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Unreal Engine 5 – Create A Zombie Survivor FPS Game

Packt - Course Instructors

Embark on an exciting journey into game development with this comprehensive course on Unreal Engine 5. You'll begin by learning how to set up the foundational elements of your game, such as creating the night mood for a spooky atmosphere and designing the game area. Through hands-on lessons, you'll explore key tools and assets available in the Unreal Engine Marketplace, mastering the fundamentals that bring your FPS game to life.

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Embark on an exciting journey into game development with this comprehensive course on Unreal Engine 5. You'll begin by learning how to set up the foundational elements of your game, such as creating the night mood for a spooky atmosphere and designing the game area. Through hands-on lessons, you'll explore key tools and assets available in the Unreal Engine Marketplace, mastering the fundamentals that bring your FPS game to life.

Next, you'll delve into character creation and animations, where you’ll build a fully functioning FPS protagonist. From basic movements to advanced controller input settings, this section will teach you how to implement smooth character controls, including the addition of dynamic animations like jumping and aiming. You'll also dive into the weapon system, learning how to attach weapons, animate firing actions, and add sound effects to bring combat to life.

Finally, you'll focus on creating AI-driven zombies. This section covers every detail from adding enemy characters and setting up AI behaviors, to designing complex combat interactions and damage systems. You’ll also learn how to enhance gameplay with health pickups, ammo management, and HUD improvements. By the end of this course, you will have built a fully functional zombie shooter, complete with AI enemies and dynamic gameplay mechanics.

This course is perfect for aspiring game developers and intermediate Unreal Engine users. A basic understanding of Unreal Engine 5’s interface and basic game design concepts is recommended. Prior experience with game development is helpful but not required.

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What's inside

Syllabus

Introduction
In this module, we will introduce you to the overarching concepts of game development within Unreal Engine 5, specifically focusing on the creation of a zombie survival FPS game. You'll gain an understanding of what to expect throughout the course and explore the fundamental elements of game design for this project.
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Introduction and Setup
In this module, we will guide you through the initial setup required to begin developing your zombie survival FPS game. You'll learn how to download and install assets, set the night-time mood for your environment, organize and structure the game area, and familiarize yourself with Unreal Engine 5’s editor. Key concepts like object hierarchy and actor placement will also be covered to help establish the foundation of your game world.
Character Movements and Animations
In this module, we will focus on building and animating the main character for your zombie survival game. You'll learn how to create character movement, add camera functionality, and define various inputs for controlling actions. We’ll also cover setting up an animation blueprint, making your character jump, and using an animation state machine to create dynamic, mood-driven character behaviors.
Character Weapon Setup
In this module, we will dive into setting up weapons for your character, from creating and attaching weapons to adding firing effects and animations. You’ll learn to implement aiming intelligence, add muzzle flashes, and synchronize firing sounds with your gun mechanics. We’ll also explore blueprint functions to manage weapon behaviors and use line tracing to track firing accuracy and interactions with the environment.
Create AI Zombies
In this module, we will focus on designing and implementing AI for the zombies in your game. You'll learn how to add basic artificial intelligence to zombie characters, enable them to roam randomly, and follow or attack the player when approached. We'll also cover zombie animations, adding destruction sequences, and configuring sounds to bring the zombies to life with realistic movement and attack behaviors.
Ammo, Health Pickups, and Overall Combat Improvement
In this module, we will enhance the combat experience by adding key features such as ammo and health pickups, along with crosshairs for aiming precision. You'll learn how to implement damage systems for both the player and zombies, allowing for more realistic combat. Additionally, we'll explore creating animations for zombies when they take damage and die, and also work on automatic firing, ammo depletion, and replenishment mechanics to ensure dynamic and engaging combat scenarios.
Game Mode Improvements
In this module, we will refine the game mode by establishing the rules and conditions for various game states. You'll learn to track zombies remaining on the HUD, define winning and losing conditions, and create warm-up and in-progress states for added gameplay depth. Additionally, we’ll cover setting timers, formatting countdowns, and introducing game-level transitions with increased difficulty to enhance the overall gaming experience.
Additional Chapter
In this module, we will test the game with new randomized elements to introduce variability in gameplay. You’ll learn how to adjust the color of ammo, tweak environment settings, and apply additional changes to refine both the look and feel of the game, ensuring a more polished final product.

Good to know

Know what's good
, what to watch for
, and possible dealbreakers
Provides hands-on experience with Unreal Engine 5, which is a leading platform for game development and interactive experiences across various industries
Covers character creation and animation, which are fundamental skills for creating engaging and interactive game experiences
Explores AI-driven zombies, which allows learners to understand and implement complex AI behaviors in game environments
Requires a basic understanding of Unreal Engine 5's interface and game design concepts, which may necessitate preliminary learning for complete beginners
Focuses on creating a zombie shooter, which may not appeal to learners interested in other game genres or applications of Unreal Engine
Teaches how to set up the foundational elements of a game, which is essential for building a strong understanding of game development principles

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Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Unreal Engine 5 – Create A Zombie Survivor FPS Game with these activities:
Brush Up on C++ Fundamentals
Reinforce your understanding of C++ syntax and concepts, as Unreal Engine uses C++ extensively for game logic and scripting.
Browse courses on C++
Show steps
  • Review basic C++ syntax and data structures.
  • Practice writing simple C++ programs.
  • Familiarize yourself with pointers and memory management in C++.
Review 'Blueprints Visual Scripting for Unreal Engine 5'
Learn how to use Blueprints to create gameplay mechanics, enhancing your ability to prototype and iterate quickly.
View Blueprints Visual Scripting for Unreal Engine 5... on Amazon
Show steps
  • Browse the table of contents to identify relevant chapters.
  • Work through chapters related to character movement and AI.
  • Experiment with the Blueprint examples provided in the book.
Review 'Unreal Engine 5 Cookbook'
Learn practical solutions to common Unreal Engine 5 challenges, enhancing your ability to implement game mechanics effectively.
View Putting Knowledge to Work on Amazon
Show steps
  • Browse the table of contents to identify relevant recipes.
  • Work through recipes related to character movement and AI.
  • Experiment with the code examples provided in the book.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Follow Unreal Engine's FPS Tutorial Series
Deepen your understanding of FPS mechanics by following a comprehensive tutorial series from Unreal Engine.
Browse courses on FPS
Show steps
  • Locate the official Unreal Engine FPS tutorial series.
  • Follow each video in the series, implementing the steps in your own project.
  • Experiment with modifying the tutorial to fit your game's design.
Document Your Learning Journey
Reinforce your learning by documenting your progress, challenges, and solutions throughout the course.
Show steps
  • Create a blog or journal to record your learning experience.
  • Document each module's key concepts and challenges.
  • Share your insights and solutions with other learners.
Prototype a Simple Zombie AI
Solidify your understanding of AI implementation by creating a basic zombie AI system with simple behaviors.
Browse courses on AI
Show steps
  • Create a new Unreal Engine project.
  • Implement basic zombie movement and pathfinding.
  • Add simple attack behavior when the player is nearby.
  • Implement a basic damage system for the zombie.
Contribute to an Unreal Engine Project
Deepen your understanding of Unreal Engine by contributing to an open-source project, gaining practical experience and collaborating with other developers.
Browse courses on Unreal Engine
Show steps
  • Find an open-source Unreal Engine project on GitHub or GitLab.
  • Review the project's documentation and contribution guidelines.
  • Identify a bug or feature to work on.
  • Submit a pull request with your changes.

Career center

Learners who complete Unreal Engine 5 – Create A Zombie Survivor FPS Game will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Game Designer
A game designer is responsible for the overall vision and mechanics of a game, and this course directly contributes to that skill set. This role often involves planning the game's structure, designing the gameplay systems, and implementing core mechanics. This particular course helps build a foundation in creating a first-person shooter, a valuable experience for a game designer, since it covers level design, character animation, and AI implementation. Hands-on experience, such as that gained by creating a game with artificial intelligence driven enemies, helps a game designer to have a deep understanding of the many facets of game development, which is useful in a collaborative environment.
See salaries and explore the career path for Game Designer
Level Designer
A level designer creates the environments and layouts that make up a game's world, and the skills learned in this course are directly applicable to such work. This role involves building immersive and functional spaces, carefully considering the player's experience. This course teaches the skills behind creating the game's area, setting a mood, using assets, and placing objects. It is also an introduction to core mechanics that impact the level. These elements all contribute to creating engaging and well-structured game environments. A level designer who takes this course will understand the technical constraints and creative options available when designing a level.
See salaries and explore the career path for Level Designer
Gameplay Programmer
A gameplay programmer implements the core mechanics and systems that drive a game, and this course provides the skills for success. This role includes coding player controls, character movement, combat systems, and AI behaviors. Through hands-on experience, this course helps build a foundation in creating character movement, implementing weapon systems, and designing enemy AI. A gameplay programmer will use the experience from this course to understand how to create an immersive and functional game experience. The course also provides experience with combat and player experience.
See salaries and explore the career path for Gameplay Programmer
Technical Artist
A technical artist bridges the gap between art and programming, and this course may be useful in this endeavor. This role often involves creating tools and workflows to help artists integrate their work into the game engine, as well as optimizing assets for performance. The course covers the technical aspects of implementing animations, weapon behaviors, and AI systems. While this course is not focused on art creation, it provides a better understanding of the technical requirements and limitations that a technical artist needs to be aware of. A technical artist who takes this course would be able to better understand the challenges of implementing art assets in a game environment.
See salaries and explore the career path for Technical Artist
AI Programmer
An AI programmer specializes in creating the artificial intelligence that drives non-player characters, and this course may be useful. This role designs and implements behaviors for enemies and other in-game entities. This course includes creating AI-driven zombies, complete with combat interactions. An AI programmer will take useful experience from this course. The course also covers player interaction with AI characters. This course would be a useful introduction to AI programming in a game context, and in particular, creating AI that is engaging and fun to interact with.
See salaries and explore the career path for AI Programmer
Game Tester
A game tester ensures that a game functions as intended and is free of bugs. This role requires a deep understanding of different gameplay systems, and this course may be useful. This course provides exposure to a variety of game systems, including character control, weapon mechanics, enemy AI, and combat. A game tester often benefits from understanding how a game is assembled. A game tester familiar with these systems is better equipped to identify bugs and understand the potential impact they might have. This course provides useful insights into game development.
See salaries and explore the career path for Game Tester
Animation Designer
An animation designer creates the movements and visual effects for characters and objects in a game, and this course may be useful. This role involves working with animation software and game engines to bring characters to life. This course helps build the fundamental understanding for how to implement character movement and animations, and how animation state machines work. An animation designer can then better understand how their work impacts the gameplay experience, since this course goes into detail about the process of getting animations into a game. An animation designer could make use of this experience to enhance the quality of their work.
See salaries and explore the career path for Animation Designer
User Interface Designer
A user interface designer creates the menus, HUDs, and other interactive elements that players use to navigate a game, and this course may be useful for one who is interested in these aspects of game development. Although a large focus of the course is not on user interface, the course does touch on this aspect of game development. This course covers the implementation of a heads-up display. A user interface designer may find that experience in this course will aid them in better understanding the technical constraints of implementing a UI in a game. Having this awareness will be useful to the user interface designer.
See salaries and explore the career path for User Interface Designer
Sound Designer
A sound designer creates and integrates audio into a game, and this course may be useful. This role often includes creating sound effects and integrating music. Although a large focus of the course is not sound, this course covers the process of adding sound effects to weapon systems. A sound designer may find that the experience in this course will aid them in better understanding how sound effects are implemented and impact gameplay experience. A sound designer could use this knowledge to improve the quality of their work.
See salaries and explore the career path for Sound Designer
Project Manager
A project manager oversees the development process of a game, ensuring that it meets deadlines, stays within budget, and is of high quality, and this course may be useful for such an endeavor. This role requires a broad understanding of the creative and technical aspects of game development. This course provides exposure to the many systems that comprise a functional game. A project manager who goes through such a course can better understand and appreciate what it takes to create a game, and be more effective at managing game development. This course provides important context for a project manager.
See salaries and explore the career path for Project Manager
Game Writer
A game writer creates narrative content for games, such as storylines, character dialogues, and world lore. Although this course focuses on the implementation of systems, a game writer could find this course useful for its unique perspective. The course covers the mechanics for a zombie survival shooter, and the creation of such a game may help generate ideas for the game writer. This would give them a better understanding of the game development process. Having a functional, playable game may be beneficial for the creative process of a game writer.
See salaries and explore the career path for Game Writer
Producer
A producer manages the overall development of a game, overseeing timelines, budgets, and team organization and this course may be useful. Although this course focuses on the technical aspect of creating a single game, this can provide useful experience for a producer. Understanding how different systems work, and the effort needed to implement them, may be beneficial to working as a producer. The various systems of the game, such as character animation, AI enemies, and weapon mechanics, that are discussed in this course, can all inform good project management by the producer. A producer would have a broader understanding of the game development pipeline.
See salaries and explore the career path for Producer
Marketing Specialist
A marketing specialist develops strategies to promote a game to a target audience, and this course may be useful to them. This role involves understanding the game's unique qualities and translating them into compelling marketing campaigns. Although this course focuses on the technical aspect of creating a game, it provides a unique perspective that can be very useful. The experience of developing a first person shooter can provide insight into the genre itself. This knowledge can help a marketing specialist better understand a game and its target audience. This kind of knowledge is invaluable for a marketing specialist.
See salaries and explore the career path for Marketing Specialist
Software Engineer
A software engineer designs and develops software applications, and this course may be useful. This role requires a strong foundation in programming and problem solving. While this course focuses on game development, the underlying programming skills are transferable to other areas of software engineering. The process of creating complex systems, such as AI behaviors and combat interactions, can be applicable in other software domains. The experience from this course will help build the foundation required for other software engineering projects.
See salaries and explore the career path for Software Engineer
Community Manager
A community manager engages with players, builds a strong community, and collects feedback, and this course might be helpful in generating perspective. Understanding the development process, as well as seeing all of the different aspects of gameplay, can be helpful in a community manager's role. The course covers the creation of a fully functional zombie shooter, with player controls, AI driven enemies, and weapon systems. Going through the process of creating a game can help one better understand the players, and therefore, be a better community manager. Through this course, they may also better understand community feedback.
See salaries and explore the career path for Community Manager

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Unreal Engine 5 – Create A Zombie Survivor FPS Game.
Cover image
Putting Knowledge to Work
Save
Provides practical solutions and recipes for common tasks in Unreal Engine 5. It's a great resource for learning specific techniques and workflows. It is especially useful for understanding how to implement gameplay mechanics and visual effects. This book can be used as a reference throughout the course.
Putting Knowledge to Work
Paperback
Check
Putting Knowledge to Work
Kindle Edition
Check
Cover image
Blueprints Visual Scripting for Unreal Engine 5
Save
Provides a comprehensive guide to using Blueprints, Unreal Engine's visual scripting system. It's a great resource for learning how to create gameplay mechanics without writing code. It is especially useful for understanding how to implement character movement, AI, and combat systems. This book can be used as a reference throughout the course.
Blueprints Visual Scripting for Unreal Engine 5:...
Kindle Edition
$$

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Level
Intermediate
Via
Coursera
Institution
Packt
Instructor
Packt - Course Instructors
Session
January 27, 2025 - March 31, 2025
Language
English
Good to know
Provides hands-on experience with Unreal Engine 5, which is a leading platform for game development and interactive experiences across various industries
Covers character creation and animation, which are fundamental skills for creating engaging and interactive game experiences
Explores AI-driven zombies, which allows learners to understand and implement complex AI behaviors in game environments
Requires a basic understanding of Unreal Engine 5's interface and game design concepts, which may necessitate preliminary learning for complete beginners
Focuses on creating a zombie shooter, which may not appeal to learners interested in other game genres or applications of Unreal Engine
Teaches how to set up the foundational elements of a game, which is essential for building a strong understanding of game development principles
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