Game development grants: where to find them and how to apply

The biggest and most reliable source of grants for small studios is the place they are based: national and regional screen agencies, arts councils and economic development funds. Engine and platform funds make headlines, but your country's or region's game fund is where most indies start.

• Epic MegaGrants: Epic's fund for projects and tools; its second 2026 submission window ran 29 June to 4 September, with decisions in December.
• Supercell Developer Grants: equity-free grants of $20,000 to $200,000 for African studios; applications closed 9 August 2026.
• Google Play Indie Games Fund: for studios in Sub-Saharan Africa; the 2026 window closed 31 July.
• Creative Saskatchewan Digital Game Development Grant: pre-production and production streams; deadline 18 November 2026.
• UK Global Screen Fund: international release funding for UK games; its next round was due to open in autumn 2026.

Search your own country and region for "game fund" and "interactive digital media" to find the rest.

• A prototype or vertical slice, often with a video.
• A budget by line and a schedule.
• What the money will achieve, and how you will release.
• Eligibility: residence, company registration, sometimes matching funds.

Read the criteria and answer them in their order. Show the game playing. Make the budget realistic, not padded. Apply to several, and keep each application for the next round. A rejection with feedback is worth asking for.

Flockbay builds a playable Godot prototype for free and cuts video of it from real gameplay, which is what most applications ask for first. The publishing tools are free in beta until 1 December 2026.