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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 + Life Sim

Niche

Exploration + Life Sim

Games tagged both Exploration and Life Sim: 164 indie paid launches, 26 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 + Life Sim priced $10 to $20.

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 + Life Sim beats Exploration and is about level with Life Sim: 37.2 in 100 of its launches earned $100k+ priced $10 to $20, against 20.6 in 100 for Exploration and 34.9 in 100 for Life Sim.

That is about 1.8 times the 20.5 in 100 expected for any launch at this price.

3RDThird
Tag onemood tagExploration
20.6in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds20.6 in 100
Typical earnings$12,769
Launches880 / 181 hits
Pair leads by16.6 in 100
TIEA tie
This pairExploration + Life Sim
37.2in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds37.2 in 100
$1k+98 in 100
$10k+65 in 100
Launches43 / 16 hits
Expected20.5 in 100
TIEA tie
Tag twoLife Sim
34.9in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds34.9 in 100
Typical earnings$38,192
Launches235 / 82 hits
A tie, apart by2.3 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 prices164 in pairUnder $567 in pair$5 to $1044 in pair$10 to $2043 in pair$20 to $4010 in pair
What the overlap means

The overlap is this niche: the 43 games tagged both Exploration and Life Sim priced $10 to $20. 37.2 in 100 of them earned $100k+, against 19.7 in 100 for Exploration-only games and 34.4 in 100 for Life Sim-only games, so the mix beats Exploration alone and is about level with Life Sim alone.

Both: 43 games priced $10 to $20; 37.2 in 100 earned $100k+, odds by size $1k+ 98 in 100 · $10k+ 65 in 100 · $100k+ 37 in 100.

Circle areas follow launch counts; the gold overlap is exactly the pair's 43 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 pair35.0%
PairHello Kitty Island Adventure35.0%
ExplorationHollow Knight: Silksong23.3%
Life SimSupermarket Simulator25.2%
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 + Life 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

  • Hello Kitty Island Adventure earned 35.0% of the estimated first-year money of the 164 Exploration + Life Sim launches.
  • Exploration is led by Hollow Knight: Silksong, with 23.3% of its money.
  • Life Sim is led by Supermarket Simulator, with 25.2% 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 + Life 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.

Exploration + Life Sim through every lens, all prices
This pairBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view152 of 164 launchesWithout the breakout163 of 164 launchesLast 18 months44 of 164 launches
Launches counted16426 hits15223 hits16325 hits446 hits
Earned $100k+15.9 in 10015.1 in 10015.3 in 10013.6 in 100
Typical first-year earnings$2,033top tenth $335,136+$2,281$1,767under 100 launches
Chance against standardthe base-4.6%0.7 fewer in 100-3.3%0.5 fewer in 100-14.0%2.2 fewer in 100
Typical against standardthe base+12.2%$248 more-13.1%$266 lessunder 100 launches
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged both Exploration and Life Sim, 12 to 36 months old: 164 launches.

Launches counted
16426 hits
Earned $100k+
15.9 in 100
Typical first-year earnings
$2,033top tenth $335,136+
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: 12 of 164 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
15223 hits
Earned $100k+
15.1 in 100
Typical first-year earnings
$2,281
Chance against standard
-4.6%0.7 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
+12.2%$248 more
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Hello Kitty Island Adventure (35.0% of the money): 163 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
16325 hits
Earned $100k+
15.3 in 100
Typical first-year earnings
$1,767
Chance against standard
-3.3%0.5 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-13.1%$266 less
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 44 of 164.

Launches counted
446 hits
Earned $100k+
13.6 in 100
Typical first-year earnings
under 100 launches
Chance against standard
-14.0%2.2 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
under 100 launches
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged both Exploration and Life Sim, 12 to 36 months old: 164 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: 12 of 164 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 (35.0% of the money): 163 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: 44 of 164.

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.

Life 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.

Life Sim through every lens, all prices
Life SimBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view861 of 911 launchesWithout the breakout910 of 911 launchesLast 18 months293 of 911 launches
Launches counted911129 hits861121 hits910128 hits29345 hits
Earned $100k+14.2 in 10014.1 in 10014.1 in 10015.4 in 100
Typical first-year earnings$1,727top tenth $193,740+$1,800$1,727$1,555
Chance against standardthe base-0.8%0.1 fewer in 100-0.7%0.1 fewer in 100+8.5%1.2 more in 100
Typical against standardthe base+4.2%$73 more0.0%no change-10.0%$172 less
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Life Sim, 12 to 36 months old: 911 launches.

Launches counted
911129 hits
Earned $100k+
14.2 in 100
Typical first-year earnings
$1,727top tenth $193,740+
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: 50 of 911 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
861121 hits
Earned $100k+
14.1 in 100
Typical first-year earnings
$1,800
Chance against standard
-0.8%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
+4.2%$73 more
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Supermarket Simulator (25.2% of the money): 910 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
910128 hits
Earned $100k+
14.1 in 100
Typical first-year earnings
$1,727
Chance against standard
-0.7%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 293 of 911.

Launches counted
29345 hits
Earned $100k+
15.4 in 100
Typical first-year earnings
$1,555
Chance against standard
+8.5%1.2 more in 100
Typical against standard
-10.0%$172 less
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged Life Sim, 12 to 36 months old: 911 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: 50 of 911 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 (25.2% of the money): 910 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: 293 of 911.

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 + Life 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

Ticker: 30 upcoming games dated within 90 days, with wishlist rank, release date and followers. The same list is on the Upcoming page.