
18.8in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds18.8 in 100
$1k+88 in 100
$10k+66 in 100
Launches32 / 6 hits
Expected20.5 in 100
TIEA tie
Tag twomood tagHand-drawn
18.6in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds18.6 in 100
Typical earnings$14,415
Launches161 / 30 hits
A tie, apart by0.1 in 100
All indie launches $10 to $20: 20.5 in 100 earned $100k+, typical $11,233, from 4,337 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: 0.4 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 prices129 in pairUnder $562 in pair$5 to $1032 in pair$10 to $2032 in pair$20 to $403: too few
What the overlap means

The overlap is this niche: the 32 games tagged both Exploration and Hand-drawn priced $10 to $20. 18.8 in 100 of them earned $100k+, against 20.6 in 100 for Exploration-only games and 18.6 in 100 for Hand-drawn-only games, so the mix is about level with Exploration alone and is about level with Hand-drawn alone.

Both: 32 games priced $10 to $20; 18.8 in 100 earned $100k+, odds by size $1k+ 88 in 100 · $10k+ 66 in 100 · $100k+ 19 in 100.

Circle areas follow launch counts; the gold overlap is exactly the pair's 32 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

Thank Goodness You're Here!leads this pair63.7%
PairThank Goodness You're Here!63.7%
ExplorationHollow Knight: Silksong23.3%
Hand-drawnNine Sols36.3%
CheckOne game over half?yes
NextNearest hitsnot computed yet

Lens checkOne-hit market. Standard: the base the others are compared with. West-facing view: holds. Without the breakout: moves the answer. Last 18 months: too few to tell.

Open free preview
ComparablesFree until launchClick to unlockWho leads Exploration + Hand-drawn

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 63.7% of the estimated first-year money of the 129 Exploration + Hand-drawn launches.
  • Exploration is led by Hollow Knight: Silksong, with 23.3% of its money.
  • Hand-drawn is led by Nine Sols, with 36.3% of its 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: games mostly reviewed in Chinese, the single biggest earner, and everything older than 18 months.

Does the answer hold?

All prices

Exploration + Hand-drawn is one-hit market: one game earned over half the money. It holds in West-facing view.

Exploration + Hand-drawn through every lens, all prices
This pairBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view120 of 129 launchesWithout the breakout128 of 129 launchesLast 18 months26 of 129 launches
Launches counted1296 hits1206 hits1285 hits260 hits
Earned $100k+4.7 in 1001 in 225.0 in 1001 in 203.9 in 1001 in 260 of 26too few for a rate
Typical first-year earnings$1,397top tenth $42,901+$1,473$1,397under 100 launches
Chance against standardthe base+7.5%0.3 more in 100-16.0%0.7 fewer in 100-100.0%4.7 fewer in 100; too few to tell
Typical against standardthe base+5.4%$76 more0.0%no changeunder 100 launches
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsMoves the answerToo few to tell
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged both Exploration and Hand-drawn, 12 to 36 months old: 129 launches.

Launches counted
1296 hits
Earned $100k+
4.7 in 1001 in 22
Typical first-year earnings
$1,397top tenth $42,901+
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: 9 of 129 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
1206 hits
Earned $100k+
5.0 in 1001 in 20
Typical first-year earnings
$1,473
Chance against standard
+7.5%0.3 more in 100
Typical against standard
+5.4%$76 more
Without the breakoutMoves the answer

Drops the single biggest earner, Thank Goodness You're Here! (63.7% of the money): 128 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
1285 hits
Earned $100k+
3.9 in 1001 in 26
Typical first-year earnings
$1,397
Chance against standard
-16.0%0.7 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Last 18 monthsToo few to tell

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 26 of 129.

Launches counted
260 hits
Earned $100k+
0 of 26too few for a rate
Typical first-year earnings
under 100 launches
Chance against standard
-100.0%4.7 fewer in 100; too few to tell
Typical against standard
under 100 launches
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged both Exploration and Hand-drawn, 12 to 36 months old: 129 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: 9 of 129 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! (63.7% of the money): 128 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: 26 of 129.

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 view4,432 of 4,635 launchesWithout the breakout4,634 of 4,635 launchesLast 18 months1,277 of 4,635 launches
Launches counted4,635375 hits4,432357 hits4,634374 hits1,27799 hits
Earned $100k+8.1 in 1001 in 128.1 in 1001 in 128.1 in 1001 in 127.8 in 1001 in 13
Typical first-year earnings$876top tenth $64,081+$894$876$858
Chance against standardthe base-0.4%no change-0.2%no change-4.2%0.3 fewer in 100
Typical against standardthe base+2.1%$18 more0.0%no change-2.1%$18 less
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Exploration, 12 to 36 months old: 4,635 launches.

Launches counted
4,635375 hits
Earned $100k+
8.1 in 1001 in 12
Typical first-year earnings
$876top tenth $64,081+
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: 203 of 4,635 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
4,432357 hits
Earned $100k+
8.1 in 1001 in 12
Typical first-year earnings
$894
Chance against standard
-0.4%no change
Typical against standard
+2.1%$18 more
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Hollow Knight: Silksong (23.3% of the money): 4,634 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
4,634374 hits
Earned $100k+
8.1 in 1001 in 12
Typical first-year earnings
$876
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: 1,277 of 4,635.

Launches counted
1,27799 hits
Earned $100k+
7.8 in 1001 in 13
Typical first-year earnings
$858
Chance against standard
-4.2%0.3 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-2.1%$18 less
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged Exploration, 12 to 36 months old: 4,635 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: 203 of 4,635 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 (23.3% of the money): 4,634 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: 1,277 of 4,635.

Hand-drawn 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.

Hand-drawn through every lens, all prices
Hand-drawnBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view1,035 of 1,092 launchesWithout the breakout1,091 of 1,092 launchesLast 18 months256 of 1,092 launches
Launches counted1,09252 hits1,03551 hits1,09151 hits25615 hits
Earned $100k+4.8 in 1001 in 214.9 in 1001 in 204.7 in 1001 in 215.9 in 1001 in 17
Typical first-year earnings$869top tenth $31,226+$883$865$1,048
Chance against standardthe base+3.5%0.2 more in 100-1.8%0.1 fewer in 100+23.0%1.1 more in 100
Typical against standardthe base+1.6%$14 more-0.5%$4 less+20.6%$179 more
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Hand-drawn, 12 to 36 months old: 1,092 launches.

Launches counted
1,09252 hits
Earned $100k+
4.8 in 1001 in 21
Typical first-year earnings
$869top tenth $31,226+
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: 57 of 1,092 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
1,03551 hits
Earned $100k+
4.9 in 1001 in 20
Typical first-year earnings
$883
Chance against standard
+3.5%0.2 more in 100
Typical against standard
+1.6%$14 more
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Nine Sols (36.3% of the money): 1,091 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
1,09151 hits
Earned $100k+
4.7 in 1001 in 21
Typical first-year earnings
$865
Chance against standard
-1.8%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-0.5%$4 less
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 256 of 1,092.

Launches counted
25615 hits
Earned $100k+
5.9 in 1001 in 17
Typical first-year earnings
$1,048
Chance against standard
+23.0%1.1 more in 100
Typical against standard
+20.6%$179 more
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged Hand-drawn, 12 to 36 months old: 1,092 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: 57 of 1,092 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, Nine Sols (36.3% of the money): 1,091 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: 256 of 1,092.

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 + Hand-drawn 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.