Make an Android Game & Earn with Google AdMob | Step-by-Step Guide

Game Monetization

Make an Android Game & Earn with Google AdMob 💰

Create your own mobile game – no or low code required – and start monetizing it with banner, interstitial, and rewarded ads. Step‑by‑step guide for beginners and aspiring game developers.

Table of Contents

1 Choose Game Development Method 2 Build Your Game (No‑Code) 3 Build with Unity (Optional) 4 Set Up Google AdMob 5 Integrate Ads into Game 6 Publish on Google Play 7 Boost Downloads & Revenue 8 Final Checklist

Step 1

Choose Your Game Development Path

You don't need to be a programmer to create a profitable Android game. Here are the most popular approaches:

• No‑Code Platforms: GDevelop, Buildbox, or Construct 3 – drag‑and‑drop game builders. Perfect for 2D games, puzzles, and endless runners. They export directly to APK.
• Low‑Code / Visual Scripting: Unity with Bolt (visual scripting) or Unreal Engine Blueprints. More flexibility but still no hard coding.
• Full Code (Unity + C#): For complex 3D games or full control. Requires programming knowledge.

We'll focus on the no‑code route with GDevelop because it's free, open‑source, and can export to Android with one click. However, the AdMob integration steps are similar for any engine.

Pro Tip Start with a simple hyper‑casual game (endless runner, flappy‑bird clone, quiz). These are quick to build, easy to monetize, and have a wide audience.

Step 2

Create Your Game with GDevelop (No‑Code)

1. Download GDevelop from gdevelop.io (free, Windows/Mac/Linux).
2. Open a template (e.g., “Endless Runner” or “Platformer”).
3. Customize graphics – replace sprites, backgrounds, and sounds with your own or free assets from itch.io.
4. Adjust game logic using the event sheet (no coding). For example: “If player collides with obstacle → restart scene”.
5. Test the game on your computer using the preview.
6. Go to Project → Export → Android. GDevelop will generate an APK file ready to install.

Now you have a working game. Next, we'll add ads to start earning.

Step 3 (Optional)

Build a Game with Unity (C# or Visual Scripting)

If you prefer a more powerful engine, Unity is the industry standard. Even with visual scripting (Bolt), you can create 2D/3D games without typing code. Unity also has a dedicated Google AdMob package in the Asset Store for easy ad integration.

Basic Unity workflow:

• Download Unity Hub and install the Android build support.
• Create a new 2D or 3D project.
• Use Bolt (now Unity Visual Scripting) to create game logic by connecting nodes.
• Build the project for Android (File → Build Settings → Android → Switch Platform → Build).

The following AdMob steps work identically for both GDevelop and Unity, with slight UI differences.

Step 4

Set Up Google AdMob Account & Ad Units

1. Go to admob.google.com and sign up.
2. Create a new app and enter your game's package name (e.g., com.yourname.game).
3. Once approved, go to Ad Units and create at least two ad types:
   • Banner Ad – a small strip at the top/bottom of the screen.
   • Interstitial Ad – a full‑screen ad shown between levels or at natural pauses.
4. Copy the Ad Unit IDs for each (they look like ca-app-pub-xxxxxxxxxxxxxx/yyyyyyyyyy).

You'll also need to add your payment information and complete the tax details to receive earnings.

Important During testing, always use Google's test ad IDs to avoid invalid traffic. Replace them with real IDs only when publishing.

Step 5

Integrate AdMob Ads into Your Game

In GDevelop: GDevelop has a built‑in AdMob extension. Just install it, paste your Ad Unit IDs, and use events to show ads. For example:

GDevelop AdMob Events

// Show a banner at startup
At the beginning of the scene → Show banner (AdUnit ID)

// Show an interstitial after the player dies
Player is dead → Show interstitial (AdUnit ID)

In Unity: Import the Google Mobile Ads Unity Plugin from the Asset Store. Then write a simple script to request and show ads. A minimal example:

Unity AdMob Integration (C#)

using GoogleMobileAds.Api;
...
private void RequestInterstitial() {
    string adUnitId = "ca-app-pub-xxxxxxxxxxxxxx/yyyyyyyyyy";
    InterstitialAd.Load(adUnitId, new AdRequest(), (InterstitialAd ad, LoadAdError error) => {
        if (error != null) return;
        ad.Show();
    });
}

Always call MobileAds.Initialize() once before using any ads. Test thoroughly on a real device.

Step 6

Publish Your Game on Google Play Store

1. Create a Google Play Console account ($25 one‑time fee).
2. Prepare your store listing: game title, description, screenshots, and a 512‑px icon.
3. Upload the APK or AAB file generated by your engine.
4. Fill in the content rating questionnaire and privacy policy (required for ads).
5. Set pricing to Free and submit for review.

The review usually takes a few hours. Once approved, your game is live worldwide!

Privacy Policy You can create a free privacy policy using a generator like privacypolicytemplate.net. AdMob requires you to provide one.

Step 7

Proven Tips to Increase Downloads & Ad Revenue

• Use Rewarded Video Ads: Give in‑game currency for watching a video. These have the highest eCPM.
• Optimize Ad Placement: Show interstitials at natural breaks (level complete, game over) – never on app startup.
• Encourage Ratings: Prompt users to rate the game after they've won a level. Higher ratings improve visibility.
• Social Media & YouTube: Create short gameplay videos and share them on TikTok, Reels, and Shorts.
• Update Regularly: Add new levels, events, or themes to keep players engaged and ads rolling.

Even simple hyper‑casual games can generate $500‑$2000+ per month if they get 50k+ downloads.

Checklist

Game Launch Checklist

• Game built and tested on a real Android device
• AdMob account created and ad units ready
• Ads integrated (banner, interstitial, rewarded)
• Privacy policy page linked in Play Console
• Google Play listing completed with attractive screenshots
• App published and live
• Marketing plan in action (social media, ASO)

Key Takeaways

Build a game with no‑code tools

AdMob provides free, scalable monetization

Integrate ads with simple events or scripts

Publish on Google Play for $25 lifetime

Use rewarded ads for highest earnings

Promote on social media for organic downloads

🎮 Start Building Your Game Today

Download GDevelop, choose a template, and add AdMob ads. Your first earning game can be live on Google Play by tomorrow.

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