How Much Does It Cost to Develop a Mobile Game? (2026 Guide)

One of the most common questions we get is: "How much will my game cost?" The answer varies wildly, but in this transparent guide, we break down the real costs of mobile game development in 2026.

---

1. The "Indie" Approach (DIY)

Cost: $0 - $500

If you code, design, and market yourself, it's free (minus your time). Costs include:

• Google Play Developer Fee: $25 (One time)
• Apple Developer Program: $99/year
• Hosting/Domain: $10/month

2. Hyper-Casual Game (MVP)

Cost: $2,000 - $10,000

These are simple games like Flappy Bird or Helmet Royale. They focus on a single core loop.

• Development: 2-4 weeks.
• Team: 1 Developer, 1 Artist (or purchased assets).
• Marketing: This is where the real cost lies. You might spend $5k testing ads just to see if the game sticks.

3. Casual / Arcade Game

Cost: $10,000 - $50,000

Games with meta-layers (skins, shops, levels), polished UI, and social features (leaderboards).

• Development: 2-4 months.
• Team: Developer, Artist, UX Designer, Sound Engineer.
• QA: Essential to prevent bugs on thousands of device types.

4. Mid-Core & Multiplayer

Cost: $50,000 - $200,000+

Games like Brawl Stars or PUBG Mobile (scaled down). Requires server backend, complex networking, and custom 3D character modeling.

Where Does the Money Go?

Conclusion

You don't need millions to make a hit. Among Us started small. Flappy Bird was made in a few days. Start with an MVP (Minimum Viable Product), test it, and invest more only if it shows potential.