How to Effortlessly Make a Mobile Game (No-Coding Required)
Whether you're trying to make a mobile game with Unreal Engine, Unity, or another game engine, you need to ensure your game contains these crucial elements:
- Intuitive touch controls for seamless gameplay
- Optimized for small screens
- Fast load times to retain player interest
But what if there was a platform that took care of all these aspects for you, allowing you to focus on creating the best content for your game? With a bonus of seamless multiplayer gameplay options for added appeal.
Enter Soba - the no-coding-required game maker — that streamlines game development so you can bring your mobile game to life.
Keep reading to find out how.
Establish a clear vision for your game
Before diving into making your mobile game, getting acquainted with the Soba platform is essential.
Spend some time exploring its features and browse through games other creators have made using the platform. This will give you an idea of the capabilities of Soba and help you envision the possibilities for your own game.
Create a game pitch
After gaining a sense of what can be achieved with Soba, it's time to refine your ideas and create a game pitch. Your game pitch serves as a concise description, encapsulating the essence of your game in just a few sentences. It’s the foundation of your project, helps keep you focused, and will help establish a clear vision for your game.
Choose your design and aesthetics
Next, think about the visual elements of your game. Consider the overall aesthetics and mood of your game. And keep in mind that a cohesive and engaging design can significantly enhance the player experience.
Think about the core gameplay mechanics
Whether your game is a narrative-driven adventure or a casual puzzle game, what the player does, ie the gameplay mechanics, guide the development process. It helps align everything with one central idea. For example, is the game about dexterity in moving through obstacles (like Fall Guys) or maybe about collecting resources and then strategising how to invest them (like resource management games).
Remix Soba’s existing games
One of the unique features of Soba is the ability to remix any game on the platform. This means you can take an existing game, modify its elements, and use it as a starting point for your own creation.
Remixing can be an excellent way to jumpstart your project, especially if you're new to game development or looking for inspiration.
We understand that this was a lot to consider before starting your development — but trust us, knowing it will save you countless hours once you begin developing your game!
How to make a mobile game in 5 steps (without coding)
Here’s how you can make a mobile game without coding:
- Start from scratch or choose a Soba template
- Familiarize yourself with the editor
- Design your “first draft”
- Enter playtest mode
- Gather feedback and improve your game
1. Start from scratch or choose a Soba template
In Soba, creators have two primary starting points for their game development journey: starting from scratch in a blank world or choosing from the available templates. And if you’d like, you can remix other players’ games too.
Each template offers a unique gameplay experience, which can be customized and tailored to fit your specific vision.
Start From Scratch
If you prefer complete control over every aspect of your game, starting from scratch is the way to go. With Soba's intuitive interface, you can design and build your game world from the ground up without limitations.
Reach The End
This template offers a parkour-like course, where players must use game mechanics to overcome obstacles and complete each level. It encourages players to hone their skills and master the game's mechanics.
Beat Your Time
Like Reach The End, Beat Your Time is a timed, parkour course. The goal is to complete the course as fast as possible, fostering friendly competition and replayability as players strive to improve their times and climb leaderboards.
Collect All
In this template, players find and collect items, like coins, hidden throughout the game world. It encourages exploration and adds depth to your game's environment.
Obby
Obby, short for "obstacle course," is a template that challenges players to navigate through various obstacles to reach the end goal. Obby’s can be created with multiple difficulty levels, providing a fun and engaging experience for players of all skill levels.
Free Play
Free play focuses on creativity, exploration, and open-ended gameplay. Players can immerse themselves in your game world at their own pace, without specific objectives or time constraints, allowing for endless possibilities and a truly unique gaming experience.
Now that you’ve chosen a template, it’s time to implement your vision!
2. Familiarize yourself with the Soba editor
Before diving into your first draft, take some time to explore Soba’s editor. Game design is supposed to be fun — so let your imagination and curiosity lead you. Maybe you’ll find a feature or item you hadn’t thought to include.
Soba’s editor includes many items, whether you’re looking to build a massive castle in your Free Play game or use jump pads and spikes in your Obby game.
As you experiment with obstacles and objects, take notes to remember what you like and don’t like. While exploring, your mind will probably be racing with excitement.
Once you’re ready, you can design your game.
3. Design your first draft
Now that you're familiar with the Soba editor, it's time to start designing your first draft. This stage is about building your game's foundation and implementing your ideas. Remember the practical aspects of game design as you progress through this stage.
Learn from others
To get inspiration and learn more about game mechanics and behaviors, explore other games created using Soba, and check out Soba's YouTube channel for tutorials and examples.
Forming your own aesthetic and design
Customize the appearance of your game by selecting different obstacles and objects to populate your game. With so many available options, anyone can make their game unique. Additionally, it’ll help you create a cohesive and visually appealing game environment.
Adding obstacles and interactive elements
This all depends on your game selection, storyline, and aesthetic. Populate your game world with obstacles, platforms, and other interactive objects that align with your vision. And make sure to experiment with changing their sizes or behaviors.
Editing game mechanics
Dive into the Soba editor's more advanced features to modify how items behave and interact with your character. You can use templates with ready-made behaviors or build something from scratch to create unique gameplay experiences.
Saving your first draft
Lastly, remember to save every so often. You wouldn't want to lose progress and have to redo parts of your game.
Once you’ve got the first draft set, it’s time to playtest.
4. Enter playtest mode and polish your game
Now that you have a solid foundation for your game, it's time to playtest and refine it. This process allows you to step back from the role of creator and view your game through a player's eyes, helping you identify areas for improvement.
Start by playing your game and ensuring that you genuinely enjoy it. As you play, take notes on what aspects of the game you love and which parts could use some work.
These observations can relate to design elements, game mechanics, or minor tweaks that might enhance the gameplay experience.
After gathering your feedback, return to the editing mode and make the necessary adjustments.
And remember — you don’t want to make your game too difficult. As the creator, you should be able to complete it. Balancing challenge and fun is a key step to creating your mobile game.
5. Gather feedback from yourself and other players
Now your game is nearly finished. The last step is to find ways to improve further.
As the creator, spotting specific issues with continuity, abnormalities, or glitches can be difficult. You can fix these blindspots by opening your game up to other players.
First, share your game with friends, family, and social media networks to gain initial traction and feedback. Engaging with the gaming community by participating in forums and the official Soba Discord channel can also provide valuable insights and help you refine your game.
And if you want your game to gain traction and popularity, consider creating TikTok or YouTube videos showcasing your game to reach a broader audience. Plus, the more people you can get to play your game, the more feedback you can gather to make improvements.
As you receive feedback, you can implement changes that improve your game. You don’t have to change your game or storyline from your vision but try to keep an open mind.
Getting started with Soba
Now that you know the basics of creating your first mobile game, why not start right away?
Creating a mobile game can take time, especially if you want to make yours perfect. If you want to be a part of a supportive community while you make your game, join Soba’s Discord. And if you need extra help designing your Start From Scratch game, this video will take you through each step.
