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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 + Pixel Graphics

Niche

Exploration + Pixel Graphics

Games tagged both Exploration and Pixel Graphics: 481 indie paid launches, 41 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 + Pixel Graphics priced $10 to $20. This filter changes the answer: at all prices the pair is about level with Exploration and is about level with Pixel Graphics; priced $10 to $20 it beats 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 + Pixel Graphics beats both its tags: 32.2 in 100 of its launches earned $100k+ priced $10 to $20, against 20.6 in 100 for Exploration and 24.2 in 100 for Pixel Graphics.

That is about 1.6 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 by11.6 in 100
1STWinner
This pairExploration + Pixel Graphics
32.2in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds32.2 in 100
$1k+92 in 100
$10k+67 in 100
Launches87 / 28 hits
Expected20.5 in 100
2NDRunner-up
Tag twomood tagPixel Graphics
24.2in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds24.2 in 100
Typical earnings$15,625
Launches495 / 120 hits
Pair leads by7.9 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 prices481 in pairUnder $5237 in pair$5 to $10141 in pair$10 to $2087 in pair$20 to $4016 in pair
What the overlap means

The overlap is this niche: the 87 games tagged both Exploration and Pixel Graphics priced $10 to $20. 32.2 in 100 of them earned $100k+, against 19.3 in 100 for Exploration-only games and 22.5 in 100 for Pixel Graphics-only games, so games with both tags did better than games with either tag alone.

Both: 87 games priced $10 to $20; 32.2 in 100 earned $100k+, odds by size $1k+ 92 in 100 · $10k+ 67 in 100 · $100k+ 32 in 100.

Circle areas follow launch counts; the gold overlap is exactly the pair's 87 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

ANIMAL WELLleads this pair24.8%
PairANIMAL WELL24.8%
ExplorationHollow Knight: Silksong23.3%
Pixel GraphicsDELTARUNE22.7%
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 + Pixel Graphics

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

  • ANIMAL WELL earned 24.8% of the estimated first-year money of the 481 Exploration + Pixel Graphics launches.
  • Exploration is led by Hollow Knight: Silksong, with 23.3% of its money.
  • Pixel Graphics is led by DELTARUNE, with 22.7% 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 + Pixel Graphics 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 + Pixel Graphics through every lens, all prices
This pairBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view459 of 481 launchesWithout the breakout480 of 481 launchesLast 18 months129 of 481 launches
Launches counted48141 hits45939 hits48040 hits12910 hits
Earned $100k+8.5 in 1001 in 128.5 in 1001 in 128.3 in 1001 in 127.8 in 1001 in 13
Typical first-year earnings$669top tenth $70,273+$676$669$545
Chance against standardthe base-0.3%no change-2.2%0.2 fewer in 100-9.1%0.8 fewer in 100
Typical against standardthe base+1.0%$7 more0.0%no change-18.5%$124 less
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged both Exploration and Pixel Graphics, 12 to 36 months old: 481 launches.

Launches counted
48141 hits
Earned $100k+
8.5 in 1001 in 12
Typical first-year earnings
$669top tenth $70,273+
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: 22 of 481 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
45939 hits
Earned $100k+
8.5 in 1001 in 12
Typical first-year earnings
$676
Chance against standard
-0.3%no change
Typical against standard
+1.0%$7 more
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, ANIMAL WELL (24.8% of the money): 480 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
48040 hits
Earned $100k+
8.3 in 1001 in 12
Typical first-year earnings
$669
Chance against standard
-2.2%0.2 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 129 of 481.

Launches counted
12910 hits
Earned $100k+
7.8 in 1001 in 13
Typical first-year earnings
$545
Chance against standard
-9.1%0.8 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-18.5%$124 less
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged both Exploration and Pixel Graphics, 12 to 36 months old: 481 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: 22 of 481 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, ANIMAL WELL (24.8% of the money): 480 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: 129 of 481.

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.

Pixel Graphics is audience split: West-facing view moves the answer more than chance alone would. It holds in Without the breakout and Last 18 months.

Pixel Graphics through every lens, all prices
Pixel GraphicsBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view3,562 of 3,756 launchesWithout the breakout3,755 of 3,756 launchesLast 18 months1,106 of 3,756 launches
Launches counted3,756211 hits3,562193 hits3,755210 hits1,10669 hits
Earned $100k+5.6 in 1001 in 185.4 in 1001 in 185.6 in 1001 in 186.2 in 1001 in 16
Typical first-year earnings$460top tenth $32,384+$478$460$399
Chance against standardthe base-3.5%0.2 fewer in 100-0.4%no change+11.1%0.6 more in 100
Typical against standardthe base+3.9%$18 more0.0%no change-13.3%$61 less
Does it hold?The base viewMoves the answerHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Pixel Graphics, 12 to 36 months old: 3,756 launches.

Launches counted
3,756211 hits
Earned $100k+
5.6 in 1001 in 18
Typical first-year earnings
$460top tenth $32,384+
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: 194 of 3,756 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
3,562193 hits
Earned $100k+
5.4 in 1001 in 18
Typical first-year earnings
$478
Chance against standard
-3.5%0.2 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
+3.9%$18 more
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, DELTARUNE (22.7% of the money): 3,755 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
3,755210 hits
Earned $100k+
5.6 in 1001 in 18
Typical first-year earnings
$460
Chance against standard
-0.4%no change
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 1,106 of 3,756.

Launches counted
1,10669 hits
Earned $100k+
6.2 in 1001 in 16
Typical first-year earnings
$399
Chance against standard
+11.1%0.6 more in 100
Typical against standard
-13.3%$61 less
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged Pixel Graphics, 12 to 36 months old: 3,756 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: 194 of 3,756 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, DELTARUNE (22.7% of the money): 3,755 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: 1,106 of 3,756.

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 + Pixel Graphics 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.