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on 11 Nov 2026

Niches / Exploration + Immersive Sim

Niche

Exploration + Immersive Sim

Games tagged both Exploration and Immersive Sim: 368 indie paid launches, 24 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 + Immersive Sim priced $10 to $20. This filter changes the answer: at all prices the pair is about level with Exploration and trails Immersive Sim; priced $10 to $20 it trails both its tags.

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 + Immersive Sim trails both its tags: 16.2 in 100 of its launches earned $100k+ priced $10 to $20, against 20.6 in 100 for Exploration and 25.4 in 100 for Immersive Sim.

That is about 0.8 times the 20.5 in 100 expected for any launch at this price.

2NDRunner-up
Tag onemood tagExploration
20.6in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds20.6 in 100
Typical earnings$12,769
Launches880 / 181 hits
Pair trails by4.4 in 100
3RDThird
This pairExploration + Immersive Sim
16.2in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds16.2 in 100
$1k+78 in 100
$10k+46 in 100
Launches68 / 11 hits
Expected20.5 in 100
1STWinner
Tag twoImmersive Sim
25.4in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds25.4 in 100
Typical earnings$19,809
Launches319 / 81 hits
Pair trails by9.2 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 prices368 in pairUnder $5194 in pair$5 to $1087 in pair$10 to $2068 in pair$20 to $4019 in pair
What the overlap means

The overlap is this niche: the 68 games tagged both Exploration and Immersive Sim priced $10 to $20. 16.2 in 100 of them earned $100k+, against 20.9 in 100 for Exploration-only games and 27.9 in 100 for Immersive Sim-only games, so games with both tags did worse than games with either tag alone.

Both: 68 games priced $10 to $20; 16.2 in 100 earned $100k+, odds by size $1k+ 78 in 100 · $10k+ 46 in 100 · $100k+ 16 in 100.

Circle areas follow launch counts; the gold overlap is exactly the pair's 68 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

S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chornobyl - Enhanced Editionleads this pair12.9%
PairS.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chornobyl - Enhanced Edition12.9%
ExplorationHollow Knight: Silksong23.3%
Immersive SimSupermarket Simulator20.6%
CheckOne game over half?no
NextNearest hitsnot computed yet

Lens checkAudience split. Standard: the base the others are compared with. West-facing view: moves the answer. Without the breakout: holds. Last 18 months: holds.

Open free preview
ComparablesFree until launchClick to unlockWho leads Exploration + Immersive Sim

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

  • S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chornobyl - Enhanced Edition earned 12.9% of the estimated first-year money of the 368 Exploration + Immersive Sim launches.
  • Exploration is led by Hollow Knight: Silksong, with 23.3% of its money.
  • Immersive Sim is led by Supermarket Simulator, with 20.6% 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 + Immersive Sim is audience split: West-facing view moves the answer more than chance alone would. It holds in Without the breakout and Last 18 months.

Exploration + Immersive Sim through every lens, all prices
This pairBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view351 of 368 launchesWithout the breakout367 of 368 launchesLast 18 months96 of 368 launches
Launches counted36824 hits35121 hits36723 hits966 hits
Earned $100k+6.5 in 1001 in 156.0 in 1001 in 176.3 in 1001 in 166.3 in 1001 in 16
Typical first-year earnings$1,071top tenth $55,563+$1,073$1,046under 100 launches
Chance against standardthe base-8.3%0.5 fewer in 100-3.9%0.3 fewer in 100-4.2%0.3 fewer in 100
Typical against standardthe base+0.2%$2 more-2.3%$25 lessunder 100 launches
Does it hold?The base viewMoves the answerHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged both Exploration and Immersive Sim, 12 to 36 months old: 368 launches.

Launches counted
36824 hits
Earned $100k+
6.5 in 1001 in 15
Typical first-year earnings
$1,071top tenth $55,563+
Chance against standard
the base
Typical against standard
the base
West-facing viewMoves the answer

Games mostly reviewed outside China. Drops games mostly reviewed in Chinese, meaning 35% or more of their reviews are in Simplified Chinese: 17 of 368 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
35121 hits
Earned $100k+
6.0 in 1001 in 17
Typical first-year earnings
$1,073
Chance against standard
-8.3%0.5 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
+0.2%$2 more
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chornobyl - Enhanced Edition (12.9% of the money): 367 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
36723 hits
Earned $100k+
6.3 in 1001 in 16
Typical first-year earnings
$1,046
Chance against standard
-3.9%0.3 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-2.3%$25 less
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 96 of 368.

Launches counted
966 hits
Earned $100k+
6.3 in 1001 in 16
Typical first-year earnings
under 100 launches
Chance against standard
-4.2%0.3 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
under 100 launches
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged both Exploration and Immersive Sim, 12 to 36 months old: 368 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: 17 of 368 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, S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chornobyl - Enhanced Edition (12.9% of the money): 367 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: 96 of 368.

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.

Immersive Sim 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.

Immersive Sim through every lens, all prices
Immersive SimBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view1,293 of 1,390 launchesWithout the breakout1,389 of 1,390 launchesLast 18 months409 of 1,390 launches
Launches counted1,390137 hits1,293123 hits1,389136 hits40942 hits
Earned $100k+9.9 in 1001 in 109.5 in 1001 in 119.8 in 1001 in 1010.3 in 100
Typical first-year earnings$1,368top tenth $99,284+$1,368$1,363$1,235
Chance against standardthe base-3.5%0.3 fewer in 100-0.7%0.1 fewer in 100+4.2%0.4 more in 100
Typical against standardthe base0.0%no change-0.4%$5 less-9.7%$133 less
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Immersive Sim, 12 to 36 months old: 1,390 launches.

Launches counted
1,390137 hits
Earned $100k+
9.9 in 1001 in 10
Typical first-year earnings
$1,368top tenth $99,284+
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: 97 of 1,390 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
1,293123 hits
Earned $100k+
9.5 in 1001 in 11
Typical first-year earnings
$1,368
Chance against standard
-3.5%0.3 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Supermarket Simulator (20.6% of the money): 1,389 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
1,389136 hits
Earned $100k+
9.8 in 1001 in 10
Typical first-year earnings
$1,363
Chance against standard
-0.7%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-0.4%$5 less
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 409 of 1,390.

Launches counted
40942 hits
Earned $100k+
10.3 in 100
Typical first-year earnings
$1,235
Chance against standard
+4.2%0.4 more in 100
Typical against standard
-9.7%$133 less
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged Immersive Sim, 12 to 36 months old: 1,390 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: 97 of 1,390 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, Supermarket Simulator (20.6% of the money): 1,389 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: 409 of 1,390.

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 + Immersive Sim 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

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