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on 11 Nov 2026

Niches / Exploration + Walking Simulator

Niche

Exploration + Walking Simulator

Games tagged both Exploration and Walking Simulator: 765 indie paid launches, 32 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 + Walking Simulator priced $10 to $20. This filter changes the answer: at all prices the pair trails Exploration and is about level with Walking Simulator; priced $10 to $20 it is about level with Exploration and is about level with Walking Simulator.

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 + Walking Simulator is about level with Exploration and is about level with Walking Simulator: 18.8 in 100 of its launches earned $100k+ priced $10 to $20, against 20.6 in 100 for Exploration and 21.1 in 100 for Walking Simulator.

That is about 0.9 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 by1.8 in 100
TIEA tie
This pairExploration + Walking Simulator
18.8in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds18.8 in 100
$1k+88 in 100
$10k+53 in 100
Launches64 / 12 hits
Expected20.5 in 100
TIEA tie
Tag twoWalking Simulator
21.1in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds21.1 in 100
$1k+86 in 100
$10k+54 in 100
Launches95 / 20 hits
A tie, apart by2.3 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 prices765 in pairUnder $5507 in pair$5 to $10184 in pair$10 to $2064 in pair$20 to $4010 in pair
What the overlap means

The overlap is this niche: the 64 games tagged both Exploration and Walking Simulator priced $10 to $20. 18.8 in 100 of them earned $100k+, against 20.7 in 100 for Exploration-only games and 25.8 in 100 for Walking Simulator-only games, so the mix is about level with Exploration alone and trails Walking Simulator alone.

Both: 64 games priced $10 to $20; 18.8 in 100 earned $100k+, odds by size $1k+ 88 in 100 · $10k+ 53 in 100 · $100k+ 19 in 100.

Circle areas follow launch counts; the gold overlap is exactly the pair's 64 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

The Talos Principle 2leads this pair36.9%
PairThe Talos Principle 236.9%
ExplorationHollow Knight: Silksong23.3%
Walking SimulatorThe Talos Principle 218.3%
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 + Walking Simulator

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

  • The Talos Principle 2 earned 36.9% of the estimated first-year money of the 765 Exploration + Walking Simulator launches.
  • Exploration is led by Hollow Knight: Silksong, with 23.3% of its money.
  • It also leads Walking Simulator, with 18.3% 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 + Walking Simulator 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 + Walking Simulator through every lens, all prices
This pairBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view739 of 765 launchesWithout the breakout764 of 765 launchesLast 18 months243 of 765 launches
Launches counted76532 hits73932 hits76431 hits2439 hits
Earned $100k+4.2 in 1001 in 244.3 in 1001 in 234.1 in 1001 in 253.7 in 1001 in 27
Typical first-year earnings$1,042top tenth $16,902+$1,071$1,042$872
Chance against standardthe base+3.5%0.1 more in 100-3.0%0.1 fewer in 100-11.5%0.5 fewer in 100
Typical against standardthe base+2.8%$29 more0.0%no change-16.3%$170 less
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged both Exploration and Walking Simulator, 12 to 36 months old: 765 launches.

Launches counted
76532 hits
Earned $100k+
4.2 in 1001 in 24
Typical first-year earnings
$1,042top tenth $16,902+
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: 26 of 765 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
73932 hits
Earned $100k+
4.3 in 1001 in 23
Typical first-year earnings
$1,071
Chance against standard
+3.5%0.1 more in 100
Typical against standard
+2.8%$29 more
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, The Talos Principle 2 (36.9% of the money): 764 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
76431 hits
Earned $100k+
4.1 in 1001 in 25
Typical first-year earnings
$1,042
Chance against standard
-3.0%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 243 of 765.

Launches counted
2439 hits
Earned $100k+
3.7 in 1001 in 27
Typical first-year earnings
$872
Chance against standard
-11.5%0.5 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-16.3%$170 less
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged both Exploration and Walking Simulator, 12 to 36 months old: 765 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: 26 of 765 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, The Talos Principle 2 (36.9% of the money): 764 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: 243 of 765.

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.

Walking Simulator 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.

Walking Simulator through every lens, all prices
Walking SimulatorBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view1,369 of 1,429 launchesWithout the breakout1,428 of 1,429 launchesLast 18 months449 of 1,429 launches
Launches counted1,42950 hits1,36950 hits1,42849 hits44915 hits
Earned $100k+3.5 in 1001 in 293.7 in 1001 in 273.4 in 1001 in 293.3 in 1001 in 30
Typical first-year earnings$906top tenth $16,441+$925$906$799
Chance against standardthe base+4.4%0.2 more in 100-1.9%0.1 fewer in 100-4.5%0.2 fewer in 100
Typical against standardthe base+2.1%$19 more0.0%no change-11.8%$107 less
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Walking Simulator, 12 to 36 months old: 1,429 launches.

Launches counted
1,42950 hits
Earned $100k+
3.5 in 1001 in 29
Typical first-year earnings
$906top tenth $16,441+
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: 60 of 1,429 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
1,36950 hits
Earned $100k+
3.7 in 1001 in 27
Typical first-year earnings
$925
Chance against standard
+4.4%0.2 more in 100
Typical against standard
+2.1%$19 more
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, The Talos Principle 2 (18.3% of the money): 1,428 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
1,42849 hits
Earned $100k+
3.4 in 1001 in 29
Typical first-year earnings
$906
Chance against standard
-1.9%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 449 of 1,429.

Launches counted
44915 hits
Earned $100k+
3.3 in 1001 in 30
Typical first-year earnings
$799
Chance against standard
-4.5%0.2 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-11.8%$107 less
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged Walking Simulator, 12 to 36 months old: 1,429 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: 60 of 1,429 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, The Talos Principle 2 (18.3% of the money): 1,428 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: 449 of 1,429.

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 + Walking Simulator 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.

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