Games Made With Unreal Engine: Projects That Inspire Developers

Games made with Unreal Engine are discussed extensively on numerous forums and streams. Among game developers, this engine has long been considered the top standard. In this article, we take a look at top 10 games made with Unreal Engine that demonstrate its potential. 

Tetris Effect — Taking a classic to a new level

The studios Monstars Inc. and Resonair reworked the legendary Tetris, using Unreal Engine to add visual and sound effects. The result was Tetris Effect, a game that turns a simple mechanic into an almost hypnotic process.

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The classic gameplay remains: the player stacks up falling shapes to clear rows. However, the new graphic and sound effects on Unreal Engine turn the puzzle game into something greater.

  • Particle effects With every completed row, the player sees bright sparks, which add energy to the gameplay. Unreal Engine makes this achievable using shaders and particle systems, turning simple Tetris into a visual extravaganza.
  • Dynamic lighting The light changes as the player progresses through the levels in the game. The effects enhance the game’s atmosphere and help users feel the rhythm.
  • Sound synchronization The music soundtrack is synchronized with every action the player makes. This creates a totally immersive effect and turns  a simple puzzle into a truly meditative experience. The music and sound are not just background, they are part of the process by which the player feels like they are inside the game.

Borderlands 3 — Performance and style

Gearbox Software made Borderlands 3 not just a spectacular experience, but also a technically well-structured game. Unreal Engine helps the game to run stably even when putting a heavy load on the hardware, while the comic book graphics retain the game’s character.

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  • Procedural generation of weapons In the game, there are thousands of guns, each of which is individually generated in the moment. Unreal Engine makes it possible to load and generate items in real time without affecting the game’s performance.
  • Cel shading This technique gives the game its comic book look. The visual effects require delicate configuration, especially in mass battles where there are multiple objects on the screen. Unreal Engine makes it possible to achieve balance, and the picture remains sharp even in the game’s most intense scenes.
  • Optimization of multiplayer mode Co-op mode can accommodate up to four players. Unreal Engine supports the seamless exchange of data, which means that a team can act in coordination without losing performance.

Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice — Sound and feeling

Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice by Ninja Theory is a game in which the sound and visual effects convey the heroine’s condition, immersing you in her world and her emotions. Unreal Engine helps to achieve an impressive level of detail, making the heroine’s feelings a part of the gameplay.

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  • Capturing movement and expressions Unreal Engine makes it possible to reproduce every emotion the game’s heroine feels: fear, pain, rage, etc. This brings the character alive and creates the impression that the player is communicating with a real person.
  • Binaural sound The game uses special audio technology that conveys sounds in such a way that it feels as if they are occurring inside the player’s head. Unreal Engine supports this effect, giving the player the sense that they are inside Senua’s mind.
  • Smooth transitions There are no abrupt switches between gameplay and cutscenes in Hellblade. Unreal Engine makes it possible to transition smoothly from one to the other, not letting the player lose the game’s atmosphere. This enhances the immersive effect and conveys the sense that the whole game story is an organic adventure, full of secrets and complex emotions.

Yoshi’s Crafted World — Magical world made of cardboard and cloth

Yoshi’s Crafted World by Nintendo is more than just a platformer, it’s a whole handmade world crafted out of paper, cloth, and cardboard. The developers chose to make the game with Unreal Engine specifically for its ability to realistically convey textures and create dynamic scenes. 

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  • Visual details Every object in Yoshi’s Crafted World looks as if it’s handmade. This is achieved through texturing, which creates the effect of cloth, cardboard, felt, etc. What we see on the screen isn’t just flat textures. The materials appear three-dimensional and real. Thanks to Unreal Engine, the developers were able to add roughness, scuffing, and even stitching, all of which brings the gameplay to life.
  • Level depth One of the key features of Yoshi’s Crafted World is the multi-layering of the game’s levels, allowing you to explore the foreground and the background. The engine made it possible to create a sense of depth: the objects and characters change in accordance with the perspective you are viewing from. Additional paths and hidden zones open up to the player, making the playthrough more interesting.
  • Animation and environmental physics Objects in the game react to Yoshi: cardboard boxes collapse, paper bushes bend, and felt clouds wobble. This realistic physics conveys the sense that this is a real world in which every detail interacts with the player. Thanks to the engine, the game is full of minor but noticeable effects that add depth to the gameplay.
  • Lights and shadows The engine creates soft lighting that emphasizes the handmade styling of the game’s levels. There are lots of minor light sources in the game, such as flashlights and table lamps, creating a cozy atmosphere.
  • Stable operating on Switch Unreal Engine helps to optimize the game so that it works smoothly on the Nintendo Switch. Gamers get the great visual experience without lags or FPS drop, even on a portable console.

Black Myth: Wukong—Animation and physics that bring myths to life

Black Myth: Wukong by the Game Science studio is an ambitious project that transposes ancient myths and legends into a hi-tech world. In this game, Unreal Engine helps to create spectacular fight scenes and incredibly realistic physics.

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  • Smooth fight animation Unreal Engine makes the transitions between hits almost invisible, creating a sense of uninterrupted movement. The game’s fight animation looks so natural that even complicated combos and dodges look like organic aspects of the fight choreography.
  • Physics of fabrics and fur One of the most eye-catching aspects of the game is the realistic behavior of clothing and fur. Unreal Engine makes it possible to synchronize the movement of fabric with every move the character makes, making every step and jump more realistic. Fur and clothing move according to the laws of physics, which adds realism and depth to the main hero’s appearance.
  • Particle system for magic effects Black Myth: Wukong literally comes to life thanks to the effects supported by Unreal Engine. Every magic move, attack, or spell is accompanied by sparks and waves of light that convey a sense of power.
  • Dynamic lighting Locations also play an important role in the game. Unreal Engine makes it possible to change the lighting according to the game environment, which gives the atmosphere of each location its own feel. In dark forests, the light is muted and mysterious, while in open meadows it is bright and expansive, creating the right atmosphere for each episode.

Fortnite — An ever changing world

Fortnite by Epic Games is already much more than just a game. It’s a social platform where gamers can not only fight, but also attend concerts, watch movie trailers, and take part in major events. Unreal Engine allows Fortnite to update and change in a way that no other game can match.

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  • Fast updates A key feature of Fortnite is its dynamic content, which is added to the game with almost no delays. Thanks to Unreal Engine’s modular structure, the developers can add new skins, weapons, and even major changes to the game map literally on the fly. This creates the effect of a “living” game that players come back to again and again just to see what’s changed.
  • Stable multiplayer mode Fortnite’s network code is designed for a huge number of players. Unreal Engine allows up to a hundred players to take part in a single match with minimal delays. Even with enhanced graphics settings in intense fights, the game remains smooth and stable, which is especially important for e-sports and tournaments.
  • Cross-platform accessibility Unreal Engine provides the ability to optimize Fortnite for any device: PC, smartphone or console. The dynamic loading system for textures and the graphics configuration make it possible to support high image quality and stability on any device, which expands the game’s reach to the top.
  • Events and modes Fortnite hosts such top large-scale events as concerts and premiere screenings, turning the game into a social platform. Unreal Engine makes it possible to synchronize these events for the game’s millions of players. Users can gather on one platform, turning Fortnite into something bigger than just a game—it’s a space for interaction and new experiences.

Sea of Thieves — Pirate adventures

Sea of Thieves by Rare is a video game that lets players immerse themselves in the atmosphere of pirate adventures with an unpredictable ocean, sea battles, and exploration of islands. Unreal Engine makes it possible to create a world that comes alive and is constantly changing.

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  • Realistic waves Procedural generation of the ocean creates waves that are always unique. The ships bob and react to every wave, meaning that it requires particular skill to steer them. Unreal Engine makes it possible to create realistic wave behavior, making every nautical adventure a challenge.
  • Ship physics Ships move naturally, reacting to the wind, the currents, and the weight of the crew. In a storm, a ship can capsize or sink, and steering it becomes more difficult. This adds an element of realism, turning simple sailing into a real skill, especially when the crew is trying to keep the ship afloat.
  • Dynamic weather Weather conditions change in the game, bringing rain, fog, or a storm, which can surprise even experienced players. The weather affects visibility, battle tactics, and ship maneuvers. Unreal Engine supports smooth changes in the weather in real time, which adds unpredictability and creates the atmosphere of a real nautical adventure.
  • Visual effects The player’s nautical voyages are packed with visual effects: spray rising with every crash of the waves, fogs and storms, all of which enhance their immersion in the game. Unreal Engine makes it possible to use particle effects and lighting to create a picture in which every time you set sail is a spectacle. Players can observe how fog becomes a storm, or how the sea reflects the sun, making every scene intense and memorable.

Final Fantasy VII Remake — An iconic story with a new level of realism

Final Fantasy VII Remake by Square Enix is a completely new incarnation of the legendary game which gives the city of Midgar and its inhabitants a cinematic, realistic look. Unreal Engine allowed the Square Enix team to create a world in which every details is thought out down to the most minor elements.

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  • Character animation With Unreal Engine’s Blend States system, characters move smoothly and their facial animation conveys emotions in every scene. This is particularly important for the heroes of Final Fantasy VII, where each character is an individual and it is important for players to see their emotions in detail.
  • Lighting and ray tracing Ray tracing adds realistic reflections, while global lighting in real time enhances the mood of cutscenes, whether set in gloomy tunnels or bright urban landscapes. Every place in the game has cinematic look thanks to the engine’s features.
  • Graphics optimization In order to support stable performance and high quality, Unreal Engine uses texture streaming and level of detail (LOD) technologies. This allows the game to load only the objects and textures needed depending on remoteness, maintaining performance in even the busiest locations of Midgar.

Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order — the Way of the Jedi in a galaxy far, far away

Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order by Respawn Entertainment is a game that allows every fan of Star Wars to feel like a Jedi. Unreal Engine helped the game developers create unique worlds, detailed battles, and total immersion in the atmosphere of a galaxy far, far away.

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  • Fight animation Every move of the light saber looks sharp and precise in the game, and the transitions between attacks and blocks occur smoothly. This makes battles more realistic and intense. Unreal Engine makes it possible to convey precision of movement, creating the effect of full saber control. 
  • Variation in planets and locations In the game, players must travel to different planets, and each of them is a unique world with its own landscapes and inhabitants. Unreal Engine makes it possible to create detailed locations with various realistic looks. Players can explore jungles, ancient temples, and futuristic bases, immersing themselves in a new atmosphere each time.
  • Detailed models of enemies Opponents in the game look like part of the Star Wars universe, from imperial stormtroopers to local creatures on different planets. Unreal Engine supports detailed model rendering, making enemies look lifelike and realistic. This enhances the effect of their presence and makes fights more interesting, as each enemy requires a particular approach.

Batman: Arkham City — A gloomy, lifelike Gotham

Batman: Arkham City by Rocksteady Studios is a game in which Gotham City is presented as a real town, full of secrets, dangers, and colorful characters. Unreal Engine helps to create the atmosphere of a gloomy city that is literally living its own life.

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  • Atmosphere of Gotham In Arkham City, the city is more than just background. The developers have created gloomy streets, dark alleys, and neon lights that emphasize the noir stylings of the Batman universe. Unreal Engine makes it possible to work with light and shadow, adding depth and blackness to every scene, which further immerses the player in the gloomy atmosphere of the city.
  • Interactive fights The fight system in the game allows you to use the surrounding objects, which makes fights more tactical and dynamic. Batman can use anything at hand to survive in Gotham. Unreal Engine makes this interaction with the environment possible, adding realism to fight scenes.
  • Hidden locations and caches Arkham City is full of secrets that players can discover by exploring every corner of the city. Unreal Engine makes it possible to create multilevel locations with numerous hidden entrances and secrets. This encourages the player to study the city and conveys a sense of depths and unpredictability.

Summing up

Unreal Engine is the best choice for top video games. The engine makes it possible to develop projects with cinematic graphics, atmosphere, and details. It helps to implement bold ideas, supporting visual effects, physics, and dynamic mechanics.

We have seen how the engine is adaptable to different genres and requirements:

  • Tetris Effect shows how visual effects and sound can enhance the game’s simple mechanic and make it exciting.
  • Borderlands 3 shows how Unreal Engine can handle games with heavy loads and support smooth gameplay even in intense co-op battles.
  • Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice uses sound and visual effects to convey emotions and create atmosphere.
  • Black Myth: Wukong adds realistic physics and magical effects to fight scenes, making them more engaging.
  • Fortnite uses the engine‘s capabilities for constant updates, which turns the game into a live platform for events.
  • Sea of Thieves reveals the engine‘s potential for procedural locations and water physics, which makes this pirate adventure more realistic.
  • Final Fantasy VII Remake takes a classic game to a new level thanks to the top graphics.
  • Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and Batman: Arkham City demonstrate how games made with Unreal Engine can superbly convey the atmosphere of large-scale worlds, from the cosmos to the gloomy streets of Gotham.

Based on these examples, we can see that Unreal Engine offers developers everything required to create projects that not only fully meet the expectations of modern gamers, but often actually set new industry standards. 8,1