Written by — March 27, 2025 at 10:34

Crafting a video game is a thrilling and multifaceted ambition that combines imagination, technology, and cooperation. However, one of the most important and common questions enthusiasts and curious gamers face is how long it takes to make a video game. The reply differs widely depending on the game's scale, complexity, team size, budget, and development tools. In addition, it also depends on whether you decide to create a game on your own or apply to a video game development service. In this article, we'll investigate the various aspects that affect game development timelines and highlight a general breakdown based on the type of game being developed.

What aspects affect the game development time?

First and foremost, let’s postpone diving into specific timelines and understand the basic aspects that influence how long it takes to create a game. Game development isn’t a one-size-fits-all process — every project is shaped by a unique combination of innovative ideas, technical necessities, and team dynamics. Here are the most influential aspects. 

Game Scope and Complexity

The size and ambition of a game have a significant impact on its development time. An easy mobile game like Flappy Bird, which features primary pictures and gameplay mechanics, can be crafted in a few weeks or months. Unlike small games, a monumental, content-rich open-world RPG like The Witcher 3 can take many years to develop, involving 100+ people working on world-constructing, quests, battle systems, voice acting, etc.

The sophistication of the gameplay, amount of levels, quality of illustrations, AI involvement, multiplayer support, and narrative depth all contribute to the time it takes to bring a game to life.

Scope and Background of the Team

The size and expertise of the development team are also very important. Larger teams can split chores more efficiently, decreasing the overall time needed for development. Professional creators are generally more experienced at problem-solving, optimizing performance, and avoiding common pitfalls.

Yet, a bigger team also means more coordination, which can delay things if not handled well. Smaller indie teams, or even solo creators, may take longer to finish a project due to a limited workforce, but they also profit from streamlined communication and greater creative space.

Development Tools and Technology

The tools and technology used in game development can dramatically impact timelines. Current game engines like Unity, Unreal Engine, and Godot deliver a wide spectrum of built-in components and asset libraries that can accelerate development. These engines streamline processes like physics simulation, lighting, animation, and UI design.

Nevertheless, choosing the right toolset for the job is paramount. An unsuitable engine can lead to performance problems or limitations that force developers to rebuild systems from scratch. Custom-built engines can offer more flexibility but often take much longer to develop and maintain. 

Funding and Resources

Budget plays a very important role in how fast a game can be developed. A healthy budget permits employing experienced specialists, purchasing advanced tools, outsourcing complicated tasks like 3D modeling or sound design, and investing in thorough QA and marketing.

Platform and Genre

The target platform and game genre can also affect development time. Developing a game for a single platform, for example, only for PC, is commonly faster than building for multiple platforms like PC, console, iOS, and Android simultaneously, as each platform has diverse requirements, optimizations, and testing needs.

Average Timelines Based on Game Type

Let’s look at the common timelines needed to craft various types of games.

Hyper-Casual and Mobile Games

Such games are usually less complicated in design and functionality, as they focus on brief, entertaining gameplay loops. These projects are perfect for small studios or solo developers and often have minimal graphics and basic mechanics.

• Timeframe: 2 to 6 months

• Team: Small (1-5 people)

• Examples: Flappy Bird, Among Us (initial version)

Indie Games

Indie games often feature uncommon gameplay mechanics or storytelling and are typically developed by small teams with limited budgets.

• Timeframe: 1 to 3 years

• Team: 3 to 15 people

• Examples: Stardew Valley, Hollow Knight

AA Games

AA games are mid-tier projects created by established studios with modest budgets. They deliver more polish and depth than indie games but are less ambitious than AAA titles.

• Timeframe: 2 to 4 years

• Team: 20 to 100+ people

• Examples: Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice, A Plague Tale

AAA Games

These games are high-budget projects created by major studios. They usually have complex graphics, expansive worlds, voice acting, and multiplayer support. These projects involve complex workflows, global teams, and intensive QA, which greatly extend the development timeline. 

• Timeframe: 3 to 6+ years

• Team: 100 to 500+ people

• Examples: Grand Theft Auto V, Red Dead Redemption 2, Cyberpunk 2077

These timelines offer a reasonable benchmark, however, it’s vital to remember that every project is unique. Unexpected issues, creative changes, or technical limitations can extend or shorten development time — flexibility and adaptability are key to seeing a game through to completion.

Summing Up: Patience Pays Off

So, how long does it take to make a video game? The answer varies from a couple of months for a mobile game to a few years for huge AAA titles. The key takeaway is that game development is a time-intensive process affected by multiple aspects. Whether you’re a solo indie developer or part of a major studio, the timeline will depend on your goals, resources, and the complexity of your game.