Mobile technology is indisputably among the biggest disruptors of the 21st century. It’s influencing everything from communication to how—and where—we work. But where does its biggest impact lie? We’d argue it’s in the gaming industry… The emergence of mobile as a legitimate platform for gaming has revolutionized the whole world, democratizing it for both consumers and developers alike.
With mobile on track to being the most popular segment of the global gaming market for yet another consecutive year — predictions from Research and Markets suggest that mobile will generate over $100 billion of the total market — it remains an attractive sector for new entrants. You might already have a cracking idea for a brand new mobile gaming app but an idea is only half the story.
Low barriers to entry may mean that mobile is an accessible gaming sector to launch in, but there’s also the small issue of creating a mobile gaming app to launch! Luckily, we’ve put together this guide to help aspiring indie developers understand exactly what’s involved in building next-gen gaming apps.
Types of Gaming Apps
Before we get started on game engines and software, let’s first talk about the types of gaming apps. In all honesty, the mobile gaming market is as diverse as its audience! Here, you’ll find everything from on-the-go puzzlers to multiplayer eSports games and gambling games like slots.
Mobile apps have sprung up to cater to almost any kind of interest imaginable. The Candy Crush Saga, an immensely long-running title, shows just how one can build a devoted fan base via easy-to-learn mechanics, while more complex games such as Genshin Impact deliver the console gaming experience on portable devices.
The mobile ecosystem has also allowed various segments to carve out a significant niche. Take the iGaming segment, for instance. While you might normally expect to play a vertical like online slots on a gaming website with a vast content library, they’re actually a stand-out category in the mobile app market. Many casino gaming apps come with extensive online slots games as standard, which offer the same variety of themes and interactive features as seen on desktop platforms.
Online slots have a similar kind of appeal to Candy Crush – being very easy to learn and play, and offering you a great hit of excitement whenever you win. Indeed, online slots and the mechanics behind them make up a lot of mobile games because they lend themselves so beautifully to tap-to-click. This means that while you might still play online slots on a gaming website at times, there’s also plenty of room for this option in the mobile world.
Developing a Gaming App
By now, you’re no doubt feeling inspired to get started developing your app, so what do you need to know? Well, building a successful gaming app, regardless of genre, starts with choosing the right tools. Game engines will play a pivotal role here, as they’ll deliver the framework you need to create engaging and technologically sound applications.
In terms of general gaming apps, Unity and Unreal Engine fare just as well in this realm as they do in video game development. Unity’s flexibility is suitable for developers of all levels, while Unreal Engine can take mobile game graphics to the next level for visual intensity.
Alternatively, some developers choose mobile-specific tools like Buildbox, with its drag-and-drop interface; while 2D game development is a cinch with Cocos2d-x.
API Integration
Next up, let’s think about the type of experience you’re wanting to deliver with your app. Part of your toolkit will be selecting the right APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) to extend the functionality of your product.
Say, for instance, your game is based on the freemium model, with users needing to make in-app purchases and microtransactions to gain access to enhanced content. An API you’ll need to integrate here is a payment gateway, since you want to provide gamers with a safe and secure way to carry out these transactions. Services like Stripe and PayPal can be easily embedded as you’re building.
It’s also a good idea to consider things like player authentication and login processes; both Apple and Google provide APIs that can streamline these. Social media integration is also essential to creating the right user experience (and it has the added benefit of increasing community engagement with your mobile game) so opt for APIs that allow players to share their achievements across all major platforms.
Cross-Platform Development
And if you didn’t already know this, modern gamers want access to everything. Seriously! Players expect their favorite games to function seamlessly across all of their portable devices, whether that’s a brand-new iPhone, a spare Android device, or a Windows tablet.
How can you ensure your app does the same?
There are several tools available that you should take note of. Particularly, frameworks like Flutter and React Native ensure cross-platform compatibility by making it possible to write code once and then deploy it across various platforms.
There are other considerations to take into account though, not least the very real challenges that occur with cross-platform mobile app development. Optimizing performance for different hardware configurations, screen sizes, and operating systems does require rigorous testing and attention to detail. Providing a consistent user experience is key here.
If all that sounds too complex for where you’re at in your software development journey right now, another option could be to launch a progressive web app (PWA) instead. PWAs combine the best of web and mobile experiences, offering app-like functionality built on web platform technologies. It won’t be the best choice for games with any degree of complexity, but if you’re looking to put lightweight or hyper-casual games out there, it’s an avenue that’s worth exploring.
