Board games like Chess, Ludo, Monopoly, and more are quite popular in the digital age. Earlier, these games were the highlight of family functions and parties. However, with the advancements in technology and evolving player demands, these games have shifted to the online space and now function in the form of digital apps with exciting new features. With more and more players gravitating to these online platforms, there is a huge market for online board games.
Operators can capitalize on this lucrative opportunity by starting their own online board game business. However, the cost to develop a board game remains an uncertain factor in the whole process. In this blog, we will highlight the board game development costs and explore the various factors that affect the overall price of development.
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With the emergence of online apps, digital board games are becoming mainstream, contributing to the growth of the industry. According to Statista, the global board game market was valued at $2.96 billion in 2022. It is expected to grow at a CAGR of 8.70% during the forecast period (2022-2029), resulting in a projected market volume of $6.42 billion by 2029. (Source)
Now that we have a general idea about the potential of the board game market, let’s explore the various factors that influence the overall cost to develop a board game.
The user interface and design of the board game play a crucial role in grasping the user’s attention and driving engagement. Make sure to create a clean, sleek, and seamless user interface with easily navigable elements to allow smooth navigation. Also, avoid including too many multimedia elements as it can make the game app look cluttered. Custom designs may be expensive but they stand out and catch the player’s attention, ensuring high retention.
The complexity of the game also plays a major role in determining the overall cost of the game. For instance, if you are developing a game with just the core gameplay and one or two features, the development cost will be comparatively less. However, developing an advanced board game app with advanced features like gamification and social gaming will be quite expensive.
The features of the game majorly influence the board game development cost. Features like live chat, customization options, and 3D designs enhance the gameplay experience but also ramp up the cost of developing a board game. However, it is also crucial to integrate such features to ensure high user engagement.
Another common factor that influences the cost to make a board game is platform compatibility. Board game enthusiasts can access board games from various platforms. Operators can target multiple platforms to cater to different platforms.
However, developing dedicated apps for multiple platforms will significantly increase the cost. A cross-platform app that supports multiple platforms with a single codebase is a cost-effective option that will allow developers to target a broader audience across various platforms.
The location of the developers is another prominent factor that can affect the overall cost of development. For instance, developers from regions like India and Eastern Europe are significantly cheaper than developers from regions like the United States and Western Europe. Here is a quick cost guide:
As mentioned above, the cost of board game development is not fixed and is dependent on a variety of factors. Various features like the ones mentioned above + your own customizations and business requirements come together to determine the final cost of the development process.
On average, the cost to develop a board game ranges from $10,000 to $15,000, depending on the customizations and features. However, if you want to develop an advanced board game app, you will have to invest around $30,000.
However, keep in mind that this is just an estimated cost and the actual cost may depend on the above-mentioned factors + your customizations.
If you want to get an exact cost quotation, you can contact a board game development company like BR Softech.
Here is an estimated cost breakdown of the cost to develop a board game:
| Feature/Requirement | Basic Version ($) | Advanced Version ($) |
| Overall Development Cost | $10,000 – $15,000 | $30,000+ |
| Game Design (Art, UI/UX) | $2,000 – $5,000 | $5,000 – $10,000 |
| Game Mechanics & Logic Development | $3,000 – $6,000 | $6,000 – $12,000 |
| Basic Features (Multiplayer, AI, etc.) | $2,000 – $4,000 | Custom Multiplayer: $4,000 – $8,000 |
| Testing & Quality Assurance | $1,000 – $3,000 | $2,000 – $5,000 |
| Deployment & Publishing | $1,000 – $2,000 | $2,000 – $4,000 |
| High-End Graphics & Animation | N/A | $5,000 – $10,000 |
| AR/VR Integration (if required) | N/A | $5,000 – $15,000 |
| Backend Development & Cloud Support | N/A | $5,000 – $10,000 |
| Extensive Testing & Maintenance | N/A | $2,000 – $5,000 |
Each type of board game features unique features and functionalities. However, some game-enhancing features are included in every board game app to maximize user engagement and retention.
| Board Game Features | Description |
| User-friendly Interface | To grab players’ attention for a prolonged period, you need to create a user-friendly application that offers easy-to-use features and a seamless gameplay experience. |
| Secure Payment Systems | Integrate secure payment gateways that allow players to make transactions without any hassle. Also, include several payment methods to give players the freedom to choose their preferred method. |
| Refer and earn | The refer & earn feature allows users to invite new players to the board game app. Moreover, users also get exclusive rewards whenever a new player joins the game through their invite link. |
| Live chat | To encourage social gaming, you can also include the live chat feature to allow players to connect and interact with other players via text and emojis. |
| RNG system | RNG is a crucial technology that ensures fairness and unbiasedness in the online board game app. It generates a sequence of random numbers that correspond to the dice rolls, ensuring true randomness and fairness. |
Board games like Ludo, Chess, and Monopoly offer an engaging and immersive gaming experience, captivating millions of players worldwide. Here are some key benefits of investing in board game development.
Board games are played by all types of players, regardless of location, gender, or age. As board games evolve and penetrate untapped markets, more and more players will gravitate to online board game platforms. Since the industry is filled with board games of various genres like Monopoly, Catan, Terraforming Mars, and more, players can experience dynamic gameplay worldwide.
Board game apps can take advantage of multiple monetization strategies like in-app purchases, advertisements, and freemium models to maximize revenue generation. By taking advantage of multiple revenue streams, operators can generate revenue through various channels and ensure a high ROI.
Since board games cater to players worldwide, multi-currency support is integrated, allowing players to make transactions in their preferred currencies. Moreover, some board games also integrate blockchain technology, offering decentralization and support for multiple currencies.
Board game applications are widely accepted in different parts of the world because of their multi-lingual support. It is extremely important to provide this feature in order to tap or capture the attention of the global audience. The platform ensures global people understand the features and functionalities of the game in their own native language.
Traditional board games have been popular for decades. Games like Ludo, Chess, and Monopoly are cult classics and still enjoy massive popularity. With the emergence of online board game apps, digital versions of classic board games are dominating the online space, providing nostalgic vibes to players while generating high revenue for operators. If you are someone who wants to tap into the potential of the board game industry, you can contact BR Softech to develop a feature-rich and technically superior gaming app.
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Ans. Board game app development is not an overnight task, and hence requires a collaborative effort of designers, developers, and quality assurance and marketing professionals. On average, it takes around two to three months to develop a board game application. As a leading board game development company, you can trust our developers who use cutting-edge strategies and technologies to reduce the development period.
Ans. Yes, we develop board games that are unique, innovative, and of high value. Clients from across the world trust our board game development services because of the fact that we deliver them feature-rich, visually realistic, and customizable board game applications.
Ans. As a renowned board game development company, we design, develop, and deploy different types of board game applications such as ludo, chess, bingo, carrom board, slot game, snakes and ladders, scrabble, tic tac toe, and ball pool.
Ans. Various factors influence the overall cost of board game development. Important factors like the complexity of the game, platform compatibility, graphics, feature integration, third-party integration, and more affect the cost of development.
Ans. It depends on the type of board game you want to develop. If you are only focused on prototyping, the cost would not be that high. However, you should consult a board game development provider to get an exact cost estimate.
Ans. No, there are no hidden costs associated with developing board games. But, you should consult your service provider if you have doubts regarding costs or hidden charges.
Ans. The most expensive phase of developing a board game is the development process which requires coding, programming, and the entire backend development. Besides development, marketing and ongoing maintenance also takes out a huge chunk of the budget.
Ans. While the cost of developing a board game is quite expensive, there are some strategies that you can employ to minimize costs. You can utilize pre-built templates, develop a cross-platform app, or use cost-effective marketing like Search Engine Optimization to eliminate unnecessary costs.
Ans. It takes around 3 to 5 months to develop a board game app from scratch. However, if you want to develop an advanced gaming app, it can take up to 6 months.
