Learning how to make a video game is a great skill for 2025, whether you’re creating a small project or involved in full-scale video game development. In this complete guide, we’ll explore how to make a game from scratch and how to design video games with platforms like Roblox. At Voice123 Studio, we’ll cover how to make a game in terms of time, cost, and skills. We’ll break down game design basics, the role of a video game designer, and answer some common questions about creating your own game.
Video gamers – start your engines!
How to make a game from scratch
If you’re trying to figure out how to make a game from scratch, remember that everything, even best-selling video games, starts with an idea and a plan.
- Define your game concept: Get an idea of the core gameplay, who the target audience is, and what platform you’ll use to build and distribute your game.
- Choose a game engine: Game engines like Unity, Unreal Engine, and Godot are great for beginner and pro video game designers.
- Learn the basics: If you’re new to programming and video game design, take some time to familiarize yourself with the technical aspects of a video game, like the main coding languages (C#, C++, Python) and visual scripting tools.
- Create a prototype: Build a small, playable version to test your mechanics, check for bugs, and find ways to improve the design.
Pro tip: Start small. Many first-time game developers fail because they aim for a Nintendo-level video game project before mastering the basics.
What’s the development process for how to make a video game?
The video game development process includes several important stages:
Pre-production: Everything starts with a Game Design Document (GDD) that outlines the gameplay mechanics, story, characters, and overall video game design.
Production: A prototype of the game is developed according to the GDD. Video game designers and developers will collaborate to write the game’s code and design the levels, while video game voice actors will record the sound effects and character voice overs.
Testing: In this stage, QA testers play the game to find bugs and glitches and provide feedback on how to improve the overall experience.
Launch: The video game is published on platforms like Steam, the App Store, or Google Play for users to download.
Post-launch support: The final stage involves continuous support to keep the game running by releasing patches, updates, and DLC (downloadable content) to improve the game after launch.
Now that you know the basics of how to make a game, here’s a further explanation on how to make a game on different platforms.
How to make a Roblox game
If you’ve searched “how to make a game on Roblox,” you’ll be happy to know that Roblox Studio is a highly accessible video game design platform for beginners. Here’s how to use it:
- Install Roblox Studio – It’s free to download and easy to use.
- Select a template – Choose from pre-made templates like Obby (obstacle course), Adventure, or create your own game from scratch.
- Customize the environment – Add elements like buildings or props and create different terrains and landscapes.
- Add interactivity with Luau – This scripting language is specifically tailored to the Roblox gaming studio and is used to create game logic, scoring, and player controls.
- Test your Roblox game – Use play mode to find and fix issues and discover how to make a game that’s immersive.
- Publish your game on Roblox – Share it with millions of players worldwide with no hosting fees.
How to make a VR game
Virtual Reality video games require advanced technical development, but they also offer a fully immersive gaming experience. So, here’s how to make a VR game in just 4 steps:
- Choose a VR engine – Unity and Unreal are the best options for creating VR games with layered experiences and in-depth world-building.
- Design immersive environments – Focus on realistic visuals and smooth navigation to make it easier for players to control their avatars.
- Consider hardware limitations – Optimise your video game for VR-specific gaming controls like PlayStation VR.
- Test for comfort – Use stable frame rates and intuitive controls to reduce VR motion sickness and create an epic player experience.
Learning how to make a VR game takes more time than creating 2D or mobile games, but it’s a rapidly growing market for video game developers.
How to make a mobile game
Mobile gaming is the largest gaming industry, with over 3.2 billion active gamers worldwide in 2025. So, if you’re interested in how to make a mobile game to tap into this growing market, here’s the process in 5 steps:
- Pick the right engine – Unity, Godot, and Buildbox are beginner-friendly gaming platforms with gaming templates and pre-built frameworks to speed up development time.
- Design for touch controls – Keep interactions intuitive and straightforward to cater to mobile users.
- Optimize for performance – Mobile devices have limited resources compared to gaming consoles and computers, so design with load times and graphics processing in mind.
- Test on multiple devices – Check gameplay on different screen sizes and operating systems to ensure that your mobile game works across different devices.
- Publish – Release on the App Store, Google Play, or both, and run continuous checks to keep everything running smoothly.
What’s the timeframe and budget for video game development?
According to Kevuru Games, the amount of time and money it takes to make a video game varies depending on the genre, platform, and complexity. Here are two comparison tables with examples:
How long does it take to make a video game?
Here’s a quick breakdown of how long it takes to make a game:
| Game Type: | Development Time: |
| Roblox games | A few weeks to 2 months |
| Simple mobile games | 1-3 Months |
| Indie PC and Console | 6-18 Months |
| AAA Blockbuster Titles | 2-5 Years |
How much does it cost to make a video game?
Here’s a quick overview of the costs involved in making a game:
| Game Type: | Estimated Cost: |
| Roblox games | Free |
| Simple mobile games | $10,000 – $100,000 |
| Indie PC and console | $50,000 – $500,000 |
| AAA Blockbuster titles | $20 million – $300+ million |
How to make video games with game developers
Skilled game developers understand how to use game mechanics, animation, programming, and storytelling to create immersive and captivating gaming experiences. The costs for hiring game developers can range from $50 to $150 per hour, depending on the project’s complexity and the developer’s experience.
When hiring freelance gaming developers, it’s essential to understand the video game genre you’re targeting so that you can better analyze their portfolio to determine if their style and quality of work can deliver the gaming experience you envision.
Final thoughts on how to make a video game
So, making video games is a process that takes time, effort, and money. But with the right tools and resources, you can create a successful game. Start small, learn from each project, and build toward more complex games as your skills grow.
From epic narrations to quirky character voices, the right voice actor can make your game unforgettable. On Voice123, you can hire experienced video game voice actors who specialise in every genre. Post your video game project today!
FAQs
Choose a game engine, learn basic design principles, and start with a small project. Platforms like Roblox, Scratch, or Unity have a user-friendly interface and built-in templates and frameworks to make creating your own game easier than ever.
Yes. Use free platforms like Scratch or Roblox Studio, or open-source engines like Godot that have free assets and tutorials. Roblox also allows you to publish your video game with no hosting fees.
It depends on the game’s complexity. Simple games can be coded with block-based tools, while larger projects require in-depth knowledge of programming languages and a team of professional video game developers.
Use a 3D engine such as Unity or Unreal, model or import 3D assets, and add interactivity using code or visual scripting tools.
