Game Development Timeline Estimator
How long does it take to make a game? Pick your genre, platform, scope and team to see a live timeline with its cost, what drives it and where you could save time. Then download it as a PDF or share the link with your team. No sign-up required.
Your estimate
7 weeks
Range 5 to 10 weeks
Short buildA focused game or prototype, under three months
Where the time goes
- Pre-Production 18%
- 1 to 2 weeks
- Prototyping 9%
- 1 week
- Production 45%
- 2 to 5 weeks
- Polish and QA 18%
- 1 to 2 weeks
- Launch Prep 9%
- 0 to 1 weeks
Where the budget goes
- Development & Engineering 65%
- £13,000 to £26,000
- Art & Design 17%
- £3,500 to £7,000
- QA & Testing 9%
- £2,000 to £3,500
- Project Management 9%
- £2,000 to £4,000
Biggest time drivers
- Medium+20%
Ways to save time
Similar to our work onNub RemakeFor Inferna GamesTurn this estimate into a plan
Send us this estimate. We will book a free discovery call and turn it into a milestone plan and a costed proposal for your project.
Save and share
Applying for funding? We write the costed outline and letter of support for your bid at no charge. See grant-funded projects
Recommended for your project
Based on what you have selected, these are the services that usually come next.
Prototype first
A playable prototype tests the core loop and gives investors something to hold.
Game design document
Lock down mechanics, economy and scope in writing, so every quote is like for like.
App store launch
Store listings, submission and review handled, so launch day is not your first attempt.
Timeline and Budget Together
Timeline and budget are directly linked, so the estimator shows both. A faster timeline means a larger team, which costs more. Change the team size to see the trade-off, and download the PDF or the grant budget spreadsheet to share it. If your timeline and budget do not align, we can help you find the right scope. Preparing a funding bid? See how we support research and grant-funded projects.
How We Calculate
One Engine for Time and Cost
This is the same estimator as our cost estimator, with the timeline shown first. Your answers produce days of work in each discipline. Shared across your team they are the timeline, and costed at each discipline's day rate they are the cost, so the two figures always agree. The base ranges draw on published post-mortems, GDC talks, and our senior engineers' own production data from 12 and 14 years across mobile, educational, and multiplayer titles.
Team Size With Diminishing Returns
A bigger team finishes sooner, but not in proportion to its size: coordination takes a growing share of everyone's time. So every extra person shortens the timeline a little less and adds to the total cost, which the estimate shows side by side.
Console Certification
Console releases add the platform holder's certification review to the end of the schedule. It is fixed calendar time that a bigger team cannot compress, so it adds weeks to the timeline without adding to the build cost.
Our Services
Turn your timeline into reality. We offer end-to-end game development services.
Unity Game Development
Full-cycle Unity development from prototype to launch.
Research & Grant-Funded Projects
Plan a funded build around your award dates, with bid support at no charge.
2D Game Development
2D games from concept art through to store submission.
Mobile Game Development
Unity games built for iOS and Android, with a build at each milestone to play on your own phone.
Co-Development
Embed our senior engineers directly in your team.
Game Porting
PC and mobile porting, feasibility audit first.
Educational Game Development
Turn learning goals into playable experiences. We design and build educational games around your curriculum, audience and target devices.
LiveOps & Post-Launch Support
Keep your released Unity game maintained. We support fixes, SDK updates and content releases within agreed capacity, support hours and responsibilities.
Game Monetisation
Add revenue systems that fit your game and audience. We implement and test purchases, advertising integrations and supporting player flows.
Game QA & Testing
Understand what is ready for release and what needs attention. We test agreed builds and devices, report reproducible issues and verify fixes.
Unity Technical Audit
Understand your Unity project's technical risks before committing to more work. Receive an independent review and prioritised written recommendations.
Related Resources
Game Development Cost Estimator
The same estimator with the cost shown first, for budget planning.
Game Development Timeline Guide
In-depth guide to game development phases, durations, and what affects them.
Game Development Cost Guide
Detailed breakdown of costs by genre, platform, and production category.
Platform Readiness Checklist
Track everything you need for iOS, Android, Steam, and console submission.
Monetisation Strategy Picker
Find the right revenue model for your game type and audience.
Game Development Process
The four phases of a game project, from discovery and scoping through production to launch.
Frequently Asked Questions
Turn your estimate into a milestone plan
Your estimate is a starting point. Send us your scope, team and deadline and we will turn it into a realistic milestone plan. We reply within 1 to 2 business days, and the first call is free.
Send your scope and deadline