In this article, we will look at how much it does it costs to develop a Join Clash 3D-like game, the mechanics used, the revenue model, how to develop such a game, and how much time it will take.
The mobile gaming industry is very attractive and lucrative as it will worth more than $200 Billion by 2024.
Mobile games offer a wide range of varieties. Some games will keep you busy for hours, and some we can play anytime and anywhere. So if you are waiting for your coffee to come, you simply play the game for a few minutes and your waiting time will be converted into a time well spent.
Recently, Hyper Casual games have taken over the app stores and are getting millions of downloads. One of the prominent games of this genre is Join Clash 3D.
What is Join Clash 3D Game?
Join Clash 3D is a super fun, hyper-casual running game that provides an addictive and fun-filled experience combined with attractive 3D graphics.
You have to start the game with a single character and gather the biggest crowd on your way to conquering the castle. Then, race through the obstacles and maintain your crowd’s number till the end. When you reach the castle, you will fight the enemies, and whoever has the biggest crowd will win!
The game is very simple, yet it is so creative that you won’t stop playing it again and again. The game has created a huge buzz and is ranking on various charts of the app stores.
About Join Clash 3D Game
- Join Clash 3D Developer: Join Clash is the first hyper-casual game by Freeplay.
- Partnership: After partnering with Supersonic, Join Clash skyrocketed to #2 on the iOS and Android app stores and stayed in the top 100 charts in the US since March 2020.
- Number of Downloads: 100M+ installs globally, according to Sensor Tower.
- Continued Dominance: Join Clash 3D held the spot as the most downloaded game in February too. The game recorded 27 million downloads, 170 times more downloads than in February 2020.
- Increase in installs: The game recorded a 3,300 times increase in installs from January 2020. India accounted for the highest number of installs for the game at 38.3% of its total downloads, and Indonesia stood at 6.4%.
Join Clash 3D – Mechanics
Join Clash 3D game works is part of the Hyper-casual game genre. It works on Growing & Merging Hyper-Casual Mechanics.
In join Clash 3D, you have to collect other people and grow your size as the crowd. However, to make the task difficult and interesting, various obstacles are added that will work opposite the main mechanics. The obstacles will obstruct your growth and will work in downsizing your numbers.
Join Clash 3D – Basic Features
Let’s have a look at the features that Join Clash 3D provides:
1. No sign-in
The core of hyper-casual games is simplicity, and Join Clash 3D sticks right to it. Just download the game, and you are ready to start playing the game.
2. Instant Gameplay
No game modes, no level selection, no preloading, and no plot inserts. Even the start screen background is the gameplay, and as the user hits the start button, the game starts.
3. Moderate use of components
Every component of the game should be used moderately. Audio, graphics, controls should not prevent the user from fully concentrating on the gameplay.
4. Quick Settings
The main page of the game has the settings option that is easily accessible to all the players. From there, the users can change the sounds and vibrations settings.
5. Level Upgrades
More you play the game, the more quickly you can upgrade the levels of your weapon, shield, and coin collection. You can use in-game coins to upgrade them.
6. VIP Membership
The VIP membership is a subscription-based membership that the users can buy to get exclusive benefits to improve their gameplay.
7. Daily Bonus
To make sure that the users use the game daily, Join Clash 3D offers daily bonuses that will attract the users to play the game daily, at least once.
8. Various Skins
The skins will provide various attires and accessories for the player, and the users can use them to make their player look unique and better.
9. Different levels
Not all the levels have the same objective of forming the crowd and attacking. There are various other levels too that work as mini-games to keep the user entertained.
Join Clash 3D – Business and revenue model
Join Clash 3D uses multiple revenue models in the game. This way, the game becomes highly profitable. Let’s have a look at the revenue models that Join Clash 3D uses.
Reward-Based Ads
Using a win-win advertisement strategy. The users will be rewarded when they watch the advertisement, and you will earn from the ads.
These players are not forced to watch the ad. Instead, they voluntarily watch the 30 seconds advertisement to gain rewards. The reward can be extra life, coins, or after a level is finished, the players can 2x their reward for completing the level.
Banner Ads
When the player is not playing the game, banner advertisements can be an effective way of advertising without bothering them. The banner will be at the bottom of the screen, and therefore the player will not be frustrated by such ads.
Interstitial Ads
Interstitial Ads will take the whole screen to ensure that they have the player’s full attention. These ads can be static full-screen ads, video ads, store locators, and even playable ads.
Playable ads work far better than all the other ads as during the ad’s duration, the player can play the ad, unlike other ads in which the player has to wait for the 30 seconds time limit patiently, or sometimes even more.
In-app coins/purchases
The game offers various upgrades of weapons and skills, and it also offers various attire modifications for the players. The users can use the in-game coins to buy them.
The player can earn the coins by playing the game. However, the app also offers the players to buy the coins. The users can buy the coins at the mentioned rates.
VIP Subscription
VIP subscription of Join Clash 3D offers an ad-free experience to the users. The users will also get daily in-game rewards like 1000 coins each day, 30 hammers each day, and access to exclusive VIP skins. Join Clash 3D offers a 3-day free trial, after which the users have to pay a weekly amount for the VIP subscription.
How to develop a game like Join Clash 3D?
Developing a mobile game is not an easy task. It requires a game development team and the latest technology to develop a perfect game like Join Clash 3D. It is a work of a lot of technical knowledge and proper teamwork.
Here is what you will need to develop a game like Join Clash 3D;
Team for Join clash 3D Game Development
- Project Manager
- Business Analyst
- Art Director
- Game Designers
- Unity Game Engine Developer / Unreal Engine Developers
- Back-End Developer
- Sound Artist
- QA Engineer
Technologies require for Join Clash 3D Game Development
- Unity Engine / Unreal Engine
- Node.js for Back-end Development
- AWS or Azure for Cloud
- SQL or MongoDB or Cassandra for Database
- Azure Stream Analytics for Real-time analytics
- Google Cloud Messaging and Apple push notifications service for Notifications
- WebRTC for Voice Streaming API
OR
The simpler option here is to hire a leading mobile game development company to take care of all the technical parts of the development. So you can focus on marketing and other important tasks of your Join Clash 3D-like game. A game development company will be a better option as this can save you from the expenses of hiring the team and purchasing the technology listed above, and their expertise can help you get the perfect game.
How much does it cost to develop a game like Join Clash 3D?
Developing a game like Join Clash 3D would cost around $20,000 to $30,000 for a single platform (Android or iOS) with only the basic features. However, by including advanced features and developing the game for multiple platforms, the price can rise to $100,000.
Here are some factors that affect the cost of developing a game like 3D Join Clash;
Game Platform
The price of developing a game for Android is more compared to iOS. If you go for a single platform, the cost will decrease, but the price will increase if you wish to develop an app for both platforms.
Game Design
The designers have to put much effort while developing the UI/UX of the game to make it attractive and user-friendly. So if you want a simple design, the price will be less, but the price will be more if you want a unique design and more creative work.
Development Team
If you want to develop an in-house game, you must hire all the team as mentioned earlier members to ensure a perfect development process. In this case, you have to pay the salary of all the team members, and you also have to pay for the hiring process. It can be costly.
If you hire a game development company, you can outsource all the development work. This way, you have to pay the determined fee. Again, this is a pocket-friendly alternative.
Game Development Company
The cost also varies based on the mobile game development company that you choose.
Small Company Cost: $10 – $40 / Hour
Intermediate Company Cost: $40 – $100 / Hour
Enterprise-level Company Cost: $100 – $250 / Hour
Features
Each feature requires time to be developed, and therefore each feature has its own cost. If you add more features, the cost will increase and vice-versa. Consequently, the number of features that your game has will directly affect the development cost.
How much time does it take to develop a game like Join Clash 3D?
Developing a game like Join Clash 3D will take time around 8-12 Weeks. The time can also increase depending on your requirements, the features you choose, and the platform compatibility for game development.
Top 10 Join Clash 3D Game Alternatives
We have done deep research over hyper-casual games & arcade games and found below the top 10 Join Clash 3d Game alternatives & competitors.
- War of Rafts: Crazy Sea Battle
- Crowd City
- Parkour Race: FreeRun Game
- Fun Race 3D
- Run Race 3D
- Sword Play! Ninja Slice Runner
- Epic Race 3D
- Stickman Party: 1 2 3 4 Player Games Free
- Bridge Race
- aquapark.io
Above hyper-casual & Arcade games are famous and provide excellent gaming experiences with simple hyper-casual gaming mechanics. As a solid, real-money game app development experience, Capermint can develop and deliver a similar kind of hyper-casual game mentioned above.
Why should you consider Capermint as you join Clash 3D like game development company?
Capermint Technologies has a qualified team of Hyper-casual game developers who have expertise in developing dynamic and diverse hyper-casual games that will attract a large audience.
We use the game’s best mechanics, and we merge them with 3D graphics to provide the best quality game experience. With various achievements, simple gameplay, and addictive experience, our games provide the ultimate Hyper-casual experience.
Wrapping Up
Join Clash 3D is one of the most promising hyper-casual games with 7 million+ downloads. The game uses advertisement as the main source of monetization, and it also offers in-app purchases to increase profits. The game is a perfect example of using simple mechanics and graphics to create a mesmerizing gameplay experience. Get a Join Clash 3D like game development and capitalize on the rising popularity of hyper-casual games.
If you think we have missed something, or if you have any queries regarding Join Clash 3D like game development, do let us know in the comment section.
At a glance
Join Clash 3D-style game cost at a glance
A Join Clash 3D-style crowd runner typically costs $10K–$40K for a single-platform Unity MVP built in about 8–12 weeks, $40K–$120K for a full iOS and Android launch build and $120K+ for a live-ops or real-time PvP platform. Capermint builds original crowd runners for studios, publishers and brands in the US, Canada and worldwide. Final quotes follow a scoping call.
| Who it is for | Studios, publishers, brands and startups in the US, Canada and worldwide planning an original crowd runner game |
|---|---|
| Delivery models | Fixed-scope project, dedicated team (monthly), or co-development and staff augmentation with your studio (hire Unity developers) |
| Typical ranges | Crowd runner MVP $10K–$40K; full iOS and Android launch build $40K–$120K; live-ops platform or real-time PvP $120K+ (USD); final quote after a scoping call |
| Timeline | Single-platform MVP in about 8–12 weeks; full launch builds, PvP and live-ops platforms take longer and are scheduled in a milestone plan after scoping |
| Typical stack | Unity (C#) with URP; GPU instancing, baked vertex animation and object pooling for large crowds; levels built in an in-editor level tool and delivered as remote JSON; Firebase (Remote Config, Analytics, Crashlytics); Unity LevelPlay or AppLovin MAX ad mediation; Unity IAP with server-side receipt validation, including subscriptions |
| Platforms | iOS and Android from one codebase (Unity game development); HTML5 builds, such as playable ads for user acquisition, on request |
| Typical MVP team | Producer, game designer and level designer, Unity developers, 3D artist, technical artist for crowd rendering, and QA; a backend developer joins for PvP or live ops |
| Testing and store readiness | Crowd frame-rate profiling on low-end Android phones, level balance checks, App Store and Google Play policy review, subscription disclosure screens, and consent flows for Apple ATT, US state privacy laws, COPPA (if the game targets or knowingly has players under 13), Canadian privacy law and GDPR |
| Markets | US and Canada (calls scheduled in US and Canadian business hours) and worldwide, including UK/EU, LatAm, Middle East, Africa, India (free-to-play and social formats) and APAC; delivery studio in Ahmedabad, India |
| Proof | Founded 2014; Capermint-reported 650+ customers worldwide and over 200 specialists; Clutch 4.9/5 from 13 reviews; case study: Runner Runner, a 3D endless runner |
Cost and timeline
Typical cost and timeline for a game like Join Clash 3D
Typical USD ranges for an original Unity crowd runner, scoped by our hyper-casual game development team. This article’s own estimate of $20K–$30K for a basic single-platform build sits inside the MVP range. The mobile game development costs guide explains general cost drivers, the hybrid-casual games handbook covers upgrades and live ops, and our guide to the cost to develop a game like Smash Fest covers a physics-based casual game.
| Tier | Scope | Typical range | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crowd runner MVP | Swipe-to-steer runner with join-the-crowd pickups, gates and obstacles that cut the crowd, an end-of-level castle or boss fight decided by crowd size, 30–50 handcrafted levels, coins and simple upgrades, rewarded and interstitial ads; Android or iOS first | $10K–$40K | About 8–12 weeks for one platform |
| Full launch build | Instanced crowd rendering for 100+ characters on low-end phones, weapon and shield upgrades, skins, daily bonus, mini-game levels, IAP store and optional VIP subscription, optional asynchronous PvP, remote levels, analytics and A/B tests; iOS and Android from one codebase | $40K–$120K | Longer than the MVP; set in a milestone plan after scoping |
| Live-ops platform or real-time PvP | Real-time PvP crowd battles, events, seasonal content and battle pass, LiveOps console, or several crowd runner titles on one shared engine | $120K+ | Milestone plan after scoping, then monthly live ops |
Typical ranges, not fixed packages. Final quotes follow a scoping call that fixes platforms, level count, crowd size, monetization and target markets.
Process
How we build a crowd runner, step by step
A single-platform MVP runs from scoping to store submission in about 8–12 weeks, with some steps overlapping. Full launch builds and live-ops platforms are scheduled in a milestone plan after scoping.
Scoping call and estimate
We agree platforms, launch level count, crowd size target, monetization and target markets, then send a tiered estimate with timeline and team. Final quotes follow this call.
Game design and differentiation
Game design document with an original name, theme and art direction, one new rule beyond the Join Clash loop (for example merging units or branching paths), gate and boss balance rules, and the ad, IAP and subscription economy.
Crowd prototype
Steering, crowd pickup, gates and the end fight in Unity, played on a low-end Android phone to fix the visible-crowd budget. Short gameplay videos from this build can feed a marketability test or a publisher pitch.
Production in sprints
Instanced crowd rendering, level editor and level content, upgrades and skins, ad mediation, IAP and optional subscription, Firebase remote levels and analytics, with a playable build every sprint.
QA and store submission
Device-matrix testing on iOS and Android, frame-rate profiling on the busiest crowd scenes, ad, consent and subscription-flow checks, then App Store and Google Play submission and review support.
Soft launch and tuning
Release in test markets, read Day-1 and Day-7 retention, per-level fail rates and ad views per user, and tune gate values, boss difficulty, ad pacing and onboarding before a global launch.
Global launch and live ops
Remote level packs, events, new skins and A/B tests, plus OS and SDK updates, run on a dedicated-team engagement.
IP, stores and money rules
IP, store and real-money rules to know first
Join Clash 3D and related names belong to their respective owners and are used here only to describe the genre; Capermint is not affiliated with Freeplay, Supersonic or the game, and a genre reference is not a rights clearance. This guide covers free-to-play crowd runners funded by ads and optional in-app purchases or subscriptions. Adding paid entry, cash prizes or prize payouts can bring a game under real-money gaming, contest or sweepstakes rules, which are regulated jurisdiction by jurisdiction and differ by US state and Canadian province, and Apple and Google Play apply their own real-money gaming policies. In India, the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act 2025 prohibits online money games, so for India we build free-to-play and social formats. Operators are responsible for licensing; we build to the technical requirements of the target jurisdiction. Store, privacy and IP notes on this page are general guidance, not legal advice.
FAQ
Questions buyers ask about building a game like Join Clash 3D
Who makes Join Clash 3D, and is Capermint affiliated with it?
Join Clash 3D was the first hyper-casual game from the studio Freeplay, and it grew after Freeplay partnered with the publisher Supersonic. Capermint is not affiliated with Freeplay, Supersonic or the game. We use Join Clash 3D only as a genre reference and build original crowd runner games for our clients.
How long does it take to make a game like Join Clash 3D?
About 8–12 weeks for a single-platform MVP with the core loop: steering, crowd pickups, gates, obstacles, the end fight, a first level set and ads. A full iOS and Android launch build, PvP or live-ops tooling takes longer, so we set that schedule in a milestone plan after the scoping call.
What makes a crowd runner like Join Clash 3D expensive to build?
Crowd performance and level tuning, more than art. Keeping 100 or more animated characters smooth on low-end Android phones takes careful rendering work, and every level needs its gates, obstacles and boss fight balanced so the crowd count feels fair. Once that core and a level editor exist, new levels and skins mostly cost content time.
Should I launch a crowd runner on Android or iOS first?
Launch first on the store where you plan to buy installs and test your ads. Platform choice moves the budget less than scope does: one Unity codebase serves both stores, so the second platform adds store setup, SDK, ad and payment configuration and device testing rather than a second build. Android usually needs more low-end device testing because crowd scenes are GPU-heavy.
Can I test a crowd runner idea before paying for full production?
Yes. We can scope a playable prototype with a few levels and short gameplay videos, so you can run a marketability test with ad creatives or pitch a hyper-casual publisher before committing to the full launch build. If early numbers are weak, you change the hook, not a finished game.
Should a crowd runner use ads only or add a VIP subscription?
Start with rewarded and interstitial ads plus coin purchases, and add a subscription only when there is daily value to sell. Join Clash 3D's VIP tier, as described in this article, pairs ad removal with daily coins and exclusive skins. Subscriptions must follow App Store and Google Play billing rules and US state automatic-renewal laws such as California's, so we build clear trial, renewal and cancellation screens.
How do you keep 100+ characters smooth on low-end phones?
By treating the crowd as data and drawing it in batches. We use GPU instancing with baked vertex animation instead of one skinned mesh per character, reuse pooled characters, and move them with simple formation math rather than per-character physics. We profile on a low-end Android phone from the first prototype and cap the visible crowd if the frame rate drops.
Can Capermint add PvP crowd battles?
Yes. Asynchronous PvP is the cheaper route: players attack recorded crowds from other players, which needs a backend and matchmaking but no real-time netcode, and it can fit a full launch build ($40K–$120K). Real-time crowd battles add server-authoritative networking and usually put a project in the $120K+ tier.
Which privacy and store rules apply in the US and Canada?
Plan for Apple's App Tracking Transparency prompt and privacy labels, Google Play's Data safety form, and US state privacy laws such as California's where they apply. If the game targets children under 13, or you know under-13s play, COPPA and Google Play's Families policy restrict ad networks and tracking. In Canada, PIPEDA and Quebec's Law 25 govern personal data, and GDPR applies to EU players. We build the consent flows; your counsel approves the privacy policy. This is general guidance, not legal advice.
How do I build a crowd runner without copying Join Clash 3D?
Keep the genre mechanic and make everything players see your own. In the US and many other countries, game rules and mechanics are generally not protected by copyright, but names, logos, characters, art, music, UI and store assets can be, and close copies of level layouts add risk. Do not use the Join Clash name in your store title or keywords. We start with an original name, theme, art direction and one new rule, and your counsel should run a trademark check. This is general guidance, not legal advice.
Planning a crowd runner game?
Send your concept, platforms and target markets for a scoped estimate of tier, timeline and team. We schedule calls in US and Canadian business hours. See the Runner Runner endless runner case study and our hyper-casual game development services.
