The Best 15 Mobile Game Development Platforms & Tools in 2018
In this post we are going to meet the best mobile game development platforms and engines / tools you can use to build your own game for iPhone / iPad and Android devices. Apple App Store and Google Play Store are waiting for you… Let’s go!
How to make a mobile game and not die trying…
Mobile game industry is constantly increasing as users’ engagement towards mobile apps is increasing at the same time. Nowadays we don’t only use our smartphones to carry out actions like sending messages or checking up the news but as a mean of entertainment. Thanks to innovations in the mobile industry and some platforms, creating and launching games in the app stores has become really popular among developers and companies. What is more, nowadays lots of people play games with smartphones and tablets and mobile games can become a really great business if properly executed – so you don’t have any excuse, get into this business.
And don’t worry, because as always, we’ve got you covered! In case you feel overwhelmed and think that creating games is a really difficult task, go through this post about the 15 of the best Mobile Game Development Tools and Platforms and discover that you don’t really need to be an expert to develop one.
Top 15 Mobile Game Development Tools & Platforms Preferred by Developers for this year (2018)
Meet some Mobile Game Development Platforms and Tools that will help you in creating your own product. Take a look and decide which is the one that best suits your needs – they all have advantages. Get ready to turn your dreams into reality!
1. Unity
Among the best Mobile Development Platforms we find Unity – a cross-platform tool launched by Unity Technologies. This platform helps you to create your own mobile game using amazing 2D and 3D mobile development features and work together with your team. Unity allows you to import assets from many 3D applications as Maya or Blender for example and it offers you a wide range of assets that can be purchased straight from their own store. What is more, if it’s the first time that you are developing a game don’t worry because Unity, one of the most used game development platforms, provides you with help material as tutorials and guides. Unity is one of the most famous mobile game development tools among developers.
Supported Platforms:
- iOS
- Android
- Windows Phone
- Tizen OS
- Fire OS
Pricing:
- Free for personal use
- $25/ month for a Plus edition
- $125/ month for a Pro edition
- Prices for enterprises are available upon request
Some mobile games developed using Unity: Lara Croft Go, Angry Birds 2, Pokémon Go.
2. Unreal Engine
If you are not an expert developer Unreal Engine is the platform for you because you don’t need to have any programming skills thanks to its user-friendly features. This platform allows you to make changes and modify your game with no need of programming or changing codes. Another advantages are the easy to work with interface and the possibility of testing your game inside the platform. Use Unreal Engine to design impressive graphics and get your users hooked to your game!
Supported Platforms:
- Windows PC
- Sony PlayStation 4
- Xbox One
- Mac OS X
- iOS
- Android
- VR platforms
- Linux
- SteamOS
- HTML5
Pricing:
- Free for small projects
- In case of $3,000 profit, developers should pay 5% royalty
Some mobile games developed using Unreal Engine: Heart at Attack, Lineage II: Revolution, ABC Augmented Reality.
3. Corona SDK – The 2D Game Engine
Corona SDK is a cross-platform that uses the Lua scripting language which is pretty easy to learn and code with. You can make use of its 2D features and find many plugins in the Corona Market place. Corona is famous for their clear documentation and their supportive and active community. It also brings a real-time simulation that will help you to see how your app will look like after changes.
Supported Platforms:
- iOS
- Android
- Windows Phone
- Kindle
- Apple / Android TV
Pricing:
- Core functionalities are free to use
Some mobile games developed using Corona: Grow Beets Clicker and I Love Hue.
4. SpriteKit – 2D sprite-based games
Apple has launched its own platform to create 2D games: SpriteKit. This platform supports both Swift and Objective-C languages and it offers developers a wide range of features that will help them in creating high-performance 2D games. If you are thinking of developing a game for Apple this is the platform for you. Take note: if it’s supported by Apple it means that you don’t need to download extra libraries or external sources and you can be 100% sure that it would perfectly match and suit in all Apple’s new products!
Supported Platforms:
- iOS
Pricing:
- Free
Some mobile games developed using SpriteKit: Squashy Bug, Trestle and Accelebot.
5. Marmalade SDK
Marmalade SDK allows you to build native games for mobiles and desktop what it makes this platform famous among the top developers. It works with C++ code language and it permits you to create both 2D and 3D games. You can use different libraries, codes and tools to help yourself with programming and testing.
Supported Platforms:
- iOS
- Android
- Windows Phone
- Tizen OS
- Blackberry
- Connected TV Platforms
Pricing:
- $600
Some mobile games developed using Marmalade engine: Plants vs Zombies 2, Metal Gear Solid Mobile, Doddle Jump, Worms, Cut the Rope, Need for Speed: Shift, Bejeweled Blitz…
6. Buildbox
With Buildbox you can create your own games in a really short time and in a really easy way. You don’t need to code – select images, import them, assign them a role (character, object, decoration, power up, etc) and your game will get started. In addition you can make changes and check them in real time. If you are not a tech expert this platform is for you!
Supported Platforms:
- iOS
Pricing:
- Plus Plan $15/ month
- Indie Plan $35/ month
- Pro Plan $99/ month
Some mobile games developed using Buildbox: Timelight, Reached and cmnd/ctrl.
7. AppGameKit
AppGameKit offers solutions for all type of developers from beginners to experts and it is also a user-friendly platform that uses a similar coding language to C++. One of its best valued characteristics is that this is a cross-platforms and therefore your game will be available for all different platforms at once.
Supported Platforms:
- Windows Phone
- iOS
- Android
- Blackberry
Pricing:
- An average packet is $50
- The SDK can go from $39 to $99
Some mobile games developed using AppGameKit: Skrobol, Bouncing Brendan and Na4.
8. Construct 2
Construct 2 is a HTML5 platform for creating 2D games. It is very easy to use as coding is not required and it has many features that will help you in developing visually appealing games in a short time. It also allows for multiplatform export so your project will be ready to be launched in different devices at once!
Supported Platforms:
- iOS
- Android
- Windows Phone
- Web platforms: Google Chrome, Kongregate, NewGrounds, Firefox Marketplace or Scirra Arcade
Pricing:
- 159,99€
Some mobile games developed using Construct 2: The Next Penelope, Airscape: The Fall of Gravity and Cosmochoria
8. Fusion
If you are thinking of creating an event-based game Fusion is the platform for you. Fusion has an easy-to-use interface and you don’t need to be an expert in programming as you won’t need to do it. They have a library full of graphics that you can use for your game. This platform can also be used to design 2D games although it’s better if you use Fusion to create static ones.
Supported Platforms:
- iOS
- Android
- Windows
Pricing:
- The full version price goes from $49.99 to $99.99
- Additional packages price varies: from $39.99 to $149.99
- There is also a free version
Some mobile games developed using Fusion: DISTRAINT, Quadle and Bit Odyssey
9. GameMaker Studio 2
Yoyo Games have launched their own platform for creating 2D games: GameMaker Studio 2. Their amazing “Drag and Drop” feature together with their easy-to-learn language give you the chance to design your game in a very short time. Another advantage is that you don’t need to spend a large amount of money to get started!
Supported Platforms:
- iOS
- Android
- Windows Phone
- Tizen
- Amazon Fire
- PS Vita
Pricing:
- You have a free- limited version (with no features)
- If you want to purchase features the price varies from $150 to $800
Some mobile games developed using GameMaker: Studio: Hyper Light Drifter, UNDERTALE and Desert Child.
10. CocoonJS
With CocoonJS you can create HTML5 games and it is 100% compatible with Cordova. Among its amazing features we could highlight the Cocoon cloud which saves you from installing SDKs and their Plugins library which provides you with any plugin that you could need.
Supported Platforms:
- iOS
- Android
- Amazon AppStore Plugin (Android)
- Nook Plugin (Android)
- Ouya Plugin (Android)
- Android Wear
Pricing:
- New projects are for free
- There is a Silver edition for $8
- There is a Gold edition for $69
- And there is a Platinum edition for $199
Some mobile games developed using CocoonJS: Bubble Shooter Classic, Solitaire Swift and Celsius Heroes.
11. MonoGame
MonoGame is also a multi-platform game engine that uses class architecture and works with C and Net languages. You can find many tutorials in their website helping you in creating your product.
Supported Platforms:
- iOS
- Windows Phone
- Android
Pricing:
- Free
Some mobile games developed using MonoGame: FEZ, Bastion and Skulls of the Shogun.
12. Amazon Lumberyard
Amazon Lumberyard is the game creator engine launched by Amazon. Make use of its free tools and create your game – it can be released in different devices thanks to its cross-platform functionality. Engage your users with visually rich content through the Lumberyard’s Twitch integration.
Supported Platforms:
- iOS
- Android
- PC
- Xbox One
- PlayStation4
Pricing:
- Free
Some mobile games developed using Amazon Lumberyard: Crucible and Breakaway.
13. Cocos2D-x
Cocos2D-x is a package of 2D game development tools. released by Facebook. One of its best features is that Cocos 2D-x allows you to create very small size games: 1.5 MB. It comes with detailed documentation and it has a large support community. Read and learn how to use it!
Supported Platforms:
- iOS
- Android
- Linux
- OS X platform
Pricing:
- Free
Some mobile games developed using Cocos2D-x: Angry Birds Fight, Clash of Kings and Brave Frontier.
14. Haxe
Haxe is a programming language that resembles Java, C++, PHP or AS3 languages. It also includes a library from which you can select frameworks and choose between a wide range of functions and procedures (APIs) to develop your mobile game.
Supported Platforms:
- iOS
- Android
Pricing:
- They have different Support Plans.
Some mobile games developed using Haxe: Rymdkapsel, Papers, Please and Dead Cells.
15. Gideros
With Gideros is an open sourced and free platform. You can create amazing games and launch them in different platforms with no need to make additional changes thanks to its cross-platform functionality. Gideros uses the same scripting language as Corona: Lua. You can also test your game on a real device and in real time, isn’t it exciting? Try this tool and tell us in the comments!
Supported Platforms:
- iOS
- Mac OS X
- Android
- Windows Phone
- Windows
- Windows RT
Pricing:
- Free
Some mobile games developed using Gideros: Willihard, Bubble Puddle and Elemental Clash.
To sum up: Mobile Game Development Platforms & Tools 2018
There are some mobile game development platforms and tools in the market and we have outlined the most widespread tools and engines that can help build a breathtaking game. While choosing a platform to develop a mobile game, take into account your budget, ideas, requirements, and expectations. It’s rather tough decision, but you can go through it with flying colors and create an EPIC 2D / 3D game that you will have to market it properly to acquire players, do ASO, etc… But that is another story.
All credit goes to Cristina Stefanova for this post
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