Unity Mobile Game Development

For my current mobile game / pc project I am using Unity as the engine of choice. Mobile game development in Unity is really great to use due to the rich documentation and the Unity asset store. Unity has created a ecosystem that makes it very easy to create a good looking game even when you do not have a lot of experience in game development. In this post I will guide you through some of the pros and cons of using Unity for mobile game development and some tips if you are looking to get started creating your mobile game using Unity.

Installing Unity

The Unity team has made installing Unity and setting up your first project really easy. The editor basically does all of the work for you. As you will probably be targetting mobile platforms for your game you will need to install some additional resources and programs.

After you have installed the Unity editor your game development journey can officially begin. I have created a Game Development Roadmap: From Start to Finish guide to help you start your project. It has some really useful tips you should take into consideration before even installing the engine.

Scripting in Unity

The scripting in Unity is done in C# which can be quite intimidating for complete beginners. You should take this into consideration before you decide on using Unity as your game engine. There are a lot more beginner friendly options for mobile game development available so please also make sure to read my post: Game Development Software for Beginners. I have also created a post on some game development languages that are available you can read that post here: Game Development Languages

If you have already got some programming experience scripting in C# shouldn't be a problem. The Unity API is very well documented and you will quickly get the hang of it. A lot of example scripts are also available online what can also speed up the development of your mobile game project.

The Unity Asset Store

Unity has its own store in which you can purchase a very large array of assets. They offer anything from game effects to game models and sound effects. I am a avid user of the asset store myself. It has really enabled me to take my projects to the next level.

By making use of the asset store I can put my focus on other things that I am better in and that I enjoy doing. I personally do not find every part of game development equally fun. Fortunately the asset store isn't crazy expensive. They run sales all the time during which you can pick up assets for a pretty low price.

The Unity Community

Unity already exists for many years and has built a very large community in the process. The Unity forums are a great place to ask questions to more seasoned mobile game developers and to get some feedback on the games you are creating.

There also is a thriving community on YouTube that has some really helpful tutorials that are easy to follow. The tutorials are very in depth so you will learn a lot from them.

Additional Resources

If you are looking to outsource some of your mobile game development efforts I can really recommend platforms like Fiverr or Upwork. Here you can make use of the experience of seasoned game developers that really know what they are doing.

If you are looking for assets for your new mobile game development project I can really recommend Sketchfab and Itch (also check the Unity asset store). There are many asset packs available on these platforms that can really speed up the process of the development of your game.

These additional resources are completely optional though. If budget is something that you are tight on I would recommend you spend it on the marketing and promotion of your game. It is really hard to promote your game organically, trust me I have tried.

Conclusion

Unity is one of the best engines to use if you are into mobile game development. You can easily configure your Unity project to target both Android and iOS devices. The engine makes sure to do most of the heavy lifting for your so you can put your efforts into creating the best game possible.

As I have said in the beginning my current project is also making use of the Unity engine. If you are interested in the process I am going through and some of the design choices that I am currently making using Unity you should subscribe to this blog to keep posted.