A Comprehensive Guide to Mobile game development

All of us have experienced smartphone gaming addiction at some point. Those of us who have grown up with games like Mario, Candy Crush, Clash of Clans, Subway Surfers, and numerous more have a hard time imagining a world without them. It’s an understatement to claim these games didn’t have a role in bringing about the digital age. More than twenty years after it first appeared, mobile gaming is still growing in popularity. Incredibly high numbers of copies of some of today’s most downloaded mobile games have made their developers instant multimillionaires.

There are already more than 6 billion smartphone users worldwide, so it’s no surprise that making games for smartphones is big business. Developers can quickly amass a large user base and a sizable revenue stream if they create a mobile game that people enjoy playing.

The Evolving Mobile Gaming Market

There have been several shifts in the mobile gaming industry since it first began, with the most notable being technology developments. The days of manipulating a snake with four buttons are long gone; today’s games let players explore an alien world in which their avatars drive cars, shoot people, and don diverse costumes. The video game industry replicated this success with mobile games. Now, with the help of a Mobile app development company in Dubai, you can create a game in any style, from arcade to adventure to puzzle to racing to combat and beyond

Diverse Mobile Game Genres

We have seen that the mobile gaming business has introduced many different types of games, and gamers are interested in other genres of games for various reasons. A person’s favorite activity could be wrestling, while another might solve complex puzzles. The customer requires assistance across a wide variety of mobile game types. At present, the most popular and widely-downloaded genres of mobile games are—

1. Leisure Activities 

Regarding Android games, casual games are by far and away the most played. The genre’s success is largely because players of all ages like playing the fun in it. Because the challenges in these games are simplistic, anyone can pick them up and start playing right away. Candy Crush Saga is one of these apps that has become incredibly popular and has been downloaded millions of times worldwide.  

2. Video Game Arcades

Arcade games have also been at the forefront of the business for many years, long before the rise of casual gaming. Players in these games compete in shorter challenges against the clock. According to surveys and user comments, arcade games are hands down the best way to spend time. Popular titles in this category include Angry Birds, Doodle Jump, and Fruit Ninja.

3. FPS and TPS Games

Shooting games are a mobile game subgenre that emphasizes the player’s aim and reflexes. Examples of such games include Halo and Doom. 

4. To solve puzzles 

As the name suggests, the goal of these games is to provide players with a variety of digital puzzles to solve. The difficulty of the game increases as the player progresses through it. Consumers can choose from various numerical, alphabet, and scene-based puzzle games. Both Two Dots and Monument Valley belong to the popular puzzle genre of mobile games. 

5. Animated Play 

Due to the physical challenge they bring and the importance of hand-eye coordination and fast reflexes, action games have become a popular subgenre of mobile games. Action games frequently involve shooting, fighting, and trying to stay alive. Examples of fun in this genre include Call of Duty, Dragon Ball Legends, etc. 

6. Casino Games

Mobile casino games can be considered the digital analog to brick-and-mortar gambling establishments. 

Professional gamers have paid real money to download these indoor games to their mobile devices. Accessibility, online money transfer options, reproduction of the casino experience, and social component have all contributed to the genre’s huge success. Mobile versions of traditional casino games like poker, blackjack, slots, and more have become extremely popular. 

7. Sandbox

Non-linearity, player agency, and an open universe set sandbox games apart. Sandbox is unique because it combines features from several genres, such as board games, first-person shooters, and action games. Playing allows you to run, drive, shoot, swim, and do much more. Grand Theft Auto is the gold standard of this category of mobile games. 

8. Playing a Role in a Game 

Most games in this category are adaptations of classic stories in which the player leads a heroic quest. These games will take some time to complete. This means that action-adventure games are among the most popular types of mobile games in use today. Role-playing games include the Star Wars series, Genshin Impact, and many others. 

9. Games of Mobile Simulators 

Mobile simulation games primarily target problem-solving skills. Its major function is to supply the user with relevant learning experiences. The player’s problem-solving abilities are tested in a setting that is eerily similar to the real world. The Sims Mobile and Stardew Valley are two well-known mobile simulation games. 

10. A real-time tactic

In games of this genre, players must employ strategy to overcome enemies and seize control of a kingdom. Popular examples of this type of game are Warcraft and Age of Empires.

Technology Employment in Mobile Game App Development 

You’ve lived on your phone playing games. But have you ever thought about the engineering that ensures your gaming experience is flawless? A mobile gaming app, in actuality, is packed with tech for the game’s many features. Let’s talk about the various resources available to mobile game designers. 

1. Game Engines

A “game architecture” or “game framework” is another name for a game engine, a type of software development environment. With the help of game engines, mobile games may be made faster and in more languages. The engine is the collection of components that allow a game to run. It contains a graphics rendering engine capable of reading various file formats and displaying 2D and 3D visuals. The inclusion of a physics engine adds realism. An artificial intelligence system responds automatically to user interaction, while a music generator controls the game’s soundtrack, and an animation engine stores more content. 

2. Programming languages 

Programming languages are the backbone of any software project. Developers building code customized for certain platforms (iOS or Android) lead to various instructions and actions in mobile games. The most popular languages developers use for mobile game apps are Java, Objective-C, C++, and Swift. 

3. Platform-Independent Coding Instruments 

You can share your code between Android and iOS without writing it twice using cross-platform development. Code written with cross-platform development tools is portable across many operating systems. Frameworks like Xamarin, Flutter, and React Native are widely used for creating apps that can run on several platforms. 

4. 2D and 3D images 

Visual polish has become crucial in determining a game’s financial success in recent years. On mobile devices, players choose titles with more complex aesthetics. Clearer images make everything more legible. Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, and Blender are just a few applications used to create the high-quality 2D and 3D visuals required in mobile games. 

5. Augmented and Virtual Realities

Due to ongoing advancements in digital technologies, users have started expecting a more personable online encounter. Whoever provides the most compelling, real-time experience in social networking or mobile gaming will always come out on top. Integrating augmented and virtual reality has become increasingly important as consumers want a more immersive gaming experience. Putting on virtual reality goggles and delving headfirst into a game is becoming increasingly common. 

6. Machine learning and AI

Artificial intelligence and machine learning have greatly enhanced the quality of mobile gaming by allowing developers to populate games with non-player characters who behave similarly to humans in terms of responsiveness, adaptability, and intelligence. The predictive powers and event-programming versatility of machine learning are again improved when applied to mobile games.

How Much Does It Cost To Make A Mobile Game?

There are a lot of moving parts that need to be considered while making a mobile gaming app.

1. Game Story, Plot, and Characters

A captivating tale is the foundation of any great mobile gaming app. To keep gamers engaged until the end of the credits, you need an engaging plot and a memorable protagonist. Character creation includes thinking up their histories, lines of dialogue, and general chemistry with the player.

At this stage, there is a lot of discussion between game designers and expert strategists. Because of this, you should choose a developer in your area or one not too far away. Professional game planners might charge anywhere from $100 to $150 per hour.

2. Design

Several hands-on processes go into making a mobile game. The game’s levels, target demographic, gameplay, and setting are all decided. This is a crucial stage, so please do not rush through it. If you don’t give your gaming app’s architecture much thought, it will crash and freeze frequently.

Numerous professionals, including game designers, architects, UX/UI designers, etc., work together to complete the entire design and development process. Depending on their experience level and expertise, these professionals can charge anywhere from $150 to $250 per hour.

3. Game Categories and Genres

If you’ve reached this point, it’s time to develop the game as an app. This is a very important and expensive step.

The cost of developing an app for mobile play will vary depending on whether it is a casual game, a social game, or a simulation app.

The amount of difficulty required for various game apps varies greatly.

• Mini-Games

Mini-games, often known as casual games, are short, simple games that may be picked up and played on one’s own time.

Ping-pong, a relatively cheap amusement, may cost upwards of $20,000. A budget of roughly $50,000 is reasonable if you have modest expectations for your gaming app and don’t plan on adding any fancy extras like graphics.

• Casual 2D Video Games

These games use basic 2D visuals and music with a low price tag. Simple as they may be, these 2D games have a high user engagement rate and potential for expansion.

Games like Red Ball and Stack fall within this category. The estimated cost of developing such a game may be between $50,000 and $100,000.

• Carnival Games

Social networking sites like Facebook host massive multiplayer games of this type. Social games have limited user data access and are similar to browser games.

Social media networks often give software development kits (SDKs) that are used to create these games. The price tag for creating a social media game like Farmville can range from $200,000 to $500,000.

• Level-Up Games

Popular titles like “Angry Birds” are included here. These mobile games provide a variety of stages, personalities, backstories, and visual polish.

The content’s depth and breadth also increase its replay value, keeping players interested longer. Creating a video game like this may cost you $250,000 to $700,000.

• Commercial Uses of Video Games

These days, companies are using smartphone apps to enhance their team-building initiatives. It’s becoming increasingly common for businesses to employ mobile games for internal communication and inspiration.

Commercial gaming apps are designed with care to attract and keep the attention of many users. These games support several platforms and feature engaging narratives, visuals, animations, gameplay modes, and audio.

Furthermore, enterprise and SMB-created mobile games can be tailored to serve as a lead generator, increase sales, and uniquely promote the company’s brand.

To have a game of this kind created, you should hire a professional Android mobile app development company. It’s common for corporate game apps to cost between $250,000 and $550,000.

Please contact us if your company is interested in a bespoke mobile game app.

• Elite Competitions

These games have a high price tag, but if you can find your target demographic, you can cash in big time. These video games call for meticulous planning, strategy, and design. These games often take over a year to develop from start to finish and release.

The hefty price tag of making such games justifies the investment in skilled programmers. Creating a top-tier mobile game might cost you between $400,000 and $1,000,000.

4. Testing Mobile Games

Mobile game app testing is just as crucial as developing the app itself. Players have a low tolerance for glitches.

No one enjoys a sluggish, bug-ridden game. For this reason, it’s crucial that the game operates faultlessly and provides a satisfying encounter for players.

The game app development company typically provides testing during the project’s duration. You should set aside some money for testing.

5. Tips for Promoting Your Game App

You’ve made a great game app, but that doesn’t mean it will automatically become popular with consumers. You’ll need to do some promotional work to get your game app downloaded millions of times.

You’ll also need to set aside money for App Store Optimization (APO) marketing to boost your mobile gaming app’s exposure and position in the App Store and Google Play.