Understanding Gaming Trends

In 2027, all revenue segments are expected to increase significantly. According to Statista, the segment “Download Games” comes out on top with 25.4 billion US dollars. In contrast, the category “Physically Sold Video Games” decreases to 11.43 billion USD. The difference is 13.97 billion dollars.

New trends are emerging in the gaming industry, showing constant change. In the upcoming years, the following trends will have an impact on the video game industry, devices, and content consumption:

1. Mobile gaming is still expanding. The gaming industry’s most remarkable trend, mobile gaming popularity, will continue in the next years. This is due to the rising use of smartphones and tablets and the expansion of the selection of top-notch mobile games.

Despite already being the largest video game market, the mobile games market has tremendous growth potential in the future. Pokémon Go iteration, titles like Harry Potter: Wizards Unite, and Nintendo’s expanding support for mobile games will influence the market growth. Additionally, the mobile versions of the well-known online games Fortnite and PUBG significantly affect the market expansion.

In 2023, the mobile games industry is anticipated to generate US$173.60 billion in revenue. Revenue is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.42% from 2023 to 2027, with a forecasted market size of US$222.70 billion. By 2027, there will likely be 2.3 billion consumers of mobile games worldwide.

2. The rise of cloud gaming. With cloud gaming, players may play games without downloading or installing them on their hardware. As a result, games may now be played on a more extensive variety of gadgets, such as smartphones, tablets, and smart TVs. Although cloud gaming is still in its infancy, it is supposed to grow in popularity over the next few years.

According to Statista, in 2023, the cloud gaming industry is anticipated to generate US$4.34 billion in revenue. By 2027, a market volume of US$18.71 billion is predicted, with revenue forecast to expand at a 44.09% annual rate (CAGR 2023-2027).

One of the most common ways spectators watch their favorite players broadcast gaming videos is on live-streaming video platforms like Twitch. Twitch had ten million distinct broadcasting channels in the third quarter of 2022, significantly surpassing YouTube Gaming Live, its closest rival, which had 443 thousand different streaming channels.

3. Growth of esports. Competitive video gaming, or esports, is gaining popularity worldwide. Millions of people now routinely watch esports competitions, and prize pools regularly top $1 million. In the upcoming years, esports will continue to expand as more and more gamers show an interest in both watching and participating in competitive video games.

When we speak about “eSports” we refer to local or global video game competitions that pit professional and amateur players against one another. The estimated value of the worldwide eSports market in 2022 was a little over 1.38 billion USD. Additionally, Statista predicted that by 2025, the global market income for eSports might reach 1.87 billion US dollars. With China alone accounting for over one-fifth of the market, Asia and North America hold the top two eSports revenue markets.

Gaming Devices and Trends: Shaping the Gaming Forecast

Since the days of basic consoles and pixelated graphics, gaming gadgets have advanced significantly. They now include a variety of platforms, each of which offers a different gaming experience.

Gaming Device Evolution: Console Gaming

The PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch continue to be the gaming market’s mainstays. They offer excellent graphics, engaging gameplay, and a sizable selection of games. The latest next-generation system launches have pushed the limits of game realism.

However, consoles’ benefits before PCs are slowly blurring. For instance, many games release simultaneously console and PC versions, as opposed to console-first releases that were common in the past. So, consoles start becoming more and more like PC, as stated in an article on Polygon. They constantly improve graphics, start allowing mods, and add features that weren’t available before, such as streaming and browsing, and many support peripherals like keyboards and mice. Undoubtedly, new systems will increase the bar for home gaming.

PC Gaming Innovations

No need to say that the technical advance isn’t going to stop or slow down. Nvidia’s flagship RTX 5090 boasts 32GB of VRAM and introduces DLSS 4 technology. AI in gaming it’s not just about generative environments and generated NPCs, but also about the quality of the graphics. Nvidia’s DLSS 4 technology exemplifies this trend by using AI to upscale images and generate additional frames, resulting in smoother gameplay.

A lot of PC games currently support cross-platform play, allowing players from various platforms to play together. This development encourages inclusivity and increases the player base for multiplayer video games.

Virtual Reality Games

The industry has got a new way to make VR and AR gaming experiences more affordable to wide audience. Streaming VR/AR Experiences become more popular as cloud gaming and faster internet allow people who don’t have super expensive or powerful hardware (like a high-end VR headset or gaming PC) to enjoy immersive games.

The heavy lifting (like graphics and processing) happens on super-powerful computers in the cloud. The player just needs a lightweight headset or AR glasses and a high-speed and stable internet connection. The game is streamed, like watching a video, but interactive—a person can control it in real-time. Although this might not be what companies hoped for in terms of sales of expensive VR and AR gadgets, but it opens new opportunities for the industry that wasn’t adopted as fast as initially expected.

Mobile Gaming on the Rise

Mobile gaming’s ease has attracted a sizable and varied player base. The incredible development of smartphones and tablets is a trend we cannot ignore. From casual games to those with complex graphics, smartphones and tablets provide access to a vast ecosystem of games. Mobile gaming’s ease has attracted quite a big and varied player base. A part of it becomes more “serious”, which is reflected in significant growth of mobile eSports, something that was hard to imagine years ago.

Game designers make more intricate and sophisticated mobile games that compete with classic console and PC games. Even simple games are evolving into hybrid-casual genre that introduces more depth while keeping the gameplay simple and accessible.

Video Game Industry Ad Revenue

The diverse video game ad revenue ecosystem helps users, developers, and advertisers alike. In-game marketing, sponsored content, and product placements are now standard in the gaming industry. By enabling the production of free-to-play games, this revenue not only aids in funding game development but also increases the accessibility of gaming to a broader audience.

Game production is heavily reliant on ad money. It enables developers to produce top-notch games without relying primarily on upfront payments or in-app purchases. The emergence of free or inexpensive games that appeal to a broad circle of players starts from this. Developers can spend more on game design, graphics, and content as ad revenue rises, creating more entertaining and compelling games.

Free-to-play games with advertising have made gaming more accessible. Players can get the first-class games without having to pay a subscription fee. Instead, consumers can take full advantage of the experience without engaging with adverts or making in-game purchases.

Ad revenue advantages are obvious, but it also has drawbacks. Key considerations include balancing ad placement to prevent game disruption and guaranteeing that ads are pertinent and unobtrusive. The ability to generate income while maintaining the quality of the player experience is a tricky balance that game developers must master.

Video Game Content Viewership: A New Era in the Gaming Forecast

There has been a significant change in how people consume video game material. Gaming enthusiasts may now share, watch, and interact with content in new ways. We should thank for this the development of live-streaming platforms and short-form video content.

Streaming Platforms and Viewership

Live streaming services like Twitch and YouTube Gaming have completely changed how players interact with their viewers. These systems offer a real-time window into a gamer’s life, allowing spectators to watch them play, speak with them, and even impact gameplay choices. In addition to strengthening the sense of community among gamers, live streaming has grown in popularity, providing new platforms for content producers to demonstrate their talents and personalities.

Short-form video-sharing services like TikTok and YouTube Shorts also impact the game industry. Gamers use these platforms to produce brief but compelling gaming material suitable for viewers with limited attention spans. Short-form videos give a bite-sized gaming experience that appeals to a broad audience by displaying spectacular moments and offering fast tutorials.

Esports and Competitive Gaming

The popularity of esports, or competitive video gaming, has skyrocketed. Millions worldwide now watch esports competitions, and the biggest events pack stadiums and draw substantial online audiences. Esports have become a legitimate spectator sport because of their competitive character, competent players, and high-stakes competitions.

The gaming industry will be significantly impacted by these changes in viewing video game material. Whether they like in-depth live streams, brief and snappy movies, or the excitement of esports competitions, viewers now have a wide variety of content.

The Economic Landscape of the Gaming Forecast Industry

The gaming industry has become a giant industry worth investing in, as it shaping entertainment, technology, business, and culture and becoming a multibillion-dollar global market. It spans various platforms, from mobile gaming to high-end consoles and PC gaming, attracting diverse audiences. Factors like advancements in technology and the growing popularity of esports have contributed to this remarkable growth.

Market Projections and Revenue in the Gaming Forecast

The number of video gamers steadily increases yearly, improving the market’s prospects even more. It has significantly expanded due to population growth, changing opinions of gaming, expanding demographics, improved accessibility, social contact, connectivity, and changing societal norms. These elements have helped video games become a widely accepted form of entertainment, which has increased the number of players worldwide. As of 2023, there will be 3.22 billion gamers worldwide, according to Newzoo. By 2024, however, it is anticipated that there will be 3.32 billion gamers worldwide.

The growth of the 5G network has significantly increased the number of gamers as well. To provide top-tier 5G cloud gaming experiences, AT&T and NVIDIA Corp. announced their partnership in January 2022. With this initiative’s help, users can access over 100 free-to-play games and games they own on reputable PC game retailers like the Epic Games Store, Steam, Ubisoft Connect, Origin, GOG, etc. Gamers can explore a virtual world thanks to the realistic, cutting-edge graphics built on NVIDIA RTX technology and AI capabilities.

Investment and Funding Trends: Gaming Forecast Analysis

The gaming industry is experiencing a surge in investments across various segments. Game production studios, esports, gaming technology companies, and streaming services are all attracting significant financing. The current trends reflect a strong belief in the industry’s potential for continued growth. The emergence of cloud gaming, virtual reality, and augmented reality is anticipated to draw major funding. Esports, which has already received significant investment, will keep growing.

Social and Cultural Dynamics in the Gaming Forecast

The gaming business is a cultural trend that contributes to interactions and society. The cultural impact of gaming is in everything from fashion to music to art. It serves as a platform for identity-building, self-expression, and narrative. The effect of gaming on culture will only grow as in-game events, virtual concerts, and partnerships between game creators and artists become more common.

Gaming Communities and Social Interaction: Gaming Forecast Perspective

Online gaming communities will keep growing and establishing relationships between people worldwide. With more live events, conventions, and gatherings, these networks will extend outside the online environment. Games will incorporate social interaction even more, fostering opportunities for friendship and teamwork.

Video Game Industry Forecast for the Next Year

Finally, let’s take a quick look at what the video game industry has for the coming year. Despite the difficulty of making a 100% confident prediction, the following patterns are likely to persist:

Continued Growth: The video game business will probably expand due to new game releases, technological developments, and growing audiences.

Esports Ascendancy: With more tournaments, bigger prize pools, and more spectators, esports will only continue to grow in popularity.

Technology Evolution: As virtual reality, augmented reality, and cloud gaming make substantial advancements, expect further innovation in gaming technology.

Content Creation: The rise of content creation, including streaming and short-form videos, will continue to reshape how gamers engage with their favorite titles.

Kevuru Games Expertise in Gaming Forecast

Kevuru Games, a gaming company with 11 years of experience in the market. Our mission is to provide game publishers with full-cycle game development production and give our clients player-centric advice as to in-game investments. With these years of experience and a deep understanding of the gaming ecosystem, or video game economy design, we know how to make the game immersive and promote it to the market.

All in all, we offer a full range of mobile game development services, including:

Fully executed development;

Concept art and design;

Quality assurance and testing;

Game monetization consultations;

Post-release support.

We regularly refine our strategies and ensure that your game stays ahead of the competition and generates significant revenue.

Whether your video game falls into the action, puzzle, simulation, or RPG genre, whether it’s a mobile game, mobile app, or multiplayer game, we help you develop the proper market strategy. As different game genres require different approaches. The gaming industry is constantly evolving, as are the development trends. At Kevuru Games, we monitor the trends in the industry and adjust our strategies accordingly.

The post Gaming Forecast: Trends in Video Gaming Industry, Devices, and Content Viewership appeared first on Kevuru Games.

In 2019, hyper-casual games showed who was the boss:

• According to Sensor Tower, 77.6% of the 2.1 billion installs of the 20 most downloaded games released in 2019 turned out to be hyper-casual games.
• During the 2020 pandemic, hyper-casual games continued their triumphant march – the number of installations worldwide more than doubled (103%), and the number of sessions also increased approximately.
• Compared to December 2019, when there were already more than 1 billion sessions, the number of sessions in hyper-casual games in March 2020 increased by another 72%.

Five years after the pandemic, we can see that the swift growth of hyper-casual games stopped, and some reports show that there is even a slight decline. Yet, even with a decline, more than 1 billion hyper-casual games are being downloaded monthly, and the market is huge. Hyper-casual games make for 37% of downloads in mobile gaming in 2023, according to a research by Sensor Tower.

Now opinions are divided. Some believe that in the current year, they will continue to storm the heights of App Store and Google Play, while others are inclined to think that the market is already oversaturated and their popularity will soon fizzle out. We believe that there is no reason to diminish the impact of hyper-casual games. After the pandemic spike, the market can’t return to such high growth numbers, but that’s fine. People still need to spend time on the road, waiting for an order, or hanging out during other breaks between various events.

Today, we’re not just here to understand how to make hyper-casual games. We aim to tell you how to create a hyper-casual game that will stand up to the competition and generate great revenue. Ready to dive in? Then, let’s go ahead and make our path to the featured lists of Google Play and App Store direct, short, and fast.

A Hyper-Casual Game: Definition

These games can be summed up in one expression – “Play as much as you want, whenever you want!”

So what exactly are hyper-casual games?

A hyper-casual game is a simple game with elementary mechanics, rich visuals, minimalist design, and addictive gameplay.

This type of game is popular due to:

• short time to complete one session – on average, it’s 3-6 minutes;
• instant immersive gameplay;
• very simple, repetitive player action mechanics;
• no time limits unless the mechanics allow for it;
• no tutorial – everything is intuitive;
• almost instant transitions to new levels.

All hyper-casual games have the same key features, whether it’s a match-3 game or an endless runner. At the same time, seemingly countless hyper-casual game ideas ultimately boil down to one – to offer players an instant opportunity to start the game immediately after downloading from the store. There is no need to log in, register, or create a character – just click Play and start completing the levels.

While focusing on simplicity, it is important not to forget development. This is not about changing or complicating controls or functions. Assuming the player is already used to performing the necessary actions, you can:

• increase the pace of the game;
• reduce the time to complete the level;
• add more obstacles or enemies;
• reduce the amount of resources needed to complete a level, etc.

Doing the same things, but more dexterously and skillfully – that’s what we can offer players in terms of development so that they do not get bored even during the second or third game cycle.

A Genre or Not a Genre, That Is the Question

What are hyper-casual games in terms of genre? Are they a subgenre of some popular genre?

No.

Hyper-casual games are not a new genre, and indeed they are not a genre at all.

This is the designation of a certain game category, characterized by a similar audience, monetization models, and long gaming sessions – the same designation as casual, mid-core, or hardcore games. At the same time, it is sometimes difficult to determine the exact boundaries of all these categories.

We can highlight such key features of hyper-casual games:

Hyper-Casual Game Design Features

Even though there is a lot of information on this topic, many still try to clarify an important detail of hyper-casual games – how to make visuals that make the game stand out from others, while at the same time remaining true to the key characteristic of simplicity?

Hyper-casual games tend to have a minimalist and attractive design to further engage the user. In addition, they offer progressive and fast gameplay so that the person wants to keep playing for as long as possible. To achieve this, games need an eye-pleasing design with a simple and fluid color palette, beautiful geometry, and ample white space between assets. This is a kind of gaming feng shui – you optimally master the space, avoiding excessive complexity and piling up of elements.

Additional hint. If you are interested in how to make a hyper-casual game for a wide range of people, and not for niche connoisseurs, then refer to topics that will be relevant to different cultures and nationalities. Win-win options are animals, food, sports, transport, as well as impersonal variants such as pure geometry and well-known shapes and actions.

Hyper-casual games are not an option where you need to work out characters and draw complex backgrounds. There are often no characters here. The player is left face to face with some object offering to perform one or two actions. There is nothing else here, and it is perfect within this category.

Tap to dodge, swipe to shoot – these are the best tutorials you can offer the player. Sometimes even these words are not needed – it is enough to throw the player into the gameplay, which is very easy to master through trial and error.

Remember, you have 5 seconds to convince the player that the game is interesting and worth playing.

Basic Mechanics For Hyper-Casual Games

Considering the question of how to make hyper-casual games, it is impossible to bypass the question of mechanics. Everything is built around it. Often, developers take one or two mechanics – more leads to the complexity of the gameplay and violates the concept of maximum simplicity.

In terms of mechanics, the following options are the most popular for hyper-casual games.

Rising/Falling 

This mechanic encourages the player to contribute to the rise or fall of an object or the entire environment. To complicate the process, it is also possible to increase the speed or the number of obstacles. The player can manipulate both a specific object and the entire level in the form of a platform or wall. The main feature of this mechanic is a distinctive sense of gravity that will follow the player throughout the entire game session.

Tap/Timing

The meaning of the mechanics is to have time to touch the screen in order to perform a specific action. A natural complication would be to increase the speed and encourage the player to touch the screen more often and more accurately. For example, here you may need the optimal time to jump or hit the ball. This is often done through a shrinking window of opportunity with a clear distribution of favorable and unfavorable zones for action. If you miss a moment, you have to wait for the next opportunity.

Dexterity

Also known as agility game mechanics, this is sometimes confused with timing games. But if the essence of time trial games is to hit the screen at a specific moment, here the key action must be constantly repeated at a gradually increasing speed. The more agile the players perform the action, the higher the score they will receive. Because of the emphasis on dexterity and the need to develop it in order to progress, the mechanics got the appropriate name.

Merging

The essence of the merge mechanism is to find similar objects and merge them to get a new, improved object. It is important to understand that players can only merge items that are similar in certain parameters, and those that have significant differences cannot be combined. After a successful merge, the resulting element is used for a specific game purpose, such as a race. The better the merge options you choose, the more likely you are to win the race.

Stacking

This mechanic allows the player to stack objects. It is also possible to rotate or turn them, which can serve as a kind of complication. The higher the level, the more complex structures the player will have to stack. Suffice it to recall Tetris – the player manipulates the geometric shapes falling from the sky to match them and thus clear space for the next shapes. But it could be something even more interesting. For example, cats.

Turning

Turning left and right is all that is required of the player. Usually, these games are 3D, and this can make the game more complex. So it is very important to provide simplified controls to maintain the classic hyper-casual style. This is either a single hit on the screen in the right place or a sharp swipe in the right direction. The location of the camera is also important – the farther it is, the more time the player will have to prepare for the turn. Keep this in mind to gradually complicate the levels, but don’t overdo it. Find the right balance.

Growing

Here, the mechanic requires the player to gradually build up the object by absorbing others. Everyone knows the classic Snake, where the snake eats objects and becomes longer and more difficult to control. Moreover, the speed of its movement gradually increases and, accordingly, the player’s tension does. This is one of the simplest and most addictive mechanics, which has repeatedly proven its worth and advantage over others. It is as simple as possible, keeps the attention of the players at all times, and encourages them to keep playing to see the maximum length they can grow their object to.

Swerving

Often confused with turning mechanics, it means constantly maneuvering an object without lifting your finger from the screen. The more difficult the level, the higher the speed, the more obstacles and turns. The key is how the skid will be on the next turn and whether players will fly off the track. In some games, flying off the track can be a kind cheating and shorten the distance to the finish line.

Resizing

The task of such a game is to constantly decrease or increase the size of the controlled object in order to crawl through some holes or fill in some gaps. This must be done before the moment when the object approaches the control point, where it should already have a different shape. The mechanics are partially similar to the swerving options but offer more room for imagination and creating something unique.

Pushing

The goal of the players is to push objects, structures or other characters faster than they can push the players themselves. As a result, the player must remain alone on the map, and this will mean victory. It is important to provide the player with free movement of the character and more or less suitable physics. The game can be made more difficult by increasing the number of objects and enemies that need to be pushed out and the appearance of additional obstacles that complicate this task.

Puzzle

Although it is considered a separate genre, it is also relevant for hyper-casual games. The player is encouraged to place items in the right places, customize the pipeline, or paint over a specific space with a limited number of strokes. The complication here is implemented by an increase in the number of necessary actions to complete the level and the need to think through the actions more carefully. There is often no time limit here. This allows players to think calmly, without stress and rush.

Direction

These games often ask the player to remove obstacles in the way of a character, object, or flow. When obstacles are removed or the system is adjusted appropriately, players see objects or liquids moving towards their destination. There are different options here – you can offer the player both to remove objects from the path, and to control the level itself and its constituent elements in the form of slats, walls, and other things.

Monetization: How to Create Hyper-Casual Games That Bring Profit

Fun fact – hyper-casual games are usually free. Many of them don’t even offer in-app purchases. In this case, you are asking how much money do hyper-casual games make and how does it even happen?

In-game purchases are usually relevant for so-called hardcore games, where players spend a lot of time, where there is a large game world and a huge number of gameplay features and alternative story options. Players are ready to invest in large-scale games, the plot and intrigue of which captivates them for hundreds of hours.

But in-app purchases are not suitable for hyper-casual games.

Moreover, with persistent recommendations or frequent mentions, they can annoy and provoke a person to delete the game forever.

But you have some ways out:

• in-app advertising – ads that rotate in the game between different levels;
• payment for the premium model – an investment that allows the player to get rid of all ads at once;
• cross-promotion – ads for one game that appear in another game.

The most popular option is advertising. It works much faster than in-app purchases and can be very variable. There are 3 main types of ads in hyper-casual games:

1. Rewarded video ads. As the name implies, watching such ads gives the player some kind of reward: extra hit points, in-game currency, or a special one-time-use skill. Players are ready to make such a deal, which also increases session duration and retention.
2. Banner ads. Banners are very easy to add to the game – they are great for single-screen ones since it is easy to allocate part of the screen for advertising there. Banners are shown right during the game, but do not interfere with it.
3. Interstitial ads. These ads take up the entire screen and can be static or dynamic in the form of videos, geolocation guides, or playable content. It is important to properly test the pros and cons of skipping such ads, as they interrupt gaming sessions and do not offer any reward in return.

It’s hard to say exactly “how much do hyper-casual games make?”. But you can do your best to maximize their potential profit.

A great way to optimize ad revenue is to learn about user data and adjust the monetization method that users interact with the best.

If the player is not engaging with rewarded ads, show them more banners and interstitials. If they interact more with banners and interstitials, show them fewer rewarded ads. It is important not to bombard players with all sorts of ads, but to adapt their display in accordance with human behavior. Personalization works great everywhere, and in this case too.

How Much Does It Cost to Create a Hyper-Casual Game?

Everyone always wants to know the exact price and constantly rolls their eyes when they see the words that it depends on many factors, etc. Although it really depends on many factors, in particular the level of game mechanics and graphics, one thing is for sure – hyper-casual projects will cost you much less than other types of games.

First of all, this is due to the fact that to create a hyper-casual game, not as many specialists are required as, for example, for the AAA project. Enough for 1 person from each direction: game designer, 2D/3D artist, developer, UX/UI designer, and sound designer. Of course, a project manager is also needed to coordinate all processes.

The term for creating a hyper-casual game is from 1 to several months, depending on its complexity. Approximate stages look like this.

1. Prototyping. With the help of a prototype, you can assess the viability of the game, test the appeal of its main mechanics, and see if it makes sense to work on it further. Or you need to modify or redo something. It can take several days.
2. Graphic art. At this stage, all artistic and graphic elements for the levels, menus, and interface are created. The approximate time frame is a few weeks.
3. Development. Developers are on the task of making your game playable. They implement graphical integration, introduce game mechanisms, and all conditions are worked out. The term varies within a couple of months.
4. Other expenses. Do not forget about the need for music, testing, and coordination of the services of project managers. Quality checks can take a couple of days, and sound design can take about a week.

To sum up the cost of all of these stages, the development price of a quality hyper-casual game would range from $50,000 to $150,000. Expect to pay more if there are some complex elements, sophisticated graphics, or animation. The cost doesn’t include marketing expenses, which can easily reach up to 50% of development cost or more. If you need an estimate, contact us, and our professionals will prepare a budget of your project.

5 Hyper-Casual Game Trends to Expect in 2025

Hyper-casual games remain one of the fastest-growing areas of mobile gaming. We explored what to look for when creating and reviewing projects in this category this year.

1. Expansion of hybrid-casual games

Hybrid-casual games became more popular as a response to the saturated market with high competitiveness. This is where hyper-casual games blend with casual. Among hyper-casual games that don’t have a lot to stand out, the ones that develop engaging and deeper features, have a higher chance to capture players’ attention for longer.

Progression systems, unlockable content, storylines, and hybrid monetization strategies allow games to use the strengths of casual games to gain more traction.

2. AI-generated games

AI has been used in hyper-casual game development for a long time, but as the time goes, it starts to take on larger parts of the process. Now it’s not just assets, levels, art, but gameplay mechanics. Now, games fully created by AI will be released, and we’re just here to see if they become more popular than human-made games.

3. New monetization strategies

When it becomes hard for hyper-casual games to compete in such a huge market, the way to win is to experiment with monetization rather than with the game content. Most games that are highly successful in recent years, earned lots of money not just because they were of enormously high quality, but because they found the best ways of making money.

To find out more on how simple phone games like Candy Crush Saga make money, read a dedicated article. Recently, play-to-earn model and subscription tiers are being popular, but in the following year we are sure to see completely new monetization strategies.

4. Spread of user-generated content

Previously, USG was common for big games. Now, even hyper-casual games want to tap into this niche. The benefits are numerous: higher engagement, more personalization, community building, social dynamics. Although the UGC in hyper-casual games in most cases are limited to level editors and challenge creators, we can expect new creative ways to engage the creativity of the players in the hyper-casual world.

5. Introducing Deeper Mechanics

Similar to the first trend, this is about expanding the genre, trying to survive in a saturated market. This can lead to the creation of new subgenres with simple appeal but richer content. Resource management, RPG-Like Features, social mechanics, and so on. If this trend continues, hyper-casual projects may stop forgiving players and return to their roots, becoming more demanding on the skills of users.

How to Choose a Hyper-Casual Game Company?

It seems so easy to build a hyper-casual game. But this external simplicity includes:

• carefully thought-out strategy;
• re-tested mechanics;
• captivating storytelling concept;
• a huge amount of work to bring all the elements into a coherent and harmonious picture.

It’s not enough just to copy someone else’s idea and make a slightly different design. In most cases, you will come across just such an approach. Hyper-casual games are very popular, there are a lot of them, and every year it becomes more difficult to offer players something fresh and not repeating others.

When choosing a company that offers services for making hyper-casual games, first of all, pay attention to whether there are similar projects in its portfolio. Studios that have not done this before are not the best choice, especially if they say that there is nothing difficult here even without experience. It is highly likely that they will not be able to identify your target audience, interest it with exciting mechanics, or find a successful hook to stand out from the millions of similar games.

At Kevuru Games, we know how to build hyper-casual games that will grab the attention of players. And the attention of the players is what makes the game successful and helps you recoup the costs in the very near future. We:

• monitor the latest trends;
• pay attention to the preferences and interests of players;
• immediately implement the most advanced techniques and mechanics that appear on the market.

Games created with us are always bright, interesting, and memorable. We will guide you through the crowded environment of hyper-casual games and help you present your project in a way that will delight your target audience.

FIND OUT WHICH ENGINE IS BEST FOR YOUR FUTURE GAME AND ARM YOURSELF WITH THE RIGHT TOOLS TO SUCCEED

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The post About Profitable Hyper-Casual Games: Design Tips, Rates, and Upcoming Trends for 2025 appeared first on Kevuru Games.

And that means you’ve come to the right place.

Indie Game: Definition

First of all, you need to understand that indie is not a genre, not a class, or even a type of games. It is rather a characteristic of the conditions for their creation. The gaming world is conditionally divided into:

• Sponsored products backed by publishers and investors and created for purely commercial purposes.
• Independent games without such financial support, but with the freedom and courage to put the idea ahead of profit.

So what is an indie game? These are projects that are created by independent developers.

Independence means that they do not work for large studios like EA or Ubisoft, but only for themselves. These are kind of individual entrepreneurs in the gaming industry. Typically, indie studios are made up of just a few people. Most often, their number does not exceed 10 experts. There are also indie developers who make games alone.

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The gaming industry is one of the richest markets in the world—it is now worth $269 billion—but that money rarely reaches independent teams. Due to the availability of training courses and the gradual simplification of the development process, there are more and more indie studios every year. But only a few achieve financial success. And often it is largely based on pure luck.

On the one hand, this means that most indie developers are wasting money and energy almost in vain. On the other hand, it shows that these studios have to look for innovative ideas and new ways to make games. After all, restrictions and high competition force you to be creative.

Indie Example: Superhot

For example, let’s take a look at Superhot, a first-person shooter video game developed by the independent Polish Superhot team.

Game’s tagline: Time moves only when you move

The essence of the game is that time moves around players only when they move. That is, if the player suddenly stops, time also freezes.

The project was created in just a week as part of the 7 Day FPS Challenge in 2013. The widespread attention to the demo prompted the development team to create the full game. They received funding through Kickstarter.

In the first 7 hours, the creators of the game collected half of the required amount of $100,000, and by the end of the first day, the goal was almost completely achieved. As a result, the team raised $250,798, which allowed diversifying the game with additional challenges, a replay mod, and more advanced animation.

The PC version, released in 2016, surpassed the 500,000 mark in sales, generating $10 million a year after its release.

What Is Indie Game Development?

The word indie has nothing to do with India, as one might think. It is short for “independent”.

Indie game development is the process of creating a game by a small team or one person without the financial support of large publishers.

Indie developers do not have investors ready to fund all their ideas. Development money is most often raised on crowdfunding platforms such as Kickstarter, Indiegogo, and CrowdFunder. Some also use Patreon, a subscription-based website that offers regular support to developers. While the creation of the game is in progress, indie developers can share exclusive materials, artwork, backstage videos, and more with their patrons.

Indie Example: Night in the Woods

For people to believe in an idea and join it, it is necessary to talk about it thoroughly and passionately. That’s exactly what developer and composer Alec Holowka and animator and illustrator Scott Benson did when they created the indie studio Infinite Fall and announced the start of a fundraiser for the 2D narrative-focused adventure game Night in the Woods.

Game’s tagline: At the end of everything, hold on to anything

Seen for the first time, this phrase from the very beginning causes a vague longing in the soul and an inexplicable melancholy musing.

A detailed description of the game, its ideas, locations, characters, and music resonated in the hearts of more than 7,000 people, which allowed the team to collect the claimed $50,000 in 26 hours and quadruple this amount in a month.

Player reviews about the game speak louder than any description.

The authors seem to have turned their souls inside out and filled Night in the Woods with their feelings, experiences, pain, and desperate questions turned to nowhere. This is an interactive psychological novel that touches a nerve.

Through incredible and multi-layered dialogues, they raise many relevant topics:

• the transience of being and the injustice of the world;
• the reality of the soul and the piercing essence of growing up;
• the vagrancy of the body and mind;
• the search for faith and its justification.

Everyone will find in this game something that will touch the soul. And it worked. The breathtaking atmosphere of the game has attracted a huge number of fans to it, who, with delight and horror, find parallels between their fate and the fate of the characters, between the history of their city and the gradually fading breath of Possum Springs.

Night In The Woods won the award for “Best Adventure Game” in IGN’s Best of 2017 Awards, “Best Cast of Characters” in Giant Bomb’s 2017 Game of the Year Awards, and “Best 2D Visuals” in the Unity Awards 2017.

Who Is an Indie Developer?

An indie developer is someone who develops games independently or is part of a small development team that produces video games for PC and mobile devices without the financial support of large companies.

Unlike most big studios that create big-budget AAA titles, indie developers are not afraid to use fresh and risky ideas, rarely follow industry-recognized standards, and do not create products solely for the purpose of earning money. They can make an indie game based on their personal experiences, perception of the world, comprehension of current social issues, and more. It will not be a product with ultra-modern graphics and mechanics, but it will definitely be able to touch the heart and awaken the most intimate thoughts and feelings. What stands out indie game vs AAA?

True indie developers:

• do not conform to the standard needs of the gaming market and do not seek to tailor their skills to hiring a large game studio;
• are distinguished by the presence of versatile useful knowledge in the field of game development and promotion;
• often combine the experience of several experts: programmers, artists, designers, etc.
• have a great desire to constantly grow and expand their skill base in all areas related to the creation of games.

We define indie games as relatively low-budget games created by a small team independent of major publishers. There can be thousands and hundreds of thousands of such games. In fact, even one person can make an indie game. But how do indie developers get their game noticed?

How to Fill the Missing Skill

There may be situations where you have an idea and certain skills, but they are not enough to cover the full range of work on creating an indie game. For example, you’re good at programming, but you don’t know how to draw at all. It is possible to find a temporary freelance companion, but no one guarantees the understanding and quality of what you expect. With a limited budget, any risk can be fatal.

A much more effective option is to order the desired art or animation from a game art outsourcing studio. Experienced specialists will quickly understand the essence of your request and immediately get down to business, ensuring consistently high-quality results. While they’re working on the art, you’ll be able to work on other aspects of the game and thus speed up the release significantly.

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Team Composition To Create Indie Games

How to make indie games? Just like other games, given the fact that finances will be limited almost all the time.

And of course, no indie game can be made without a team. Even if it’s about one person.

Despite the fact that often each member of an indie team is a multi-instrumentalist who understands several areas at once, it is necessary to remember the composition of the core, without which it is impossible to create a single game:

1. Game designer.
2. Artist.
3. Programmer.
4. Sound engineer.
5. Tester.

All these roles can be performed by one person. It is also possible that the programmer is good at testing, while the indie game designer does both art and animation. It’s just important to know what kind of work is ahead to make an indie game.

Let’s talk a little about each role.

Game Designer

More often than not, everyone on the small indie team contributes to the game design portfolio. This can be done by a programmer, sound designer, artist, etc. The main thing is that this person can see the overall and holistic concept of the game as the player sees it.

The contribution of each team member to the game design can be both positive and negative. On the one hand, there are a large number of interesting ideas and interpretations. On the other, there is a discrepancy between proposals and their possible inconsistency with the original idea. Therefore, it is important to have a game design document where the main points of the idea and style of the game will be spelt out. The whole team will rely on it as they work, and if there are questions or disagreements, they can reach a consensus.

Artist

An artist is a person who creates the visual component of an indie game. Art takes time and represents what players see during the game. Therefore, choosing a person for this role is a vital element of your project.

Working closely with programmers and designers, the artists will create the game’s visuals. It all starts with concept art before moving on to content that will appear in the game, including backgrounds, characters, animations, etc.

Artists also make sure that the content they create is technically compliant and builds the overall feel of the game. The more difficult the game, the more artists it is desirable to hire. This is especially true for 3D options with a large number of characters and locations. But if you are creating a retro platformer, then one artist can handle the creation of pixel art and animation.

Programmer

Your idea may be the best, but without hire game developers, it will most likely never come to fruition. A computer programmer is engaged in the development of the code base and tools for the game. Since video games are electronic entertainment, no programmer usually means no video game.

Note that the programmer usually does more than just coding the game while on an indie team. They will also take responsibility for debugging and beta testing to make sure the games are polished and acceptable.

Today, a game programmer does not need to know programming languages. There are many game engines (for example, Unreal Engine) that allow you to develop using blueprints, that is, visual programming.

A lot of indie games were made with just one programmer. So it mostly depends on the size and scope of your project.

Sound Engineer

The sound designer or composer will be responsible for creating all the sound effects and music for the game. Sound is a vital element in creating the atmosphere. Even if it’s not a horror game that needs scary music to enhance the experience, you still need a catchy tune to accompany your puzzle game or action platformer. Some particularly successful tunes become iconic for the game and even take on a new life in the form of fan covers.

There are many novice game sound engineers, and if you need one, then you should pay attention to specialists who have already done this kind of work before. For example, you can find someone who has already written chiptune music for other games if that style of music suits your project.

Tester

In most cases, this role is performed by the programmer. But it’s not always easy for them to spot errors in code they’ve been working on for many hours. Therefore, a fresh third-person view would be more relevant and effective here. The tester will carefully check the game and find all the inconsistencies, errors, problems, glitches, and crashes.

Your friends or volunteers who support your crowdfunding campaign, or anyone who enjoys playing games and can describe in detail what is going wrong can test the game and find glitches. But they can never replace a professional tester. It is better to allocate a budget for game testing services in advance if you do not want your game to fail purely due to numerous bugs.

Other Roles

We have listed the main people involved in indie development. There are other equally important roles that we have not highlighted in separate paragraphs, because in indie teams it is very rare to assign individual people to them. Most often, these roles are filled by those who are already doing some work on the project.

The first is a writer or a so-called narrative designer. Basically, any member of the team can write, tell the story, and shape the storyline. If the game is going to have a lot of text and dialogue, it’s best to at least have someone check all that text for errors before release. There is nothing worse than an indie game with typos in the text, creepy dialogues, and a boring plot, even if its gameplay is very beautiful and interesting.

The second is a project manager. The project manager’s job is to make sure the team is working quickly and efficiently, set deadlines, motivate team members that are lagging behind, and make sure everyone’s work gets done. Very often, indie developers fall behind easily and can miss deadlines because they don’t have a publisher or higher level person to push them. Therefore, they really need a person who will coordinate the work and maintain morale, whoever he or she is.

Pros and Cons of Indie Game Design

Indie games are very different from sponsored projects in many ways, both positive and negative. Our task is to give a complete picture of all of them without distortion and prejudice.

Advantages

Disadvantages

Top 10 Most Interesting Indie Games 2024

Despite the fact that many players accuse indie games of neglecting modern graphical achievements, their popularity among other players does not decrease. They are ready to support independent developers not only for the courage to challenge the grandiose AAA titles, but also for the twisted plots, touching stories, and hilarious twists that fully compensate for the minimalism of the art.

Let’s take a look at some of the most outstanding examples of indie games released in 2024.

1. Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley

Genre: adventure

Platforms: macOS, Nintendo Switch, Windows, PS 5, Xbox Series X/S

Publisher: Raw Fury

Snufkin, a mysterious traveler from the Moomin series, as he returns to Moominvalley to find it disrupted by the construction of intrusive parks that disturb the natural harmony. The objective is to oppose Park Keeper, dismantle these parks and restore valley balance. Gameplay involves exploration, puzzle-solving, stealth elements, and the use of music as a core mechanic to interact with the environment and characters.

Developers based the events partly on Tove Jansson’s book Moominsummer Madness (1954). The game had good reviews and is enjoyed by both adults and kids. Take a look at the video to get a taste of its art and music style.

2. Thank Goodness You’re Here!

Genre: comic adventure

Platforms: macOS, Windows, Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5

Publisher: Panic Inc.

The main character of the game is a short, balding traveling salesman who arrives early for a meeting with the mayor in the fictional Northern English town of Barnsworth (based on Barnsley, a real town in Yorkshire where developers of the game come from). Players walk around the town and assist its residents with various odd jobs, such as helping a man retrieve his arm from a sewer grate or delivering meat from a butcher to a pie shop.

The game is praised for absurdist humor and original hand-drawn animations. The dialogue is fully voiced, incorporating authentic regional dialects that add depth to the setting. Thank Goodness You’re Here! was nominated for Best Indie Game and Best Supporting Performer (Matt Berry) at the 2024 Golden Joystick Awards.

3. Balatro

Genre: roguelike deck-building

Platforms: Android, iOS, macOS, Nintendo Switch, PS 4, PS 5, Windows, Xbox.

Publisher: Playstack

Balatro is a card run-based game. As its developer, LocalThunk, said, “Balatro is a modern indie take on solitaire with a poker coat of paint”. The players can use jokers to modify the gameplay and invent strategies to rise up levels.

When you see a card game like this without having tried playing it, it does look surprising why it is so widely praised, has won several awards (including Best Indie Game by Joystick Awards), and has been nominated for Game of the Year. Sales figures are impressive, too: the game had made over US$1 million in gross revenue within eight hours of release. The secret to such a success is approachable design and innovative gameplay.

4. Little Kitty, Big City

Genre: adventure

Platforms: Nintendo Switch, Windows, Xbox.

Publisher: Double Dagger Studio

In 2024, black cats were in trend, as they were the main characters of the top animated movie of the year, Flow, and one of the most interesting indie games of the year, Little Kitty, Big City. In the game, players must help a kitten lost in a big Japanese city find its way home (and doing various cat things in the meanwhile). The city is an open world full of objects to explore and characters to become friends with and engage in the side activities.

The game is loved by the audience for its light art style, engaging exploration mechanics, and relaxing experience. Developer of the game Matt Wood said he was inspired by his cats Mario and Roxy and his children. The result is enjoyable for both adults and children. PC version of the game has scored 80 at Metacritic, and NS version reached 83.

5. Tiny Glade

Genre: city builder, sandbox

Platforms: Windows, Linux.

Publisher: Pounce Light

If one had to describe this game with one word, the first one that comes to mind is “cozy.” The pastel palette, soundtrack, nature… Everything in it is made to give that serene feeling when you can meditatively build something without risk of losing. There’s no risk to even build something unappealing, as the building materials are limited to medieval materials and idyllic landscapes. Tiny Glade was nominated for The Steam Awards in Sit Back and Relax category, and it’s surprising it didn’t win.

A game with very similar gameplay, Summerhouse, was released several months earlier than Tiny Glade, but the latter received a lot more downloads and overwhelmingly positive reviews. The key difference is aesthetics: Summerhouse is more squared and glitchy. Whether you want to dream of your own house by the seaside or a medieval castle, you have choice between the two great indie games.

6. 1000xResist

Genre: adventure

Platforms: Windows, Nintendo Switch

Publisher: Fellow Traveller Games

This is one of those indie games that is about tough and relevant issues like intergenerational trauma, the experience of members of diaspora communities, and the coronavirus pandemic. Developed by a team of four people with backgrounds in theatre, new media, dance and performance art, the game beautifully integrates different art elements in the graphics, motion, narrative, and gameplay. The game is set in a post-apocalyptic 2047. The main character is Watcher, a clone under the control of the enigmatic Allmother, who uncovers buried truths about the world through memory exploration and emotional storytelling.

At the end of 2024, 1000xResist was on many end-of-year lists but wasn’t nominated for awards. It surged some discussions online and placed the game in the spotlight. As the result, it reached top sales results on 2 January 2025, seven months after launch. Curiously, not being listed on The Game Awards helped promote sales, as more people discovered it and wanted to try and decide whether it deserved a prize or no. Also, it won the Best Narrative award at The Indie Game Awards.

7. Lorelei and the Laser Eyes

Genre: puzzle

Platforms: Windows, Nintendo Switch, PS

Publisher: Annapurna Interactive

This is a very aesthetic and stylish game with over 150 puzzles that can be approached non-linearly. Players control a woman involved in a mysterious project within an old mansion, exploring the environment from a third-person perspective. To progress, players must observe patterns, numbers, and connections.

The game’s monochrome visuals, along with its surreal storyline, make it truly stand out. The game was nominated for several Best Indie Game awards, and the players love it. It has 94% recommendations on OpenCritic.

8. Thronefall

Genre: strategy, tower defense

Platforms: Windows, Nintendo Switch

Publisher: Grizzly Games

Thronefall is positioned as a “strategy game for people who don’t have time”. And that’s exactly what it is: classic defense tower builder simplified to the level that everybody can enjoy it without dedicating too much time and without spending hours on understanding the mechanics. The visuals are simple and aesthetic at the same time.

Early access to the game was released in 2023, and it sold almost 1 million copies in one year before its full release in October 2024. Players take on the role of a monarch who prepares their kingdom to defend during the day and fight enemy occupants during the night. One has to balance investing in the economy or defense.

9. Slay the Princess – The Pristine Cut

Genre: horror adventure

Platforms: Linux, macOS, Nintendo Switch, PS 4, PS 5, Windows, Xbox.

Publisher: Black Tabby Games

The game is created from hand-drawn gray pencil scenes and plays with overturning a classic story: instead of saving beautiful princess the player must kill her, which is necessary to prevent the end of the world. The game presents players with complex choices, leading to multiple branching paths and endings, each influenced by the player’s decisions and interactions with the princess.

This game is proof that not only AAA blockbusters love sequels and expansions. Slay the Princess was initially launched in 2023, and after receiving a lot of praise from the public, in 2024, the studio released an expanded version, The Pristine Cut. The latter presented new features, 35% more content, and even a new ending.

10. Nine Sols

Genre: action, platformer

Platforms: macOS, Nintendo Switch, PS 4, PS 5, Windows, Xbox.

Publisher: Red Candle Games

The game is set in a colourful universe which developers call “taopunk”—a fusion of Taoist themes and cyberpunk aesthetics. The game’s character Yi is on quest for vengeance against the Nine Sols, tyrannical rulers of this deserted land New Kunlun.

The combat system is inspired by Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, emphasizing precise deflection and strategy. All together—great combat mechanics, intricate story, quality level design, and beautiful graphics—earned it a place on various lists of the best indie games of 2024.

How Much Can You Earn on Indie Games?

Independent game development goes hand in hand with the belief that it is difficult to stand out here and the financial reward will not be too great. Every year there are more and more indie games, the field is very competitive, and many indie teams are not focused on creating a full-fledged interesting product.

Indie games are not limited to the creation process. It is vital for them to advance, attract the attention of potential players, and make themselves known on popular platforms.

The lack of a marketing budget or the unwillingness to spend extra money on advertising leads to the fact that players simply do not know about really good indie games. Therefore, once again we remind you of the importance of promoting your indie game: this can be a decisive factor in its success.

Now let’s talk about specific numbers.

According to research by analytics platform VG Insights that studied 21,000 indie games on Steam, half of all released self-published options do not generate more than $4,000 in revenue. They do not even cover the resources spent on their creation. About 25% of indie games have earned about $25,000 in their lifetime. Remember that these figures should be considered in terms of the time spent and the number of team members involved in indie game development. If the game has been developed for more than a year by several people, then this result cannot be called particularly successful.

All this would look very depressing if not for the rest of the indie games, proving that not everything is so hopeless. 14% of indie games have managed to break the $100,000 mark in revenue. The top 10% of the most successful and consistent have been able to earn over $150,000. This can already be called a success and evidence that a good product can make a profit even without huge investments. Most importantly, the 1% managed to raise over $7,000,000.

Of the 21,000 games reviewed, this is about 200 pieces that managed to do the impossible. For example, entertainment products such as underwater survival Subnautica and simulation RimWorld grossed over $100 million and sold millions of copies. During the coronavirus pandemic, Plague Inc. gained immense popularity, capturing over 130 million players worldwide and generating tens of millions of dollars in revenue. Subsequently, the developers of Plague Inc. donated $250,000 to fight coronavirus infection.

Most Profitable Genres For Indie Games

After examining the sales and revenues of indie games across a variety of genres, VG Insights uncovered an interesting pattern.

The most promising genres in terms of earnings are RPG, strategy, and simulation.

They are followed by adventure, action, sports, and racing games, which are worth choosing only if you are completely confident in your idea. The most inappropriate genre for indie games are casual options, in which the likelihood of high earnings is negligible.

Models of Monetization in Indie Games

The indie game definition implies that people independent of the publisher are involved in the development. That is, virtually anyone with a sufficient degree of desire and enthusiasm can engage in indie development. And everyone is very interested in what methods of monetization can be implemented in indie games, in addition to direct sales in stores. We suggest considering the following options.

In-App Purchases

This is a classic way of monetization, which is suitable for almost all games. The bottom line is that during the gameplay, the player is offered some additional bonuses that will significantly improve and simplify the walkthrough or simply play a purely decorative role. These can be extra hit points, clothing for the character, bonus abilities, or weapons.

The most important thing is to give the player the freedom of choice and the ability to continue playing without making purchases. If you prevent players from moving on without committing a transaction, it could permanently push them away from the game.

Merch

The following options will only work if your game has already gained a certain popularity among some number of players. You’ve probably heard about merch – this is a very relevant option not only for the gaming world, but also for the film and music industry. For example, selling stuffed toys based on the Angry Birds game has become a huge source of income for the Finnish company Rovio, which started as a small independent developer.

You can sell anything: figurines of game characters, T-shirts and cups with their image, bags, shoes, key chains, wallets, and much more. The more players like your characters, the more likely they are to want to purchase physical replicas or items featuring them.

Partnership

Finding a partner can be quite problematic, but this does not make this method of monetization less effective. If you manage to find an interested person, then you can, for example, introduce a logo or mention of a partner into your game in accordance with the game setting, or offer other sponsorship services that will bring you additional income. This may be a notification to players that there are other similar games and a suggestion to pay attention to them.

Advertising

Video game advertising is a path that almost everyone who develops indie games eventually comes to: players don’t have to pay anything, they just watch ads. There are several main types:

1. Banners. One of the most common types of advertising in games. A banner is a colorful ad image at the bottom or top of the screen. It’s very easy to implement, doesn’t interrupt the gameplay much, but catches the eye and can lead to a transition if the player is interested in the offer.
2. Full-screen advertising. These ads, also known as interstitial ads, fill the entire screen, closing the game’s interface, remain on the screen for a short period of time, and then disappear. It can be either static or dynamic in video format.
3. Push notification. These ads use pop-up notifications to grab the user’s attention and redirect them somewhere. It can offer both to buy additional elements for the game, and to switch to other websites and applications.
4. Advertising upon exiting the game. These ads are triggered when a user leaves the game: this is a great time to advertise another game of your partner, for example.

How to create an indie game that generates income? You need to get used to the idea that this is not the area that consistently brings mountains of gold. This is a job for the soul, where earnings are rather a pleasant bonus that may or may not come, and you need to be prepared for this. At the same time, any monetization options you choose should be implemented very carefully and unobtrusively so as not to alienate the player from the main idea.

Indie games, corrupted by the desire to earn more at the expense of their essence, lose all meaning.

How to Make an Indie Game Successful?

All indie developers want to know about this and at the same time understand that there is no exact answer. On the other hand, no one has canceled the functional analytics of the best-selling indie games. So, let’s see how similar projects on the Epic Games Store and Steam approach genre selection, gameplay, graphics, price, and marketing.

Graphics as an Auxiliary Element

The first difference between indie games and big AAA titles is their simpler graphics. This does not mean that it is bad. It can be very beautiful and eye-catching. This means that it is not the main focus of an indie game, but rather an auxiliary visual component to help you better immerse players in storytelling. 

Therefore, for an indie game, it is enough to adhere to minimum graphical standards so that players understand what is happening on the screen.

You don’t have to try to impress players with modern graphical features, you can’t beat AAA games anyway. Indies do not undertake to compete with AAA in terms of the complexity of art, their essence is in a non-standard presentation and a fresh idea.

Indie Example: Hue

The graphics in the indie platformer Hue can hardly be called sophisticated. But at the same time, its presentation and the very essence of the game is a real artistic satisfaction. Fiddlesticks Games has offered an absolute innovation in game mechanics: the main character, a boy named Hue, explores colorless locations and finds new shades, which he uses to color the world around him. Puzzles and tasks that allow you to pass new and more difficult levels are based on the manipulation of colors, and there may be several options for solving puzzles. The alternation of static and dynamic levels will not let you get bored.

An amazing soundtrack, harmoniously changing depending on whether the atmosphere is tense or calm, makes solving puzzles a real aesthetic pleasure. Hue’s journey is based on the main heart-piercing plot that will touch anyone to the core: he is looking for his mother, who disappeared for mysterious reasons. On his way, he finds notes and memories that help him to better understand her past, the reasons for her disappearance, her study of the essence of color, and her inexplicable connection with the mysterious Dr. Gray, who periodically appears at the main milestones of Hue’s journey as if prompting him the right path.

Unlimited Gameplay Options

Based on the previous point, you might think that a complex and intricate storyline is vital for an indie game.

There are options that do just fine without a storyline per se, for example, Game Dev Tycoon or any other simulator that relies not on history, but addictive gameplay.

It is important to understand that players have different moods and different needs at different times. Sometimes they want something simple, uncomplicated and funny, and sometimes they will prefer a leisurely philosophical story that invites you to consider many important life issues. Determine from the very beginning what audience you are targeting, and do not try to put everything into the game: it should be harmonious and unidirectional.

Indie Example: Game Dev Tycoon

Game Dev Tycoon is an addictive economic simulation game developed and published by Greenheart Games. The action of the game begins in the 1980s, when the gaming industry was just emerging.

The players begin by giving a name to themselves and their future company. Players can then create their own games by choosing a game theme, genre, platform, and game engine. Also within 30-42 years set-top boxes of well-known companies will be produced. Sony will be represented in the game as Vonny, Microsoft as Micronoft, Nintendo as Ninvento, Sega as Vena, etc.

Initially, players start developing games in their garage, but may soon purchase 2 new offices. In offices, players can hire other game developers and work collaboratively with them.

Unique Feature

If AAA games have an average positive rating of 79%, then for indie games it can sometimes go up to 87%. At the same time, it is noted that the players are much more warm and sympathetic to indie games, realizing that they are not made by rich corporations, but by the same ordinary people, united and inflamed by a common idea.

The intimacy of indie games and the imprint of the developer’s soul in them invites much more participation and sincere comments on them.

Indie Example: Castle Crashers

The best indie games always show some kind of innovation, be it a feature of the gameplay, graphics, storyline, or game design. For example, Castle Crashers arcade offers very simple hand-drawn graphics, but its gameplay is so addicting and unusual that players give it 96% positive feedback.

The game takes place in a fictional medieval universe. From one to four knights (depending on the number of players) take part in a party in the king’s castle. Meanwhile, a dark sorcerer steals the mystical royal jewel and captures the four princesses. The king sends knights to retrieve the stone, rescue the princesses, and bring justice to the sorcerer.

Successful Genres

We have already said that some genres of indie games are much preferable to others. RPG, strategy, and simulation will be the best choice. They do not require many years of complex development. If you are planning an adventure or quest game, then you will have to work hard to grab attention with a story and plot: the competition is high here.

Indie developers better stay away from racing and sports games, as this is already the territory of big-budget AAA franchises with cutting-edge graphics.

Remember that indie games compete with other games not for their graphics, but for their creativity, story, and innovative ideas.

Correct Price

Many indie developers tend to undervalue their games, believing that this will increase sales and attract more buyers. On average, they charge $7 per game. Many are limited to the $5 price tag. At the same time, the best indie games sell for $15, which is close to the cost of AA and AAA titles.

There is no need to artificially lower the cost. You have to evaluate the game by its quality, that is, consider the entire amount of work done and make a financial verdict.

Too low a price raises questions and doubts whether your product is another option of controversial quality, which is better not to pay attention to.

Technological and Localization Availability

The more people who can play your game, the better. The best indie games are available for both PC and Mac. Despite the fact that the Mac accounts for only 17% of the device market, it is still a large audience that is often deprived of games because developers do not care about adapting them to this device.

In terms of localization, the most popular languages ​​are English, French, and German.

The best indie games expand the available languages ​​to 7 with the addition of Polish, Chinese, Spanish, and Portuguese. This allows you to potentially increase your reach from 1 billion players to 3-4 billion. Many people will prefer to play the game in their native language if it is possible and are more likely to recommend it to friends.

Marketing Matters

The more people who know about the game, the more likely it is to succeed. Someone might purposefully search for a product similar to yours, but find nothing because you decided to bypass the ad campaign.

The best indie games never ignore marketing in one way or another.

This does not mean that you need to go to an advertising agency and pay them crazy money, twice the cost of development. These can be social media campaigns with captivating trailers and art, press releases, intriguing ads, and themed events. Games accompanied by such promotional efforts become known and expected even before they are released.

Reliable Companion in Indie Games Creation

Indie game development is an incredible barrier-free world where any of your craziest and brightest ideas can come true. You may encounter certain obstacles, but the most important thing is that you already know them by sight and are ready to achieve your goal, no matter what. Just don’t stop and keep moving forward. And Kevuru Games can become your trusted companion with game development portfolio if you need help with a certain aspect of creating your unique indie game or AAA games.

The post Indie Game Development: Guide to Revenues, Most Profitable Genres & Monetization [+10 Best Indie Games 2024] appeared first on Kevuru Games.

The visual component of the game is the first thing that players see and evaluate before starting the first game session. Trailers and screenshots fueling interest in the upcoming entertainment project give rise to a discussion of the level of graphics and its compliance with modern realities. Of course, then conversations about the plot, gameplay, mechanics, bugs (if any), and other value judgments will be added.

But graphics come first.

According to Newzoo and GamesIndustry, in 2024, the number of players in the world exceeded 3.4 billion people, and the industry’s revenue is projected to reach $187.7 billion. People are ready to part with money if you offer them a high-quality, interesting product that stands out and catches the eye.

That is why it is so important to make game art at the highest possible level. Art that’s what:

• embodies the idea;
• creates an atmosphere;
• shapes the style;
• evokes specific emotions, etc.

Art should surprise, attract attention, and meet the needs of modern gamers. And if you are not sure that you can create such flawless art on your own, then art outsourcing services are the best thing that can happen to you.

Why Should Art Tasks Be Outsourced to Video Game Companies?

Game art outsourcing companies are, first of all, strongholds accumulating qualified specialists within their walls. People who specialize in game art, have a solid portfolio and, moreover, are collected in one place look much more preferable than lonely freelancers who drift in the game art ocean without guides, leads, and a special goal other than making quick money.

This doesn’t mean that freelancers don’t perform well. It’s just that the likelihood that they will be inspired by your project and will work at full capacity is much lower than that of experts from some outsourcing company. The latter care at least not only about their earnings, but also about the image of their art outsourcing studio. In a highly competitive environment, image and reputation sometimes play a decisive role.

So, we’ve already noted that art outsource studios have a ready pool of experienced professionals. In addition, they will offer you:

1. Adaptability. A team of specialists will be selected specifically for your project.
2. Profile. The studio will select artists who are best versed in the type of art you need.
3. Speed. By accepting obligations and concluding a contract with you, art outsourcing companies will complete everything on time or promptly report any delays.
4. Quality. This is about the already discussed image – art outsource studios will try to do everything at the highest level so that you refer to them in the future or recommend them to your friends.
5. Convenience. The game art outsource company takes care of all organizational issues, team management, technical equipment, etc., adjusting to your needs – you just follow their progress by providing adjustments, additions, or updates.
6. Security. All your materials are safe, because the common practice of game art outsourcing companies is to sign a non-disclosure agreement before starting work.

The advantages are obvious, but how do you make the right choice?

Why So Important to Choosing Game Outsourcing Company?

You couldn’t help but notice that there are a lot of game art outsourcing companies out there. The list of their services is about the same, in any case, 2D/3D art and animation are definitely on this list. Then how to choose a partner who will do everything at the highest level? After all, art outsource studios are also different. Some may be new to the market and lack experience. Some may not have expertise in the art direction you want. Some may have problems with management and, accordingly, timing.

How to Choose Most
Reliable Game Outsourcing Company?

Let’s not be cunning – we have already created a checklist of key questions, the answers to which will help you decide on the choice of a reliable partner in the gaming field. Studying the portfolio, checking the company profile on independent data-driven platforms such as GoodFirms and Clutch, researching technical expertise, and clarifying the look of the standard workflow – here are a few points that will light up dark spots in the appearance of the chosen studio. You can see the rest of the points in our checklist for choosing a reliable and responsible game design company.

Dive Deeper:
✔ How to Choose a Reliable Game Design Company? [Checklist] – Practical Tips!

In short, here are the main points to pay attention to:

Now let’s go directly to the list of companies that deserve your attention. Of course, you are wondering how we picked them up and whether chance run the show here. Not really.

Selection Methodology

We carefully analyzed independent resources such as GoodFirms, Clutch, DesignRush, and others to find reliable art outsource studios with the best value for money that will not cost you a fortune. We checked their:

• technical expertise;
• works confirming this expertise;
• client reviews;
• case studies with collaboration breakdown;
• trird-party materials describing various implemented projects.

Game Outsourcing Companies That Will Create the Perfect Art for You

Kevuru Games

Kevuru Games is a game art outsourcing company that deals not only with art and animation, but also full-fledged game development from scratch. There are all the necessary resources and specialists for this, from artists and programmers to testers and sound designers. At the same time, the studio is ready to help even if you do not have a specific concept for a future game: its staff contains experienced game designers who will offer up-to-date ideas and mechanics.

For 10 years of work, the art outsourcing studio delivered 100+ projects and managed to work on 2D game art outsourcing and 3D game art outsourcing studio for such companies as Lucasfilm, Epic Games, EA, GoodGame, Socialpoint, Nanobit, and others, who appreciated the team’s dedication to gaming. At the same time, the share of repeated and extended cases of cooperation exceeds 70%. The Kevuru Games team covers full-cycle game development and offers the following expertise:

ZVKY

ZVKY is an Indian game art studio that specializes mainly in 2D and 3D art. Over the past 10 years, the company has worked on more than 350 different game projects with publishers such as Zynga, Ubisoft, and Activision.

The game art outsource company has a particularly strong portfolio of slot art and extensive experience with art for HOPA games. So if at this stage you are only interested in good quality art at an affordable price, then this company will be a good choice.

Room 8 Studio

Room 8 Studio is a full-cycle game studio offering all the services you need to create a complete game. A special feature of the studio is the photorealistic AAA-level art – this is confirmed by the numerous photorealistic works in their portfolio, from game assets to vehicles and characters. The team also ranks with professional video game film art outsourcing companies: they deal with cinematics, background scenes, and game trailers for PC/console games, and UA videos for mobile games.

The company partnered with major publishers such as Remedy, Ubisoft, Gameloft, and others to deliver high-quality artwork. This studio would be an excellent choice if you are planning a large-scale game with realistic graphics. if you want simpler art, for example, for casual games, it is better to pay attention to other game art outsourcing companies.

Starloop Studios

Starloop Studios is a Spanish game development and art company. It offers flexible terms of hiring game developers and artists in accordance with different collaboration models, develops games from scratch and ports them to different platforms.

A special feature of the company is AR/VR development. Game art services are classic here: 2D and 3D art and animation, concept art, and UI/UX design. Notable clients of the studio include Disney, Ubisoft, and Blizzard Entertainment.

N-iX Game & VR studio

N-iX Game & VR studio is one of the oldest game companies in Ukraine, specializing in the creation of full-cycle games, VR solutions, as well as outsourcing 2D and 3D game art and animation. The team is engaged in both simple art for mobile games and photorealistic art for advanced 3D games.

The studio’s clients are Wargaming, Paradox Interactive, Trese Brothers, and others. The team includes the majority of top-level specialists, which allows them to perform tasks of varying complexity. The art outsourcing studio also has an in-house OptiTrack motion capture system that helps to create top class animations.

Melior Games

Melior Games is a Ukrainian game art outsourcing company that specializes in 2D art. Their portfolio includes many stylized and realistic 2D works. Over the years, the company has delivered more than 120 projects in 2D and 3D art, animation, and game development for mobile devices and PC.

The team has a separate department dealing with the creation of art for slot and card games and has good experience in this area. It is also one of the few art outsourcing studios that are blockchain-oriented and ready to provide blockchain development services.

Stepico Games

Stepico Games is a Ukrainian art outsource studio that is engaged in the creation of game art, game programming on the Unity engine, as well as the creation of AR/VR-based applications. The company’s clients include Rovio, NBC Universal, and Section.

The team has completed over 25 successful projects. Among the features of its expertise is blockchain game development – their portfolio contains a similar project in the form of a mobile blockchain-supported RPG game. The team has positive customer reviews and a large enough team to implement projects of various sizes.

Pingle Studio

Pingle Studio is a Ukrainian game art studio that deals with 2D and 3D art and animation, concept and character creation, , as well as full-cycle development and co-development. But its main feature is porting games using Unity and Unreal Engine. It has a lot of experience in this area, including porting to PS4, PS5, and Xbox One, so be sure to pay attention to this studio if you want your game to be released on more than one platform.

The team has worked with clients such as Qualcomm, SquareEnix, and 505 Games, providing co-development, porting, creating art and animation, and game testing services.

Whimsy Games

Whimsy Games is a small but inspired and professional Ukrainian team of developers and artists specializing mainly in the development of mobile games and the creation of art for them. They already have a fairly large portfolio of projects related to 2D art, so if you are interested in this area, then it makes sense to pay attention to this studio.

The team is very customer-oriented and attentive to the wishes of their customers. Due to this, over 4 years of work, they managed to successfully deliver more than 150 projects for 70+ clients. In addition to 2D art, the studio also offers the services of 3D artists and animators.

Pixune

Despite its small size and relatively small age, the Polish company Pixune has already established itself as a real pro in the field of game art and especially animation. Animation is a special pride of the studio – it has a number of awards for its animated works.

The team offers professional services in the areas of character creation and 3D animation. The number of characters created by the studio has exceeded 2000. In addition, it is engaged in 2D and 3D game art. Here you will find more than affordable prices without sacrificing quality and a very inspired team that is very attentive to every project, no matter the size.

How Kevuru Games Will Help You Achieve the Best Results

As you can see, most of the companies offer roughly the same set of services, but almost each has its own feature, a strength that you should pay attention to if you are looking for a specific service.

Some are particularly good, fast and skilled at 2D art, while others are more focused on photorealistic 3D art and animation. Some companies have never dealt with slots and HOPA games, while the portfolio of others is replete with art representing these genres. Explore the profiles of game art outsourcing companies and choose the partner that suits you best in terms of the expertise you need.

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The company doesn’t stand still and constantly strives to develop in new areas. This is how outstaffing directions appeared, which are preferable for some clients in terms of hiring artists, as well as game testing and porting services, and a major new enterprise gamification department, which is already actively functioning and gaining clients.

Whatever art you need, Kevuru Games will make it. A portfolio with versatile art is at your service to confirm these words. Professional artists will not only implement your idea, but will also provide optimization recommendations that will help your project stand out in the saturated gaming market.

The post 10 Most Trusted & Highly Professional Game Art Outsourcing Companies in 2025 appeared first on Kevuru Games.

Top Secret: Why There Is So Little Information About Game Pricing

The first thing to understand and accept is that all games are different. Developers strive with all their might for authenticity and novelty to surprise players. This is a key reason why video games cost so much to make—each project requires a unique approach, custom assets, and careful attention to detail. Accordingly, there can be no static cost of making a video game that can be announced immediately after the first request.

Second, few people disclose this information. The number of development studios that kindly provided reports on the money spent is negligible. Most of the research we find online is the opinion of analysts or research groups based on a rough estimate of the time it took to make a game and the sum of the salaries of the development team members.

Thirdly, the range of prices may shock you. For example, talking about mobile development, we know that the cost of Angry Birds is estimated at $140,000, while the legendary Pokémon Go cost developers $600,000 due to the introduction of a large number of geolocation features. And that’s just mobile games. And PC giants like GTA 5 have a completely different $265 million budget.

Now that we’ve got you pretty confused, we can start thinking and talking about a video game budget.

Cost Line: General View

Game development is a complex process of creating and combining art, code, sound, and testing the performance of the result. If you’re wondering how much does it cost to produce a video game, the answer depends on subtleties such as:

• the complexity of the game;
• its functionality and design;
• the chosen platform;
• the experience of the team entrusted with development, etc.

An average cost of video game development depends on the location of the developers:

1. When outsourcing your game development to India, China, or the Philippines, expect average quality work for a low price tag.
2. Developers from the United States will charge higher prices – twice as much for their services, making the work at the highest level.
3. A combination of high-quality performance and competitive prices is found in Central and Eastern Europe. The cost to produce a video game in Eastern Europe starts at $9,000.

After you have decided on an outsourcing partner, the scale, and functionality of the project, the selected company forms a team. To create a simple mini 2D game for a mobile phone, one artist and one developer are enough. Thus, such video game production cost will be much lower than, for example, the cost to make an AAA video game that requires the participation of all studio employees.

Simple Math For Calculating Video Game Development Cost

We often hear the words “cost of developing a video game depends on the complexity”, but do not really understand their meaning. In fact, everything is very simple: the difficulty is equal to the time spent on creating the game. This, in turn, determines the average video game budget. More time means larger salaries for team members, which significantly increases the overall cost. The conclusion: complexity is directly proportional to duration.

Is it possible to calculate the cost to make a video game yourself? Why not, this math is elementary. You need to get the following data:

• The number of people who will work on your project.
• The average salary for a developer in the region of your choice.
• The approximate duration of the project.

As a result, you get a figure that reflects the net average wages of people. You can depart from it, but definitely not take it for the final cost.

First, the composition of the team can change throughout the project. The concept artist, having completed his or her work, leaves the project, but at the same time, animators and sound designers join the work. Secondly, focusing on how much does it cost to build a video game, do not forget about marketing costs, which can vary from 20 to 100% of the development budget.

Let’s try a little calculation. Let’s say 10 people from an outsource company will work on your game. The studio’s stated estimated development time for the game is six months. Taking into account the average salary of a developer about $40 per hour, working day 8 hours, and an average of 20 working days per month, we have the following calculation:

(40 x 8) x (10 x 20) x 6 = $ 384,000

We have received the amount that should be paid for the work of the team, provided that the composition of the team is stable throughout the project. In the same way, you can make your calculation by substituting the required numbers into the formula:

(Rate x 8) x (Employees x 20) x Months Of Work

This is your easy way to find out the answer to the question “how much does it cost to develop a video game?” without any hassle and headaches.

By the way, what do you know about the composition of the team that will work on your game? Let’s go over this issue.

Video Game Creation Team

When looking for an answer to the question of how much does it cost to make a video game, you need to understand that the cost is largely formed from the rates of the team members who are working on the project.

The core team for creating a game looks like this:

The number of specialists increases – the price increases.

Let’s look at an example of forming a team for a game creation project. Type of game – arcade puzzle. Working on the mobile game Crazy Roosty, designed for Android and iOS, the Kevuru Games team chose the most convenient and common Unity engine and gathered the following command:

• 1 game designer
• 1 3D artist
• 1 3D animator
• 1 developer
• 1 tester

From the beginning of development to release, it took 20 weeks to create the game, that is, 4.5 months.

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More than 10 years of experience in game development allowed us to build clear and well-established working procedures for transparent interaction between all departments. We know how long it takes to work on 2D and 3D games of different genres and how long the development will take if multiplayer is expected. Thanks to this, we can give a preliminary estimate of the cost of your future game with the functionality and graphics you are interested in during the day

The accuracy of the estimate depends on the amount of information you can provide us with:

1. Complete understanding of the project. You know your target audience, game genre, its functional and technical features, monetization and marketing options, and the degree of user interaction. If there are no additional improvements on our part, then we will be able to give an accurate estimate of the timing and, accordingly, the cost of the work.
2. Partial insight into the project. You know the target audience and genre, but have not come up with functionality, mechanics, and visual features yet. Then we conduct pre-project analysis and create a prototype, after the approval of which we can talk about an approximate cost estimate with a possible error of 10%.
3. Irresistible desire to implement the project. You just really want to make a game, but don’t know which one at all. Then we suggest trying to channel your disparate desires and come to a more concrete option together. Then we, as in the previous scenario, make a prototype and, after its approval, proceed to create a game. Given the possibility of a large number of changes and adjustments, we give an approximate assessment of individual blocks of work separately: art and animation, development, sound design, testing, and marketing.

Even if you only have an idea and a lot of enthusiasm, never give up on the desire to create a game. Contact us, and together we will evaluate the prospects of your idea and, if necessary, correct it and give an effective development.

FIND OUT WHICH ENGINE IS BEST FOR YOUR FUTURE GAME AND ARM YOURSELF WITH THE RIGHT TOOLS TO SUCCEED

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How Much Money Does It Take to Make a Video Game? Factors That Affect Cost

Categories And Scale

It won’t be news to anyone that AAA games cost way more to develop than indie games. Actually, the price of development is one of the main characteristics that define what AAA games are. But what is the actual difference in price? The average cost to make a video game varies significantly across categories. Let’s compare AAA, AA, and indie titles to understand the scale.

Among these three categories, indie games are the cheapest to develop. The price for an indie game can range from $50,000 – $500,000. AAA titles are the most expensive, with costs of $20 million – $300+ million in development and equally massive budgets for marketing. An example of an indie game are Sable, Hades, and 12 minutes. Examples of AAA games are The Witcher, Hogwarts Legacy, S.T.A.L.K.E.R.2, and Grand Theft Auto.

Between these two groups fall so-called mid-tier games, which cost somewhere between $500,000 – $5 million. Some of the expensive indie titles fall in this category together with AA titles.

Genre

Casual games such as puzzles and arcades are one of the cheapest genres. They can be made for as much as $10,000 – $100,000. However, the revenue of successful casual games can be disproportionately big. An example of this is Candy Crush, with its billions revenue (read our article to find out how much money does Candy Crush make).

Simulation and strategy games are in the mid-range, with prices around $500,000 – $20 million. Although gameplay mechanics and AI development are complex, moderate asset requirements allow games like Civilization to be accessible to game development studios of different sizes.

Role-playing games (RPG), would range $1 million – $50+ million in development. Nowadays, when they are expected to have numerous branching storylines, movie-like graphics and animation, their price can go higher than that of a Hollywood blockbuster.

First-person shooters (FPS) are also quite an expensive genre, ranging from $10 million to $200+ million. Complex shooting mechanics and multiplayer modes raise the price tag, as does the use of AI for enemy behavior, which is highly common in modern FPS.

Open-world and MMOs (massively multiplayer online games) are typically the most costly genres, with development starting at $50 million and going as high as $500 million or more. These games need complex AI, as well as extensive server and backend development. However, the return on investment is also quite high, as often these games shape huge franchises of various genres. To find out how they work, read our article about how much money Fortnite makes.

Examples of the Cost of Famous Games: High-Cost And Low-Budget Options

For now, let’s digress a little and take a short excursion into the world of launches and budgets of games you know well.

Despite the fact that cost data are rarely publicly released, some information can still be found. Let’s start with the most expensive options you’ve probably heard of. This will give you an idea of ​​the staggering budgets that can be spent on both game development and marketing.

Grand Theft Auto V

We have already managed to mention this cult game at the beginning of our article. Released in 2013, it remains one of the most played PC games around the world thanks to its multiplayer mode and stunningly detailed world. It is also the third best-selling game ever, with over $6 billion in revenue and 110 million copies sold, second only to Minecraft (which we’ll talk about below) and Tetris.

So how much does it cost to produce a world-class video game animation that will forever remain in the history of the gaming industry? Its development cost, along with marketing campaigns, was around $265 million, making it the most expensive video game ever created.

Considering that the game was made for more than 5 years by a Rockstar team of 250 employees, it can be assumed that the game cost the company about $150 million to develop, and all the rest of the money was spent on marketing.

So far, there is no information about games that have surpassed the development cost of GTA V. Perhaps, when the notorious Cyberpunk 2077 or Star Citizen reveal their budget cards, the leaderboard will change. But we must not forget that GTA VI is also in development. With a high degree of probability, it will also make a big splash in the gaming market.

Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

The sixth edition of the Call of Duty series, developed by Infinity Ward and published by Activision, is not far from GTA V. At the time of its release in 2009, it was the highest-budget game in the world.

Its cost is estimated at $250 million, of which $200 million was spent on marketing purposes.

In the first 24 hours, it sold over 4.5 million copies. Grossing over $400 million in its early days of sales in the US and UK alone, the game entered Guinness World Records for the most successful launch in the entertainment industry. To find out how the game is calitaizing on its success, read our article on how Call of Duty makes money.

Star Wars: The Old Republic

Based on the Star Wars universe and developed by BioWare Austin, this MMORPG was released in 2011. It never revealed its official budget. However, the researchers do not sleep: it is estimated that more than 800 people on 4 continents worked for 6 years for this game to see the world. Several thousand characters in the game required voice acting from about a thousand actors, which also affected the cost of the game.

It is valued at approximately $200 million including marketing.

The game’s revenue for all time is approximately $1 billion. It is still available for PC today and continues to attract players who are also looking forward to a new Star Wars IP based game called Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order. The estimated release date is the end of 2022.

Our next stop is some incredibly low budget games that ended up making some crazy money. There are no exact budget figures here since these games were often created by one person or a maximum of a team of several people. But it is all the more interesting to study their phenomenon.

Stardew Valley

American developer Eric Barone created this simulation role-playing game alone. He really wanted to understand what it was like to do everything on his own, from art to music. How much does it cost to create a video game like this? It’s hard to say, because it was made by one person, and the only resource here is his time. He started working on the project in 2012 and finished it in 2016. In its first year, it was acquired by over 2 million Steam users.

Based on this information, it was estimated that the game earned more than $25 million.

Since it was later released for Android, iOS, Xbox One (Stardew Valley also supports Xbox 360 controllers on PC), PS4, and Linux, this income could most likely be doubled. These are the wonders that just one person can do!

Minecraft

It’s hard to ignore another gaming phenomenon, also originally developed by one man, Swedish developer Markus Persson. The release of the demo version of the survival sandbox game took place in 2009. In 2011, a full-fledged release took place, and in the same year the millionth copy of the game was sold. The second million was sold a few months later, and the third after some time.

In 2014, Microsoft acquired Minecraft for $2.5 billion.

Over the years, Minecraft generated over $3 billion in revenue. To find out more about its monetization strategy, read our article on how Minecraft makes money.

That being said, the game has over 130 million monthly active players, ahead of Fortnite and Call of Duty: Warzone.

Tetris

This is one example of a video game budget that you can’t help but talk about with respectful reverence. Tetris is a puzzle game originally invented and developed by Soviet programmer Alexei Pajitnov back in 1984. Particularly famous in the United States, Europe, and Japan is the version for the handheld GameBoy console produced by the Japanese company Nintendo.

The game consistently appeared on the lists of the best PC games by platform and throughout history.

With over 500 million copies sold, Tetris surpassed Minecraft to become the best-selling game in history.

Game Genres That Will Steal the Show in 2025

The gaming industry continues to evolve despite the unstable economic situation in the world. Furthermore, many are gaining momentum as they are quite a cheap entertainment. Many games that have become key entertainment milestones of the year have been released.

Take a look at the list of the top 10 best selling video games and their game publishers.

According to Statista, the ranking of the most played game genres in US is as follows.

Puzzles and arcades, leading by a significant margin, are another proof of the dominance of mobile games in the market. Among hardcore genres, action, shooters, and simulations remain the most popular.

How to Choose a Company to Develop a Game

Now that you have a video game budget breakdown, you might consider choosing a companion for development. We have already said which regions to target to find studios with an acceptable price-quality ratio – these are Central and Eastern Europe. Here you will find a large number of good studios with roughly the same average cost of a video game.

What then to look for when choosing a partner?

1. Team experience. Enthusiasm and creativity are important, but if they are not backed up by experience, the effectiveness of the project will be questionable. The modern gaming market is a mega-specific environment and the latest games simply dissolve in a huge number of analogues. Choose a studio that has been in game development for several years and already knows a thing or two about creating games.
2. Game portfolio. Note that it’s important to look at a portfolio of finished games, unless you’re going to split tasks and outsource art, animation, and development to different companies. Examine the portfolio for full-fledged projects: so you will know exactly what engines the studio works with, what the expertise of its artists and animators is, etc. You can even download the games released by this studio and evaluate them from the player’s point of view.
3. Feedback from previous clients. This is important because here you can get valuable insights about the convenience of communication with the team, the streamlining of processes, the timeliness of delivering results at different stages, etc. The testimonial section is usually located on the company’s website. If not, you can specifically request feedback from previous customers from company representatives.

Our team will gladly take on your project at any stage, be it just a raw idea, prototype, or half-finished product. Kevuru Games is a company of 400+ inspired people, passionate about games and new challenges. Extensive experience in the gaming market gives us the opportunity to direct creative initiatives into the most relevant channels in order to obtain the optimal result both in terms of player engagement and profit from the game.

And yes, we never get away from answering questions on how much does it cost to make a triple a game – such calculations are not difficult for us, so you can easily plan your budget.

Our team is ready to discuss your idea and start lighting a new game star – we are separated by only a few phrases from your side sent to contact@kevurugames.com. Take a look at our game design portfolio.

The post How Much Does It Cost to Make a Video Game: Clear Formula and the Highest-Grossing Genres in 2025 appeared first on Kevuru Games.

Why Choosing a Game Testing Company is so Important?

At first glance, it may seem that everyone can test the game. After all, you just need to play a lot, find errors, and report them. But it’s not that easy. Most often, players find bugs by accident, at some point getting stuck in textures or finding a shortcut where it should not be.

Let’s look at a few examples of the difference between a player and a tester.

The last point is especially funny: many players love to find bugs and shortcuts to create funny videos or speedruns. Therefore, it is especially important for testers to calculate all possible scenarios for treacherous players. Frankly, this often does not work out very well, and in most games, players still find the opportunity to use some kind of bug to record the desired speedrun.

So what do we see? We see that the tester must actually turn the game mechanics inside out and do everything that the player can theoretically do:

• climb into the most unthinkable place;
• do not follow the script of the game;
• use an alternative skill to the one suggested;
• change the sequence of the proposed actions;
• try to get into a zone that opens only when you reach a certain level, etc.

After that, the results of the checks are entered into a special checklist. Such a monotonous routine activity can only be done by assiduous and scrupulous people. Who, of course, also have an idea about the theory of testing: types of testing, test cases, test plans, bug reports, methods for determining the required amount of tests, databases, SQL queries, and so on.

We’re not here just to play your game and find a couple of bugs along the way. We have gathered to select a qualified team of testers who will study your game inside and out.

Why is it so important?

The fact is that the cost of correcting any error and the time that needs to be spent on it increases with each stage. What takes an hour at the prototyping stage can take days, or even weeks, if it’s done, say, after release.

Remember the rule, which is the same for all types of games: if at the initial stage a few seemingly insignificant mistakes are made, then in the end we will probably miss the deadline or spend much more money on correcting them.

QA specialists investigate the game at all stages, prioritizing bugs and preventing them from accumulating in a snowball of pain, horror, and fear.

How to Choose the Most Reliable Studio?

Among a large number of game testing companies, choosing the right one can be a challenge. How to understand whether a company is really good and in general how it is better than others if all of them, in fact, offer a standard package of testing services?

When compiling your list of game testing companies, first of all, be guided by the following positions:

1. Good reputation.
2. Positive reviews from other clients.
3. A wide range of services provided (key types of testing for games – functional, compatibility, performance, and compliance)
4. Great experience.
5. Expert knowledge.
6. Debugged methodology and scheme of work with the customer.
7. Continuous professional development at specialized pieces of training.

Most of this information can be seen on the testing studio website: years on the market, tools used, types of testing, customer reviews, etc. You can learn more about the procedure for working with clients by requesting the appropriate information – experienced video game testing companies will have no problems answering this question.

We have saved you the trouble of researching random video game testing companies and are ready to offer a pre-formed list of studios, selected according to specific criteria.

Selection Criteria

In selecting the following best game testing companies, we have relied on information obtained from their websites and third-party independent platforms: GoodFirms, Clutch, DesignRush, etc. The key selection criteria were:

• 5+ years on the market;
• the presence of the main types of game testing;
• the availability of reviews from previous customers;
• the presence and description of implemented testing cases.

Top Video Game Testing Companies

Kevuru Games

Kevuru Games is a full-cycle Ukrainian gaming company that offers to your attention our 3D character artists portfolio. This means that all the specialists who can create and launch a full-fledged game from scratch are gathered here: game designers, artists, developers, sound engineers and, of course, testers.

Game testing has been placed in a separate category and is available both as part of the full cycle game creation and as a separate service, which you can resort to by contacting the company with your product.

The studio’s QA specialists offer key types of in-game testing:

1. Functional – checking the compliance of the game with the planned requirements.
2. Compatibility – checking the compatibility of the game with all necessary devices, operating systems, resolution and hardware.
3. Performance – checking the loading speed of the game, the reaction of the game to the player’s actions and key game events.
4. Compliance – checking the compliance of the game with the requirements of the platform or several platforms for which it is intended.

Kevuru Games experts have experience in testing PC, mobile, and web games, 3D character modeling services – we have a list of completed projects, a detailed description of the QA team, and the role of each member in the game testing procedure, as well as a list of tools used by testers.

The company carefully monitors the latest trends and updates its range of skills. In addition to testing classic games, the team also has experience and expertise in fixing bugs for the metaverses and blockchain-based games.

A special advantage of the studio is precisely that our experts know everything about games from the inside. So, if you hire 3D modeler from us, you’ll get 3D modeling services price, production and QA. So the testing services here are organically integrated into the game creation cycle, and the developers and testers have direct contact with each other in order to implement the necessary edits as quickly as possible.

QAwerk

The Ukrainian company QAwerk works with different types of software testing. One of the services is game testing. Here you will find the necessary teams to implement testing of:

• mobile games;
• PC games;
• console games (PlayStation, and Xbox);
• AR and VR games.

The types of testing provided are functional, compatibility, performance, and compliance. Customer reviews are positive, and the procedure for obtaining a quote is very quick and easy. The team has been ranked among the best testing companies many times by the Clutch, GoodFirms, and DesignRush platforms.

iXie Gaming

iXie Gaming is a division of Indium Software that exclusively provides gaming testing of video games for consoles, PCs, AR/VR, and mobile devices. Thanks to the focus on gaming testing, this company has managed to assemble a dedicated and enthusiastic team that knows everything about games.

Testers have the knowledge and skills to test games of all kinds and genres − the company’s track record includes over 450 titles in a variety of stylistic directions. A special advantage of the studio is the availability of more than 1000 devices for testing: 550+ mobile devices (iOS, Android & Kindle), consoles (Xbox, Nintendo, and PlayStation), VR devices (Oculus, HTC, PlayStation VR) and PCs (Windows, Mac & Linux).

Pingle Studio

Ukrainian gaming company Pingle Studio focuses on porting and testing services. The studio’s specialists provide a full range of assistance, from testing mobile games to quality control of multiplayer games. Here you will find a classic set of testing types: functional, non-functional, regression, and others.

The studio’s expertise covers all the most common game engines and key tools needed to test games for PC, mobile devices, and the most popular consoles – Xbox, Nintendo, and PlayStation. There are many case studies with a detailed description of the work done, as well as positive customer reviews.

Snoop Game

This is another Ukrainian studio that specializes exclusively in game testing. Here you can be sure that testers know exactly what they are dealing with. The platforms tested include PCs with all key operating systems, all known consoles, mobile devices, web, Smart TV, AR/VR/MR, but the company is also ready to purchase any other hardware at the request of the client if it is not available.

The testing procedure at SnoopGame is flexible and scalable. At the same time, the client receives exclusively necessary services without the need to control the team and provide it with the necessary resources. In addition to the main types of testing, you will find a QA audit and consultation service that allows assessing the quality of your internal processes and identifying gaps in the quality control procedure.

QA Madness

The Lithuanian testing team of QA Madness has many years of experience in software testing. Although game testing is not the only focus of the company, there are experienced professionals who can implement the quality assurance you need based on your game, platform, and target audience.

This company is more than 12 years old, so it has a very large number of clients and cases. It boasts the largest number of reviews of any game testing company presented, with most of the reviews being positive. Testimonials can be found both on the website itself and on other reputable platforms like Gartner and Clutch.

Among the available cases, we can single out the work on a mobile game, for which the studio has successfully implemented functional, compatibility, and UI testing to make sure that the game application works on different iOS devices. So you can feel free to apply for mobile game testing services. As for testing games for PC and consoles, there are no confirmed cases for the implementation of such works.

Starloop Studios

If you are attracted to full-cycle gaming companies, then take a look at Starloop Studios. It is a Spanish game development company that provides a full range of game development services, from design and prototyping to testing, maintenance, and porting.

Here you will find all the classic types of testing: functional, compatibility, user interface, and performance. The company is also testing multiplayer and AR/VR games. Positive reviews and a solid customer list also add to the positive image of this testing studio.

Testbytes

Testbytes is an Indian testing studio that has managed to gain a good reputation in a short period. They have a pretty decent track record and clients all over the world.

Game testing is one of the many services the company offers, as it also deals with other types of testing.

They have a large team of testers who have years of experience and familiarity with various game testing scenarios. In addition to testing games for PC and mobile devices, QA specialists here are able to work with console, online, and AR/VR games. The website contains comprehensive information about the types of testing offered, the operating procedure, and the games already tested.

QATestLab

QATestLab is a testing studio with a large experience in testing games of various genres for such platforms as PC, Web, AR/VR, and mobile devices. The company has a separate department dedicated to game testing and can boast 10+ years in game testing and 800+ successfully implemented game projects.

The studio has a fairly large portfolio of tested games for Android and iOS, a sufficient resource base for testing game mechanics, logic, sound, animation, art, navigation, and other things to make sure that the game is user-friendly. Conveniently, the company describes in detail the process of conducting game testing.

It is important to mention that the testers have a large pool of 350+ real devices for testing (mobile phones, PCs, and VR headsets) and experience working with 40+ testing tools.

BugRaptors

Another Indian testing studio, BugRaptors offers high-quality and low-cost testing services for both software and games. In addition to the classic types of gaming testing, the company offers so-called audio and video testing – checking the purity of sounds and audibility in mobile and console games.

Skillful testers also work with AR/VR game applications, find localization errors and have access to a large number of iOS and Android devices for testing. The company has positive reviews and a sufficient number of case studies to get their expertise confirmed.

The Average Salary for Game Testers

The information is based on the average hourly rate of game testers listed on platforms such as Indeed, Glassdoor, and Payscale.

How Kevuru Games Will Help You Achieve the Best Results

As you can see, there is no shortage of game testing services on the market. There are many top game testing companies in the world. They have different levels, experience, and prices. But only the studio that deals with games, loves games, and knows everything about the inner workings of games can thoroughly check your game for errors. Kevuru Games falls under all these points, because for 10 years we have been creating games for mobile devices and PCs, developing art and animation for games, thinking over level design and game mechanics. Our experts know what each line of code in the game is responsible for, so not a single mistake will escape us.

A fully staffed department of game testers is ready to test your finished game for bugs or become a link in the full-cycle development of a new game from scratch, which you can also organize with Kevuru Games. We have all the necessary tools, skills, knowledge, and experience to guarantee you a flawless gaming product that will pleasantly surprise players who will not be able to find bugs in it.

Do not hesitate and just tell us about your project in need of testing, and we will provide detailed advice and recommendations from our specialists.

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A well-developed character is a person with his, her or even its own past, temperament, characteristics, pains, fears, preferences, advantages and disadvantages. And if writers outline the image of a character with the help of words that evoke images, then a character artist outlines the image of a character with the help of images that evoke (in a successful scenario) words.

If writers outline the image of a character with the help of words that evoke images, then a character artist outlines the image of a character with the help of images that evoke words.

What is a good character artist? Someone who was able to tell the story of a character through the smallest details of his or her appearance. The main weapon of artists is the visual, and it depends on how they know how to manage it, whether this character will fall directly into the player’s heart or be forgotten in five minutes.

Drawing a character beautifully and realistically is not all. The character’s appearance should not be silent and demand admiration only for its gloss, polished to perfection. The character’s appearance should speak, and speak a lot. The more thoughts, associations, guesses and assumptions a person has when looking at a character, the better this character is worked out. So this character is really alive.

What is a Character Design Company?

Characters are expectedly created by character artists. The habitats of such artists can rightfully be considered game art studios or companies completely focused on creating characters.

It must be understood that although we are talking about game characters, they can be created for other purposes and directions. Characters are also created for the film industry and advertising goals. There is such a thing as a mascot – a character personifying a brand and presenting its products and services to customers.

Creating a character for a movie, commercial, or game are completely different things. Therefore, when choosing character design studios, notice in which direction they work and what kind of characters they are creating.

Why Choosing Character Design Services is so Important?

Character creation is not cheap. This requires a thorough study of the concept, background, temperament, unless, of course, you want to get an impressive result that will work. Therefore, before starting this business, you need to understand exactly what result you want to get, what emotions the character should evoke, what his or her role in your product will be.

The choice of the character design company plays an equally important role in this. Even if you have thoroughly thought out the biography and history of the character, this does not mean that the first studio that comes across will be able to implement it. The artists there may simply lack experience or inspiration and passion to fill a character with them. The latter is no less important than a high drawing skill – an impeccably drawn character without a soul embedded in it will look like a bright wrapper with nothing inside.

How to Choose Most Reliable Character Design Studio?

A good studio is three key factors:

1. Experience.
2. Discipline.
3. Inspiration.

The first can be verified by examining the company profile on its website and third-party platforms such as Clutch or GoodFirms. There is always the year the company was founded. In addition, on the company’s website, there is always a list of services that it provides and a portfolio showing work in different areas.

The second is not as easy to check as the first, and there is always an element of certain risk. But you can always go to the same independent sites like Clutch or GoodFirms and read the reviews of previous clients of character design studios. If a company has problems with timing, communication or understanding with a client, most often such nuances are indicated in reviews. If a company does not have a single review, this is a reason to think. But if you liked it so much that the lack of reviews does not bother you, ask its representatives for comprehensive information on the structure of the work process and warn them in advance about strict timings or special requirements.

Checking the third may seem like an unrealistic task, but in reality, it is not that difficult. In a sense, this is even easier than checking discipline. Just look at the portfolio. There you will see the characters created by the company. Based on what we talked about above, you should at first glance feel whether the artists put some of themselves into characters or whether they created empty glossy dummies. If you want to look at the characters, delve into their facial features, make assumptions about where this scar or this bitter curve of the mouth comes from, then everything is fine. And your project is in good hands.

Selection Methodology

The list of character creation companies that we suggest below is based on research from independent resources such as GoodFirms, Clutch and DesignRush, as well as companies’ websites. We selected companies with more than 5 years of experience in creating characters, a thematic portfolio of characters that allows us to assess the level of skill of artists, and reviews from previous clients describing the process of cooperation with these companies.

Character Design Companies That Do Not Just Create Characters, But Breathe Life Into Them

Kevuru Games

Kevuru Games is a large game art and development company with many divisions, among which you can easily find character design services. There are separate departments dealing with 2D and 3D characters. Each of them is perfectly oriented in its direction – the 2D department creates characters for mobile and PC games of such genres as casual, hyper casual, HOPA and others, and the 3D department makes characters for AAA titles.

The feature of the company is the creation of characters specifically for games – the team adapts them to any game engine and ideally optimizes them for flawless display in the game. A separate advantage of Kevuru Games is that they are equally expert in working with both stylized and photorealistic characters. Among the company’s clients who have appreciated the company’s dedication to the creation of characters, you can see Lucasfilm, EA, Epic Games, Goodgame Studios, Socialpoint, Nanobit and others.

Dream Farm Studios

Dream Farm Studios is a Canadian animation studio specializing in the creation of 2D and 3D animation, from full-length animated films to commercial videos. The company also provides services for the creation of game art, in particular characters.

The company’s portfolio contains a large number of striking characters, most of which belong to the stylized direction. Character design teams are also experienced in creating so-called mascots – characters that represent a brand and introduce its products and services to customers. The company has partnered with clients such as Valnet, Firefox, Flaregames and others.

Room 8 Studio

Room 8 Studio is an outsourcing company offering services for the creation of AAA class game art. The team of artists has enough technical resources to create photorealistic 3D characters for games or animation.

The company has collaborated with many well-known gaming publishers – Activision, Ubisoft and others. In addition to the 3D direction, the company can also take on the creation of 2D art and characters, but they put less emphasis on this. The studio’s portfolio is full of various interesting projects and cases that will help form an opinion about their skills and expertise.

N-iX Game & VR studio

N-iX is one of the oldest Ukrainian game art outsourcing studios. Among other services, you can easily find 2D and 3D character designs here. The team focuses on both simple art for mobile games and more advanced art for rooftop PC games.

Among the studio’s clients, there are such companies as Wargaming, Paradox Interactive and Trese Brothers. Fantasy motives prevail in the portfolio of 2D characters, and among the 3D characters, you can find different styles and directions. The team is made up of mostly senior-level professionals with extensive experience and versatility, so they can easily adapt to the style and setting you want.

BluBlu Studios

It’s an award-winning American animation studio that knows how to create characters that tell the stories you want and deliver the messages you develop. The company does not work on purely game projects, but mascots, characters for advertising or design purposes are their cup of tea.

The studio has partnered with clients such as Nickelodeon, Riot Games, Panasonic and Microsoft. This is your choice if you need bright and memorable characters for advertising that will communicate with your customers and introduce your products and services to them.

AAA Game Art Studio

Although the company has only been in business for 5 years, its senior art team can boast over 20 years of experience in the gaming industry. This American outsourcing studio provides a classic package of art services, including the creation of 2D and 3D characters.

AAA Game Art Studio has worked with clients such as Ubisoft, Playrix and Bandai Namco. In the portfolio, you can see that their strong point is fantasy characters. Despite its name, the studio not only works with AAA level art, but also casual and hyper-casual games and related art.

Stepico Games

Stepico Games is a Ukrainian art outsourcing studio that creates game art, games on the Unity engine and AR/VR-based applications. The company’s clients include Rovio, NBC Universal and Section.

Among other services, the company is engaged in the creation of 2D and 3D characters. The team is experienced and professional enough to work both on simple characters for mobile games and on three-dimensional characters for larger projects. So far, the team has implemented more than 25 successful projects.

Starloop Studios

Starloop Studios is a Spanish game development and game art company. Many diverse artists of different styles work here. The number of them may vary depending on the chosen cooperation model and the scale of the project. If necessary, the team can be scaled up literally in a couple of weeks to the number of specialists up to 500 people.

Notable clients of the studio include Disney, Ubisoft and Blizzard Entertainment. The art team is working on 2D and 3D characters for mobile and PC games. Styles and directions can be very different since the company has a lot of experts in different directions of art.

Mortar Studios

If you are interested in character design studios that specialize exclusively in character creation and do nothing else, then Mortar Studios is your choice. It is an Australian outsourced character and animation video company. Although this studio is not represented on independent platforms, its website contains enough information, customer testimonials and links to third-party materials with case descriptions to be included in our list.

Among the main services of the studio, you can find the creation of character concepts, modeling, rigging, animation, creation of hairstyles based on 3D scanning and characters for augmented reality. The company has an impressive portfolio of realistic and stylized characters with projects ranging from simple cartoon designs to hyperrealistic renderings of humans and insects, as well as many positive customer reviews.

Airship Interactive

Another company not represented on independent platforms, but having too impressive portfolio to pass by. Airship Images is a UK based character design outsourcing studio for the gaming and film industries. It employs strong character artists who created art for games such as Forza Horizon 4, Hitman 2, Battlefield V, and Baldur’s Gate III.

A scrupulous approach to character hair design can be called a separate pride of the company. Many clients come here with just such requests. The studio prefers 3D projects of the AAA class – with such projects, the team can demonstrate all their skills and strengths.

How Kevuru Games Will Help You Achieve the Best Results

Character creation is extremely challenging, be it a character for a video game, commercial, movie, or mascot role. Therefore, you can only trust it to professionals, whose expertise is beyond doubt.

Of all the listed companies, it is Kevuru Games that has the greatest resources for creating memorable characters. The company has separate teams specializing in 2D and 3D characters, which in turn are divided into sections specializing in realistic or stylized characters. The artists of Kevuru Games have experience in creating characters for games of different genres, so upon receiving a request for creating a character, the company selects the optimal composition of the team containing specialists who can best cope.

Kevuru Games many times has proven its status as one of the most trusted character design studios, collaborating with Lucasfilm on 3D characters for Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge, working with Nanobit on 2D characters for Tabou Stories: Love Episodes, and developing character concepts for the legendary Fortnite by Epic Games.

The company’s portfolio is replete with characters for all tastes, so you just have to study it and make your choice. The artists of Kevuru Games will create for you living, unique and self-sufficient characters that will favorably distinguish your game project from others and focus the attention of the players on you.

At the same time, artists not only blindly follow the instructions, but, thanks to their colossal experience, can give recommendations regarding the stylistics of the main characters and NPCs, advise to add or remove certain nuances, and even offer ideas from scratch if you dream of an interesting character, but have not yet come up with concept.

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The most popular 3D modeling software is 3dsMax, Blender, ZBrush, Maya, SketchUp and many others. In turn, they are divided into more advanced and complex ones and those that are better suited for beginners. The former, for example, include 3dsMax, and the latter – TinkerCAD or 3D Slash.

The 3D Modeling Industry: Present Status And Emerging Trends

Recent technological advancements and shifting market demands have driven significant growth and innovation in the 3D modeling industry. From entertainment and gaming to architecture and manufacturing, 3D modeling is crucial in various industries.
The demand for 3D modeling services has surged across industries, including entertainment, advertising, architecture, automotive, healthcare, and more. Businesses are leveraging 3D models for product visualization, marketing campaigns, architectural design, medical simulations, and virtual reality experiences.
Technological advancements, such as improved rendering engines, photogrammetry, and 3D scanning techniques, have enhanced the quality and realism of 3D models. High-fidelity graphics and realistic simulations are now achievable, leading to immersive experiences and more accurate representations of real-world objects and environments.
The rise of virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) technologies has propelled the demand for 3D modeling. 3D models are the foundation for immersive VR experiences and AR applications, allowing users to interact with virtual objects overlaid with the physical world. Industries ranging from gaming and entertainment to education and retail are embracing VR and AR to deliver engaging and interactive experiences.

Why Choosing Correct 3D Modeling Firms is so Important?

3D models are an integral part of high-quality presentations, technical documentation, entertainment products, as well as the basis for creating a product prototype. Speaking about the areas of application of 3D modeling in more detail, the following can be distinguished:

1. Production. It is impossible to imagine modern production without pre-production modeling of products. In order to start production, it is necessary to create a 3D model of the object. On its basis, using rapid prototyping technologies (3D printing, milling, molding of silicone molds, etc.), a realistic prototype or sample of a future product is created.
2. Advertising. Three-dimensional graphics are indispensable for the presentation of the future product. After 3D visualization, the resulting model can be used to design packaging, website, presentation or to create outdoor advertising, POS materials and design of exhibition stands.
3. Urban planning. With the help of three-dimensional graphics, the most realistic modeling of urban architecture and landscapes is achieved with minimal costs. Visualization of building architecture and landscape design allows investors and architects to feel the effect of being in the designed space. That allows you to objectively assess the merits of the project and eliminate the shortcomings.
4. Video games. The first comprehensive 3D games appeared in the mid-90s of the last century. Now it is 3D games that are the top product of the entertainment market. In professional programs, experienced specialists manually draw three-dimensional landscapes, hero models, animate created 3D objects and characters.
5. Cinema. The entire modern film industry is focused on 3D cinema. For such filming, special cameras are used that can shoot in 3D. In addition, individual objects and full-fledged landscapes are created using 3D graphics for the film industry.
6. Architecture. The technology of 3D modeling in architecture has long proven itself from the best side. Today, the creation of a three-dimensional model of a building is an indispensable attribute of design. Based on the 3D model, you can create both a prototype repeating only the general outlines of the building and a detailed prefabricated model of the future structure.
7. Interior design. As for interior design, with the help of 3D modeling technology, customers can see how their home or office space will look after repairs or redesigns, as well as think over a completely new design and evaluate it even before new furniture is purchased and repair work has been carried out.
8. Animation. With the help of 3D graphics, you can create animated characters, make them move, and also, by designing complex animation scenes, create a full-fledged animated video.

Regardless of the purpose for which you need a 3D model, this 3D model should be of the highest possible quality. After all, it depends on this how the future production will take place, how the customers or players will react, or what the budgetary framework of the future project is. Therefore, when choosing 3D modeling companies, you must weigh the pros and cons. The expertise of the selected modelers determines the success of your modeling project.

How to Choose Most Reliable 3D Modeling Studio?

Choosing any contractor is a scrupulous study of the 3D modeling companies that interest you and their profiles on various resources. We are primarily interested in three key positions:

The success of your game depends not only on its concept but also on the team behind its creation. In this guide, we’ll walk through the essential steps to ensure you choose a professional game development studio that aligns with your goals and aspirations.

Embarking on the game development journey requires more than just a creative idea; it demands a reliable and skilled team to transform that idea into a captivating reality. Choosing the proper game development studio sets the foundation for success.

We offer you a list of specially selected 3D modeling companies of different specializations. They passed our verification according to the above 3 criteria and proved themselves to be worthy partners.

Selection Methodology

While selecting the following 3D modeling companies, we have focused on their websites and profiles on independent platforms such as GoodFirms, Clutch, DesignRush and others. We have researched the range of services and the portfolio confirming them, client reviews, the list of tools used, as well as the procedure for accepting an application if there is relevant information.

Professional 3D Modeling Companies with a Proven Track Record

Kevuru Games

Location: Ukraine

Established: 2011

Employees: 350+

Specialization: game modeling

The Ukrainian studio Kevuru Games offers 3D modeling services for gaming products and any other projects, one way or another related to the gaming component. The company includes several 3D divisions, each of which is responsible for its direction of 3D modeling – characters or environment. The 3D modeling team completed over a hundred projects and created 3D art for a variety of clients, including Lucasfilm, Epic Games, EA. These clients valued the team’s commitment to the game industry. The Kevuru Games team provides full-cycle game development and that gives an advantage over many competitors.

The studio has a rich portfolio of realistic 3D models of assets, and especially characters – experienced character artists here create AAA-level models. One of the most prominent highlights is the creation of 3D characters for Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge.

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There are individual artists who have vast experience in solid surface modeling, and there are also specialists in sculpting. The team is formed depending on the request, so that almost every time its composition is unique and includes specialists who will best cope with your task. If you are interested in game modeling or creating models for the future gamification of your business application, then Kevuru Games is an excellent choice.

In addition to game modeling, we offer architectural and product modeling and visualization services from our sub-brand 3Nitro. A team of experts in this field are ready to create 3D interior and exterior, skillfully model furniture, fashion products and packaging, as well as create drawings of the required level of complexity and detail.

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Another popular project, IRON ORDER 1919, is a cross-platform strategy game based on World War I scenarios and beyond that has more than 8 million players. The goal of the game is to capture most of the map. Kevuru’s team created 3D models of so-called mechs—semifictional combat vehicles that play a key role in the battle. The Artists managed to create realistic textures, rusty, rough materials, and primarily realistic proportions, as well as ground, water, and air-type mechs and combat vehicles for 3 key factions: germans, british, communists.

One more project we want to outline is the Birdly Insect VR simulator where the team faced the challenge of creating stunning lifelike 3D environments of nature and birds and insects 3D models. Kevuru Games’ team was engaged in different levels of VR simulator and ensured to create immersive experience for those who want to feel the life of the nature:

• 3D environment artists created models of plants and insects;
• 3D character artists who created bird models;
• 3D animators who did animation for all model

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The Kevuru 3D Department  artists possess the skills required in various artistic genres and who are knowledgeable with a range of visual styles, in addition to weapons, characters, settings, and props. Different techniques are needed when working with weapons, robots, cars, and other hard-surfaced things. So Kevuru’ artists make use of specialist tools and software, such as Maya, Blender, UE, and ZBrush, Fusion.

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Wow-How Studio

This Ukrainian studio specializes in the full cycle of animation creation. In turn, this cycle also includes the creation of 3D models, if you are interested in an animated 3D video. A large number of producers and motion designers work here – they will create for you the product you are interested in from scratch, regardless of its complexity and purpose. So if your request includes the creation of 3D models for video content and its further deployment, then you are definitely in the right place.

Ufo3D

This 3D modeling studio is engaged in creating visual materials for the production and promotion of various products. The key service is 3D modeling. The company offers to create models for marketing, commercial and production purposes.

The company’s track record already includes more than 1000 completed projects. Among them, you can see models of furniture, jewelry, appliances, electronics and fashion products. This 3D modeling studio will be an excellent partner for creating product models that already exist or are just planned to be launched into production.

NBY IT Solution

With many years of experience in 3D, NBY IT Solution is ready to provide services in the field of 3D modeling, rendering, visualization, animation and design. These areas relate to the gaming industry and the creation of models for games, as well as architectural modeling of buildings and commercial modeling of various products.

Despite the large number of services offered, the company successfully copes with the distribution of competent specialists for specific tasks and successfully completes projects on time. It will not offer you AAA-grade graphics, but it will be able to implement simpler graphics tasks well or create a high-quality model of an existing product. At the same time, the prices here are much lower than in other similar studios.

Miracle Studios

This Indian company is engaged in 3D modeling both for games and for commercial purposes. In particular, here you can order 3D models of your products for listing on Amazon and other trading platforms. Modelers also develop 3D models for AR/VR-based applications, tutorials and simulators, and more.

More emphasis is placed on stylized 3D models for games. This 3D modeling studio can both work with ready-made concepts from the client and create individual concepts for your project after a thorough discussion of your needs and goals. If necessary, the studio prepares the model for future animation.

3D-Ace Studio

3D-Ace is the Ukrainian division of the Program-Ace company for the production of 2D/3D content. Particular emphasis is placed on low-poly and high-poly 3D models of varying complexity and purpose. The company’s 3D modelers have over 10 years of experience working with models for such fields as marketing, architecture, education and manufacturing.

The studio works on models for 3D visualization of products, 3D catalogs, virtual tours, simulators, etc. There are also specialists for creating game models for Unity and Unreal engines. The portfolio is quite extensive and confirms that the studio has dealt with both product modeling and games and has expertise in both directions. Game modeling is dominated by asset, vehicle and building models, while commercial modeling is dominated by furniture and appliances. Take a closer look at this studio if you see the item you need in the above list.

Zatun

This Indian 3D modeling studio is completely dedicated to game art. Despite the relatively small staff, the company boasts a fairly large portfolio of 3D characters, vehicles, assets and objects for the environment.

All game models are adapted to the game engine you need and, if necessary, are prepared for animation. As for the areas of special pride, these are models of military equipment, weapons and equipment – in the company’s portfolio, you will find many impressive samples.

ThePro3DStudio

ThePro3DStudio is an American 3D visualization company for e-commerce, architecture, education, advertising and manufacturing. The small age of the studio is not a drawback – it has already accumulated many positive reviews from clients and a large number of cases.

The key directions of the company are 3D product modeling and rendering, furniture modeling, creation of 3D designs ready for printing, interior and exterior modeling, as well as 3D sculpting. In terms of products, the company dealt with models such as gadgets, home appliances, electronics, medical equipment, and fashion objects and home decor items. The studio’s portfolio is especially distinguished by its interior designs – they are diverse, visually appealing and well-designed.

3DDevice

This is a Ukrainian company fully focused on 3D – it sells 3D printers and scanners, as well as creates 3D models that can then be printed on a 3D printer. This is the main specialization of the company in the 3D modeling service – the creation of models for 3D printing.

In addition, the studio is engaged in 3D modeling based on drawings, sketches and real objects, 3D modeling for medical purposes, as well as architectural 3D modeling. In the portfolio of the 3DDevice studio, you can find a huge number of examples of prototyping, small-scale production and 3D printing of plastic parts created on the basis of 3D models.

VegaCADD

Custom modeling of furniture and various products is the main service of the American studio VegaCADD. Local specialists are also ready to prepare created models for animation, create a virtual tour, walkthrough and 3D architectural floor plans for interiors and birds-eye rendering for exteriors.

The models created in the studio can be used in the architectural, commercial and advertising spheres. 3D modelers here have many years of experience and an excellent understanding of the specifics of 3D modeling to create the perfect product or architectural design. The studio’s portfolio includes many worthy examples of furniture modeling and 3D rendering of interiors and exteriors, which can be considered a key specialization of the company.

Key Considerations for Effective 3D Modeling Collaborations

Collaboration in 3D modeling involves multiple stakeholders working together to create intricate and detailed models. Here are some key considerations for ensuring effective 3D modeling collaborations:

Clear Communication Channels

Establish clear communication channels to ensure all team members agree regarding project objectives, requirements, and timelines. Regular meetings, video conferences, and project management tools can facilitate communication and collaboration among team members, regardless of their location.

Defined Roles and Responsibilities

Assign specific roles and responsibilities to each team member to ensure accountability and clarity. Clearly define who is responsible for modeling, texturing, rigging, animation, and other tasks to avoid confusion and streamline the workflow. Encourage collaboration and cross-functional teamwork to leverage the diverse skills and expertise of team members.

Version Control and File Management

Implement robust version control and file management systems to track changes, revisions, and updates to 3D models. Use version control software or cloud-based collaboration platforms to manage assets, track changes, and ensure that team members are working with the latest versions of files. This helps prevent errors, conflicts, and data loss, ensuring smooth collaboration throughout the project lifecycle.

Collaboration Tools and Platforms

Utilize collaboration tools and platforms specifically designed for 3D modeling projects. Virtual whiteboards, online project management tools, and collaborative editing software enable real-time collaboration and feedback exchange among team members. Additionally, cloud-based rendering services allow for efficient rendering and sharing of high-resolution 3D models without the need for extensive hardware resources.

Feedback and Iteration

Encourage open communication and constructive feedback among team members to foster continuous improvement and iteration. Solicit feedback from stakeholders, clients, and end-users throughout the design process to ensure that the final product meets their expectations and requirements. Iterate on designs based on feedback and testing results to refine and optimize 3D models for better performance and user experience.

Technological Innovations Driving 3D Modeling

Technological innovations are continuously shaping the field of 3D modeling, enabling artists, designers, and engineers to create more realistic, immersive, and interactive experiences. Here are some key technological innovations driving advancements in 3D modeling:

Advanced Rendering Techniques

Advanced rendering techniques, such as physically based rendering (PBR), ray tracing, and global illumination, enable the creation of highly realistic and visually stunning 3D models. These techniques simulate the behavior of light in the real world, resulting in lifelike reflections, shadows, and materials that enhance the visual fidelity and realism of 3D renderings.

Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR)

Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) technologies are revolutionizing the way we interact with 3D models. VR allows users to immerse themselves in virtual environments and interact with 3D models in a spatially immersive manner, while AR overlays virtual objects onto the real world, enabling interactive and contextual experiences. These technologies have applications in gaming, education, training, architecture, and more, offering new ways to visualize and experience 3D content.

Real-time Collaboration Tools

Real-time collaboration tools facilitate collaboration among multiple stakeholders working on 3D modeling projects. Cloud-based platforms, virtual whiteboards, and collaborative editing software enable team members to work together in real-time, regardless of their geographical location. This enhances productivity, streamlines workflows, and fosters collaboration and communication among team members throughout the project lifecycle.

How Kevuru Games Will Help You Achieve the Best Results

Kevuru Games is primarily a game company, so here you will find the best specialists in game 3D modeling. At the moment, the company is already 12 years old, and 3D modeling is one of its strongest departments. It brings together experienced industry old-timers with 20+ years of experience, as well as young and incredibly talented 3D artists. 

Due to our collaboration with significant triple-A gaming companies, we have expertise in AAA game development. Most of our artists and developers are highly skilled experts who have worked on projects of diverse scopes and intricacies, have a higher education in contours, have sculpting skills, and know anatomy very well to depict characters or other objects as realistically as possible. 

Clear responsibility allocation, well-defined procedures, and transparent project management all contribute to meeting deadlines while adhering to all style and quality standards.

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In addition to a powerful 3D character department that creates models for games like Star Wars, Kevuru Games boasts a large 3D environment team that creates realistic settings and 3D assets for games of various genres and styles. Over the entire period of the company’s work, the team has implemented more than 100 3D projects related to both casual mobile games and large-scale AAA blockbusters with a multi-million army of fans.

Kevuru Games’ 3D modelers are not just professionals in their field. Their main feature is that they know how to listen and hear the client. If you have a clear concept of future 3D models that you need to follow without the slightest deviation, they will visualize it in 3D in full analogy with the material provided. If your idea is not yet fully formed, requires additions or assumes variability, then our artists will offer a huge number of options that meet the highest aesthetic standards and keep up with modern gaming trends.You can easily make sure that these are not simple words by going to the portfolio section of our 3D modeling company. We will carefully analyze your request and select the optimal 3D team for your project. Rest assured that the result will exceed all your expectations.

You can easily make sure that these are not simple words by going to the portfolio section of our 3D modeling company. We will carefully analyze your request and select the optimal 3D team for your project. Rest assured that the result will exceed all your expectations.

The post 10 Best 3D Modelling Companies in 2025: Productive Business Partnership appeared first on Kevuru Games.

The game was innovative not just because it used AR but also because it made players leave their homes and explore the world around them. They would still explore while staring at their phones, but at least they would be walking outside. That was revolutionary at the time, and nothing similar has appeared since then.

How is the game doing in 2024, long after its hype time? Is it profitable? And how much money did Pokémon Go make in all these years? Read on to find out answers to all of these questions.

What is Pokémon Go?

Pokémon Go went viral in 2016, right after its release. It’s an AR mobile game available on both Android and iOS platforms that lets players find, collect, train, and fight Pokémon that appear in locations around them using their cameras. Pokémon can be found on the streets of every city with the help of augmented reality tools. The game quickly became a worldwide phenomenon, captivating millions of players across the globe.

The game is a part of Pokémon, a Japanese franchise that started with a video game in 1996 and went on with manga, anime, and a trading card game. The name Pokémon comes from “pocket monster.” These “monsters” are little creatures of different species, each with a unique appearance and powers.

Pokémon Go was developed and published by Niantic in collaboration with Nintendo and The Pokémon Company.

Pokémon Go Player Count and Popularity

Current Player Numbers

In December 2024, there were over 97 million active Pokémon Go players, according to activeplayer.io count. The maximum amount of daily players was over 26 million. Compared to the same month of the previous year, the numbers have grown by 15%. Here is the table showing dynamics over the last year and a half.

How Many Downloads Does Pokémon Go Have?

Pokémon Go has over 500 million downloads. Half of those downloads happened in the first year, but the game has maintained a stable number of players in the following years.

Is Pokémon Go Still Popular in 2024?

The number of players in the years following 2016 was drastically lower than the year of the release. It may look as if the game was just a momentary hype that didn’t last, but at a closer look, you’ll see that the game hasn’t lost its popularity much.

People who played it at its height in 2016 may just follow the hype, and naturally, they didn’t stay for long. However, the loyal fanbase is still big even after 8 years after the release. And these players are more important for the business than the ones that just downloaded it out of curiosity. Long-time players are the ones who are most likely to spend money in-game, and that’s what matters for the game developers.

Pokémon Go Revenue and Earnings

How Much Money Has Pokémon Go Made?

The data on Pokémon Go earnings is based on player spending (in-app purchases). From this source, by the end of 2024, Pokémon Go had made $8 billion. This doesn’t include the money from sponsor locations and the amount of money people spent on the Niantic web shop, where players can purchase game items. The shop was launched in 2023, and probably a part of in-app spending has shifted there.

How Much Money Does Pokémon Go Make a Year?

Based on the data on in-app spending, we know that Pokémon Go earns $800,000-900,000 a year through App Stores. In pandemic years, Pokémon Go annual revenue has been higher, reaching $1,3 billion in in-app purchases.

Pokémon Go Profit Analysis

The results of tracking in-app purchases and adjusting to inflation show that the game hasn’t been growing its player spending in recent years. However, it doesn’t mean that the Pokémon Go team isn’t very good at monetization strategies. Here is an example.

When we see the graph of the games’ earnings, a spike during the pandemic isn’t surprising. Most games had seen a rise in popularity when people were locked down and had more free time. However, it’s not so easy in the case of Pokémon Go, a game that requires players to go out and visit specific locations. 

It seems that the game would have a crisis period when most players had limited mobility during the lockdowns. Yet it wasn’t the case — Pokémon Go managed to gain new users and earn extra by introducing several innovations to the game that made it possible to play without having to go out — remote raids, GO Battle League, and Special Research stories, virtual events, and daily free items. Later, they canceled some of the pandemic innovations to return to their initial format and get income from sponsor locations again.

All in all, the profit of Pokémon Go is stable, as the game has diverse revenue streams. Let’s take a closer look at them.

Revenue Models of Pokémon Go

Pokémon Go operates on a freemium model. It’s free to play, but players can benefit by paying—for example, decreasing the waiting time for the next Pokémon to appear.

How Does Pokémon Go Make Money?

Pokémon Go has several revenue streams: in-app purchases, advertising (sponsored locations), ticketed events, and merchandising. These are typical for most viral video games, but using advanced technologies like AR gives Niantic some extra opportunities.

In 2024, they announced the creation of a Large Geospatial Model (LGM) to revolutionize spatial intelligence for augmented reality (AR) and beyond. Although this news has raised more concerns about privacy, for the business, it means a potential for big profits from such a model, which wouldn’t have been possible without millions of people scanning their surroundings in search of Pokémon.

In-Game Purchases

Like most freemium games, in-game purchases are the main revenue stream for Pokémon Go. The currency is called PokéCoins, and it can buy use Poké balls (containers for capturing Pokémon), items to attract them, double XP, and storage upgrades that allow players to hold more Pokémon.

PokéCoins can also be earned by completing game tasks, but buying is much easier and faster.

Advertising (sponsored locations)

Since the game requires players to leave home and visit various locations, business owners use it as an opportunity to increase traffic to their cafés or shops. Starbucks and McDonalds paid to be included on the list of Pokémon Go locations.

Starbucks had many PokéStops, and offered Pokémon-themed drinks to clients. People come to catch a rare species and grab a coffee on their way.

Ticketed Events

The number of events in the game is enormous. From big events like the annual Pokémon Go Fest to regular Community Days, there is always something going on in the world of Pokémons to attend. Some events are location-based, while others are virtual.

The prices typically vary from $1 to $20. However, some events offer additional in-game purchases that maximize the event experience. For example, the cost of the base ticket and all the additional items for the Into the Wild event (November 2024) would reach up to $340.

Some events are created in collaborations—with locations like those described above or with other popular brands or celebrities—for example, Ed Sheeran, Uniqlo, The North Face x Gucci.

H2 Want to Develop a Game Like Pokémon Go?

There are many games with augmented reality on the market, but Pokémon Go is the only AR game that went viral and became a cultural phenomenon. What it takes to make a successful game is not just technology knowledge — it’s an exceptional game design, art, and monetization strategy. This is what makes Pokémon Go so successful and profitable. If you need a partner to develop the next hit, contact our professionals, and we’ll see what we can do for you.

The post How Does Pokémon Go Make Money? appeared first on Kevuru Games.

And even though 65% of the global gaming market is accounted for by the top 10 gaming companies, even a small indie studio has every chance to achieve recognition and earn good money. And one of the key roles here is played by the right choice of the right game engine.

The game engine is literally a digital motor, a workbench, and a complete toolkit that allows, with due skill and dexterity, to create new incredible worlds. Given that different engines are tailored to different needs and levels of knowledge, it is important for you to choose one that offers specific tools. Those that help you perfectly represent your idea and achieve the desired emotional reaction of the player. But to choose it, you need to have some idea of ​​the proposed range.

So what is the best game engine? The secret is that each of them can be the best for you. It is simply important to understand what their strength is and which one is most aligned with your goals. Let’s take a look at the most popular game engines of 2025 and see what each one is good for.

What is a Game Engine?

A game engine is a software framework designed to assist developers in creating and designing video games. It provides a set of tools, libraries, and functionalities to streamline the game development process. Game engines typically include features such as rendering engines for graphics, physics engines for simulating realistic interactions, audio engines for managing sound effects, scripting tools for implementing gameplay logic, asset management systems for organizing game assets, and integrated development environments (IDEs) for editing and testing games. By using a game engine, developers can focus on designing gameplay mechanics, creating assets, and implementing features without having to build everything from scratch, thus expediting the game development process.

What is The Significance Of Gaming Engines?

A game engine is a set of tools that allows you to work with graphics, physics, scripts, and other elements that make it possible to create a game.

Choosing the right game engine for your needs can make or break the entire gaming experience. No matter how complex your game is, you should make sure that the engine you choose performs essential functions:

1. Input. Every interaction a player has with controllers and other input devices, even if it’s just tapping on a smartphone screen, should correspond to a clear intended action in the game.
2. Physics. The player physics of both a mobile platformer and a huge open-world RPG must balance perfectly between the high quality of the simulation and the technical limitations of the gaming device.
3. Visuals. The game engine allows you to program visual effects, lighting, shadows, sharpening, blurring, and more in an optimal way.

A properly chosen game engine greatly simplifies game programming by implementing the above functions in an optimized way. This reduces development time and allows the team to focus more on the conceptual aspect of their game in order to provide players, if not unique, then at least an interesting and exciting experience.

Top Game Engines in 2025: Detailed Dossier of Strengths and Weaknesses

Unreal: AAA Kingdom Overlord

Unreal Engine is one of the most famous and widely used real-time 3D game engines developed and maintained by Epic Games.

Although the engine was originally intended for the development of first-person shooters, its subsequent versions have been successfully used in games of a wide variety of genres, including stealth games, fighting games, and massively multiplayer online role-playing games. Unreal is especially good for creating multiplayer games – it provides many multiplayer features out of the box, and it’s easy to set up the Blueprint base game that runs over the network. Today, Unreal is a key driver behind most of the most advanced AAA games and has the widest and most appropriate toolkit for this particular class of games.

Pricing Policy

In the past, the engine was distributed on a monthly subscription basis. Since 2015, Unreal Engine has become free and production-ready out of the box, but developers of games created with it are required to pay a 5% royalty on sales if the product’s lifetime gross revenue exceeds $1 million. Unreal also offers special Enterprise program and Custom license packages that include premium support, training programs, and custom licensing terms. Their cost is discussed with clients personally.

Features: Blueprint and Particle System

Blueprint is a visual scripting system in Unreal. It allows you to implement your ideas in a simplified mode with a preliminary visualization of all changes. For example, without programming knowledge, you can create a cycle of day and night or make the environment react to the movement of the player. Most of Fortnite is implemented through Blueprint. You’ve heard of Fortnite, right? We created 120 skins for them (read case study here).

Also, a valuable feature of the Unreal Engine is the rapid creation of a game prototype. In the prototype, it is especially important to immediately convey the atmosphere. For this purpose, UE offers many tools − from the simulation of natural phenomena through the particle system to post-processing. In most cases, you don’t even have to look for video tutorials, since all the parameters are clearly named in the interface, and the desired effect can be selected intuitively.

Learning Curve

The entry threshold for Unreal is quite low: even artists with no programming experience can figure it out for their own purposes. At the same time, the toolkit of the program is huge and rich. Users have access to many free assets from the Unreal Marketplace. Also, Unreal’s modern editor includes integration with Quixel Bridge, one of the world’s largest photogrammetry libraries and toolset for creating high-quality 3D content. Unreal users can use the built-in Quixel tools and all the resources of the Quixel Megascans library for free.

Potential

Most of the next-generation console games that are released on the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X are built using Unreal Engine 5. Now it is the best engine for game development of the most advanced AAA games. Two of its key breakthrough technologies are Nanite and Lumen. Nanite allows you to use unoptimized assets right in the game. Lumen is global illumination, which is calculated in real time and allows you to illuminate an object, taking into account the reflected light. Both of them create a completely new gaming experience and make it as realistic as possible. None of the other engines so far has come close to such a level of realism as Unreal. And this is not the limit.

Pros and Cons of Unreal

Unity: Life of the Cross-Platform Party

Unreal Engine vs Unity allow you to create both simple 2D games and complex 3D worlds.

This engine is preferred by completely different companies, from small mobile developers to large game publishers. However, independent studios prefer to hire Unity developers that have special skills to work with this platform. It is even unofficially called the best mobile game engine. Also, Unity 3D game engine is actively used to create VR games and AR projects due to the presence of a large number of convenient SDKs.

Pricing Policy

Unity offers a range of plans for different users and purposes, all of which are royalty-free.

Features: Bolt and Unity Asset Store

By analogy with Unreal Blueprint, Unity has its own visual programming tool called Bolt. Bolt brings complete visual scripting to Unity, allowing artists, designers, and programmers to create game mechanics and interactive systems without writing code. Visual scripting helps even a non-technical person to test an idea, make changes, or better control their work in Unity. Everyone will also be able to use custom nodes and graphs created by technical specialists.

Unity Asset Store is open for developers to buy 3D models, sounds/music, UI kits, shaders/particles, sprite kits, and tools to make the development process more comfortable and faster. For example, you can add ready-made sets of elements to the game: characters, enemies and their behavior patterns, levels, lighting settings, etc. At the same time, you do not need a single line of code to implement a new change.

Learning Curve

The Unity interface is quite simple and does not require any serious training or deep knowledge to get started. It uses a component-oriented approach: the developer creates objects and adds various components to them. Thanks to a convenient Drag & Drop interface and a functional graphics editor, the engine allows you to draw maps and place objects in real time and immediately test the result. The official website of the engine features an article on how to make a game without knowing the code, which describes in detail the tools needed for beginners to create games.

Potential

Unity’s cross-platform capabilities and its simplicity and ease of use for small studios allow the engine to stay at the top of the best. The ability to add new features to the engine, make changes to it, upgrade internal tools and create your own make Unity an extremely flexible tool for developing games of any scale. It is noteworthy that Unity does not try to compete with Unreal in matters of realism, but continues to emphasize its cross-platform and adaptability features. It also continues to be the best game engine for mobile development.

Pros and Cons of Unity

Amazon Lumberyard: Well-Connected Partner

As the product name suggests,

Lumberyard is Amazon’s all-in-one offering, which is a free AAA cross-platform game engine based on the CryEngine architecture that was licensed from Crytek in 2015.

The engine has integration with Amazon Web Services, which allows developers to create or host their games on Amazon servers, as well as stream video broadcasting via Twitch. Amazon Lumberyard is often used as a low-cost alternative to creating games for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One consoles.

Pricing Policy

Developers can use the Lumberyard engine to create a game for free. This is because it is monetized through Amazon Web Services fees, which vary depending on which tools the developers prefer to use, if any. But if you don’t need a cloud connection, you pay nothing. There are no placement fees or subscription fees, and no profit sharing is required. In July 2021, Amazon announced that the source code for the engine is being made open source as the Open 3D Engine (O3DE) under the Apache 2.0 license.

Features: Script Canvas and Component Entity

Like most of its peers, such as Unreal with Blueprint or Unity with Bolt, Lumberyard has a visual scripting system called Script Canvas. It allows anyone to prototype or implement game logic without any code support. An important feature of the engine is modularity: it is provided by the Gems system, which are packages containing code and assets. This gives developers the opportunity to select the features they want and remove the features they don’t need without having to compile them later.

Lumberyard also offers the Component Entity system, a modern approach to creating complex entities from simpler ones. As a content creator, all you have to do is drag and drop components to the right places to set specific behaviors, change settings in the editor in real time, or create Lua scripts or visual scripts to change or extend the behavior of an entity on the fly. To simplify work on more complex scenes, entities can be combined into sectors, which, in turn, can be included in sectors of a higher level, thus organizing a full-fledged cascading system of blanks.

Learning Curve

Despite the presence of visual scripting, Lumberyard remains a large engine for large projects with a large number of online components. It makes no sense to make simple mobile games on it: it will be difficult, problematic, and impractical. Lumberyard’s resource handling system and internal components are not tailored for small projects.

Moreover, a smaller user base results in little documentation and possible help on various issues, the answers to which become outdated very quickly as the engine develops. Without community support and a good knowledge base, the learning curve can be quite steep for inexperienced developers.

Potential

Lumberyard’s visualization technology is based on a set of popular and powerful development tools licensed from CryEngine and includes all the traditional bells and whistles, from particle effects support and real-time fluid flow modeling technologies to plant creation tools with an unprecedented level of realism. It is important to remember that the game created will be tied to Amazon in many ways: the company does not allow the use of competing cloud services from other companies like Google or Microsoft. However, this is not a disadvantage: Lumberyard remains an AAA-level engine with great graphics potential that can be used to make an amazing single-player game absolutely free.

Pros and Cons of Amazon Lumberyard

CryEngine: Real-Time Sandbox Master

CryEngine is an AAA, all-in-one 3D game engine developed by German game developer Crytek and used for all of its games in the Far Cry franchise.

Its modified version is used by such studios as Warhorse Studios and Ubisoft, and in 2015 the license for CryEngine was transferred to Amazon. It released its own revised and extended version of CryEngine called Amazon Lumberyard, which we’ve talked about above.

Pricing Policy

The engine follows the pay-what-you-want model. Users can give any amount and get all its features and platform access. However, if their annual income from a game is over $5,000, they must pay a 5% royalty fee. This applies after the first year of such income. For big enterprises, there are individual agreements and special deals.

Features: CryEngine Sandbox and Flow Graph

Sandbox is a real-time game editor that allows you to design maps and modifications in the 3D CryEngine environment. The editing style is focused on creating large landscapes and free-style mission programming. The editor also supports the creation of indoor levels or locations. Sandbox has the ability to instantly switch from edit mode to play mode with the click of a button. This is similar to another 3D renderer, Blender. This feature eliminates the need to load the game as the game engine is already running during edit mode.

Flow Graph is a built-in CryEngine tool used to manage events and game logic within levels. In essence, it is a counterpart to the visual scripting tools of previous engines − a powerful node-based visual scripting system that helps developers quickly prototype functions and create layer-specific logic without having to work with complex code bases.

Learning Curve

Projects skillfully built on CryEngine can outperform Unity and even Unreal games. The engine is known for its real-time rendering power, which allows you to create ultra-realistic worlds and quickly test a newly created level or scene. However, its community is much smaller than that of the above engines. The learning curve is pretty steep, and there’s less documentation than you’d like.

Potential

The latest version of the engine, CryEngine V, version 5.7.1, has received such innovations as DirectX 12, Vulkan API, support for virtual reality, and support for writing scripts in C#. Crytek has announced CryEngine 6, featuring major updates to improve game development and support for external users.

Pros and Cons of CryEngine

Godot: Developer’s Best Buddy

Godot is a MIT-licensed cross-platform 2D and 3D game engine created in 2014 by two developers and currently maintained by the Godot Engine Community.

The task of the creators was to make a convenient self-sufficient environment for creating a game from scratch, without using almost any tools anymore. The engine gained immense popularity due to its simplicity and wide 2D and 3D functionality. Plus, it’s absolutely free.

Pricing Policy

Godot Engine is a completely free game engine. Therefore, among the rest, it is the best free game engine, or, in other words, the only completely free game engine without any “buts”. Unlike Unity and Unreal, there are no conventions like it’s free until a certain income is earned. The engine remains free forever.

Features: VisualScript and GDScript

For beginners, Godot offers a classic visual programming tool. The engine takes a convenient approach with its node and scene architecture to represent certain game features. Combining nodes to form a tree is a powerful feature for organizing projects. Visualization helps non-technical specialists to quickly understand everything that needs to be done to obtain the desired effect.

GDScript is a high-level, dynamically typed programming language built for Godot. It uses syntax similar to Python. Its goal is to be optimized and tightly integrated into the Godot engine, allowing for high flexibility in content creation and integration. It’s as readable as Python while retaining important development elements such as strong typing, better editor integration, and more straightforward speed optimizations.

Learning Curve

Godot has a nice intuitive interface. You can figure it out in a couple of minutes, it is not overloaded with many tabs and settings. All the necessary tabs are nearby, and the standard engine settings are enough to create a game. An active community around the engine will always come to the rescue in case of questions.

The engine is very flexible: it allows you to create games using a graphical interface, but you can also write games using GDScript, an analogue of the Python language. You can also use C++ or C# to write modules, plus there is also JdNative. Each user can make an add-on and use almost any programming language they are interested in.

Potential

Godot is actively developed and maintained by a passionate community. The Godot API exposes almost every element of the engine, and it’s rare to find features that aren’t directly available to code. Godot also works in real 2D space, expressed in pixels, which greatly simplifies the creation and optimization of 2D games. The engine is full of community-developed tools, and many users add unique elements to the engine as part of developing their games.

Pros and Cons of Godot

Game Engines Worth Mentioning

Cocos2d

A popular open-source framework for building 2D games and interactive applications across various platforms.

Cocos Creator

A game development platform that allows developers to create games using a drag-and-drop interface powered by the Cocos2d-x framework.

Marmalade SDK

A cross-platform game development tool that enables developers to create high-performance games for mobile and desktop platforms.

Spring Engine

An open-source 3D game engine primarily used for real-time strategy (RTS) games, offering advanced graphics and physics capabilities.

Panda 3D

A free and open-source 3D game engine and framework for developing immersive games and simulations.

GameSalad

A drag-and-drop game development platform that allows developers to create 2D games without writing code.

Phaser

A fast, free, and open-source HTML5 game framework for building 2D games that run smoothly on web browsers.

Cafu Engine

An open-source game engine and development environment for creating multiplayer 3D games.

Enigma

A free and open-source game development platform that supports multiple programming languages and enables cross-platform game development.

The Best Game Engines for Mobile

Here are some of the best game engines for mobile development:

Solar2D

A free and open-source framework for building 2D mobile games, formerly known as Corona SDK.

BuildBox

A no-code game development platform that allows users to create games visually without programming.

Construct 3

A web-based game development tool that uses a visual scripting interface to create 2D games for multiple platforms.

Clickteam Fusion 2.5

A game development tool that enables users to create games and interactive multimedia applications using a visual programming interface.

MonoGame

An open-source implementation of the Microsoft XNA framework for building cross-platform games targeting mobile devices.

Haxe

A high-level programming language and toolkit for cross-platform game development, supporting various target platforms including mobile.

Defold

A collaborative game development platform that provides tools and workflows for building 2D games for mobile and other platforms.

So Which Game Engine is The Best?

If you want to read more detailed information, check out our articles comparing Godot vs Unity and Unreal Engine vs Unity.

Utilizing Version Control with Top Game Engines

Version control is essential for managing collaborative game development projects and tracking changes to source code, assets, and project files. Here’s how version control can be implemented with top game engines:

Unity

Unity projects can be managed with version control systems such as Git, Subversion (SVN), or Perforce. Unity’s built-in collaboration features and Asset Server facilitate version control and asset management within the Unity Editor. Additionally, Unity Collaborate offers cloud-based version control and collaboration tools for Unity projects.

Unreal Engine

Unreal Engine projects are commonly managed with version control systems like Git, Perforce, or Plastic SCM. Unreal Engine provides:

• Built-in integration with Perforce Helix Core for version control.
• Enabling seamless collaboration and versioning of project files.
• Assets.
• Source code.

Godot Engine

Godot Engine projects can be managed with version control systems like Git, Mercurial, or Subversion. Godot’s project files, scripts, and assets are stored in a structured format that is conducive to version control. Developers can use Git or other version control tools to track changes, collaborate with team members, and manage project revisions.

Can the Game Engine’s Performance be Improved?

Improving game engine performance involves optimizing various aspects of the Engine, including rendering, physics, scripting, asset management, and memory usage. Here are some strategies for enhancing game engine performance:

Profile and Identify Bottlenecks

Use profiling tools to identify performance bottlenecks and optimize areas of the game engine that are consuming excessive resources. Analyze CPU and GPU usage, memory allocation, draw calls, and frame rates to pinpoint areas for improvement.

Optimize Rendering Pipeline

Optimize the rendering pipeline by reducing the complexity of shaders, minimizing overdraw, and implementing efficient rendering techniques such as level of detail (LOD), occlusion culling, and frustum culling. Use GPU instancing and batching to reduce draw calls and improve rendering efficiency.

Implement Efficient Asset Loading

Optimize asset loading and streaming to minimize load times and memory usage. Use asset bundling, asynchronous loading, and resource pooling to efficiently manage assets and avoid performance spikes during gameplay.

Profile and Optimize Code

Profile and optimize game code, scripts, and logic to reduce computational overhead and improve performance. Identify and refactor inefficient algorithms, loops, and calculations to optimize CPU usage and improve frame rates.

Utilize Hardware Acceleration

Leverage hardware acceleration features such as multi-threading, SIMD (Single Instruction, Multiple Data), and GPU compute shaders to offload processing tasks and improve performance. Utilize hardware-specific optimizations and features to maximize performance on target platforms.

By implementing these performance optimization strategies, game developers can enhance the performance and efficiency of their game engines, resulting in smoother gameplay experiences and improved overall quality.

Kevuru Games Expertise in Unreal Game Development

Kevuru Games specializes in Unreal Engine game development, leveraging the power and capabilities of Unreal Engine to create visually stunning and immersive gaming experiences. Our team of experienced developers and artists has expertise in Unreal Engine’s advanced rendering techniques, real-time visualization, and game optimization strategies.

We offer a comprehensive range of Unreal Engine game development company services and Unity game development services including:

• Game design and prototyping
• 3D modeling and animation
• Level design and environment creation
• Gameplay programming and scripting
• VR/AR development
• Multiplayer and network programming
• Optimization and performance tuning
• Post-launch support and updates

With a proven track record of delivering high-quality Unreal Engine projects across various genres and platforms. You can hire Unreal Engine developer from Kevuru Games as your trusted partner for Unreal Engine game development. Whether you’re a indie developer, established studio, or enterprise client, we’re committed to bringing your vision to life and creating unforgettable gaming experiences that engage and captivate players.

Wrapping Up: What Engine Drives You Today?

We have provided you with information about the 5 most popular game engines most commonly used to create notable projects. Of course, there are many other options, such as GameMaker Studio or Phaser, used to create simple 2D games. But they’re not the type to steal the show in the gaming market and are used quite rarely and situationally.

So how to choose a game engine? We still say that everything depends on your needs and goals. Each engine has strengths and weaknesses, as well as optimal areas of application − Unreal for AAA games, Unity for beautiful 2D and 3D metroidvanias and platformers, etc. But the main thing is that all of them are relevant at the moment and continue to develop actively.

If you are in doubt about which engine will suit your project more, we suggest discussing it with us. Our developers work mainly with Unity and Unreal, but since they are proficient in C, C++, and C# programming languages, they are automatically aware of absolutely any engine written on them. We will carefully study the requirements for your project or determine them ourselves based on your concept, and select the most suitable engine.

FIND OUT WHICH ENGINE IS BEST FOR YOUR FUTURE GAME AND ARM YOURSELF WITH THE RIGHT TOOLS TO SUCCEED

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