The global mobile gaming market hit $100B in 2025, with HTML5 web games dominating overseas markets due to cross-device compatibility (PC, mobile, tablet). This guide reveals how to profit by “arbitraging” open-source HTML5 games on Envato Market—no coding required, just upload and earn 70% margins on $50+ sales.
1. Envato Market: The $50M+ Monthly Traffic Goldmine
Platform Advantages
As the “Amazon” of digital goods, Envato Market offers three key benefits for game sellers:
Quality = Traffic: Strict reviews ensure only top-tier products, granting featured placements and organic exposure.
High Margins: Games sell for $25–$50 (bundles +30% premium), with 70% revenue share for exclusive sellers (vs. 45% non-exclusive).
Global Buyers: 60% of users are from high-paying markets (US/EU), spending 3x more than domestic platforms.
Case Study: How “Muscle-SS” Earned $140k+
Bundle Success: A 9-game pack at $50 sold 54 times, generating $2,700 (all code from open-source, $0 cost).
Single Hit: 《Handless Millionaire》sold 33 times at $25, earning $825—its “guillotine cash grab” mechanic drives 1M+ monthly Google searches. With 600+ games uploaded (15% approval rate), this seller grossed $140k+ with near-100% profit margins.
2. Sourcing Games: Two Free Resource Platforms
1. GitHub: The Open-Source Code Hub
GitHub hosts MIT/GPL-licensed HTML5 game Source code，featuring:
Precise Search: Use “HTML5 + genre” keywords (e.g., “HTML5 tower defense game”) to find Hot sale source code like 《PixelDefense》 (100k+ downloads).
2. itch.io: 110M Monthly Visits for Indie Games
This platform offers: ① Free Games Section: Over 1M commercial-use games in “Free Games” category; filter by “Trending Tags” (Pixel Art, Horror, Strategy). ② One-Click Download: Get full source code (graphics, sound, logic) from game pages—some include demo videos for listings.
3. Envato Market Step-by-Step: From Sign-Up to Approval
1. Register & Become a Seller (3 mins)
① Go to Envato, click “Sign Up” (Google/Apple login supported).
② After registration, click “Start Selling” → “Become a Market Author”; choose exclusive sales (25% higher earnings).
Gameplay: “Players dodge obstacles to collect coins, unlocking 5 environments and 10 power-ups.”
Tech Edge: “Responsive design for 1920×1080 to 375×667 screens; Webpack-optimized code loads 40% faster.”
Compliance: “All assets from CC0 libraries (license files in ‘LICENSE’ folder); 72-hour money-back guarantee.”
③ Reviewer Note Template
“Developed with HTML5 Canvas, tested on Chrome/Firefox/Safari (full device list attached). Code follows ES6 standards with no memory leaks. Assets from open-source communities, licenses included in the zip.”
3. Pricing & Payout
Pricing: $25–$40 per game (match market average); 20% discount for bundles (e.g., 5 games for $150 instead of $200).
Payout: Link PayPal; earnings settle on the 15th of the next month (7-day refund period applies).
4. Avoid Rejection: 3 Critical Review Rules
1. Copyright Compliance
Allowed: MIT/GPL/CC0 licensed code/assets (labeled “Free for Commercial Use” on GitHub/itch.io).
Forbidden: Paid Unity Asset Store assets, unlicensed IP adaptations (e.g., 《Genshin Impact》fan games).
2. Code Quality Checks
Use WinZip/WinRAR (avoid 7zip to prevent extraction issues).
Include full project files (e.g., .capx for Construct 3, .project for Haxe).
Add “README.txt” with setup steps (e.g., “Requires Node.js v14+”).
3. Description Best Practices
Avoid hype like “Best Game Ever”; use data: “500k global players, 45-minute average playtime, 98% device compatibility.”
