Commissioning a mobile game: what drives time and cost.
"How much does it cost to make a mobile game?" is like asking how much a house costs: it depends on what you want. This guide covers what shapes a game quote, how to shorten the timeline and what to look out for when commissioning a game.
CONTENTS
Start with the goal
Why are you making the game? The answer changes the whole scope:
- Your own game: Released on app stores and earning through ads or purchases.
- Brand game (advergame): A short-term or ongoing game for a campaign, product launch or awareness.
- Event game: Played on screens at trade shows, stores or events, often with prizes.
What drives time and cost
- Genre: A simple single-screen game and a story-driven RPG with levels are worlds apart.
- Amount of content: Levels, characters, enemies, maps and items.
- Visual quality: 2D or 3D, how much animation and effects.
- Platform: iOS, Android, browser or all of them.
- Server features: Multiplayer, leaderboards, accounts, prize and campaign management.
- Monetization: Ads, in-app purchases and subscriptions.
- After launch: Updates, new content and technical support.
Lowering cost with a browser game
For brand and campaign games, browser games are usually the most efficient option. Nothing to install, opens from a link, easy to share on social media and goes live without waiting for store approval. The same game can later become a mobile app.
Ways to shorten the timeline
- Boil the idea down to one sentence and focus on the core mechanic.
- Keep the first version small, then grow it.
- Prepare visuals, copy and brand guidelines upfront.
- Name the decision maker early to speed up approvals.
Questions to ask when commissioning a game
- Do you have released games I can play?
- Is a prototype stage planned?
- Who will own the source code and assets?
- Is the store submission process included?
- How are bug fixes and updates handled after launch?
Frequently asked questions
How long does a simple mobile game take?
A simple single-mechanic game or campaign game can be ready in a few weeks. As content and features grow, it extends to months.
Who owns the game?
This must be agreed in the contract. For games built specifically for a brand, game and content rights are usually transferred to the brand.
Where can I see your games?
You can play our games, including Rise & Raid, Hot Dog Please!, Frag Dudes and Just a Hero, in the browser from the games section on our homepage.
