With each passing year, the gaming market grows larger and larger. Over the years, the gaming industry has seen it all, from spectacular games like Elden Ring and PackMan to more recent titles like Diablo Immortal. By 2027, the global gaming market is expected to reach $339.95 billion from $198.40 billion in 2021. In addition, mobile gaming revenue accounts for more than half of all video gaming revenue – a whopping $165.9 billion!
Therefore, it isn’t surprising that many entrepreneurs are jumping on the gaming bandwagon to make their name and fame in the market.
As a result, you have to ensure your game is amazing if you want to succeed, considering the fierce competition and unique gaming concepts. If you see around, today the play store is flooded with gaming applications but only a few of them are ruling the industry. Do you know what the reason behind their popularity is? It is their unique features, visually appealing graphics, excellent sound effects and creative interface which make them highly preferable among players worldwide.
If you are fascinated by the concept of how to create a game app or design a game app, here is the guide for you!
Table of Contents
How Big is Mobile Gaming?
It makes sense to check out some stats before creating a gaming app that utilizes mobile devices’ limitations and features. Here are some of the facts and figures that might convince you to invest in gaming app development:
As per market research, the global gaming market is expected to rise from $229.16 billion in 2021 to $545.98 billion in 2028.
The market is growing rapidly at a CAGR of 13.20% in the forecast period, 2021-2028.
The global video game market was valued at USD 195.65 billion in 2021, which is showcasing growth and is rising at a compound annual growth rate of 12.9% from 2022 to 2030.
The gaming market is targeting an audience of the world and as per the research, the user penetration will be 35.2% in 2023, which is expected to rise to 39.0% by the year-end of 2027.
When it comes to game app development, the largest segment is mobile gaming with a market volume of US$286.50bn in 2023.
The major online gaming popularity contributors are smartphone penetration, low-cost data connectivity and easy game availability.
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The most important aspect of your mobile game app is the game design. Think about what initially attracted you to a game. Of course, it’s the design! To check out the game’s design, plot, characters, and story should be well aligned with the concept of the game. If the game’s outlook doesn’t match the game genre, then users won’t even bother to install the app.
In other words, visual elements are of great importance to make an app game, it will help you make a unique identity, name and goodwill in the market. You can even tap a larger audience, and generate great leads and high ROI via an appealing game design that is highly reliable, creative and hard to find.
Your gaming user interface will require much attention as you develop game apps. Engaging your users, improving retention, and monetization are all benefits of a great design.
The Pros of Game Designing
If you are a gaming enthusiast, you can play it for hours.
Gamer’s anticipation for future extensions is sparked by design.
Pay is higher for better designs. The design of the gaming app is largely responsible for generating revenue.
Keep your game design checklist updated to ensure that your users have a meaningful experience.
There are different types of games referring to multiple domains, genres and industries.
You can create a game app with the audience you choose by choosing from billions of apps for Android and iOS. The following are some categories of gaming apps:
1. Games By Level of Complexities
A. Casual & Hyper-Casual Games
The player faces a minimal entry barrier and the gameplay of such games is extremely simple. These games are extremely interactive and offer immersive graphics, features and excellent sound effects. These games do not require any pre-defined rules or training to win the game.
B. Mid-Core Games
These games provide players with a certain guide and rules to start and compete in the game. They feature a low entry-level barrier which is easy to crack for experienced gamers. They have a beautiful environment and offer players exciting features.
C. AAA Games
When it comes to AAA game development, developers need a high amount of hardware requirements. They offer guides and directions to play to users from the beginning so that players can get an idea of how to win AAA games.
The engagement rate for Sudoku is high. According to a study, about 38 million people play puzzles on a monthly basis, and their shelf lives are limited. The simple jigsaw puzzle or mathematical puzzle is also very popular and is easy to make, so regardless of the game you choose, you are sure to make money.
B. Games of Strategy
Clash of Clans (CoC) is a very addictive game and proof of its popularity. An engaging and successful app can be created through strategy building – the app can generate revenue as well as be challenging.
C. Games for Arcades
The popularity of arcade games is well-known among gaming enthusiasts. In order to feel competitive, you need a good storyline and a good difficulty level. Creating a great idea, developing a strategy, and turning your ideation into a reality is the key to success.
Most people often ask the question of how to make a game for the app store. Here are the crucial things you must check out when making game apps or business game apps:
1. Know Yourself
Understanding yourself or your organization is the first step. What made you decide to enter the gaming industry? How would you describe your passion for gaming? How do you stay motivated, and what are your key strengths? Make sure to understand the goals and objectives of creating a game app. Know your project specifications and details like platform, game type, game features, etc.
2. Market Research
Understanding your target audience better depends on insights from the market. Therefore, it is better that you do market research before you head to create your own game app. You can learn what’s popular among gamers and what brings in the most revenue by looking at what’s trending or visiting the app store. Moreover, make sure to do a SWOT analysis to understand the potential threats, opportunities and strengths of your game idea.
3. Idea Generation
An app’s success depends on its excellent ideas. For a gaming app to succeed, the most essential step is ideation. Using your team’s brainstorming skills, you can develop a killer idea that will keep your users engaged for hours on end. The idea should demonstrate all the dots that are essential for completing a game design and development.
4. Develop A Storyline
A brilliant story is essential to a successful game. Players will love your game if it has a storyline with characters, victory parameters, surprises, fun elements, and rewards.
By engrossing your players in the storyline, they will be inspired to keep playing, and more players will be attracted to your game.
5. Visually-Appealing Design
poker_game_developmentDesigning a winning game can be challenging. To make the game feel and look good, the design team would need to pay attention to details. Creating a good user experience while balancing graphics and logic is crucial. Your company could suffer from a bad design of an app if you don’t take the time to work around it. One must not compromise on the design and visually appealing features when it comes to mobile game app development.
6. Create a list of Platforms
It is important to consider the platform when planning anything for mobile game app development. Most people choose between Android and iOS as their first option. The cross-platform option is also available for those who want to make the gaming platform accessible on various platforms like Android, iOS and Web. The cost of developing a game for multiple platforms would, however, need to be taken into consideration. The cost of Android game app development is comparatively cheaper than that of iOS game app development.
7. Create a Monetization Strategy
As an entrepreneur, your goal must be to see your game succeed and get a good return on investment. It is always a difficult decision to monetize your game. Some of the best and most cost-effective monetization strategies include Advertisements, in-app purchases, pay-per-download, subscription methods, etc.
8. Make a Technology Decision
The next step towards creating a game app is to plan the design tools and set up the game development strategy once you have a game idea and a platform identified. If you need performance, you should consider native development. Make sure to make a proper technology decision, including all the technologies, tech stack, and tools used for Android game app development.
9. Find a Reliable Developer
Make sure to find a reliable developer who can convert your dream project into reality in the most convenient manner. Choose BR Softech, a reliable Game Development Company to develop a game app packed with interesting features, interactive graphics, the latest technologies and excellent animation and sound effects.
10. Testing & QA
Mobile gaming requires game testing. As a top mobile game app development company, we have an in-house team of QA engineers and beta testers that can help you fix all the bugs and glitches of your game app. In order to provide users with a smooth gameplay experience, our experts follow strategies like functional testing, integration testing and operational testing to fix all the errors within the game platform.
Gaming Engines and Tools for iOS & Android Platforms
In order to create a gaming app, there are a variety of gaming engines and tools required to join all the dots and elements required for seamless game play. Here is the list of gaming engines and tools for iOS and Android Platforms:
1. Construct 3
Creating a game app should not hamper you if you are not a coding expert. Due to the fact that game developers do not have to write a single line of code, Construct 3 gained popularity. Due to its intuitive GUI, it allowed developers to focus on their creative work rather than getting stuck in coding and debugging. In 2-3 months, you can build pretty good multiplayer gaming apps by using simple drag-and-drop elements.
2. GameMaker Studio 2
With its drag-and-drop capabilities and programming features, GameMaker Studio 2 offers flexibility to both coders and non-coders. Using a scripting language like C, coders can add features not covered by GameMaker Studio to their idea.
3. Unity
A free platform that allows developers to develop a game app for free. If you do not know the programming language to create a mobile game app, developing 2d games withUnity provides a flexible platform.
4. Godot Engine
In addition to supporting 2D or 3D game development, Godot is loved by many members of the mobile game app development community. As a result of its cleaner code, Godot Engine has fewer bugs and delivers better performance than Unity.
5. Unreal Engine 4
Designed to develop games that make a mark. It is a highly mature and futuristic tool. In addition to supporting next-generation features, its engine core supports the development of bespoke gaming applications.
Multiplayer game apps have become increasingly popular as a result of an increase in their usage. Here is the list of the top multiplayer game apps in 2024:
1. PUBG
The game has gained a lot of popularity in recent years, especially among young adults and teenagers. There is also a chatbox within the game that allows players to converse with one another.
2. Words with Friends 2
Despite being popular before the lockdown, Words with Friends 2 has gained popularity since it began. Words with Friends 2 rose dramatically in the rankings, making it the 10th most downloaded iPhone game across Canada, the US, and the UK.
3. Magic Tiles 3
A rhythm-based game in which one needs to tap on musical notes that appear on the screen can become addictive.
4. Mario Kart Tour
For quite some time now, this highly popular game has become one of the top choices. In order to support gamers, the makers continually release major updates.
5. Uno
Since the rules are familiar, the ever-popular card game has become a popular app. Whether you’re playing with strangers or friends and family, it’s easy to download.
With the changing times, the gaming industry hasn’t been spared either. You will be able to target the right audience by following this comprehensive guide. In order to make your game successful, you must understand what’s trending and beneficial for creating a gaming app or designing the framework. BR Softech has built successful mobile gaming apps for startups and enterprise businesses by providing the best App Development Software. As the best gaming app development company, we can help you take your business to the next level.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q.1 How much does it cost to develop a game app?
On average, it costs around $20k to $30k for basic features and functionalities. However, the cost may shoot up depending on the type and complexities of the project.
Q.2 How long does it take to create a game app?
It takes around two to three months to create a game app from scratch. However, the duration may go up depending on the type and complexity of the business.
Q.3 How to develop a game app?
In order to create a gaming app, make sure to follow the below steps: 1. Market research 2. Analysis 3. UX/UI Design 4. Development 5. Testing & QA 6. Deployment
I am Nitin Garg, founder of BR Softech PVT LTD - an award-winning mobile game development company known for its excellence in the gaming domain. We have a team of 180+ exceptional professionals & we have a satisfied clientele of 2.7k+ globally. Driven by an entrepreneurial spirit, I aim to elevate BR Softech to a billion-dollar company.