How to Turn a Unity Game Template into Your Own Commercial Game

Using a Unity template can save you up to several months of development time. Nonetheless, using the template alone is not enough because there are many clones of the same game available in the Play Store and App Store. In order to create a commercial game in Unity, certain changes need to be made. Here are the guidelines for that purpose.

1. Get The Right Unity Game Template

There are different types of templates that might not suit your requirements. Before purchasing or downloading the template, you must consider the following factors:
Readable and modifiable code (C# scripts)
Support for the latest Unity version and regular updates
Template that has monetization in it (AdMob, Unity Ads, in-app purchase)
Commercial license that allows publishing and monetizing
Good seller rating on the Unity Asset Store
Tip: Always go for a template from the most popular genre such as hyper-casual, puzzle, endless runner, and idle games.

2. Get Familiar with the Template before Customization

Spend the first couple of days getting familiar with the project:
Understand folder structure and scene hierarchy.
Inspect main scripts: game manager, UI manager, ad manager.
Play the game via the editor and understand all its features.
Make backup of the original project and use Git for version control from day one.

3. Reskin the Game with Unique Visuals

Reskinning is the quickest way to make the template unique:
Original/licensed sprites, 3D models, and backgrounds.
Rework the UI: design the buttons, fonts, menu, and color palette.
Replace the sound effects and background music (royalty-free/custom).
Design a new app icon, splash screen, and logo.
It is not allowed to retain the original visuals of the template in your build.

4. Introduce Your Unique Gameplay Mechanics

Reskinning won't be sufficient. You need to introduce some unique gameplay elements:
Unique levels, characters, or power-ups.
Unique gameplay mechanics/twist.
In-game daily rewards, achievements, and leaderboards.
Unlocks and progression systems.
Minor changes in gameplay mechanics can alter the way your game looks compared to other mobile games.

5. Monetization Configuration

Unity templates for monetization come with different opportunities for generating revenue:
Ads: rewarded videos, interstitials, and banners (AdMob, Unity Ads, AppLovin)
In-App Purchase: ad removal, skins, coins, or another premium pack
Hybrid monetization: using ads and IAP in combination to generate more income
Replace all placeholder IDs of ad units with your IDs and do extensive testing.

6. Improvement in Performance

Almost all templates are unoptimized for low-end devices. Prior to publishing:
Compress audio and texture files.
Improve the draw calls and introduce object pooling.
Test on low, medium, and high-end Android and iOS devices.
Minimize the APK/AAB size for quick installation and downloading.

7. Store Launch Preparation

Publish your game using .aab format for Google Play Store.
Come up with a unique package name (do not use the package name from the template).
Generate SEO-optimized title and description (App Store Optimization).
Create a Privacy Policy page and fill out the Data Safety form.
Prepare nice screenshots, feature graphics, and promo video.

8. Test, Promote, and Market

Testing of the game in a closed environment with live players before launch.
Fix the bugs and gather feedback.
Promotion through social networks, game-related communities, and paid user acquisition campaigns.
Iterating based on the metrics gathered all the time.

What NOT to do -:

Publishing the template without any alterations made.
Ignoring the rules of the license the template is released under.
Using art and/or music which is copyrighted.
Failure to change the test IDs of ads.
Not testing on the device itself.
Not updating the game after launch.

Conclusion

Unity game template is a good way to start, but what matters in order to develop a successful game is the ability to skin it and create something unique and monetize and promote the game all the time.

FAQ

Is it possible to commercialize game template from Unity?

Yes, if it is allowed by license. Always check the license terms of Unity game template from the Unity Asset Store or from the site of the template author prior to publishing.

Will my game be rejected by Google Play?

Not necessarily, but Google Play might refuse low-quality, spam-like or overly similar applications. This is why modification is necessary.

How much money can I earn from Unity game template?

There is no such a magic number for all people. The amount of money received from the sale of the application depends on the quality of your game, type of the game, monetization technique and so on. Earnings come from ads and in-app purchases.

Do I have to know coding to modify Unity game template?

Not necessarily. Knowledge of C# programming language is helpful but not necessary.

How much time will it take me to create my game using a template?

The process of reskinning of a template will take from 1 to 2 weeks. However, when you choose to incorporate new elements into your project, then it may take from 1 to 3 months.

Is it possible to reskin Unity template and to sell it legally?

It is allowed only in case you abide by the conditions of the license and modify all assets including graphics, sound, and font.

Which type of game template is suitable for a beginner in Unity? 

Hyper-casual and puzzle game templates are ideal for beginners.