Niche

Exploration + Side Scroller

Games tagged both Exploration and Side Scroller: 134 indie paid launches, 11 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 26,291 indie paid launches 12 to 36 months old, data of 3 Oct 2026. How it is measured.

Price $10 to $20

All prices1 in 15 hit $100k+Under $51 in 238 hit $100k+$5 to $101 in 28 hit $100k+$10 to $2020 in 100 hit $100k+$20 to $4044 in 100 hit $100k+

Base rate: indie paid launches 12 to 36 months old, 26,291 launches. Odds compare best within one price.

Lens Standard

Standard West-facing view Without the breakout Last 18 months

All indie paid launches 12 to 36 months old. Lens figures exist at all prices only; inside a price band this page shows the standard figures.

Sample 100+

10+ launchesshow small samples 30+ launches 100+ launchesonly big markets

Hides anything measured on fewer launches.

$10 to $20 100+ launches Reset

Showing Exploration + Side Scroller priced $10 to $20, hiding samples under 100 launches. This filter changes the answer: at all prices the pair is about level with Exploration and beats Side Scroller; priced $10 to $20 it has too few launches to read.

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

31 launches, under your minimum sample of 100.

Pick another price band, or lower the minimum sample.

1STWinner

Tag onemood tagExploration

20.8in 100 earned
$100k+

Odds20.8 in 100

Typical earnings$12,514

Launches878 / 183 hits

Pairno reading

--No reading

This pairExploration + Side Scroller

--too few
to read

Odds--

Typical earnings--

Launches31

31 launches, under your minimum sample of 100.

2NDRunner-up

Tag twomood tagSide Scroller

16.1in 100 earned
$100k+

Odds16.1 in 100

Typical earnings$10,294

Launches143 / 23 hits

Pairno reading

All indie launches $10 to $20: 20.4 in 100 earned $100k+, typical $10,978, from 4,304 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 prices134 in pair Under $563 in pair $5 to $1034 in pair $10 to $2031 in pair$20 to $406: too few

What the overlap means

The overlap is this niche: the 31 games tagged both Exploration and Side Scroller priced $10 to $20. 22.6 in 100 of them earned $100k+, against 20.8 in 100 for Exploration-only games and 14.3 in 100 for Side Scroller-only games, so the mix is about level with Exploration alone and beats Side Scroller alone.

Both: 31 games priced $10 to $20; 22.6 in 100 earned $100k+, odds by size $1k+ 94 in 100 · $10k+ 61 in 100 · $100k+ 23 in 100.

Circle areas follow launch counts; the gold overlap is exactly the pair's 31 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

Drill Coreleads this pair20.9%

PairDrill Core20.9%

ExplorationHollow Knight: Silksong22.3%

Side ScrollerMandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree9.5%

CheckOne game over half?no

NextNearest hitsnot computed yet

Lens checkHolds in 2 of 3, 1 too few to tell. Standard: the base the others are compared with. West-facing view: holds. Without the breakout: holds. Last 18 months: too few to tell.

Open free preview

ComparablesFree until launchClick to unlockWho leads Exploration + Side Scroller

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

Drill Core earned 20.9% of the estimated first-year money of the 134 Exploration + Side Scroller launches.
Exploration is led by Hollow Knight: Silksong, with 22.3% of its money.
Side Scroller is led by Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree, with 9.5% 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 + Side Scroller holds in West-facing view and Without the breakout; too few to tell in Last 18 months. No lens moves the chance or typical earnings more than chance alone would.

Exploration + Side Scroller through every lens, all prices
This pair	BaseStandardevery launch	West-facing view128 of 134 launches	Without the breakout133 of 134 launches	Last 18 months28 of 134 launches
Launches counted	13411 hits	12811 hits	13310 hits	280 hits
Earned $100k+	8.2 in 1001 in 12	8.6 in 1001 in 12	7.5 in 1001 in 13	0 of 28too few for a rate
Typical first-year earnings	$536top tenth $79,629+	$557	$520	under 100 launches
Chance against standard	the base	+4.7%0.4 more in 100	-8.4%0.7 fewer in 100	-100.0%8.2 fewer in 100; too few to tell
Typical against standard	the base	+3.9%$21 more	-3.0%$16 less	under 100 launches
Does it hold?	The base view	Holds	Holds	Too few to tell

BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged both Exploration and Side Scroller, 12 to 36 months old: 134 launches.

Launches counted: 13411 hits
Earned $100k+: 8.2 in 1001 in 12
Typical first-year earnings: $536top tenth $79,629+
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: 6 of 134 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted: 12811 hits
Earned $100k+: 8.6 in 1001 in 12
Typical first-year earnings: $557
Chance against standard: +4.7%0.4 more in 100
Typical against standard: +3.9%$21 more

Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Drill Core (20.9% of the money): 133 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted: 13310 hits
Earned $100k+: 7.5 in 1001 in 13
Typical first-year earnings: $520
Chance against standard: -8.4%0.7 fewer in 100
Typical against standard: -3.0%$16 less

Last 18 monthsToo few to tell

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 28 of 134.

Launches counted: 280 hits
Earned $100k+: 0 of 28too few for a rate
Typical first-year earnings: under 100 launches
Chance against standard: -100.0%8.2 fewer in 100; too few to tell
Typical against standard: under 100 launches

Standard: Every indie paid launch tagged both Exploration and Side Scroller, 12 to 36 months old: 134 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: 6 of 134 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, Drill Core (20.9% of the money): 133 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: 28 of 134.

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
Exploration	BaseStandardevery launch	West-facing view4,381 of 4,582 launches	Without the breakout4,581 of 4,582 launches	Last 18 months1,268 of 4,582 launches
Launches counted	4,582382 hits	4,381366 hits	4,581381 hits	1,268105 hits
Earned $100k+	8.3 in 1001 in 12	8.4 in 1001 in 12	8.3 in 1001 in 12	8.3 in 1001 in 12
Typical first-year earnings	$877top tenth $65,025+	$901	$877	$884
Chance against standard	the base	+0.2%no change	-0.2%no change	-0.7%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard	the base	+2.7%$24 more	0.0%no change	+0.8%$7 more
Does it hold?	The base view	Holds	Holds	Holds

BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Exploration, 12 to 36 months old: 4,582 launches.

Launches counted: 4,582382 hits
Earned $100k+: 8.3 in 1001 in 12
Typical first-year earnings: $877top tenth $65,025+
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: 201 of 4,582 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted: 4,381366 hits
Earned $100k+: 8.4 in 1001 in 12
Typical first-year earnings: $901
Chance against standard: +0.2%no change
Typical against standard: +2.7%$24 more

Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Hollow Knight: Silksong (22.3% of the money): 4,581 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted: 4,581381 hits
Earned $100k+: 8.3 in 1001 in 12
Typical first-year earnings: $877
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: 1,268 of 4,582.

Launches counted: 1,268105 hits
Earned $100k+: 8.3 in 1001 in 12
Typical first-year earnings: $884
Chance against standard: -0.7%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard: +0.8%$7 more

Standard: Every indie paid launch tagged Exploration, 12 to 36 months old: 4,582 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: 201 of 4,582 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 (22.3% of the money): 4,581 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: 1,268 of 4,582.

Side Scroller 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.

Side Scroller through every lens, all prices
Side Scroller	BaseStandardevery launch	West-facing view1,042 of 1,065 launches	Without the breakout1,064 of 1,065 launches	Last 18 months288 of 1,065 launches
Launches counted	1,06542 hits	1,04241 hits	1,06441 hits	28814 hits
Earned $100k+	3.9 in 1001 in 25	3.9 in 1001 in 25	3.9 in 1001 in 26	4.9 in 1001 in 21
Typical first-year earnings	$346top tenth $23,350+	$346	$346	$268
Chance against standard	the base	-0.2%no change	-2.3%0.1 fewer in 100	+23.3%0.9 more in 100
Typical against standard	the base	0.0%no change	0.0%no change	-22.5%$78 less
Does it hold?	The base view	Holds	Holds	Holds

BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Side Scroller, 12 to 36 months old: 1,065 launches.

Launches counted: 1,06542 hits
Earned $100k+: 3.9 in 1001 in 25
Typical first-year earnings: $346top tenth $23,350+
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: 23 of 1,065 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted: 1,04241 hits
Earned $100k+: 3.9 in 1001 in 25
Typical first-year earnings: $346
Chance against standard: -0.2%no change
Typical against standard: 0.0%no change

Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree (9.5% of the money): 1,064 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted: 1,06441 hits
Earned $100k+: 3.9 in 1001 in 26
Typical first-year earnings: $346
Chance against standard: -2.3%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard: 0.0%no change

Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 288 of 1,065.

Launches counted: 28814 hits
Earned $100k+: 4.9 in 1001 in 21
Typical first-year earnings: $268
Chance against standard: +23.3%0.9 more in 100
Typical against standard: -22.5%$78 less

Standard: Every indie paid launch tagged Side Scroller, 12 to 36 months old: 1,065 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: 23 of 1,065 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, Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree (9.5% of the money): 1,064 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: 288 of 1,065.

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 + Side Scroller 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.