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on 11 Nov 2026

Niches / Exploration + Survival Horror

Niche

Exploration + Survival Horror

Games tagged both Exploration and Survival Horror: 286 indie paid launches, 22 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 26,758 indie paid launches 12 to 36 months old, data of 2 Nov 2026. How it is measured.

Showing Exploration + Survival Horror priced $10 to $20.

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 + Survival Horror is about level with Exploration and is about level with Survival Horror: 20.5 in 100 of its launches earned $100k+ priced $10 to $20, against 20.6 in 100 for Exploration and 22.6 in 100 for Survival Horror.

That is about 1.0 times the 20.5 in 100 expected for any launch at this price.

TIEA tie
Tag onemood tagExploration
20.6in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds20.6 in 100
Typical earnings$12,769
Launches880 / 181 hits
A tie, apart by0.1 in 100
TIEA tie
This pairExploration + Survival Horror
20.5in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds20.5 in 100
$1k+82 in 100
$10k+49 in 100
Launches39 / 8 hits
Expected20.5 in 100
TIEA tie
Tag twoSurvival Horror
22.6in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds22.6 in 100
Typical earnings$16,857
Launches124 / 28 hits
A tie, apart by2.1 in 100
All indie launches $10 to $20: 20.5 in 100 earned $100k+, typical $11,233, from 4,337 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 prices286 in pairUnder $5142 in pair$5 to $1096 in pair$10 to $2039 in pair$20 to $409: too few
What the overlap means

The overlap is this niche: the 39 games tagged both Exploration and Survival Horror priced $10 to $20. 20.5 in 100 of them earned $100k+, against 20.6 in 100 for Exploration-only games and 23.5 in 100 for Survival Horror-only games, so the mix is about level with Exploration alone and trails Survival Horror alone.

Both: 39 games priced $10 to $20; 20.5 in 100 earned $100k+, odds by size $1k+ 82 in 100 · $10k+ 49 in 100 · $100k+ 21 in 100.

Circle areas follow launch counts; the gold overlap is exactly the pair's 39 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

Pacific Driveleads this pair27.8%
PairPacific Drive27.8%
ExplorationHollow Knight: Silksong23.3%
Survival HorrorPacific Drive12.1%
CheckOne game over half?no
NextNearest hitsnot computed yet

Lens checkHolds in 3 of 3. Standard: the base the others are compared with. West-facing view: holds. Without the breakout: holds. Last 18 months: holds.

Open free preview
ComparablesFree until launchClick to unlockWho leads Exploration + Survival Horror

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

  • Pacific Drive earned 27.8% of the estimated first-year money of the 286 Exploration + Survival Horror launches.
  • Exploration is led by Hollow Knight: Silksong, with 23.3% of its money.
  • It also leads Survival Horror, with 12.1% of that tag's 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 + Survival Horror 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 + Survival Horror through every lens, all prices
This pairBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view279 of 286 launchesWithout the breakout285 of 286 launchesLast 18 months80 of 286 launches
Launches counted28622 hits27921 hits28521 hits807 hits
Earned $100k+7.7 in 1001 in 137.5 in 1001 in 137.4 in 1001 in 148.8 in 1001 in 11
Typical first-year earnings$1,251top tenth $63,081+$1,251$1,227under 100 launches
Chance against standardthe base-2.2%0.2 fewer in 100-4.2%0.3 fewer in 100+13.7%1.1 more in 100
Typical against standardthe base0.0%no change-1.9%$24 lessunder 100 launches
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged both Exploration and Survival Horror, 12 to 36 months old: 286 launches.

Launches counted
28622 hits
Earned $100k+
7.7 in 1001 in 13
Typical first-year earnings
$1,251top tenth $63,081+
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: 7 of 286 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
27921 hits
Earned $100k+
7.5 in 1001 in 13
Typical first-year earnings
$1,251
Chance against standard
-2.2%0.2 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Pacific Drive (27.8% of the money): 285 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
28521 hits
Earned $100k+
7.4 in 1001 in 14
Typical first-year earnings
$1,227
Chance against standard
-4.2%0.3 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-1.9%$24 less
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 80 of 286.

Launches counted
807 hits
Earned $100k+
8.8 in 1001 in 11
Typical first-year earnings
under 100 launches
Chance against standard
+13.7%1.1 more in 100
Typical against standard
under 100 launches
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged both Exploration and Survival Horror, 12 to 36 months old: 286 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: 7 of 286 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, Pacific Drive (27.8% of the money): 285 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: 80 of 286.

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 view4,432 of 4,635 launchesWithout the breakout4,634 of 4,635 launchesLast 18 months1,277 of 4,635 launches
Launches counted4,635375 hits4,432357 hits4,634374 hits1,27799 hits
Earned $100k+8.1 in 1001 in 128.1 in 1001 in 128.1 in 1001 in 127.8 in 1001 in 13
Typical first-year earnings$876top tenth $64,081+$894$876$858
Chance against standardthe base-0.4%no change-0.2%no change-4.2%0.3 fewer in 100
Typical against standardthe base+2.1%$18 more0.0%no change-2.1%$18 less
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Exploration, 12 to 36 months old: 4,635 launches.

Launches counted
4,635375 hits
Earned $100k+
8.1 in 1001 in 12
Typical first-year earnings
$876top tenth $64,081+
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: 203 of 4,635 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
4,432357 hits
Earned $100k+
8.1 in 1001 in 12
Typical first-year earnings
$894
Chance against standard
-0.4%no change
Typical against standard
+2.1%$18 more
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Hollow Knight: Silksong (23.3% of the money): 4,634 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
4,634374 hits
Earned $100k+
8.1 in 1001 in 12
Typical first-year earnings
$876
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: 1,277 of 4,635.

Launches counted
1,27799 hits
Earned $100k+
7.8 in 1001 in 13
Typical first-year earnings
$858
Chance against standard
-4.2%0.3 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-2.1%$18 less
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged Exploration, 12 to 36 months old: 4,635 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: 203 of 4,635 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 (23.3% of the money): 4,634 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: 1,277 of 4,635.

Survival Horror 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.

Survival Horror through every lens, all prices
Survival HorrorBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view898 of 928 launchesWithout the breakout927 of 928 launchesLast 18 months286 of 928 launches
Launches counted92867 hits89866 hits92766 hits28624 hits
Earned $100k+7.2 in 1001 in 147.3 in 1001 in 147.1 in 1001 in 148.4 in 1001 in 12
Typical first-year earnings$957top tenth $49,835+$1,000$942$1,017
Chance against standardthe base+1.8%0.1 more in 100-1.4%0.1 fewer in 100+16.2%1.2 more in 100
Typical against standardthe base+4.5%$43 more-1.6%$15 less+6.3%$60 more
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Survival Horror, 12 to 36 months old: 928 launches.

Launches counted
92867 hits
Earned $100k+
7.2 in 1001 in 14
Typical first-year earnings
$957top tenth $49,835+
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: 30 of 928 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
89866 hits
Earned $100k+
7.3 in 1001 in 14
Typical first-year earnings
$1,000
Chance against standard
+1.8%0.1 more in 100
Typical against standard
+4.5%$43 more
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Pacific Drive (12.1% of the money): 927 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
92766 hits
Earned $100k+
7.1 in 1001 in 14
Typical first-year earnings
$942
Chance against standard
-1.4%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-1.6%$15 less
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 286 of 928.

Launches counted
28624 hits
Earned $100k+
8.4 in 1001 in 12
Typical first-year earnings
$1,017
Chance against standard
+16.2%1.2 more in 100
Typical against standard
+6.3%$60 more
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged Survival Horror, 12 to 36 months old: 928 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: 30 of 928 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, Pacific Drive (12.1% of the money): 927 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: 286 of 928.

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 + Survival Horror 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.