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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 same figures are on the Genres page.

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on 30 Sep 2026

Niches / Exploration + Platformer

Niche

Exploration + Platformer

Games tagged both Exploration and Platformer: 441 indie paid launches, 42 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".
  • Price moves the odds more than genre does, so the page opens on one price band. The keys in section 2 switch it.
  • From 29,637 indie paid launches 6 to 30 months old, data of 1 Oct 2026. How it is measured.

Showing Exploration + Platformer priced $10 to $20, without the breakout. Lens figures exist at all prices only, so inside a price band the page shows the standard figures.

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 + Platformer beats both its tags: 25.8 in 100 of its launches earned $100k+ priced $10 to $20, against 20.1 in 100 for Exploration and 16.6 in 100 for Platformer.

That is about 1.4 times the 18.6 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.

2NDRunner-up
Tag onemood tagExploration
20.1in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds20.1 in 100
Typical earnings$11,535
Launches988 / 199 hits
Pair leads by5.7 in 100
1STWinner
This pairExploration + Platformer
25.8in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds25.8 in 100
Typical earnings$18,954
Launches93 / 24 hits
Expected18.6 in 100
3RDThird
Tag twoPlatformer
16.6in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds16.6 in 100
Typical earnings$7,285
Launches337 / 56 hits
Pair leads by9.2 in 100
All indie launches $10 to $20: 18.6 in 100 earned $100k+, typical $9,226, from 4,810 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: 0.5 in 100 launches earned $100k+; $20 to $40: 42.4 in 100), so read it within a price band.

Price bandswitches the whole page
All prices441 in pairUnder $5193 in pair$5 to $10134 in pair$10 to $2093 in pair$20 to $4021 in pair
What the overlap means

The overlap is this niche: the 93 games tagged both Exploration and Platformer priced $10 to $20. 25.8 in 100 of them earned $100k+, against 19.6 for Exploration-only games and 13.1 for Platformer-only games, so games with both tags did better than games with either tag alone.

Both: 93 games priced $10 to $20; 25.8 in 100 earned $100k+, typical first-year earnings $18,954.

Circle areas follow launch counts; the gold overlap is exactly the pair's 93 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 without the breakout 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

Hollow Knight: Silksongleads this pair81.4%
PairHollow Knight: Silksong81.4%
ExplorationHollow Knight: Silksong20.7%
PlatformerHollow Knight: Silksong59.3%
CheckOne game over half?yes
NextNearest hitsnot computed yet

Lens checkHolds in 3 of 3. Standard: the yardstick. West-facing view: holds. Without the breakout: holds. Last 18 months: holds.

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

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

  • Hollow Knight: Silksong earned 81.4% of the estimated first-year money of the 441 Exploration + Platformer launches.
  • It also leads Exploration, with 20.7% of that tag's money.
  • It also leads Platformer, with 59.3% of that tag's 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: those with a mostly Chinese audience, the single biggest earner, and everything older than 18 months.

Does the answer hold?

All prices

Exploration + Platformer holds in 3 of 3: every lens keeps the chance and typical earnings within a quarter of the standard figures.

Exploration + Platformer through every lens, all prices
This pairBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view430 of 441 launchesWithout the breakout440 of 441 launchesLast 18 months226 of 441 launches
Launches counted44142 hits43038 hits44041 hits22619 hits
Earned $100k+9.5 in 1001 in 118.8 in 1001 in 119.3 in 1001 in 118.4 in 1001 in 12
Typical first-year earnings$606top tenth $70,840+$606$606$606
Chance against standardthe yardstick-7.4%0.7 fewer in 100-2.1%0.2 fewer in 100-11.6%1.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standardthe yardstick0.0%no change0.0%no change0.0%no change
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged both Exploration and Platformer, 6 to 30 months old: 441 launches.

Launches counted
44142 hits
Earned $100k+
9.5 in 1001 in 11
Typical first-year earnings
$606top tenth $70,840+
Chance against standard
the yardstick
Typical against standard
the yardstick
West-facing viewHolds

Games mostly reviewed outside China. Drops games whose audience is mostly Chinese, meaning 35% or more of their reviews are in Simplified Chinese: 11 of 441 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
43038 hits
Earned $100k+
8.8 in 1001 in 11
Typical first-year earnings
$606
Chance against standard
-7.4%0.7 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Hollow Knight: Silksong (81.4% of the money): 440 launches left.

Launches counted
44041 hits
Earned $100k+
9.3 in 1001 in 11
Typical first-year earnings
$606
Chance against standard
-2.1%0.2 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 226 of 441.

Launches counted
22619 hits
Earned $100k+
8.4 in 1001 in 12
Typical first-year earnings
$606
Chance against standard
-11.6%1.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged both Exploration and Platformer, 6 to 30 months old: 441 launches.
West-facing view
Games mostly reviewed outside China. Drops games whose audience is mostly Chinese, meaning 35% or more of their reviews are in Simplified Chinese: 11 of 441 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 (81.4% of the money): 440 launches left.
Last 18 months
Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 226 of 441.

Exploration holds in 3 of 3: every lens keeps the chance and typical earnings within a quarter of the standard figures.

Exploration through every lens, all prices
ExplorationBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view4,867 of 5,078 launchesWithout the breakout5,077 of 5,078 launchesLast 18 months2,727 of 5,078 launches
Launches counted5,078397 hits4,867377 hits5,077396 hits2,727190 hits
Earned $100k+7.8 in 1001 in 137.7 in 1001 in 137.8 in 1001 in 137.0 in 1001 in 14
Typical first-year earnings$908top tenth $58,608+$909$902$728
Chance against standardthe yardstick-1.3%0.1 fewer in 1000.0%no change-10.3%0.8 fewer in 100
Typical against standardthe yardstick+0.1%$1 more-0.7%$6 less-19.8%$180 less
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Exploration, 6 to 30 months old: 5,078 launches.

Launches counted
5,078397 hits
Earned $100k+
7.8 in 1001 in 13
Typical first-year earnings
$908top tenth $58,608+
Chance against standard
the yardstick
Typical against standard
the yardstick
West-facing viewHolds

Games mostly reviewed outside China. Drops games whose audience is mostly Chinese, meaning 35% or more of their reviews are in Simplified Chinese: 211 of 5,078 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
4,867377 hits
Earned $100k+
7.7 in 1001 in 13
Typical first-year earnings
$909
Chance against standard
-1.3%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
+0.1%$1 more
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Hollow Knight: Silksong (20.7% of the money): 5,077 launches left.

Launches counted
5,077396 hits
Earned $100k+
7.8 in 1001 in 13
Typical first-year earnings
$902
Chance against standard
0.0%no change
Typical against standard
-0.7%$6 less
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 2,727 of 5,078.

Launches counted
2,727190 hits
Earned $100k+
7.0 in 1001 in 14
Typical first-year earnings
$728
Chance against standard
-10.3%0.8 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-19.8%$180 less
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged Exploration, 6 to 30 months old: 5,078 launches.
West-facing view
Games mostly reviewed outside China. Drops games whose audience is mostly Chinese, meaning 35% or more of their reviews are in Simplified Chinese: 211 of 5,078 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 (20.7% of the money): 5,077 launches left.
Last 18 months
Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 2,727 of 5,078.

Platformer holds in 3 of 3: every lens keeps the chance and typical earnings within a quarter of the standard figures.

Platformer through every lens, all prices
PlatformerBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view2,538 of 2,585 launchesWithout the breakout2,584 of 2,585 launchesLast 18 months1,343 of 2,585 launches
Launches counted2,585100 hits2,53892 hits2,58499 hits1,34349 hits
Earned $100k+3.9 in 1001 in 263.6 in 1001 in 283.8 in 1001 in 263.6 in 1001 in 28
Typical first-year earnings$321top tenth $13,152+$323$321$281
Chance against standardthe yardstick-7.7%0.3 fewer in 100-2.6%0.1 fewer in 100-7.7%0.3 fewer in 100
Typical against standardthe yardstick+0.6%$2 more0.0%no change-12.5%$40 less
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Platformer, 6 to 30 months old: 2,585 launches.

Launches counted
2,585100 hits
Earned $100k+
3.9 in 1001 in 26
Typical first-year earnings
$321top tenth $13,152+
Chance against standard
the yardstick
Typical against standard
the yardstick
West-facing viewHolds

Games mostly reviewed outside China. Drops games whose audience is mostly Chinese, meaning 35% or more of their reviews are in Simplified Chinese: 47 of 2,585 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
2,53892 hits
Earned $100k+
3.6 in 1001 in 28
Typical first-year earnings
$323
Chance against standard
-7.7%0.3 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
+0.6%$2 more
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Hollow Knight: Silksong (59.3% of the money): 2,584 launches left.

Launches counted
2,58499 hits
Earned $100k+
3.8 in 1001 in 26
Typical first-year earnings
$321
Chance against standard
-2.6%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 1,343 of 2,585.

Launches counted
1,34349 hits
Earned $100k+
3.6 in 1001 in 28
Typical first-year earnings
$281
Chance against standard
-7.7%0.3 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-12.5%$40 less
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged Platformer, 6 to 30 months old: 2,585 launches.
West-facing view
Games mostly reviewed outside China. Drops games whose audience is mostly Chinese, meaning 35% or more of their reviews are in Simplified Chinese: 47 of 2,585 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 (59.3% of the money): 2,584 launches left.
Last 18 months
Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 1,343 of 2,585.

A lens holds when chance and typical earnings both stay within 25% of standard. Lens figures by price band are not computed yet, so this table is for all prices.

5Premium early list

Alerts when Exploration + Platformer 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.