Are you interested in How to Make an Android Game? In this blog post, you will learn how to create an Android Game, which tools to use, and the benefits of creating Android games.
The mobile game industry is thriving and is among the fastest-growing industries in the world. The number of mobile gamers is higher than ever and Android games have broken records and set unprecedented benchmarks in the past few years.
According to Statista, Android maintained its position as the leading operating system in the first quarter of 2023 with a market share of over 71.4%. The statistics are proof that more and more gamers are gravitating towards Android mobile gaming.
If you, too, are intrigued by the potential of Android games and want to create an Android game of your own, keep reading to know more!
Table of Contents
Android games are games specifically created for the Android OS. They range from simple 2D platformer games to complex AAA game titles. These games run on smartphones, tablets, PCs, and feature phones running the Android operating system and can be downloaded from the Google Play Store.
With the widespread popularity of Android gaming, investors and entrepreneurs are becoming interested in developing Android games as they offer plenty of business opportunities. As mentioned above, the mobile gaming market is booming and Android is leading the industry with a market share of 71.4%.
That being said, Android game development can be highly profitable for your business.
Let’s take a look at the necessary steps required to make an Android game-
The first step of any development process is to identify the concept of the game. Make sure you know what type of game you want to make before you start building it. Does it have a side scroller? Is it a puzzle game? Is it a racer of some kind? What will the 3D elements look like? Think about the type of gameplay that would make your Android game fun, write down ideas, create unique characters, and experiment with different art styles. In a nutshell, android game developers will start working if they know your gaming concept and gameplay elements.
Take advantage of the development tools that do the coding for you, so you can focus on the more creative side of your creation.
In order to create Android games to make money, the first thing you need to do is select an ideal Android game engine that supports all the features in your gameplay. Amongst all, Unity is the most favourable Android game engine used by developers worldwide.
Moreover, there are other Android gaming tools like GameSalad, which is a drag-and-drop game creator and requires absolutely no coding knowledge. As you open the program, you won’t be able to create complex games immediately, as there is a steep learning curve. With a simple button click, your games can be easily ported to iOS, Android, and Windows devices.
There is a wide range of Android programming languages available out there in the market to build Android games, but make sure to select one that matches your project. Unity Android game developers use C# most often as it is relatively easy to learn.
Once you are done with the basics, it is time for the Android game developers to actually get started with the process of development. It includes implementing features, tech stack, tools, and user-friendly interface within the game development project. Here Android game developers make the best use of high-level programming languages to develop a full-fledged Android game application.
When it comes to integrating graphics into your games, you have to be very specific about the in-game elements, characters and visual props that are significant for your Android game. If you are working with 2D graphics, you can use Photoshop, Maya, or 3ds Max to create graphics for games. There are plentiful 3D game creators available to make an Android game out there which can be well-optimized for importing graphics within the Android gaming platform.
Make sure that when you create your Android game, it must be well-tested before the launch. It helps you remove all the potential bugs, and loopholes from the gaming platform. We make the best use of the latest testing strategies like integration, functional, and operational testing to remove all the bugs from the platform.
Budgeting for marketing is important if you’re serious about making money from your game. For the successful launch of the online Android game, make sure to optimize great marketing strategies like digital marketing campaigns, content marketing, email marketing, youtube marketing, etc.
If you are wondering about the cost to develop an Android game, it depends on a variety of factors.
On average, Android mobile game development costs range from $5,000 to $100,000 from initiation to launch. It mainly depends on the type and complexity of the game you want to develop. However, if you want to create an Android game with advanced features and cross-platform compatibility, the cost will be higher based on the features and functionalities.
The actual cost of making an Android game ultimately depends on your requirements and the following factors-
Here is a cost guide for developing various types of Android games-
| Type of Game | Examples of Popular Android Games | Cost Estimate |
| Playable Prototype | Demo Games | $5,000 to $10,000 |
| Hyper-casual Games | Rise Up | $20,000 to $40,000 |
| Casual Game | Subway Surfers | $50,000 to $100,000 |
| Mid-Core Games | Clash of Clans | $80,000 to $250,000 |
| Hardcore Games | PUBG, COD | $150,000 to $2 million |
| AAA Games | Genshin Impact, God of War | $1 million to $10 million |
Developing an Android game can take several months and even years. Similar to the game cost, it ultimately depends on a variety of factors. It depends on factors like game complexity, game engine, size of the development team, level of graphics, and the scale of the project.
The type and complexity of the game are the major deciding factor in determining the duration of the development process. While a Hyper-casual game can be developed in 2-3 months, an AAA game title can take several years to complete.
Making an Android game can pose plenty of business benefits for developers. It has the potential of generating huge profits by creating innovative Android games.
Take a look at why you should make Android games-
Android dominates the mobile gaming market with a market share of over 71%. Moreover, over 70% of smartphones, tablets, and mobile devices in the world run the Android OS. There are a wide range of Android mobile devices in the market today.
Also, Android game apps are not limited to a specific organisation or device. These games have the potential to reach a large number of mobile users around the world.
The Android platform also offers an engaging and immersive user experience to its users. Most Android games have to go through rigorous testing as they have to be optimised for a large number of screens and devices. As a result, these games are free of bugs and glitches and offer a delightful user experience.
Creating an Android game doesn’t require a huge budget and is also rewarding. You can take advantage of a high ROI without investing a large amount of money in Android game development. As mentioned above, Android game apps have a large user base that can be converted into a high ROI with a limited investment.
The submission process of the Google Play Store is pretty lenient when compared to Apple’s App Store. It doesn’t require constant quality checks and publishers can easily publish their gaming apps without any hassle.
Developing an Android game is a time-taking process that requires the collective effort of a team of developers. However, it can be an easy task if you know the right mobile game engines and technologies to build your Android game.
Here are the top 5 game engines to facilitate the creation of your first game-
Unity is one of the most popular game engines in the mobile game market. It is the primary choice of developers for creating Android games. Developed by Unity Technologies, it is a cross-platform game engine that helps you to create your own game.
It has a decent learning curve but the availability of documentation and various video walkthroughs make it easy to use for professional developers. Moreover, it also offers a rich asset store and allows developers to import assets for several 3D programs like Blender.
You can easily create 2D as well as 3D games by using Unity. If are creating a game for the first time, Unity is the best game engine for your project.
Supported Platforms: Android, iOS, Windows, Fire OS, Tizen OS.
Pricing:
Unreal Engine is one of the most widely used game engines to create an Android game. You don’t need extensive technical knowledge to work on this game engine. However, you do need basic knowledge of Java and Android SDK. It offers several user-friendly features which makes it a suitable choice for beginner developers.
If you are planning to make an Android game with stunning visuals and eye-catchy 3D graphics, Unreal Engine is the best option for you.
Supported Platforms: Android, iOS, Windows, Xbox, PS4, HTML5, Steam OS, Linux, AR, VR, HTML5
Pricing: Free-to-use. 5% Royalty if revenue exceeds $10 million
If you’re looking for a simple yet useful platform to make an Android game, AppGame Kit is the perfect choice. It has a simple interface and can be used by amateur and seasoned Android developers.
It uses similar coding to C++ and has a user-friendly UI. It also supports cross-platform game development, allowing Android developers to create games for multiple platforms.
Supported Platforms: Android, iOS, Windows, Linux, HTML5, MacOS
Pricing:
Lumberyard is Amazon’s official game development tool. It is an open-source game engine that facilitates the development of an Android game. You can also take advantage of various free tools available to build your game. Moreover, it also comes with a built-in Twitch connection, which allows streaming games easier.
Supported Platforms: Android, iOS, MacOS, Linux, Xbox, PS4
Pricing: 100% free
Developed by YoYo Games, GameMaker Studio 2 is a 2D game engine that offers the Drag and Drop functionality to developers. This feature is very useful and helps to create an Android game in a set amount of time. It is a user-friendly game engine that is primarily used to create 2D games but also supports the creation of simple 3D visuals.
Supported Platforms: Android, iOS, Windows, MacOS, Linux, PS4
Pricing: Free
Developing an Android game may seem like a daunting task especially if this is your first time creating a game. However, the process can be made easier with the use of proper game development tools, an expert team of developers, the right tech stack, and focus on the project.
As a top Android game development company, we can help you take your business to the next level with end-to-end Android game apps that are feature-packed, and graphically realistic. Our expert team of Android game developers works day in and day out to bring forth the most scalable, reliable, and credible Android game-making software solutions.
Ans. To become an Android game developer, you must have extensive knowledge of various game engines and programming languages. It is also important to learn about the Android SDK and how the platform works.
Ans. We have provided an in-depth guide on how to develop Android games. The Android game development process primarily has 7 steps-
Identifying the Game Concept
Choosing a Game Engine
Select a Programming Language
Start the Development Process
Create Graphics and Visuals
Game Testing
Launch & Deployment
Ans. There are several Android game development tools available in the market. Unity, Unreal, Amazon Lumberyard, Godot, etc. are some of the best Android game engines to make an Android game.
