5 Video Game Success Stories [2024]

Updated: November 19th, 2023
Create A Video Game

Here are some real life success stories of starting a video game:

1. Scirra Ltd ($1.2M/year)

Thomas and Ashley Gullen, founders of Construct 3, were passionate about computer games from a young age. Ashley's struggles to build his dream game led him to develop a general-purpose game engine called Construct Classic. They launched Construct 2 as a commercial product, focusing on HTML5, which proved to be a successful gamble. They now generate around $100k per month in revenue and have learned important lessons about running a business and listening to customer feedback.

How much they make: $1.2M/year
How much did it cost to start: $1K
Current team size: 3

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We Created A $100K/Month No-Code Tool For Video Game Developers

Construct 3, a browser-based game engine that allows anyone to create games without coding, has grown from a pay-once model to generating $100k per month in revenue through a subscription-based system, after launching with the help of early-adopter customers and a focus on organic growth, customer feedback, and white-hat SEO.

About
Thomas started Scirra Ltd almost 13 years ago
Revenue
Thomas grew the business to $100K/month
Costs
It cost Thomas $1000 to start the business
Read by 9,830 founders

2. Chibi Dinos ($12M/year)

Sean Kelly, the co-founder of Chibi Dinos NFT, came up with the idea to create a play-to-earn NFT community that combines basketball, collectibles, and dinosaurs. Inspired by his previous experience in the NFT industry and his passion for basketball, Sean partnered with his girlfriend to create Chibi Dinos. The project quickly gained traction, with the presale and public sale selling out in record time and generating $2.4 million in revenue.

How much they make: $12M/year
How much did it cost to start: $100K
Current team size: 10

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I Launched An NFT Project That Made $1M

Chibi Dinos NFT, a play-to-earn NFT community co-founded by 25-year-old Sean Kelly, earned $2.4M in revenue during its initial sale, reinvesting 60% of its earnings into staffing and marketing while earning $2,005.0453th in secondary sales on OpenSea, thanks to tapping into Twitter users as part of its marketing strategy.

About
Sean started Chibi Dinos over 2 years ago
Revenue
Sean grew the business to $1M/month
Costs
It cost Sean $100000 to start the business
Read by 4,118 founders

So... can you actually make money with a video game?

Of course. There are millions to be made in this industry.

But how?

  1. Research real, profitable businesses and see exactly how much money they make.
  2. Study exactly what works, and what doesn’t.
  3. Take action, because now you have the roadmap.

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3. Monster MMORPG ($2.4K/year)

Furkan, the only owner and developer of Monster MMORPG, came up with the idea for his browser-based creature hunting game during his third year of Bachelor's education. Inspired by the popularity of fan-made Pokemon games, he and his colleague created a simple game that gained massive attention from players worldwide. After graduation, Furkan continued to develop the game solo, eventually converting it into a unique, full copyright-owned, branded creature hunting game. Today, Monster MMORPG generates about $200 per month and has a dedicated player base that has been with the game for around 10 years.

How much they make: $2.4K/year
How much did it cost to start: $100
Current team size: 1

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I Turned A Fan-Made Project Into A Successful Online Game

Monster MMORPG is a browser-based creature hunting game generating $200 per month from ads and Patreon support, started as a fan-made project in 2009, and developed by a single owner and developer.

About
Furkan started Monster MMORPG over 14 years ago
Revenue
Furkan grew the business to $200/month
Costs
It cost Furkan $100 to start the business
Read by 2,361 founders