The cost of making a card game app is a common question among the masses. In traditional times, when there were no smartphones or internet connectivity, these popular card games were used to socialize among people, and they are now used as a medium to socialize virtually with advanced multiplayer Mobile Card Game Development technology.
With the advent of advanced development frameworks like OpenGL or Cocos2D, card games reflect acute game quality and resolution. Many entrepreneurs think of developing their own card game apps, but they are unaware of the card game app development costs.
In this blog, we will discuss the cost of card game development, including average costs, and factors affecting the overall cost.
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Card games are skill-based games that allow players to use their brains to bluff and strategize moves to create the best hand to win the battle against opponents. Winning a mobile card game requires a lot of skills and strategy. The revenue share of the overall card game segment was valued at $8.58 bn in 2024 and is expected to reach 11.57 bn by 2030.
Mobile card games are gaining popularity like never before, and because of this a lot of gaming investors often ask questions like how to make the best card game app for Android, and what will be its cost. Let’s delve into the details and find out.
We shall list down all the factors that affect the cost of the best card games. These are some of the major factors affecting the overall cost of making a custom card game app like trading card game app and others:
The region of the developers impacts the overall card game app development cost. Some countries offer cost-effective development services, whereas others offer expensive and high-quality development services at your convenience. Therefore, it depends on your budget and investment capabilities for the project.
The cost of building a card game also depends on the complexity of the features and the project in general. Complexity is all about how much money you invest in card game app development. Based on complexity, card games are broadly classified into three categories:
A. Simple 2D
These games don’t require much resources and expertise. They can be developed with minimal design and features and can help you cost-effectively drive great engagement and revenue. 2D card game development costs around $10k to $15k.
B. Mid-level Games
These games cover other features like the storyline, characters, levels, and attractive visuals. Card game developers charge around $17k to $20k for mid-level card games. These games have multiple gameplay options.
C. High-Level Games
These games reflect complex designs, detailing, and graphics that are hard to find. Developers must have 1-2 years of experience in developing high-level online card games. On average, the cost of such games ranges from $25k to $30k. High-level games have refined AI opponents, multiple reward systems, and leaderboards.
3. Game Design
Card game development cost also depends on the UI/UX aspects of the app. If you want to create a very basic card game app, then the cost of game design will be significantly low. However, if you want to integrate an attractive, detailed, and visually realistic interface in your card game app, the cost will rise depending upon the customizations.
4. Multiple Payment Gateways
Online real money card games are the platform that lets users play and compete against each other to win exciting cash rewards. Therefore, it is important to provide them with safe and secure payment methods. If you want to integrate multiple payment gateways, the card game development cost will be higher as compared to that of fewer payment methods.
Besides payment methods, marketing also plays an important role in calculating the overall mobile game development cost. If you want proper marketing so that your app reaches a global audience and generates great revenues and leads, then you need to invest in paid digital marketing campaigns and advertisements. This ultimately affects the budget and increases the overall card game development cost.
Whether you want to develop a card game app for Android, iOS, or Windows platforms, the cost differs in each case. Android card game app development is much cheaper than iOS-based card game apps. However, if you want to develop a card game app for either of the platforms, it will cost less as compared to the cross-platform compatible card game app.
What technology stack is used in the development of card games also affects the overall cost of the game. If the developers are using free tools, the cost will be less compared to developers using paid tools. Some of the major tools and software are listed below.
Game Engines: Unity, Unreal Engine
Frontend: React Native, Flutter
Backend: Node.js, Python
Database: MySQL, MongoDB
Read Blog: How to Start a Card Game business
The development of card games goes through a lot of stages. The total cost of the app is segregated into these steps.
Conducting thorough market research is necessary in order to analyze your target audience. By doing this research, you can make a roadmap of the development tailored to a specific audience. Draw an outline, and define timelines, goals, and other plans of the development process.
Design comes next, you need to figure out the theme and design of the app in this step. The user experience is based on the UI and UX of the app, and this step makes sure that you have a good design of the app. You must develop prototypes and wireframes and ensure that the interface is intuitive and visually appealing.
One of the major stages of curating a card game app, the development majorly consists of building the frontend and backend of the game app. You must choose the best technology stack to craft your game. Choosing a better tech stack makes sure that your app is bug-free and runs smoothly. The integration of APIs, payment gateways, and multiplayer functionalities are part of this stage.
This stage includes rigorous testing of the game. Through testing the gameplay, testers analyze the loopholes, or shortcomings in the game, and the bugs are removed by the coding team. The performance of the game is also tested across platforms to check for optimizations on all screen sizes and device specifications.
The last phase is publishing the game, be it on Google Play Store or Apple Store. If the game supports cross-platform compatibility, you will need to deploy it on both platforms. You must also check for compliance and make sure that the policies of the platforms are aligning with the game.
Defining the exact cost of card game app development is impossible as the details of your project, features, and other specifications are variables, and the cost changes according to those variables. Moreover, there is a wide range of card game variations available in the market, and hence, every card has its features and details that are different from each other. So, the cost of each card game app will be different respectively.
In most cases, card game development costs between $10k to $30k for a single platform and basic features and functionalities. However, the cost may shoot up to $50k or more depending on the type and complexity of the features.
Take a look at the below table showcasing the cost of various phases of the card game development:
| Development Process | Cost |
| UX/UI Design | $2,000-$4,000 |
| Native Platform Development | $6,000-$8,000 |
| Backend Development | $4,000-$6,000 |
| Admin Panel for Web Development | $2,500 |
| Testing & Q/A | $3,000-$4,000 |
| Project Management | $2,500-3000 |
| Final Cost | $20,000-$25,000 |
Card game development has seen various trends across the years, we will talk about some of the latest trends that are bringing revolution to the industry.
Card games are introduced with blockchain technology, which when integrated provides utmost security and a new way of experiencing the game. You can make transactions using your crypto wallets, this change is attracting more players to the landscape.
Augmented reality and virtual reality have also shaped the industry, making the business more lucrative. Through AR and VR you can blur the line between the physical and virtual realm. These technologies make sure that you can get the best experience by giving you a life-life feel of the game.
Artificial intelligence is among the latest trends that you can witness in card game development. The technology helps developers build NPCs that behave like humans, they adjust their skill level according to the player’s skills.
Card games are more driven towards connecting people, now you can even live stream your opponents using video features apart from the basic in-game chat feature. Leaderboards, social sharing, and enhanced player engagement are some of the social features that are trendy in the current card game development landscape.
Cloud gaming is among the latest trends where users do not need to download games on their devices. There’s a server where your data is stored and you can access it anytime you like, and play it online. All you need is an active internet connection and you are sorted. You can play any of your favorite card games without acquiring your phone’s space through cloud gaming.
Selecting a reliable card game development company is crucial for your app’s success. The company that you select must have experience and expertise in the card development domain. There are many things that you should keep in mind while choosing the agency. Listed below are those points:
If you are looking for the best company, you can choose BR Softech, a leading game development company. The company specializes in card game development and leverages cutting-edge technologies to curate card games. The company boasts a portfolio of successful projects and is a trusted partner for creating innovative and secure gaming apps.
You must have understood that card game development costs depend on various factors as mentioned earlier. Therefore, it depends on your budget and project details. As a leading card game development company, BR Softech can help you provide top-notch mobile game development services at affordable prices and convenience. With 10+ years of experience in the gaming industry, we can help you take your card game business to the next level.
Ans. Depending upon features and complexity, you will require around 20,000 dollars to develop a simple card game. However, this cost can shoot up to 100,000 dollars if you wish to curate a fancy card game app integrated with multiple features and technologies like blockchain, AI, and AR.
Ans. Just like the cost, the development time of card games also depends upon the complexity of the game. Basic apps with simple features can take up to 3 months to develop. However, advanced apps take more than 6 months, and go up to 1 year with all the development and deployment processes.
Ans. Choosing the right company is a tedious task. However, some things are mandatory when you are opting for an agency. These things include checking the portfolio of the company, and the years of experience the agency has in the development sector. Moreover, check for company’s reviews online and ask them if they provide post-launch support or not.
Ans. To develop a card game app, make sure to research the market, add a compelling UI/UX design, find a developer and testing team, deploy the game, and lastly check for regular updates and maintenance.
Ans. Teen Patti, Rummy, Blackjack, Poker, Solitaire, Call Break, and UNO are some of the most popular card games that you can play in 2025.
Ans. To choose a top card game development company, make sure to check the portfolio of the company, the years of experience, hourly rates, and reputation of the company.
