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on 30 Sep 2026

Niches / Exploration + Simulation

Niche

Exploration + Simulation

Games tagged both Exploration and Simulation: 789 indie paid launches, 64 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 + Simulation priced $10 to $20, last 18 months, hiding samples under 30 launches. Lens figures exist at all prices only, so inside a price band the page shows the standard figures. This filter changes the answer: at all prices the pair is level with Exploration and is level with Simulation; priced $10 to $20 it beats Exploration and is level with Simulation.

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 + Simulation beats Exploration and is level with Simulation: 21.8 in 100 of its launches earned $100k+ priced $10 to $20, against 20.1 in 100 for Exploration and 21.5 in 100 for Simulation.

That is about 1.2 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.

3RDThird
Tag onemood tagExploration
20.1in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds20.1 in 100
Typical earnings$11,535
Launches988 / 199 hits
Pair leads by1.7 in 100
1STTied winner
This pairExploration + Simulation
21.8in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds21.8 in 100
Typical earnings$18,780
Launches142 / 31 hits
Expected18.6 in 100
1STTied winner
Tag twoSimulation
21.5in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds21.5 in 100
Typical earnings$14,573
Launches1,006 / 216 hits
Pair is level0.3 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 prices789 in pairUnder $5413 in pair$5 to $10198 in pair$10 to $20142 in pair$20 to $4036 in pair
What the overlap means

The overlap is this niche: the 142 games tagged both Exploration and Simulation priced $10 to $20. 21.8 in 100 of them earned $100k+, against 19.9 for Exploration-only games and 21.4 for Simulation-only games, so the mix beats Exploration alone and is level with Simulation alone.

Both: 142 games priced $10 to $20; 21.8 in 100 earned $100k+, typical first-year earnings $18,780.

Circle areas follow launch counts; the gold overlap is exactly the pair's 142 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 last 18 months 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

Drive Beyond Horizonsleads this pair12.5%
PairDrive Beyond Horizons12.5%
ExplorationHollow Knight: Silksong20.7%
SimulationSchedule I15.4%
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 + Simulation

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

  • Drive Beyond Horizons earned 12.5% of the estimated first-year money of the 789 Exploration + Simulation launches.
  • Exploration is led by Hollow Knight: Silksong, with 20.7% of its money.
  • Simulation is led by Schedule I, with 15.4% 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 + Simulation is changed recently: Last 18 months moves the answer by more than a quarter. It holds in 2 of 3.

Exploration + Simulation through every lens, all prices
This pairBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view757 of 789 launchesWithout the breakout788 of 789 launchesLast 18 months422 of 789 launches
Launches counted78964 hits75760 hits78863 hits42224 hits
Earned $100k+8.1 in 1001 in 127.9 in 1001 in 138.0 in 1001 in 135.7 in 1001 in 18
Typical first-year earnings$910top tenth $61,620+$911$910$689
Chance against standardthe yardstick-2.5%0.2 fewer in 100-1.2%0.1 fewer in 100-29.6%2.4 fewer in 100
Typical against standardthe yardstick+0.1%$1 more0.0%no change-24.3%$221 less
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsMoves the answer
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged both Exploration and Simulation, 6 to 30 months old: 789 launches.

Launches counted
78964 hits
Earned $100k+
8.1 in 1001 in 12
Typical first-year earnings
$910top tenth $61,620+
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: 32 of 789 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
75760 hits
Earned $100k+
7.9 in 1001 in 13
Typical first-year earnings
$911
Chance against standard
-2.5%0.2 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
+0.1%$1 more
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Drive Beyond Horizons (12.5% of the money): 788 launches left.

Launches counted
78863 hits
Earned $100k+
8.0 in 1001 in 13
Typical first-year earnings
$910
Chance against standard
-1.2%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Last 18 monthsMoves the answer

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 422 of 789.

Launches counted
42224 hits
Earned $100k+
5.7 in 1001 in 18
Typical first-year earnings
$689
Chance against standard
-29.6%2.4 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-24.3%$221 less
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged both Exploration and Simulation, 6 to 30 months old: 789 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: 32 of 789 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, Drive Beyond Horizons (12.5% of the money): 788 launches left.
Last 18 months
Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 422 of 789.

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.

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

Simulation through every lens, all prices
SimulationBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view5,023 of 5,285 launchesWithout the breakout5,284 of 5,285 launchesLast 18 months3,070 of 5,285 launches
Launches counted5,285435 hits5,023411 hits5,284434 hits3,070225 hits
Earned $100k+8.2 in 1001 in 128.2 in 1001 in 128.2 in 1001 in 127.3 in 1001 in 14
Typical first-year earnings$982top tenth $69,988+$1,012$982$971
Chance against standardthe yardstick0.0%no change0.0%no change-11.0%0.9 fewer in 100
Typical against standardthe yardstick+3.1%$30 more0.0%no change-1.1%$11 less
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Simulation, 6 to 30 months old: 5,285 launches.

Launches counted
5,285435 hits
Earned $100k+
8.2 in 1001 in 12
Typical first-year earnings
$982top tenth $69,988+
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: 262 of 5,285 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
5,023411 hits
Earned $100k+
8.2 in 1001 in 12
Typical first-year earnings
$1,012
Chance against standard
0.0%no change
Typical against standard
+3.1%$30 more
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Schedule I (15.4% of the money): 5,284 launches left.

Launches counted
5,284434 hits
Earned $100k+
8.2 in 1001 in 12
Typical first-year earnings
$982
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: 3,070 of 5,285.

Launches counted
3,070225 hits
Earned $100k+
7.3 in 1001 in 14
Typical first-year earnings
$971
Chance against standard
-11.0%0.9 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-1.1%$11 less
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged Simulation, 6 to 30 months old: 5,285 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: 262 of 5,285 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, Schedule I (15.4% of the money): 5,284 launches left.
Last 18 months
Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 3,070 of 5,285.

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 + Simulation 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.