Thanks to powerful engines like Unity and Unreal Engine 5, making a video game in 2025 is easier than ever. Are you dreaming of creating a casual mobile game or a high-end console experience? This guide will take you through the step-by-step process, needed tools, and costs to bring your creative vision to life.
We will go through the steps involved in developing a video game.
We will list down all the essential features of video games.
We will talk about some of the best genres in video games.
We will discuss the tools and technology required in developing video games.
Lastly, you will also learn about the development cost and the future of video games.
What are the Steps to Make a Video Game in 2025?
If you’re planning to create a successful video game in 2025, here are the essential steps you need to follow:
1. Come Up With a Game Idea
Begin with a distinctive and engaging game concept. Your idea should address a problem, entertain players, or offer a new experience. Outline the storyline, setting, and main goal of the game.
2. Choose Your Game Genre and Platform
Decide whether your game will be a puzzle, shooter, RPG, racing, or strategy game. Then choose your target platform, such as mobile, PC, console, or cross-platform. This choice will influence your design and technology stack.
3. Select a Game Engine (Unity, Unreal, Godot)
Select a Mobile Game engine that matches your game style and budget. Typically, developers choose from three main engines: Unity, Unreal Engine, and Godot.
Unity is ideal for 2D/3D mobile games and VR.
Unreal Engine 5 is perfect for high-end AAA titles with realistic graphics.
Godot is a great open-source option for indie developers.
4. Create Design Documentation (GDD)
Create a Game Design Document (GDD) that details every aspect of your game and includes all essential information about the development process.
Storyline and characters
Game mechanics and rules
Level design and progression
UI/UX layout
Tech requirements
5. Start Development (Graphics, Programming, Sound)
Once you complete the four steps above, create your game assets. Begin the detailed development process, which will include:
Coding the gameplay logic
Designing 2D/3D environments
Creating animations and characters
Integrating music and sound effects
6. Test Your Game Thoroughly
Conduct several rounds of internal and external testing. This process helps you identify bugs and fix all loopholes easily. In addition to bug fixes, you can:
Optimize performance
Take user feedback
Balance the gameplay
7. Launch and Market the Game
Once testing is complete, launch your game on platforms like Steam, App Store, or Google Play. Promote it through:
We will discuss the specifics of game development, but first, let’s understand some aspects of games, such as features and types. Initially, we will list all the elements considered features of a video game, and then we will discuss the different kinds of video games in detail.
Immersive Graphics
Video game graphics have advanced significantly, with AAA titles now using real-time ray tracing technology to deliver photorealistic visuals. These technologies allow developers to create ultra-detailed environments, which have become the new standard.
AI-Driven Gameplay
One feature of games being developed in 2025 is the use of AI in their gameplay. Artificial intelligence creates the non-playing characters used in the game to behave more like humans and not bots. Procedural content generation will also be done through AI in video games in 2025.
Cross-Platform Play
The most important feature is cross-platform play, which is common in most online video games. It allows players to access their favorite games on any device, such as a PC, console, or mobile device.
Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR)
AR and VR will be prominent features of video games in 2025, as these technologies enhance the realism of the gaming experience. When using a VR headset, it becomes challenging to distinguish between the virtual environment and the real world.
Multiplayer and Online Communities
Video games must incorporate multiplayer options to cultivate an online community. This feature is indispensable as it enhances players’ sense of connection and improves communication.
Video games are typically divided into four main categories. These include AAA, AA, Indie, and III games. All these categories differ significantly, as does the average video game cost. The costs may vary, but the required programming skills are roughly identical. Let’s discuss the major types of video games in depth:
1. AAA Games
These games are created by major publishers, requiring large teams and high costs. They are large-scale, feature-rich, and realistic, with development costs skyrocketing due to their complexity.
Examples: Grand Theft Auto V, Red Dead Redemption 2, etc.
2. Indie Games
Indie Games are simple, feature-limited games with easy gameplay, developed by independent creators and distributed on platforms like Steam, Epic Games, and Nintendo e-Store. Their development costs are much lower than AAA and AA games.
Examples: Among Us, Tetris, etc.
3. AA Games
AA games are similar to AAA games in terms of quality. The main difference is that these games require a small, budget-constrained development team due to less complexity. AA games are better than Indie games and less complicated than AAA titles.
Examples: A Plague Tale: Innocence, Life is Strange, etc.
4. III Games
III games are developed by independent developers but with a larger budget than indie games. They do not lack the skills of AAA game developers, but they aren’t recognized as AAA developers because they don’t come from major studios or publishers.
Examples: The Witness and Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey
What are the Right Game Development Tools?
2025 provides a wide range of development tools for developers. Game development has become highly accessible, and by using the latest tools and technology, you can create a world-class game.
Unity
Unity is a fantastic game engine that makes developing 2D and 3D games easy. It’s great for personal projects as well, with the pro version starting at just 150 dollars a month. Known for its wide array of assets and powerful features, it offers a versatile platform for the creator community.
Unreal Engine 5
Unreal Engine is a top game engine used for many AAA titles. It’s free but charges royalties after $1 million in earnings. It’s known for cutting-edge graphics and advanced features physics.
Godot Engine
Godot is a free and open-source game engine highly recommended for indie developers. It is a lightweight alternative to Unity and Unreal. Godot has established a strong position in the market due to its ease of use and flexibility.
Other notable game engines are CryEngine and GameMaker Studio 2. CryEngine is known for helping develop games with advanced AI tools. Other tools assist in character animation and detailed world-building tools.
What is the Video Game Development Cost?
The cost of video game development varies depending on several factors, including the hiring of developers and the project’s complexity. You may have encountered the question, “What is the cost of developing a video game?” and may understand the associated expenses. The technology stack involved in video game development typically costs $50,000 to $100,000 when creating a new game from scratch, incorporating basic features and functionalities.
Developing an AAA game costs more and takes longer than AA titles because of high-end design and advanced mechanics. RNG games are cheaper but have varying costs. The following list explains cost of development for each genre:
AAA game: $10 million to $50 million
AA game: $1 million to $5 million
Indie game: $70k to $150k
III game: $100k to $2 million
In short, the experience of the video game development team, the complexity of your project, the number of features, the location of developers, the application size, the technology stack, and video game design are the factors influencing the cost of video game development.
After reading this blog, we hope it has helped you understand various aspects of video game development, including types of video games, game design, the costs involved, and the factors that influence them.
Future of Game Development in 2025 and Beyond
The future of video game development offers exciting opportunities for both developers and gamers. With blockchain-based games, players can benefit and earn while playing, thanks to the P2E model. Additionally, technologies like AI, VR, and AR are poised to transform gaming as they will blur the line between real and virtual worlds.
Develop a Video Game At BR Softech
As a leading video game development company, BR Softech excels in developing top-notch video games for worldwide clients. Our in-house video game developer team strives for 100% client satisfaction and excellence and delivers the same through class-leading video game development solutions.
If you want to develop creative and robust video games for your business, feel free to contact us; we will be happy to transform your ideas into a reality. Choose us to get:
Q1. What game engines should I use to make a game in 2025?
Ans. Unity, Unreal Engine, and Godot are three of the main engines that you can leverage to make a game in 2025.
Q2. How much does it cost to make a video game in 2025?
Ans. The cost of game development may vary for different game genres, and other factors also affect game development, like whether a game development company is developing it or an indie developer. Usually, a simple mobile game can cost up to 50,000 dollars, and AAA games can cost you more than a million dollars.
Q3. How long does it take to develop a video game in 2025?
Ans. Simple 2D indie games can take up to 6 months to build and deploy. However, AAA games take a lot of time, and the project can stretch up to 5 years.
Q.4 How to make a video game app for free?
Ans. There are numerous online platforms available that develop video games for free. However, these games are only a small prototype that you can use as a project and not a full-fledged game.
Q.5 How to design your own video game?
Ans. To design your own video game, you need to: Contact the best video game development company Share your idea with them Discuss project details and budget with them Keep yourself updated with the development process Have your own video game
Q.6 How are video games made?
Ans. Video games are made by writing new source codes, creating in-game assets and characteristics, developing realistic sound effects and graphics, creating different levels, and writing dialogues for cutscenes and NPCs. All this stuff together makes a video game.
Q 7. What are the latest trends in game development in 2025?
Ans. Cloud gaming, AI-powered gameplay, AR and AI, blockchain, and player-driven content are some of the latest trends in the video game development industry.
Nitin Garg is a seasoned tech entrepreneur and the visionary founder of BR Softech, a globally recognized leader in game development. With over 13 years of industry experience, he has been instrumental in transforming BR Softech into a powerhouse of innovation, offering cutting-edge solutions in Video Games, Blockchain Games, NFT Game Development, and card games like Poker, Rummy, and Teen Patti.
Nitin’s deep expertise in emerging technologies, combined with a sharp business acumen, has helped position BR Softech as a trusted name in the international gaming arena. Under his leadership, BR Softech has built a global clientele of 3,000+ satisfied customers and scaled a dedicated in-house team of 180+ skilled professionals.
