Unreal Engine - Beginner's Guide

Welcome to the Unreal Engine section of the Game Development Beginner's Wiki! This page contains essential resources to help you get started with Unreal Engine, a powerful tool used for both indie and AAA game development.

Official Documentation

• Unreal Engine Documentation – Official guides for everything Unreal.
• Unreal Engine API Reference – Technical reference for Unreal’s C++ API.
• Unreal Engine Blueprint API – Useful for Blueprint scripting.

Tutorials & Learning Resources

• YouTube Channels:

  • Unreal Sensei – Beginner-friendly tutorials.
  • Virtus Learning Hub – Covers Unreal Engine fundamentals.
  • Ryan Laley – Focuses on Blueprints and gameplay mechanics.

• Courses & Guides:

  • Epic Games Learning – Free official tutorials from Epic Games.
  • Udemy - Unreal Engine C++ Developer Course – Paid course for learning Unreal with C++.

Common Beginner Questions

How do I install Unreal Engine?

You can download and install Unreal Engine via the Epic Games Launcher. The launcher allows you to manage different engine versions and access free assets.

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What programming language does Unreal Engine use?

Unreal Engine primarily supports:

• Blueprints – A visual scripting system that doesn’t require coding.
• C++ – Used for advanced programming and performance-heavy tasks.

If you're new to programming, Blueprints are a great place to start!

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What’s the difference between an Actor, a Pawn, and a Character?

• Actor: A basic object that can exist in the game world (e.g., lights, doors, cameras).
• Pawn: A type of Actor that can be possessed by a player or AI.
• Character: A Pawn with built-in movement mechanics like walking and jumping.

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How do I fix common errors in Unreal Engine?

🔹 Packaging Failed Error – Can be caused by missing files or incorrect project settings. Check the Output Log for details and ensure you have the right SDKs installed.
🔹 Objects Falling Through the Floor – Make sure your object has a Collision Component and the correct collision settings.
🔹 Lighting Needs to Be Rebuilt Warning – Click "Build" in the toolbar to update the lighting. If the error persists, check that you have a Lightmass Importance Volume in your scene.

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How do I make my first game?

1. Start with a tutorial – Follow Unreal's beginner projects on Epic Games Learning.
2. Learn Blueprints – Even if you plan to use C++, understanding Blueprints is useful.
3. Build small projects – Start with something simple like a first-person prototype or a platformer.
4. Experiment with free assets – The Unreal Marketplace offers free assets every month.

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How do I optimize my Unreal game?

• Use Level Streaming – Load only parts of the world when needed.
• Optimize Lumen and Nanite – These are powerful but can be performance-heavy if not set up properly.
• Reduce Draw Calls – Use Hierarchical Instanced Static Meshes (HISM) when possible.
• Profile Performance – Use Unreal’s built-in profiler (stat unit, stat fps, stat gpu) to monitor performance.

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Tip: Unreal Engine has a steeper learning curve, but don’t let that discourage you! Take your time, experiment, and learn at your own pace.

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Free & Paid Assets

• Free Assets:

  • Unreal Marketplace Free Assets – Epic Games offers free assets every month.
  • Quixel Megascans – Free high-quality textures and 3D assets.
  • OpenGameArt – Free sprites, textures, and models.

• Paid Assets:

  • Unreal Marketplace – High-quality paid assets for Unreal.
  • KitBash3D – Professional environment assets.

Community & Support

• Unreal Engine Forums – Official discussion forums.
• Unreal Engine Discord – Community chat for learning and support.
• r/unrealengine on Reddit – Discussions, troubleshooting, and resources.

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This page is a work in progress! If you have additional resources or suggestions, feel free to contribute.