How Much Time Does It Really Take to Make a Game? (Simple Breakdown)

One of the most common questions beginners ask is:

“How long does it take to make a game?”

The honest answer is:
It depends on the size of the game, the tools used, the experience of the developer, and how polished the final product is.

But don’t worry — you don’t need any technical knowledge to understand the basics.
This guide explains everything in a simple, beginner-friendly way so you can know what to expect before starting your own project.

🎮 Why Game Development Time Varies So Much

Game development is a mix of:

Art
Programming
Story
Sound
Level design
Testing

Some games need very little of these. Others require months or years of detailed work.

That's why:

A simple mobile game might take a few days
A small indie game might take weeks or months
A polished commercial indie title might take 1–3 years
Big studio games (AAA) take 3–6 years and hundreds of developers

But let’s break it down in a simple, practical way that anyone can understand.

🕒 How Long It Takes Based on Game Size

Below is the clearest, easiest breakdown you’ll ever read — no jargon, no confusion, just real expectations.

1. Tiny Games (1 day – 1 week)

Examples:

Clicker games
Endless runner prototypes
Simple puzzle games
Game jam prototypes

Perfect for beginners.

These games usually have:

One mechanic
Few levels
Basic art
Minimal menus
Few sound effects

Solo developers can finish them quickly because the scope is tiny.

2. Small Indie Games (1 week – 2 months)

Examples:

Small platformer
Short narrative game
Simple RPG prototype
Mini survival or shooter game

These games may include:

Multiple levels
Custom art
Simple story
Basic UI and music

These are popular on Itch.io and good for building experience.

3. Medium Indie Games (2 months – 1 year)

Examples:

2D adventure games
Longer platformers
Small but polished puzzle games
Simple RPGs with story

These projects need more time because they involve:

Better animations
Multiple characters
More levels
More testing
Polishing visuals and sound

Many solo developers stay in this range because it’s realistic and finishable.

4. Large Indie Games (1–3 years)

Examples:

Deep RPGs
Metroidvanias
Survival crafting games
Story-heavy adventures
Roguelikes with lots of content

These games need:

Hundreds of assets
Advanced mechanics
Large maps
Longer stories
High-quality polish

Solo developers can still make these — but they take a LOT of time, consistency, and planning.
Examples made mostly by one person:

Stardew Valley — ~4 years
Undertale — ~2.7 years
Axiom Verge — ~5 years

This category demands dedication.

5. AAA-Style Games (3–7 years + hundreds of people)

Examples:

Open-world games
Huge RPGs
Cinematic action games

These require:

Professional teams
High-end art
Motion capture
Large budgets
Long testing phases

This isn't the focus for solo developers — but it’s good to know for context.

🛠 Why Does It Take So Long? (Simple Reasons)

Even small games can take time because game development requires many tiny tasks.

✔️ 1. Making Art Takes Time

Sprites, animations, backgrounds, icons — even simple art adds up quickly.

✔️ 2. Programming Behaviors

Character movement, menus, enemies, AI, saving systems — each one needs attention.

✔️ 3. Designing Levels

Deciding layouts, placing enemies, adjusting difficulty.

✔️ 4. Testing and Bug Fixing

Every feature has bugs.
Every bug takes time.

✔️ 5. Polishing

This is the secret “extra time” most beginners forget.
Polish includes:

Better sound
Smoother animations
Improved lighting
Cleaner UI
Removing lag

Polish is what makes a game feel professional — and it always takes longer than expected.

🧠 Experience Level Changes Everything

Here’s how time changes depending on the developer’s skill level.

⭐ Beginners

Learn while making the game → takes more time
Expect slower progress
Expect more bugs
Expect many “restart the project” moments

⭐ Intermediate Solo Devs

Know their tools
Finish projects faster
Polish more efficiently

⭐ Experienced Developers

Have workflow + templates
Know how to avoid issues early
Finish projects quickly but polish for longer

Experience reduces mistakes — the biggest time-waster.

📏 The Real Secret: Scope Controls Time

Scope simply means:

How big your game is.

Small scope = fast game.
Big scope = long project.

Beginners often start too big:

Open-world
Online multiplayer
Huge RPG
50+ levels

This leads to burnout.

Instead, start tiny:

One mechanic
One level
One enemy
One character

Small finished projects teach more than big unfinished ones.

📅 How to Estimate Your Own Game’s Time (Simple Formula)

Here’s an easy method:

List every feature your game needs
Guess how long each one will take
Multiply your total time by 2

Beginners almost always underestimate.

This formula keeps your expectations realistic.

🎯 Example Time Breakdown (Simple Platformer)

A small 2D platformer made by one person might look like this:

Player movement → 2 days
Enemies → 3 days
Art → 1–2 weeks
10 levels → 2 weeks
Sound → 3 days
Menus/UI → 2–5 days
Testing → 1 week
Polish → 1–2 weeks

Total: ~1–2 months

This is a realistic pace for a beginner or intermediate solo developer.

👾 Why You Shouldn’t Rush Game Development

Rushing leads to:

Burnout
Frustration
Sloppy code
Ugly art
Unfinished projects

Game development is more like gardening than speedrunning.
You grow the game slowly, improving each part with patience.

🏁 Final Thoughts: How Long Should Your Game Take?

There is no “perfect” timeline.

Your game should take:

As long as YOU need
As long as makes you happy
As long as keeps you learning
As long as keeps you finishing things

If you’re a beginner:

Start with tiny games (1–7 days)
Build confidence
Move to small games (2–8 weeks)
Then, maybe later, attempt bigger projects

The goal is not speed — it’s growth.

Make games you can finish… and enjoy the process.

💖 Support the Creator

If you found this guide helpful, consider supporting my work here:
👉 https://www.krishnamohanproductions.com/donate