How much does it cost to make a game?

The cost, line by line

• Engine and tools: usually $0. Godot is free and open source under the MIT license. Unity Personal is free below a $200,000 revenue and funding limit. Scratch, GDevelop and Roblox Studio are free to start.
• A computer. Most engines are built for a PC or a Mac. A native iPhone app usually needs Xcode, which runs only on macOS, so iOS without a Mac gets awkward.
• Art. Free packs exist, such as Kenney's public-domain game assets. Paid packs and freelance artists are where budgets start to grow, and the price depends on style and amount.
• Sound and music. Free libraries, paid packs or a composer. Whatever you use, check that the license allows a game you sell.
• Store fees. Apple Developer Program: $99 a year. Google Play: $25 once. Steam Direct: $100 per game, paid back once the game earns $1,000. itch.io: free to publish.
• The store's cut. Apple keeps 15% under its Small Business Program and 30% otherwise. Google Play's US fees changed in 2026, so check its fee page. Steam takes 30%, and itch.io lets you pick its share.
• Time. The biggest cost by far. If you would have to pay someone for those hours, that is your real budget.

Three budget levels

• Hobby game: $0 to $124. Free engine, your own art, free sounds. The only money is optional store accounts: $99 for Apple, $25 for Google, or both.
• Small indie game. Add asset packs, a freelancer or two for art and music, a Steam fee and some marketing. Budgets vary hugely, so price each piece before you commit.
• A game like Subway Surfers. Made by SYBO and Kiloo in 2012 and updated for years by a full team. Matching that scope is a company budget. A small runner with one twist is the realistic start.

Test the idea before you spend

Most money in games is lost building something nobody replays. So test the core idea first, before you pay for art or store accounts.

The cheapest test is Roam, a free iPhone app. Describe the game in a sentence and it comes back playable, with world, art, sound and rules. Hand it to friends. If they ask for another round without being asked, the idea is worth a real budget. If not, you skipped a year of work on the wrong game.

Questions people ask

How much does it cost to make a mobile game?

A solo mobile game can cost almost nothing beyond store fees: $99 a year for Apple and $25 once for Google Play. Paid art, sound and developers raise it fast.

How much does it cost to make a game like Subway Surfers?

Far more than one person can spend, because it is built and updated by a full studio. Start with a small runner and grow it only if people keep playing.

Can I make a game for free?

Yes. Godot, Scratch, GDevelop and Roblox Studio are free to start, and Roam is a free iPhone app where you describe a game and play it.