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Ticker: price and year-over-year change for 40 genres. Price is the median estimated first-year revenue of indie paid launches. The change shows for genres with 100+ launches. The same figures are on the Genres page.

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on 3 Oct 2026

Niches / Character Customization + Exploration

Niche

Character Customization + Exploration

Games tagged both Character Customization and Exploration: 139 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 26,280 indie paid launches 12 to 36 months old, data of 3 Oct 2026. How it is measured.

Showing Character Customization + Exploration priced $10 to $20. This filter changes the answer: at all prices the pair beats both its tags; priced $10 to $20 it is about level with Character Customization and is about level with Exploration.

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

Character Customization + Exploration is about level with Character Customization and is about level with Exploration: 20.0 in 100 of its launches earned $100k+ priced $10 to $20, against 19.9 in 100 for Character Customization and 17.3 in 100 for Exploration.

That is about 1.1 times the 17.6 in 100 expected for any launch at this price.

TIEA tie
Tag oneCharacter Customization
19.9in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds19.9 in 100
Typical earnings$13,176
Launches191 / 38 hits
A tie, apart by0.1 in 100
TIEA tie
This pairCharacter Customization + Exploration
20.0in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds20.0 in 100
Typical earnings$14,232
Launches40 / 8 hits
Expected17.6 in 100
TIEA tie
Tag twomood tagExploration
17.3in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds17.3 in 100
Typical earnings$9,369
Launches878 / 152 hits
A tie, apart by2.7 in 100
All indie launches $10 to $20: 17.6 in 100 earned $100k+, typical $8,234, from 4,301 launches.each block is 1 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 prices139 in pairUnder $545 in pair$5 to $1034 in pair$10 to $2040 in pair$20 to $4020 in pair
What the overlap means

The overlap is this niche: the 40 games tagged both Character Customization and Exploration priced $10 to $20. 20.0 in 100 of them earned $100k+, against 19.9 in 100 for Character Customization-only games and 17.2 in 100 for Exploration-only games, so the mix is about level with Character Customization alone and is about level with Exploration alone.

Both: 40 games priced $10 to $20; 20.0 in 100 earned $100k+, typical first-year earnings $14,232.

Circle areas follow launch counts; the gold overlap is exactly the pair's 40 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

No Rest for the Wickedleads this pair51.2%
PairNo Rest for the Wicked51.2%
Character CustomizationNo Rest for the Wicked24.9%
ExplorationHollow Knight: Silksong21.4%
CheckOne game over half?yes
NextNearest hitsnot computed yet

Lens checkOne-hit market. Standard: the base the others are compared with. West-facing view: holds. Without the breakout: moves the answer. Last 18 months: holds.

Open free preview
ComparablesFree until launchClick to unlockWho leads Character Customization + Exploration

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

  • No Rest for the Wicked earned 51.2% of the estimated first-year money of the 139 Character Customization + Exploration launches.
  • It also leads Character Customization, with 24.9% of that tag's money.
  • Exploration is led by Hollow Knight: Silksong, with 21.4% of its money.
  • One game holds over half of this pair's money: read every figure here as that game's story.

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

Character Customization + Exploration is one-hit market: one game earned over half the money. It holds in West-facing view and Last 18 months.

Character Customization + Exploration through every lens, all prices
This pairBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view136 of 139 launchesWithout the breakout138 of 139 launchesLast 18 months36 of 139 launches
Launches counted13922 hits13622 hits13821 hits366 hits
Earned $100k+15.8 in 10016.2 in 10015.2 in 10016.7 in 100
Typical first-year earnings$1,882top tenth $257,678+$2,212$1,882$1,206
Chance against standardthe base+2.2%0.3 more in 100-3.9%0.6 fewer in 100+5.3%0.8 more in 100
Typical against standardthe base+17.5%$330 more0.0%no change-35.9%$676 less; too few to tell
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsMoves the answerHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged both Character Customization and Exploration, 12 to 36 months old: 139 launches.

Launches counted
13922 hits
Earned $100k+
15.8 in 100
Typical first-year earnings
$1,882top tenth $257,678+
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: 3 of 139 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
13622 hits
Earned $100k+
16.2 in 100
Typical first-year earnings
$2,212
Chance against standard
+2.2%0.3 more in 100
Typical against standard
+17.5%$330 more
Without the breakoutMoves the answer

Drops the single biggest earner, No Rest for the Wicked (51.2% of the money): 138 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
13821 hits
Earned $100k+
15.2 in 100
Typical first-year earnings
$1,882
Chance against standard
-3.9%0.6 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
0.0%no change
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 36 of 139.

Launches counted
366 hits
Earned $100k+
16.7 in 100
Typical first-year earnings
$1,206
Chance against standard
+5.3%0.8 more in 100
Typical against standard
-35.9%$676 less; too few to tell
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged both Character Customization and Exploration, 12 to 36 months old: 139 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: 3 of 139 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, No Rest for the Wicked (51.2% of the money): 138 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: 36 of 139.

Character Customization is audience split: West-facing view moves the answer more than chance alone would. It holds in Without the breakout and Last 18 months.

Character Customization through every lens, all prices
Character CustomizationBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view826 of 851 launchesWithout the breakout850 of 851 launchesLast 18 months243 of 851 launches
Launches counted85184 hits82679 hits85083 hits24326 hits
Earned $100k+9.9 in 1001 in 109.6 in 1001 in 109.8 in 1001 in 1010.7 in 100
Typical first-year earnings$862top tenth $90,810+$877$862$956
Chance against standardthe base-3.1%0.3 fewer in 100-1.1%0.1 fewer in 100+8.4%0.8 more in 100
Typical against standardthe base+1.7%$15 more0.0%no change+10.9%$94 more
Does it hold?The base viewMoves the answerHoldsHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Character Customization, 12 to 36 months old: 851 launches.

Launches counted
85184 hits
Earned $100k+
9.9 in 1001 in 10
Typical first-year earnings
$862top tenth $90,810+
Chance against standard
the base
Typical against standard
the base
West-facing viewMoves the answer

Games mostly reviewed outside China. Drops games mostly reviewed in Chinese, meaning 35% or more of their reviews are in Simplified Chinese: 25 of 851 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
82679 hits
Earned $100k+
9.6 in 1001 in 10
Typical first-year earnings
$877
Chance against standard
-3.1%0.3 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
+1.7%$15 more
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, No Rest for the Wicked (24.9% of the money): 850 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
85083 hits
Earned $100k+
9.8 in 1001 in 10
Typical first-year earnings
$862
Chance against standard
-1.1%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 851.

Launches counted
24326 hits
Earned $100k+
10.7 in 100
Typical first-year earnings
$956
Chance against standard
+8.4%0.8 more in 100
Typical against standard
+10.9%$94 more
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged Character Customization, 12 to 36 months old: 851 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: 25 of 851 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, No Rest for the Wicked (24.9% of the money): 850 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 851.

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.

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 Character Customization + Exploration 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.