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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 + Relaxing

Niche

Exploration + Relaxing

Games tagged both Exploration and Relaxing: 348 indie paid launches, 34 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 + Relaxing priced $10 to $20. This filter changes the answer: at all prices the pair beats both its tags; priced $10 to $20 it beats Exploration and is level with Relaxing.

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 + Relaxing beats Exploration and is level with Relaxing: 23.2 in 100 of its launches earned $100k+ priced $10 to $20, against 20.1 in 100 for Exploration and 23.6 in 100 for Relaxing.

That is about 1.2 times the 18.6 in 100 expected for any launch at this price.

3RDThird
Tag onemood tagExploration
20.1in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds20.1 in 100
Typical earnings$11,535
Launches988 / 199 hits
Pair leads by3.1 in 100
1STTied winner
This pairExploration + Relaxing
23.2in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds23.2 in 100
Typical earnings$16,572
Launches69 / 16 hits
Expected18.6 in 100
1STTied winner
Tag twomood tagRelaxing
23.6in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds23.6 in 100
Typical earnings$19,025
Launches309 / 73 hits
Pair is level0.4 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 prices348 in pairUnder $5161 in pair$5 to $10105 in pair$10 to $2069 in pair$20 to $4013 in pair
What the overlap means

The overlap is this niche: the 69 games tagged both Exploration and Relaxing priced $10 to $20. 23.2 in 100 of them earned $100k+, against 19.9 for Exploration-only games and 23.8 for Relaxing-only games, so the mix beats Exploration alone and trails Relaxing alone.

Both: 69 games priced $10 to $20; 23.2 in 100 earned $100k+, typical first-year earnings $16,572.

Circle areas follow launch counts; the gold overlap is exactly the pair's 69 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 pair23.9%
PairHello Kitty Island Adventure23.9%
ExplorationHollow Knight: Silksong20.7%
RelaxingCrime Scene Cleaner11.8%
CheckOne game over half?no
NextNearest hitsnot computed yet

Lens checkChanged recently. Standard: the yardstick. West-facing view: holds. Without the breakout: holds. Last 18 months: moves the answer.

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

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 23.9% of the estimated first-year money of the 348 Exploration + Relaxing launches.
  • Exploration is led by Hollow Knight: Silksong, with 20.7% of its money.
  • Relaxing is led by Crime Scene Cleaner, with 11.8% 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: those with a mostly Chinese audience, the single biggest earner, and everything older than 18 months.

Does the answer hold?

All prices

Exploration + Relaxing is changed recently: Last 18 months moves the answer by more than a quarter. It holds in 2 of 3.

Exploration + Relaxing through every lens, all prices
This pairBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view336 of 348 launchesWithout the breakout347 of 348 launchesLast 18 months168 of 348 launches
Launches counted34834 hits33631 hits34733 hits16816 hits
Earned $100k+9.8 in 1001 in 109.2 in 1001 in 119.5 in 1001 in 119.5 in 1001 in 11
Typical first-year earnings$1,213top tenth $76,490+$1,212$1,212$849
Chance against standardthe yardstick-6.1%0.6 fewer in 100-3.1%0.3 fewer in 100-3.1%0.3 fewer in 100
Typical against standardthe yardstick-0.1%$1 less-0.1%$1 less-30.0%$364 less
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsMoves the answer
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged both Exploration and Relaxing, 6 to 30 months old: 348 launches.

Launches counted
34834 hits
Earned $100k+
9.8 in 1001 in 10
Typical first-year earnings
$1,213top tenth $76,490+
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: 12 of 348 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
33631 hits
Earned $100k+
9.2 in 1001 in 11
Typical first-year earnings
$1,212
Chance against standard
-6.1%0.6 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-0.1%$1 less
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Hello Kitty Island Adventure (23.9% of the money): 347 launches left.

Launches counted
34733 hits
Earned $100k+
9.5 in 1001 in 11
Typical first-year earnings
$1,212
Chance against standard
-3.1%0.3 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-0.1%$1 less
Last 18 monthsMoves the answer

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 168 of 348.

Launches counted
16816 hits
Earned $100k+
9.5 in 1001 in 11
Typical first-year earnings
$849
Chance against standard
-3.1%0.3 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-30.0%$364 less
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged both Exploration and Relaxing, 6 to 30 months old: 348 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: 12 of 348 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 (23.9% of the money): 347 launches left.
Last 18 months
Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 168 of 348.

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.

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

Relaxing through every lens, all prices
RelaxingBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view2,742 of 2,876 launchesWithout the breakout2,875 of 2,876 launchesLast 18 months1,653 of 2,876 launches
Launches counted2,876162 hits2,742150 hits2,875161 hits1,653103 hits
Earned $100k+5.6 in 1001 in 185.5 in 1001 in 185.6 in 1001 in 186.2 in 1001 in 16
Typical first-year earnings$546top tenth $31,569+$581$546$485
Chance against standardthe yardstick-1.8%0.1 fewer in 1000.0%no change+10.7%0.6 more in 100
Typical against standardthe yardstick+6.4%$35 more0.0%no change-11.2%$61 less
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Relaxing, 6 to 30 months old: 2,876 launches.

Launches counted
2,876162 hits
Earned $100k+
5.6 in 1001 in 18
Typical first-year earnings
$546top tenth $31,569+
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: 134 of 2,876 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
2,742150 hits
Earned $100k+
5.5 in 1001 in 18
Typical first-year earnings
$581
Chance against standard
-1.8%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
+6.4%$35 more
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Crime Scene Cleaner (11.8% of the money): 2,875 launches left.

Launches counted
2,875161 hits
Earned $100k+
5.6 in 1001 in 18
Typical first-year earnings
$546
Chance against standard
0.0%no change
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 1,653 of 2,876.

Launches counted
1,653103 hits
Earned $100k+
6.2 in 1001 in 16
Typical first-year earnings
$485
Chance against standard
+10.7%0.6 more in 100
Typical against standard
-11.2%$61 less
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged Relaxing, 6 to 30 months old: 2,876 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: 134 of 2,876 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, Crime Scene Cleaner (11.8% of the money): 2,875 launches left.
Last 18 months
Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 1,653 of 2,876.

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 + Relaxing 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.