The gaming world has three levels: Indie, AA, and AAA games. The most coveted category is, unsurprisingly, AAA games, which pour in enormous sums of money at development and marketing, drive the game’s production, and are able to recoup it all through deployment.
The ‘AA’ games, however, fall in between ‘AAA’ and ‘Indie.’ Supported by reasonably sized publishers, these studios provide greater production value than indie developers but less than ‘AAA’ games.
In this article, we’ll explore:
✅ The definition of AA games
✅ How they compare to AAA games
✅ Notable AA game examples
✅ Pros and cons of AA games
✅ The role of 3D animation, game trailers, and mobile development in AA gaming
💡 For a broader understanding of AA and AAA games, check out our Indie vs AA vs AAA Games Guide.
1. What Are AA Games?
AA games (also called Double-A games) are mid-tier productions developed by independent artists or smaller studios operating under mid-tier publishers. With much more funding than indie games, they are still restrained by the enormous resources allocated by the AAA titles.
Characteristics of AA Games:
✔ Mid-sized development teams (ranging from 50 to 200 developers)
✔ Moderate budgets (typically between $5M-$50M)
✔ Decent production quality but often lack high-end visual fidelity
✔ Smaller marketing budgets compared to AAA games
✔ Innovative gameplay mechanics rather than industry-standard trends
🎮 If you are a game developer striving to achieve high-quality 3D animations at a reasonable price, you can make use of Prolific Studio’s character animation services.
2. How Do AA Games Compare to AAA Games?
Marketing, quality of production, and, ultimately, budget cuts are the primary differences between AA and AAA games. Here’s how they stack up:
| Feature | AA Games | AAA Games |
| Budget | $5M – $50M | $100M+ |
| Team Size | 50 – 200 developers | 500+ developers |
| Graphics | Good but not cutting-edge | Industry-leading visuals |
| Marketing | Limited marketing | Multi-million dollar ad campaigns |
| Game Scope | Focused experiences | Expansive open-worlds & cinematic storytelling |
3. The Role of Animation & Trailers in AA Game Success
Unlike AAA games, AA titles must focus on storytelling, engaging gameplay mechanics, and immersive visuals to stand out. While budgets are smaller, using high-quality animation and engaging trailers can significantly impact a game’s success.
🎬 Game Animation Services for AA Titles
Well-crafted game animations bring characters, environments, and combat sequences to life, making even mid-tier productions feel more immersive.
✅ Smooth character movements
✅ Realistic physics-based animations
✅ Cinematic cutscenes for storytelling
💡 Looking for professional animation for your AA game? Prolific Studio’s game animation services can enhance your project with high-quality animations tailored to your vision.
📽️ Gaming Trailer Services for Better Marketing
Since AA games lack the massive marketing budgets of AAA games, a well-crafted game trailer can attract players and publishers while generating buzz.
✅ Cinematic trailers for Kickstarter & Steam promotions
✅ Gameplay trailers for YouTube & social media ads
✅ High-impact reveal trailers to showcase your game
4. Notable Examples of AA Games
Many AA games have gained a reputation that rivals blockbuster AAA video games because their economic side is coupled with strong storylines and gameplay that bring innovation.
🎮 A Plague Tale: Innocence – A narrative-driven AA game with stunning storytelling.
🎮 Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice – A psychological action-adventure game with cinematic immersion.
🎮 Remnant: From the Ashes – A souls-like shooter with cooperative multiplayer.
🎮 Outward – An open-world RPG focusing on survival and realism.
🎮 Greedfall – A fantasy RPG with a deep story and unique mechanics.
5. The Rise of Mobile AA Games
With mobile gaming on the rise, many AA developers are transitioning into mobile game development to capture a broader audience while maintaining high-quality gameplay.
📱 Mobile Game Development for AA Studios
✅ Optimized performance for mid-range and high-end devices
✅ 3D mobile gaming with console-like graphics
✅ Engaging UI and multiplayer features
💡 Prolific Studio, one of the best animation studios in LA, specializes in mobile game development. We provide comprehensive services, from conceptualization to final roll-out.
FAQs: Everything You Need to Know About AA Games
AA games serve as the middle ground between indie and AAA games by gaining popularity as it does not require the massive budgets of AAA games. Below are 10 frequently asked questions regarding AA games that entail development, animation, mobile gaming, and marketing.
How are AA games different from AAA games?
✔ AA games have smaller budgets ($5M - $50M) compared to AAA games ($100M+).
✔ AA games focus on core gameplay experiences, while AAA games often include open worlds and extensive storylines.
✔ AA studios have mid-sized teams, while AAA studios employ hundreds to thousands of developers.
📌 Want to learn more? Read our Indie vs AA vs AAA Games Guide.
Are AA games considered indie games?
No. AA games are separate from indie games because they often have:
✅ Larger development teams than indie studios.
✅ Publisher backing for funding and marketing.
✅ More advanced production quality than indie games.
📌 The indie sector self-finances and produces games, while Double-A studios operate with sponsorships and, in turn, have much larger production budgets.
Do AA games use 3D animation?
Yes! Numerous AA games include high-end 3D animation for improving character movements and environmental visuals and for telling the story.
🎮 Example: Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice uses motion-capture-based 3D animation for lifelike character movements.
💡 Want to enhance your AA game with premium animation? Prolific Studio’s 3D animation services deliver high-quality visuals tailored to your project.
Why are gaming trailers important for AA games?
Without extensive marketing budgets to publicize AA games, trailers become extremely important. They help in building hype and curiosity, which in turn helps aid in obtaining players and funds.
✔ Showcases gameplay & storytelling
✔ Builds anticipation among players
✔ Attracts investors and publishers
💡 Need a compelling trailer for your AA game? Prolific Studio’s gaming trailer services can create engaging promotional content.
Are AA games available on mobile platforms?
Yes! Numerous developers of AA games are shifting towards developing games for mobiles and offering console-quality gaming for mobile devices.
🎮 Example: Genshin Impact is not strictly an AA game, as the title suggests. However, it does portray how advanced 3D games are easily sustained in mobile devices.
💡 Are you looking to create a mobile game? Prolific Studios has the answer to your problem by offering custom mobile game development services, taking care of all aspects for you from the idea to the final product.
What are some well-known AA game developers?
Here are some top AA game studios known for high-quality mid-tier games:
✅ Ninja Theory (Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice)
✅ Asobo Studio (A Plague Tale: Innocence)
✅ Gunfire Games (Remnant: From the Ashes)
✅ Spiders (Greedfall)
✅ Dontnod Entertainment (Life is Strange)
📌 These studios do focus on innovation and developing engaging video game stories but are not at an advanced enough level to give in to the capitals of big studios.
Do AA games support multiplayer features?
Yes! Though, as with many AA games, additional multiplayer features are present, these are generally limited to cooperative gaming as opposed to the extensive multiplayer modes of AAA games.
🎮 Example:
- Remnant: From the Ashes offers co-op multiplayer with procedurally generated worlds.
- Deep Rock Galactic is a co-op shooter with a strong community-driven experience.
📌 Multiplayer gaming requires seamless animations and interactions. Prolific Studio’s game animation services can enhance character movement and combat systems for multiplayer AA games.
Why are AA games often priced lower than AAA games?
AA games typically cost $30-$50, compared to AAA games priced at $60-$70 due to:
✔ Lower development costs (smaller teams, shorter production cycles).
✔ Fewer marketing expenses than AAA publishers.
✔ More focused experiences rather than expansive open worlds.
📌 This makes AA games a great choice for games looking for high-quality content at an affordable price.
Can AA studios transition into AAA development?
Yes! A lot of AA studios have transformed into AAA developers with the help of active support from publishers and their consistent delivery of high-quality games.
🎮 Example:
- CD Projekt Red went from a small studio to a AAA powerhouse with the release and subsequent Cyberpunk 2077 Witcher 3.
- Ninja Theory moved from AA development to AAA production after being acquired by Microsoft.
📌 While studios grow, there is a need for more advanced 3D animations, sophisticated movements, and overall polished gameplay mechanics. Prolific Studio offers 3D animation and game development services that will help AA studios evolve into AAA developers.
Final Thoughts on AA Games
✔ AA games bridge the gap between indie creativity and AAA production values.
✔ They are becoming increasingly popular due to their affordability and innovation.
✔ Mobile game development, engaging trailers, and high-quality animation are key elements in the success of these games.
