How to Build a Simple Mobile Game
A step-by-step guide to creating your first mobile game from scratch
Choose Your Game Idea
Start with a simple concept. For your first game, consider these beginner-friendly options:
- Endless runner (like Temple Run)
- Simple puzzle game (match-3 or similar)
- Tap-based game (like Flappy Bird)
- Hyper-casual game with one mechanic
For this tutorial, we’ll create a simple obstacle avoidance game where the player taps to jump over obstacles.
Select Development Tools
Choose tools based on your skills and goals:
- Unity: Most popular, great for 2D and 3D
- Godot: Free, open-source, lightweight
- Construct 3: No coding required
- Android Studio: For native Android games
We’ll use Unity for this example as it has the largest community and most learning resources.
Plan Your Game Mechanics
Define the core mechanics of your game:
- Player movement (tap to jump)
- Obstacle generation
- Scoring system
- Game over conditions
Keep it simple! Your first game should have just 1-2 mechanics to focus on learning the process.
Set Up Your Project
In Unity, create a new 2D project and set up the basic structure:
public class PlayerController : MonoBehaviour {
public float jumpForce = 10f;
private Rigidbody2D rb;
void Start() {
rb = GetComponent<Rigidbody2D>();
}
void Update() {
if (Input.GetMouseButtonDown(0)) {
rb.velocity = Vector2.up * jumpForce;
}
}
}
Create Game Assets
Keep graphics simple, especially for your first game:
- Use basic shapes or simple sprites
- Create 64×64 or 128×128 pixel art
- Use free resources from Kenney.nl or OpenGameArt.org
- Focus on gameplay over graphics
For our obstacle game, we only need:
– A player character (square/circle)
– Obstacles (rectangles)
– Background
Implement Game Logic
Add these essential components:
- Player movement controls
- Obstacle spawner
- Collision detection
- Score tracking
- Game state management (start, play, game over)
public class ObstacleSpawner : MonoBehaviour {
public GameObject obstacle;
public float spawnRate = 2f;
void Start() {
InvokeRepeating(“SpawnObstacle”, spawnRate, spawnRate);
}
void SpawnObstacle() {
Instantiate(obstacle, transform.position, Quaternion.identity);
}
}
Game Demo
Here’s a simple demonstration of the game concept we’re building:
Mobile Optimization
Adapt your game for mobile devices:
- Implement touch controls instead of mouse/keyboard
- Optimize performance for mobile hardware
- Test various screen sizes and aspect ratios
- Add mobile-friendly UI with larger buttons
- Consider battery consumption
if (Input.touchCount > 0) {
Touch touch = Input.GetTouch(0);
if (touch.phase == TouchPhase.Began) {
// Jump or perform action
}
}
Test Thoroughly
Testing is crucial for mobile games:
- Test on multiple devices (iOS and Android)
- Check different screen sizes and resolutions
- Test performance on older devices
- Look for memory leaks and optimization issues
- Get feedback from friends or beta testers
Fix bugs and optimize until your game runs smoothly on all target devices.
Publish Your Game
When your game is ready, publish it to app stores:
- Google Play Store ($25 one-time fee)
- Apple App Store ($99 yearly fee)
- Create compelling store listing with screenshots
- Prepare promotional materials
- Consider marketing strategies
Congratulations! You’ve now created and published your first mobile game.
Frequently Asked Questions
While coding knowledge is helpful, there are tools like Construct 3 and GameMaker that allow you to create games with minimal coding. However, learning to code will give you more flexibility and control.
For a beginner, a very simple game might take 2-4 weeks of part-time work. More complex games can take several months. Start small and expand as you learn.
Yes, through ads, in-app purchases, or premium pricing. However, competition is fierce, and most games don’t make significant money. Focus on creating a good game first.
Android is generally easier to start with because of the simpler publishing process and larger device market share. However, consider your target audience and where they’re more likely to be.
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