Niche

Combat + Exploration

Games tagged both Combat and Exploration: 92 indie paid launches, 16 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 26,291 indie paid launches 12 to 36 months old, data of 3 Oct 2026. How it is measured.

Price $10 to $20

All prices1 in 15 hit $100k+Under $51 in 238 hit $100k+$5 to $101 in 28 hit $100k+$10 to $2020 in 100 hit $100k+$20 to $4044 in 100 hit $100k+

Base rate: indie paid launches 12 to 36 months old, 26,291 launches. Odds compare best within one price.

Lens Standard

Standard West-facing view Without the breakout Last 18 months

All indie paid launches 12 to 36 months old. Lens figures exist at all prices only; inside a price band this page shows the standard figures.

Sample 30+

10+ launchesshow small samples 30+ launches 100+ launchesonly big markets

Hides anything measured on fewer launches.

$10 to $20 30+ launches Reset

Showing Combat + Exploration priced $10 to $20, hiding samples under 30 launches.

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: 28.6 in 100 of its launches earned $100k+ priced $10 to $20, against 19.2 in 100 for Combat and 20.8 in 100 for Exploration.

That is about 1.4 times the 20.4 in 100 expected for any launch at this price.

TIETied

Tag onemood tagCombat

19.2in 100 earned
$100k+

Odds19.2 in 100

Typical earnings$10,038

Launches177 / 34 hits

Pair leads by9.4 in 100

1STWinner

This pairCombat + Exploration

28.6in 100 earned
$100k+

Odds28.6 in 100

$1k+74 in 100

$10k+57 in 100

Launches35 / 10 hits

Expected20.4 in 100

TIETied

Tag twomood tagExploration

20.8in 100 earned
$100k+

Odds20.8 in 100

Typical earnings$12,514

Launches878 / 183 hits

Pair leads by7.7 in 100

All indie launches $10 to $20: 20.4 in 100 earned $100k+, typical $10,978, from 4,304 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: 0.4 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 prices92 in pair Under $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. 28.6 in 100 of them earned $100k+, against 16.9 in 100 for Combat-only games and 20.5 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; 28.6 in 100 earned $100k+, odds by size $1k+ 74 in 100 · $10k+ 57 in 100 · $100k+ 29 in 100.

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 Wicked24.8%

ExplorationHollow Knight: Silksong22.3%

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 24.8% of that tag's money.
Exploration is led by Hollow Knight: Silksong, with 22.3% 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 pair	BaseStandardevery launch	West-facing view90 of 92 launches	Without the breakout91 of 92 launches	Last 18 months36 of 92 launches
Launches counted	9216 hits	9016 hits	9115 hits	368 hits
Earned $100k+	17.4 in 100	17.8 in 100	16.5 in 100	22.2 in 100
Chance of $10k+	34 in 100chance of $10k+; $1k+ 57 in 100	under 100 launches	under 100 launches	under 100 launches
Chance against standard	the base	+2.2%0.4 more in 100	-5.2%0.9 fewer in 100	+27.8%4.8 more in 100
Typical against standard	the base	under 100 launches	under 100 launches	under 100 launches
Does it hold?	The base view	Holds	Moves the answer	Holds

BaseStandardThe base view

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

Launches counted: 9216 hits
Earned $100k+: 17.4 in 100
Chance of $10k+: 34 in 100chance of $10k+; $1k+ 57 in 100
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: 9016 hits
Earned $100k+: 17.8 in 100
Chance of $10k+: under 100 launches
Chance against standard: +2.2%0.4 more in 100
Typical against standard: under 100 launches

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: 9115 hits
Earned $100k+: 16.5 in 100
Chance of $10k+: under 100 launches
Chance against standard: -5.2%0.9 fewer in 100
Typical against standard: under 100 launches

Last 18 monthsHolds

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

Launches counted: 368 hits
Earned $100k+: 22.2 in 100
Chance of $10k+: under 100 launches
Chance against standard: +27.8%4.8 more in 100
Typical against standard: under 100 launches

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 +1: Last 18 months moves the answer more than chance alone would, and 1 more lens too. It holds in Without the breakout.

Combat through every lens, all prices
Combat	BaseStandardevery launch	West-facing view950 of 1,012 launches	Without the breakout1,011 of 1,012 launches	Last 18 months293 of 1,012 launches
Launches counted	1,01273 hits	95072 hits	1,01172 hits	29324 hits
Earned $100k+	7.2 in 1001 in 14	7.6 in 1001 in 13	7.1 in 1001 in 14	8.2 in 1001 in 12
Typical first-year earnings	$394top tenth $44,119+	$469	$383	$632
Chance against standard	the base	+5.1%0.4 more in 100	-1.3%0.1 fewer in 100	+13.6%1.0 more in 100
Typical against standard	the base	+19.0%$75 more	-2.8%$11 less	+60.4%$238 more
Does it hold?	The base view	Moves the answer	Holds	Moves the answer

BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Combat, 12 to 36 months old: 1,012 launches.

Launches counted: 1,01273 hits
Earned $100k+: 7.2 in 1001 in 14
Typical first-year earnings: $394top tenth $44,119+
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: 62 of 1,012 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted: 95072 hits
Earned $100k+: 7.6 in 1001 in 13
Typical first-year earnings: $469
Chance against standard: +5.1%0.4 more in 100
Typical against standard: +19.0%$75 more

Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, No Rest for the Wicked (24.8% of the money): 1,011 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted: 1,01172 hits
Earned $100k+: 7.1 in 1001 in 14
Typical first-year earnings: $383
Chance against standard: -1.3%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard: -2.8%$11 less

Last 18 monthsMoves the answer

Keeps only launches 18 months old or newer: 293 of 1,012.

Launches counted: 29324 hits
Earned $100k+: 8.2 in 1001 in 12
Typical first-year earnings: $632
Chance against standard: +13.6%1.0 more in 100
Typical against standard: +60.4%$238 more

Standard: Every indie paid launch tagged Combat, 12 to 36 months old: 1,012 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 1,012 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 (24.8% of the money): 1,011 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 1,012.

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
Exploration	BaseStandardevery launch	West-facing view4,381 of 4,582 launches	Without the breakout4,581 of 4,582 launches	Last 18 months1,268 of 4,582 launches
Launches counted	4,582382 hits	4,381366 hits	4,581381 hits	1,268105 hits
Earned $100k+	8.3 in 1001 in 12	8.4 in 1001 in 12	8.3 in 1001 in 12	8.3 in 1001 in 12
Typical first-year earnings	$877top tenth $65,025+	$901	$877	$884
Chance against standard	the base	+0.2%no change	-0.2%no change	-0.7%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard	the base	+2.7%$24 more	0.0%no change	+0.8%$7 more
Does it hold?	The base view	Holds	Holds	Holds

BaseStandardThe base view

Every indie paid launch tagged Exploration, 12 to 36 months old: 4,582 launches.

Launches counted: 4,582382 hits
Earned $100k+: 8.3 in 1001 in 12
Typical first-year earnings: $877top tenth $65,025+
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: 201 of 4,582 launches here. Review language is measured for games with 2,000+ reviews; smaller games are guessed from their names.

Launches counted: 4,381366 hits
Earned $100k+: 8.4 in 1001 in 12
Typical first-year earnings: $901
Chance against standard: +0.2%no change
Typical against standard: +2.7%$24 more

Without the breakoutHolds

Drops the single biggest earner, Hollow Knight: Silksong (22.3% of the money): 4,581 launches left. It moves the answer when that one game earned over half the money.

Launches counted: 4,581381 hits
Earned $100k+: 8.3 in 1001 in 12
Typical first-year earnings: $877
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: 1,268 of 4,582.

Launches counted: 1,268105 hits
Earned $100k+: 8.3 in 1001 in 12
Typical first-year earnings: $884
Chance against standard: -0.7%0.1 fewer in 100
Typical against standard: +0.8%$7 more

Standard: Every indie paid launch tagged Exploration, 12 to 36 months old: 4,582 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: 201 of 4,582 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 (22.3% of the money): 4,581 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 4,582.

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.