Create Mobile Games

The Mobile Game Opportunity

Mobile gaming is a $90+ billion industry with billions of players worldwide. Unlike console or PC, mobile games reach everyone with a smartphone.

This creates opportunity—and competition. The app stores are flooded, making discovery the primary challenge. Success requires not just a good game, but smart marketing.

Realities of Indie Game Development

The Odds

Let's be honest:

• Millions of games exist
• Most earn almost nothing
• Success requires luck plus quality
• Development takes longer than expected
• Marketing can exceed development costs

But Success is Possible

Despite the odds:

• Simple, polished games find audiences
• Niche games serve underserved markets
• Quality stands out
• Lower costs mean profit at smaller scale

Types of Mobile Games

Hyper-Casual

Aspect	Details
Development	1-4 weeks
Monetization	Advertising
Skill needed	Low-Medium

Strategy: Quick development, test many concepts, scale winners

Casual

Aspect	Details
Development	2-6 months
Monetization	Ads + IAP
Skill needed	Medium

Strategy: Polish matters, retention essential

Puzzle/Art Games

Aspect	Details
Development	3-12 months
Monetization	Premium + IAP
Skill needed	Medium-High

Strategy: Unique mechanics, beautiful design, premium possible

Game Development Tools

Game Engines

Engine	Cost	Best For
Unity	Free (rev share at $100k+)	Most mobile games
Godot	Free	2D games, learning
Unreal	Free (5% royalty)	High-end graphics
GameMaker	$99-999	2D, beginners

Recommendation: Start with Unity or Godot.

Other Tools

• Art: Aseprite, Procreate, Blender
• Audio: Audacity, BFXR
• Publishing: Apple Developer ($99/year), Google Play ($25)

Monetization

In-App Advertising

Ad Format	Revenue	Friction
Banner	Low	Low
Interstitial	Medium	Medium
Rewarded Video	High	Low (player-initiated)

Networks: AdMob, Unity Ads, ironSource

In-App Purchases

Sell virtual items:

• Cosmetics
• Consumables
• Currency packs
• Remove ads option

Conversion: 1-5% of players typically

Premium

Charge upfront:

• No ads disrupting play
• Higher per-user revenue
• Fewer downloads than free

Price points: $0.99-9.99 typical

Development Process

Phases

Phase	Focus	Timeline
Concept	Idea, prototype	1-2 weeks
Development	Core gameplay	1-6 months
Testing	Polish, bugs	2-4 weeks
Launch	Store submission	1-2 weeks
Post-Launch	Updates, marketing	Ongoing

Marketing Mobile Games

App Store Optimization

• Keyword-rich title
• Compelling screenshots
• Engaging video
• Regular updates
• Encourage reviews

Marketing Reality

User acquisition costs often exceed revenue for indie games. Focus on:

• Organic ASO discovery
• Social sharing mechanics
• Building audience before launch
• Cross-promotion between games

Solo vs. Team

Solo

Pros: Full control, all revenue Cons: All skills needed, slower

Small Team (1-3 people)

Pros: Specialized skills, faster Cons: Revenue split, coordination

Many successful indie games are made by 1-3 people.

Building While Nomadic

Works Well

• Pure digital development
• Testing on personal devices
• Flexible schedule

Challenges

• Need decent devices
• App store management needs internet
• Long projects need discipline

Who Should Create Mobile Games?

This path is ideal if you:

• Love games and game design
• Have programming skills (or willingness to learn)
• Accept high risk, variable reward
• Can self-motivate on long projects
• Enjoy creative problem-solving

It's not right if you:

• Need reliable income
• Aren't willing to learn development
• Expect quick returns
• Don't enjoy gaming
• Can't handle potential failure

The Bottom Line

Mobile game development is challenging—the market is saturated, discovery is hard, and most games fail commercially. But the upside is real: a successful game can generate passive income for years.

Start small. Create a simple game, ship it, and learn. Your first game probably won't be a hit, but it teaches you everything for the next one.

The developers who succeed treat it like a business: test concepts quickly, cut losses, double down on winners.

Your breakout game might be your first—or your tenth. Start building to find out.