Arcade and runner games (2D/3D)

Arcade games and runners occupy a special place in the game development industry – they are easy to develop and learn, engaging players with their action, visuals, and excitement from the very first seconds. Moreover, developing arcade and runner games allows for effective branding of titles in line with corporate style, increasing recognition for clients' companies. Millions of downloads of such projects on the App Store and Google Play are clear evidence of the potential of investing in this area.

These genres remain top mobile entertainment. For businesses, they offer a simple monetization tool and the ability to build engaged, active communities around services and brands. After all, high replayability ensures regular user returns.

Add to this a low entry barrier, quick launch, and flexible monetization formats—and you have the secret to the genre's popularity among developers and investors. Arionis Games has been creating custom arcade and runner games for over five years, and web development for over ten years. If you're looking to bring your game project to life with the help of experienced specialists, tell us about your idea—we'll ensure its successful release.

What are arcade and runner games?

Arcade games are one of the oldest genres, remaining relevant and popular since the 1970s. Much of their popularity stems from their simple and straightforward mechanics, dynamic gameplay, and emphasis on reaction speed.

You can start playing and understand the rules from the very first seconds. This genre is suitable for both short sessions and long-term "hooking" – it's versatile. It maintains attention thanks to increasing difficulty, a competitive element, and high replayability.

Simplicity and fun make arcade game development commercially viable—the format appeals to a wide audience, from casual gamers to challenge enthusiasts.

Features of the arcade genre:

• simple mechanics – a minimum set of actions to achieve results from the first seconds;
• schematic plot - emphasis on the process, not the story;
• short gaming sessions – designed for quick completion or a series of attempts;
• dynamism – speed, agility, and attentiveness are important for success;
• Replayability – the motivation to return for new records or improved results.

Examples: Angry Birds, Tetris, Pac-Man.

Our portfolio includes a project like this: the colorful 2D browser game Space Hunter , in which gamers must battle aliens using a mechanical slingshot.

A runner game is a subgenre of arcade games. In them, a character or object moves continuously forward, and the main objective is to avoid obstacles, jump, collect bonuses, and score points. The most popular option is endless runner mobile games, which continue until the hero hits an obstacle, that is, until they fail. They are extremely simple to control (sometimes a single tap is enough), replayable, and monetized well through in-game purchases and advertising.

Features of the runner game genre:

• Automatic character movement – the gamer controls only the actions, but not the direction of movement;
• endless / level-based gameplay – the session continues until the hero loses or completes the level;
• simple controls – usually one or two gestures (roll, jump, swipe left/right);
• Record mechanics – the goal is to compete with others or improve your own results.

The fast pace and dynamic gameplay keep you engaged, making you want to try again. Thematic missions and quests add to the excitement.

Examples of popular runners: Subway Surfers, Jetpack Joyride, Temple Run.

The target audience for runners is very broad – children, teenagers, adults, casual players and competitive enthusiasts.

Why this genre is profitable for business

Due to their simplicity, engaging gameplay, and competitive element, custom arcade and runner games have been commercially attractive for many years. They are one of the most popular types of mobile arcade games.

Advantages of arcades and runners for business:

1. Wide reach – the audience covers all age groups and players with any preferences.
2. High level of engagement and replayability due to simplicity and engaging gameplay.
3. Simple, effective monetization – 2D and 3D runner and arcade games rely on advertising, premium versions, and in-game purchases (additional levels, equipment, character styles, boosters, etc.) to perform well.
4. Rapid production and optimization – launching and scaling products in this category requires less time and resources than more complex genres, making arcade and runner game development services cheaper. Furthermore, they often go viral and generate a good, stable income for their creators.
5. Flexible application – such projects are effective in commercial, marketing, and educational contexts. They can be used for branding, training, and advertising.

Thanks to these characteristics, runner and arcade games have remained among the most profitable genres for many years. They boast a low barrier to entry, high audience retention, and are accessible to the masses.

Types of arcade games you can order from us

Arcade games are one of the most flexible and expansive genres, allowing for experimentation when creating games, combining different mechanics, gameplay styles, and player goals.

Which arcade games can you order from Arionis Games?

• Classic arcade games with simple mechanics and an emphasis on action and speed. They provide an easy entry point for users and are well-suited for branding.
• Runners with automatic hero movement, simple controls, and high replayability are an excellent choice for mobile development, ensuring audience engagement and retention.
• Platformers involve completing levels with obstacles, tasks, and enemies. This format works well in educational and entertaining story-driven projects.
• Logic and puzzle arcade games combine a fast pace with puzzle elements. They often feature a level system with gradually increasing difficulty. They retain players well and are monetized through in-game purchases.
• Arcade shooters (shoot 'em ups) emphasize speed and precision. Typically, the player controls a character or ship to defeat enemies (like in classic shooters). These games provide a high level of engagement.
• Arcade fighting games with simple combat mechanics (usually multiple opponents and close-quarters combat), quick matches, and combos. They're ideal for esports mini-tournaments and fan content.
• Casual arcade games are extremely simple in controls and gameplay, designed for short sessions. They are suitable for mass audiences and viral promotion. These can include clicker variations , mini-competitions, and tap-to-play formats.
• Action arcade games where the player can either avoid dangers and shoot, or hold off waves of enemies for as long as possible.
• Sports – mini-games that test reaction speed (football, tennis, etc.), as well as rhythm titles designed to perform actions to the beat of music.

Arcade and endless runner mobile games for iOS and Android are effective for businesses, offering high monetization potential through advertising and donations. Social titles in this category with multiplayer and PvP elements, as well as VR (virtual reality) arcade games, are also popular.

Technical and marketing advantages of arcades and runners

Creating runners and arcades has many advantages in terms of implementation:

• Flexible scalability – you can quickly launch the basic gameplay, gradually expanding it with new levels, characters, mechanics, and events.
• Simple controls (one or two buttons and swipes) reduce UX requirements, which speeds up implementation and reduces the cost of developing arcade and runner games.
  Optimized graphics – these genres don't require complex visuals, allowing them to run smoothly even on low-end devices and remain vibrant.
• Cross-platform – runner and arcade games can be developed for iOS , Android , browsers, VR/AR devices , PCs , and even instant messengers (for example, Telegram ).

In addition to wide reach and high engagement/retention rates, the following marketing benefits stand out:

• Viral effect – with the right strategy and audience segmentation, projects in these genres often spread very quickly thanks to social media and word of mouth.
• Flexible monetization models – effective use of advertising, in-game purchases (skins, characters, boosters), branded integrations, and subscriptions.
• Rapid idea testing – custom arcade and runner game development allows you to quickly launch an MVP and test ideas without major investments and risks.

Thus, runners and arcade games offer an easy entry into the gaming industry, an effective tool for monetizing ideas and promoting them, especially when compared to more labor-intensive genres such as RPGs or complex simulators.

Our custom arcade and runner game development service is suitable for a wide range of business clients:

• brands launching gamified marketing campaigns,
• startups looking to quickly enter the market and gain a foothold,
• Companies selecting gaming products for instant messaging apps, web platforms, or mobile devices.

The genre is popular, so surprising an audience in this niche is difficult. That's why custom development of runners and arcade games is a strategically sound decision. Unique mechanics, original game design, and/or an unusual idea significantly simplify success in this niche. The product can be made cross-platform, with an offline mode and dynamic maps.

Stages and features of custom arcade and runner game development

Creating an arcade or runner game is a multi-layered process, during which the Arionis team develops all the game's systems:

• Project analysis, concept development.
• Preparation of technical specifications and game design documents.
• Prototyping.
• Design and graphics ( 2D / 3D character modeling, development of game environments , 2D / 3D animations , interfaces ).
• Programming, integration of functionality.
• Testing .
• Preparing for release, launch.

Arionis Games also provides post-release support, including the introduction of additional content (characters, levels, events, etc.), gameplay updates, scaling as needed, and more. You can read more about the stages of game development on the Game Development page.

A comprehensive approach allows us to create arcades and runners that precisely meet the client's expectations, their audience, and market realities, bringing commercial success.

Features of arcade and runner development

Every genre has its own technical nuances, and arcade and runner games are no exception. Their creation involves technical, game design, and business-marketing specifics.

Technical features:

• simple gameplay architecture – the genre assumes short gaming sessions of 1-5 minutes, repeating cycles, and to maintain dynamics, development often requires optimization for a high frame rate (60–120 fps);
• Focus on response – it is important for the system to instantly react to the player’s actions; minimizing input lag and developing intuitive controls are necessary;
• Procedural generation – when creating runner games, the infinity of the game world is critical, which is why level generators, a variety of obstacles and locations are used;
• The graphics are simple, but optimization is still necessary – games in these genres often use 2D or simplified 3D graphics for ease of perception, but stable performance is important, including on weaker devices.

While these games, unlike RPGs and simulators, don't require complex storytelling, deep world-building, or lengthy campaigns, animation and physics must be high-quality to create a sense of dynamism.

Technologies and tools

To create arcades and runners, we use a wide range of cutting-edge tools and programs:

• Engines and frameworks – Unity , Unreal Engine , Cocos2d-x, Phaser
• Graphics and animation – Adobe Photoshop / Illustrator, Blender / Maya / 3ds Max, Spine / DragonBones / PixiJS,
• Server technologies – Node.js, Python, PHP, MySQL, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, Firebase / PlayFab.

The technologies and tools needed to bring your idea to life depend on the specifics of the project and the functionality that needs to be implemented.

Why Arionis?

We've been developing web apps for over ten years and games for over five years. We utilize a wide range of modern technologies, including AI, machine learning, and blockchain, to create high-quality IT products.

We offer project-based development of runners and arcade games, as well as outsourcing and outstaffing services. We also offer dedicated IT team services.

We develop game projects from scratch and also perform customized work – we flexibly adapt to each client's needs. Our deep industry expertise and practical experience allow us to create games that generate profit for our clients. Contact us – we'll bring your ideas to life.