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on 3 Oct 2026

Niches / Combat + Exploration

Niche

Combat + Exploration

Games tagged both Combat and Exploration: 92 indie paid launches, 12 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 Combat + Exploration 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

Combat + Exploration beats both its tags: 22.9 in 100 of its launches earned $100k+ priced $10 to $20, against 16.4 in 100 for Combat and 17.3 in 100 for Exploration.

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

TIETied
Tag onemood tagCombat
16.4in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds16.4 in 100
Typical earnings$7,529
Launches177 / 29 hits
Pair leads by6.5 in 100
1STWinner
This pairCombat + Exploration
22.9in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds22.9 in 100
Typical earnings$11,632
Launches35 / 8 hits
Expected17.6 in 100
TIETied
Tag twomood tagExploration
17.3in 100 earned
$100k+
Odds17.3 in 100
Typical earnings$9,369
Launches878 / 152 hits
Pair leads by5.5 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 $20Combat 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 prices92 in pairUnder $524 in pair$5 to $1023 in pair$10 to $2035 in pair$20 to $4010 in pair
What the overlap means

The overlap is this niche: the 35 games tagged both Combat and Exploration priced $10 to $20. 22.9 in 100 of them earned $100k+, against 14.8 in 100 for Combat-only games and 17.1 in 100 for Exploration-only games, so games with both tags did better than games with either tag alone.

Both: 35 games priced $10 to $20; 22.9 in 100 earned $100k+, typical first-year earnings $11,632.

Circle areas follow launch counts; the gold overlap is exactly the pair's 35 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 pair55.6%
PairNo Rest for the Wicked55.6%
CombatNo Rest for the Wicked24.5%
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 Combat + 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 55.6% of the estimated first-year money of the 92 Combat + Exploration launches.
  • It also leads Combat, with 24.5% 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

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

Combat + Exploration through every lens, all prices
This pairBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view90 of 92 launchesWithout the breakout91 of 92 launchesLast 18 months36 of 92 launches
Launches counted9212 hits9012 hits9111 hits367 hits
Earned $100k+13.0 in 10013.3 in 10012.1 in 10019.4 in 100
Typical first-year earnings$1,434top tenth $160,501+$1,149$1,149$3,983
Chance against standardthe base+2.2%0.3 more in 100-7.3%1.0 fewer in 100+49.1%6.4 more in 100
Typical against standardthe base-19.9%$285 less; too few to tell-19.9%$285 less+177.8%$2,549 more; too few to tell
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsMoves the answerHolds
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged both Combat and Exploration, 12 to 36 months old: 92 launches.

Launches counted
9212 hits
Earned $100k+
13.0 in 100
Typical first-year earnings
$1,434top tenth $160,501+
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: 2 of 92 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
9012 hits
Earned $100k+
13.3 in 100
Typical first-year earnings
$1,149
Chance against standard
+2.2%0.3 more in 100
Typical against standard
-19.9%$285 less; too few to tell
Without the breakoutMoves the answer

Drops the single biggest earner, No Rest for the Wicked (55.6% of the money): 91 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
9111 hits
Earned $100k+
12.1 in 100
Typical first-year earnings
$1,149
Chance against standard
-7.3%1.0 fewer in 100
Typical against standard
-19.9%$285 less
Last 18 monthsHolds

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 36 of 92.

Launches counted
367 hits
Earned $100k+
19.4 in 100
Typical first-year earnings
$3,983
Chance against standard
+49.1%6.4 more in 100
Typical against standard
+177.8%$2,549 more; too few to tell
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged both Combat and Exploration, 12 to 36 months old: 92 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: 2 of 92 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 (55.6% of the money): 91 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 92.

Combat is changed recently: Last 18 months moves the answer more than chance alone would. It holds in West-facing view and Without the breakout.

Combat through every lens, all prices
CombatBaseStandardevery launchWest-facing view948 of 1,010 launchesWithout the breakout1,009 of 1,010 launchesLast 18 months293 of 1,010 launches
Launches counted1,01064 hits94863 hits1,00963 hits29323 hits
Earned $100k+6.3 in 1001 in 166.6 in 1001 in 156.2 in 1001 in 167.8 in 1001 in 13
Typical first-year earnings$392top tenth $38,260+$470$392$575
Chance against standardthe base+4.9%0.3 more in 100-1.5%0.1 fewer in 100+23.9%1.5 more in 100
Typical against standardthe base+19.9%$78 more0.0%no change+46.7%$183 more
Does it hold?The base viewHoldsHoldsMoves the answer
BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Combat, 12 to 36 months old: 1,010 launches.

Launches counted
1,01064 hits
Earned $100k+
6.3 in 1001 in 16
Typical first-year earnings
$392top tenth $38,260+
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: 62 of 1,010 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted
94863 hits
Earned $100k+
6.6 in 1001 in 15
Typical first-year earnings
$470
Chance against standard
+4.9%0.3 more in 100
Typical against standard
+19.9%$78 more
Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, No Rest for the Wicked (24.5% of the money): 1,009 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted
1,00963 hits
Earned $100k+
6.2 in 1001 in 16
Typical first-year earnings
$392
Chance against standard
-1.5%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: 293 of 1,010.

Launches counted
29323 hits
Earned $100k+
7.8 in 1001 in 13
Typical first-year earnings
$575
Chance against standard
+23.9%1.5 more in 100
Typical against standard
+46.7%$183 more
Standard
Every indie paid launch tagged Combat, 12 to 36 months old: 1,010 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: 62 of 1,010 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 (24.5% of the money): 1,009 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: 293 of 1,010.

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 Combat + 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.