Unreal Engine - Xndr2/GameDevWiki GitHub Wiki

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

Tutorials & Learning Resources

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.


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!


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.

How do I fix common errors in Unreal Engine?

πŸ”Ή 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.
πŸ”Ή Objects Falling Through the Floor – Make sure your object has a Collision Component and the correct collision settings.
πŸ”Ή 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.


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.

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.

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.


Free & Paid Assets

Community & Support


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