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on 3 Oct 2026

Niches / Exploration + Side Scroller

Niche

Exploration + Side Scroller

Games tagged both Exploration and Side Scroller: 134 indie paid launches, 9 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 26,280 indie paid launches 12 to 36 months old, data of 3 Oct 2026. How it is measured.

Showing Exploration + Side Scroller priced $10 to $20, hiding samples under 30 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 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 + Side Scroller beats both its tags: 22.6 in 100 of its launches earned $100k+ priced $10 to $20, against 17.3 in 100 for Exploration and 12.6 in 100 for Side Scroller.

That is about 1.3 times the 17.6 in 100 expected for any launch at this price.

2NDRunner-up
Tag onemood tagExploration
17.3in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds17.3 in 100
Typical earnings$9,369
Launches878 / 152 hits
Pair leads by5.3 in 100
1STWinner
This pairExploration + Side Scroller
22.6in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds22.6 in 100
Typical earnings$12,660
Launches31 / 7 hits
Expected17.6 in 100
3RDThird
Tag twomood tagSide Scroller
12.6in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds12.6 in 100
Typical earnings$7,717
Launches143 / 18 hits
Pair leads by10.0 in 100
All indie launches $10 to $20: 17.6 in 100 earned $100k+, typical $8,234, from 4,301 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: 40.0 in 100), so read it within a price band.

Price bandswitches the whole page
All prices134 in pairUnder $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 17.1 in 100 for Exploration-only games and 9.8 in 100 for Side Scroller-only games, so games with both tags did better than games with either tag alone.

Both: 31 games priced $10 to $20; 22.6 in 100 earned $100k+, typical first-year earnings $12,660.

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 pair20.3%
PairDrill Core20.3%
ExplorationHollow Knight: Silksong21.4%
Side ScrollerMandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree9.3%
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 20.3% of the estimated first-year money of the 134 Exploration + Side Scroller launches.
  • Exploration is led by Hollow Knight: Silksong, with 21.4% of its money.
  • Side Scroller is led by Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree, with 9.3% 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 pairBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view128 of 134 launchesWithout the breakout133 of 134 launchesLast 18 months29 of 134 launches
Launches counted1349 hits1289 hits1338 hits290 hits
Earned $100k+6.7 in 1001 in 157.0 in 1001 in 146.0 in 1001 in 170 of 29too few for a rate
Typical first-year earnings$509top tenth $59,722+$574$506$1,042
Chance against standardthe base+4.7%0.3 more in 100-10.4%0.7 fewer in 100-100.0%6.7 fewer in 100; too few to tell
Typical against standardthe base+12.8%$65 more-0.6%$3 less+104.7%$533 more; too few to tell
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsToo 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
1349 hits
Earned $100k+
6.7 in 1001 in 15
Typical first-year earnings
$509top tenth $59,722+
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
1289 hits
Earned $100k+
7.0 in 1001 in 14
Typical first-year earnings
$574
Chance against standard
+4.7%0.3 more in 100
Typical against standard
+12.8%$65 more
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Drill Core (20.3% of the money): 133 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
1338 hits
Earned $100k+
6.0 in 1001 in 17
Typical first-year earnings
$506
Chance against standard
-10.4%0.7 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-0.6%$3 less
Last 18 monthsToo few to tell

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 29 of 134.

Launches counted
290 hits
Earned $100k+
0 of 29too few for a rate
Typical first-year earnings
$1,042
Chance against standard
-100.0%6.7 fewer in 100; too few to tell
Typical against standard
+104.7%$533 more; too few to tell
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 (20.3% 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: 29 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
ExplorationBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view4,379 of 4,579 launchesWithout the breakout4,578 of 4,579 launchesLast 18 months1,268 of 4,579 launches
Launches counted4,579337 hits4,379321 hits4,578336 hits1,26896 hits
Earned $100k+7.4 in 1001 in 147.3 in 1001 in 147.3 in 1001 in 147.6 in 1001 in 13
Typical first-year earnings$861top tenth $53,530+$862$861$861
Chance against standardthe base-0.4%no change-0.3%no change+2.9%0.2 more in 100
Typical against standardthe base+0.1%$1 more0.0%no change0.0%no change
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Exploration, 12 to 36 months old: 4,579 launches.

Launches counted
4,579337 hits
Earned $100k+
7.4 in 1001 in 14
Typical first-year earnings
$861top tenth $53,530+
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: 200 of 4,579 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
4,379321 hits
Earned $100k+
7.3 in 1001 in 14
Typical first-year earnings
$862
Chance against standard
-0.4%no change
Typical against standard
+0.1%$1 more
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Hollow Knight: Silksong (21.4% of the money): 4,578 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
4,578336 hits
Earned $100k+
7.3 in 1001 in 14
Typical first-year earnings
$861
Chance against standard
-0.3%no change
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 1,268 of 4,579.

Launches counted
1,26896 hits
Earned $100k+
7.6 in 1001 in 13
Typical first-year earnings
$861
Chance against standard
+2.9%0.2 more in 100
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged Exploration, 12 to 36 months old: 4,579 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: 200 of 4,579 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 (21.4% of the money): 4,578 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 4,579.

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 ScrollerBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view1,041 of 1,064 launchesWithout the breakout1,063 of 1,064 launchesLast 18 months288 of 1,064 launches
Launches counted1,06434 hits1,04133 hits1,06333 hits28811 hits
Earned $100k+3.2 in 1001 in 313.2 in 1001 in 323.1 in 1001 in 323.8 in 1001 in 26
Typical first-year earnings$354top tenth $17,816+$354$351$287
Chance against standardthe base-0.8%no change-2.8%0.1 fewer in 100+19.5%0.6 more in 100
Typical against standardthe base0.0%no change-0.8%$3 less-18.9%$67 less
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Side Scroller, 12 to 36 months old: 1,064 launches.

Launches counted
1,06434 hits
Earned $100k+
3.2 in 1001 in 31
Typical first-year earnings
$354top tenth $17,816+
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 1,064 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
1,04133 hits
Earned $100k+
3.2 in 1001 in 32
Typical first-year earnings
$354
Chance against standard
-0.8%no change
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree (9.3% of the money): 1,063 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
1,06333 hits
Earned $100k+
3.1 in 1001 in 32
Typical first-year earnings
$351
Chance against standard
-2.8%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-0.8%$3 less
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 288 of 1,064.

Launches counted
28811 hits
Earned $100k+
3.8 in 1001 in 26
Typical first-year earnings
$287
Chance against standard
+19.5%0.6 more in 100
Typical against standard
-18.9%$67 less
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged Side Scroller, 12 to 36 months old: 1,064 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 1,064 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 (9.3% of the money): 1,063 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 1,064.

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.

Releases

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