Did you know the market size of the gaming industry was estimated to be $229.16 billion in 2021 and is expected to grow to $545.98 billion in 2028 with a compound annual growth rate of 13.20%? Hundreds to thousands of people are employed globally in the industry, with annual revenue generation in billions.

What is an Android Game Development Kit (AGDK)?

An Android game development kit contains libraries and a set of tools for high-quality game development, optimization, launch, and iteration. It then assembles new and current functionality, tools, and libraries. 

AGDK contains some prevalent game engines, like Unity, Godot, Defold, Solar2D, GameMaker, Cocos2D-s, Unreal Engine, Construct 3, Fusion, and Monogame to give a push to your mobile game development journey. These tools have their strengths and weaknesses. Therefore, go with the tool that meets your skill level, requirements, and total cost. 

Game development is solely carried out with the help of engines/tools. Therefore, before starting your game development journey, ensure you are choosing the right tool for swift and manageable results. 

Here are the top 10 mobile game development tools you need to get your game on.

Unity

The powerful features of Unity are in high demand globally among developers and creators due to its visually appealing and immersive graphics for realistic images and dynamic animations. It guarantees an excellent user experience with its user-friendly interface. Additionally, it is free of cost and can be used effortlessly on different operating systems. 

Godot

With free open source, Godot has become a powerful Android game development tool with free 2D and 3D animation. Godot is multifaceted, allowing you to develop hierarchies of intricate scenes and letting you reuse assets in every part of your project. It has a wide range of intricate tools to make your work easier and more manageable. Additionally, it also includes a physics engine to support 2D and 3D physics for a more realistic outlook in the game. 

Defold

Defold is known for its simplicity with powerful and user-friendly mobile game development tools. It has cross-platform features and a zero-setup policy. It allows for the diverse creation of games, including 2D and 3D. It allows game development with minimal effort. Additionally, its Lua language scripting makes it lightweight and dynamic while embedding codes. 

Solar2D

With simple and straightforward Lua language, scripting provides developers with a smooth coding experience. It has interactive graphic features with expansive design options that make you feel like a designer. Additionally, it is completely free and has all the resources available due to its open-source feature. 

GameMaker

GameMaker’s user-friendly interface and language simplicity are specially designed for newbies and people with minimal programming experience to develop games. Its easy drag-and-drop options make it manageable for individuals who want to prototype their ideas fast. Additionally, it specializes in 2D animation with a wide variety of 2D-specific tools and functions. 

Cocos2D-s

Cocos2D-s is a lightweight, flexible, and open-source tool that allows high-performance performance and swift multi-platform support. It allows easy usage and development of customizations and extensions. 

Unreal Engine

The multi-platform support, compelling and high-quality graphics, and versatility make Unreal Engine an exciting mobile game development tool for developers. It has a rich library with a variety of models, sounds, animation, and textures. Additionally, the presence of AR/VR technology makes it a blessing for game developers. 

Construct 3

Construct 3 is a user-friendly tool that prioritizes 2D game development for an exciting 2D experience. Developers from any skill background can speed up quickly with its easy drag-and-drop option. Additionally, it provides cross-platform support, allowing you to export your creations effortlessly for larger market reach. 

Fusion

Fusion is an excellent tool for swiftly creating high-quality/compelling 2D games. It offers a variety of extensions and allows you to add elements, such as text, characters, and more. Additionally, it also offers multi-platform support for ease and manageability. You can create a variety of games with its free or basic plan. 

MonoGame

MonoGame is another versatile, flexible, and highly customizable tool that is also open source. It is more of a framework that allows developers to create something that fits their requirements, giving them independence. Monogame also provides a multi-platform and strong community support, giving them an excellent market presence. 

Steps to Develop Your Mobile Game

Follow these steps to kickstart your mobile game development journey. 

1. Be a dreamer, shape an idea, and take inspiration from real life to build original spaces.
2. An idea should have a purpose. Create a great story with that idea and add fun and suspense, along with engagement and excitement. 
3. Create a story with a great flow of characters, including protagonist, antagonist, twist, and ending. 
4. Create a buzz about your game to make it successful.
5. Get game development tools and create a prototype.
6. Spend time designing your game meticulously.  
7. Developing a game requires a great amount of time and money. Therefore, choose a monetization plan for ROI. 
8. Select a platform and your team of developers. 
9. Lastly, do a trial run on your game before launching. 

Conclusion

The mobile game development industry is continuously evolving, with cutting-edge engines and tools for game development. Whether you are a beginner or a skilled professional, these game development tools offer varied possibilities to bring your innovative idea to life. 

These game development tools are crucial but will not provide you with everything. Along with excellent app creation, also make sure to make it discoverable to the people to promote engagement and climb up the success ladder. Therefore, to get your game development fun going, invest your time and effort in only the best tools that fulfill your needs and skills.