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Create an Open-World Adventure Game in Unreal Engine 5

Nafay Sheikh

4.4

Based on 10 ratings

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Nafay Sheikh

Create an Open-World Adventure Game in Unreal Engine 5.

Unreal Engine 5 is one of the most powerful game engines today, but learning it can feel overwhelming—especially for beginners. That’s why I designed this course to help absolute beginners build an open-world third-person game from scratch. No prior experience with Unreal Engine is needed—anyone can follow along and start creating their own game.

This is a project-based course, and we’ll cover everything you need to create an immersive gameplay experience. You'll learn how to:

Create an Open-World Adventure Game in Unreal Engine 5.

This is a project-based course, and we’ll cover everything you need to create an immersive gameplay experience. You'll learn how to:

Learn Unreal Engine 5 from scratch—understand the UI, navigate the editor, and set up a project.
Implement a playable character with fluid parkour movements.
Implement a dynamic enemy AI system—enemies will chase and attack the player in real time.
Build an open-world environment, complete with detailed and realistic landscapes.
Create a timer system to add tension and challenge to the game.
Develop a functional health system where the player takes damage from the enemies.
Optimize lighting and post-processing for a cinematic, high-quality look.

This course is designed for absolute beginners, so even if you’ve never opened Unreal Engine before, you’ll be able to follow along. The best part? You’ll get to experience the real development process—solving problems and making creative decisions just like a professional game developer.

So what are you waiting for? Start today and bring your dream game to life.

Enroll now

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What's inside

Learning objectives

Master the ui, navigation, object manipulation, and essential tools from scratch
Create a playable character with smooth animations for running, jumping, and crouching

Implement intelligent enemies that chase and attack the player
Build a detailed game world with beautiful landscapes, and realistic hdri lighting

Master the ui, navigation, object manipulation, and essential tools from scratch
Create a playable character with smooth animations for running, jumping, and crouching
Implement intelligent enemies that chase and attack the player
Build a detailed game world with beautiful landscapes, and realistic hdri lighting

Syllabus

Introduction

Basics of Unreal Engine 5

Note Before Starting the Course

Downloading UE5 and Creating a Project

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Uses Unreal Engine 5, which is a leading platform for creating high-quality games and interactive experiences across various platforms

Focuses on building an open-world third-person game, which provides a practical and engaging project for learning game development concepts

Covers essential aspects of game development, such as character movement, enemy AI, world-building, and health systems, offering a comprehensive learning experience

Includes a section on optimizing lighting and post-processing, which are crucial for achieving a cinematic and visually appealing game

Requires downloading Unreal Engine 5, which may necessitate a computer that meets the minimum system requirements for running the software smoothly

Involves importing 3D models from the internet, which may require learners to source their own assets or use provided resources, depending on the course structure

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Reviews summary

Create open world game in ue5

According to learners, this course serves as a solid starting point for anyone new to Unreal Engine 5 who wants to build an open-world game. Students particularly appreciate the project-based approach which guides them step-by-step through creating a functional game, including implementing character movement, enemy AI, and basic game mechanics like timers and health. The instructor is generally found to provide clear explanations, making complex topics accessible. However, some students noted challenges with the course material potentially becoming slightly outdated as Unreal Engine 5 receives updates, requiring some independent problem-solving to follow along precisely.

Some parts move too fast or slow.

"Some lessons felt a bit rushed, particularly in later sections."

"Needed to rewatch certain parts multiple times to fully grasp the concepts."

"While mostly well-paced, a few complex topics could use more detailed explanation or slower delivery."

Instructor is generally easy to follow.

"Instructor explains concepts clearly and is easy to understand."

"Found the teaching style very helpful and engaging."

"The voiceover and visuals are clear, making it simple to follow along with steps."

Builds a complete game step-by-step.

"Loved building the game project, it kept me engaged and motivated."

"The hands-on approach is very effective for learning by doing."

"Seeing the open world game come together piece by piece was incredibly rewarding."

Excellent starting point for UE5 newcomers.

"Perfect first step into Unreal Engine, even with zero prior experience."

"I had no prior UE5 experience and could follow along with the basics easily."

"The course really breaks down the user interface and core concepts well for absolute newcomers."

Content occasionally differs from latest UE5.

"Had trouble following along sometimes due to small changes in the latest UE5 version."

"Some nodes or menu layouts were slightly different than shown in the videos."

"Requires a little bit of troubleshooting to adapt the course material to the current UE5 build."

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 Create an Open-World Adventure Game in Unreal Engine 5 with these activities:

Brush up on 3D modeling basics

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Reviewing 3D modeling basics will help you better understand how to import and manipulate assets in Unreal Engine 5.

Browse courses on 3D Modeling

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Watch introductory tutorials on 3D modeling software like Blender or Maya.
Practice creating simple 3D models such as cubes, spheres, and cylinders.
Experiment with different modeling techniques like extrusion and subdivision.

Review basic programming concepts

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Refreshing your knowledge of programming concepts will make it easier to understand and work with Blueprints in Unreal Engine 5.

Browse courses on Programming Logic

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Review the concepts of variables, data types, and operators.
Practice writing simple programs using conditional statements and loops.
Familiarize yourself with the basics of functions and object-oriented programming.

Follow tutorials on creating parkour movements

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Following tutorials on parkour movements will help you implement more fluid and dynamic character animations in your game.

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Search for tutorials on YouTube or Unreal Engine's website.
Implement the parkour movements in your own project.
Experiment with different animations and techniques.

Four other activities

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Practice Blueprint scripting

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Practicing Blueprint scripting will help you become more comfortable with the visual scripting system in Unreal Engine 5.

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Create simple Blueprint scripts to control object behavior.
Experiment with different Blueprint nodes and functions.
Debug and troubleshoot your Blueprint scripts.

Create a small prototype level

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Building a small prototype level will allow you to apply what you've learned in the course and experiment with different game mechanics.

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Design a small level with a specific gameplay objective.
Implement the level using the tools and techniques learned in the course.
Test and iterate on your level design.

Write a blog post about your game development journey

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Writing about your game development journey will help you reflect on what you've learned and share your experiences with others.

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Document your progress and challenges throughout the course.
Share your insights and tips with other aspiring game developers.
Publish your blog post on a platform like Medium or your own website.

Contribute to an open-source Unreal Engine project

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Contributing to an open-source Unreal Engine project will give you valuable experience working with a team and contributing to a real-world project.

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Find an open-source Unreal Engine project on GitHub or GitLab.
Identify a bug or feature that you can contribute to.
Submit a pull request with your changes.

Career center

Learners who complete Create an Open-World Adventure Game in Unreal Engine 5 will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Game Developer

Game Developers are involved in various aspects of game creation, from programming to design and art. This course covers many essential aspects of game development, including character implementation, AI, environment design, and game logic. It provides a comprehensive introduction to Unreal Engine 5. Learning to navigate the editor, manipulate objects, and import 3D models may be particularly useful. The syllabus includes modules on building a timer system and creating win/lose logic, which are fundamental concepts in game development. Anyone who wishes to become a Game Developer should take this course as a way to start constructing a game from the ground up.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Developer

Unreal Engine Developer

An Unreal Engine Developer specializes in using the Unreal Engine to create games and other interactive experiences. Learning Unreal Engine 5 from scratch is the core of this course. The syllabus covers the UI, navigation, object manipulation, and essential tools, making it well-suited for someone pursuing this career. The course's project-based approach allows you to implement a playable character with fluid parkour movements, a dynamic enemy AI system, and a functional health system. The experience of packaging the game may be particularly useful. Since you are working from scratch and building a game, anyone who wishes to become an Unreal Engine Developer may find this course particularly helpful.

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Gameplay Programmer

A Gameplay Programmer focuses on implementing the core mechanics and interactions within a game. The course directly aligns with the responsibilities of a Gameplay Programmer. It covers implementing a playable character with fluid parkour movements, designing a dynamic enemy AI system, and creating a functional health system. It also offers practical experience with blueprints. The course's emphasis on solving problems and making creative decisions mirrors the challenges faced by Gameplay Programmers. Learning to create an immersive gameplay experience is a central concern, which this course addresses. A Gameplay Programmer should take this course to gain hands-on experience in creating core game mechanics within Unreal Engine 5.

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Level Designer

A Level Designer is responsible for crafting engaging and immersive game environments. The course focuses on building open-world environments, complete with detailed and realistic landscapes, which aligns perfectly with the responsibilities of a Level Designer. Mastering the Unreal Engine 5 UI and learning to manipulate objects within the environment are foundational skills that a Level Designer needs. Learning about ray tracing and importing assets are also beneficial. The course's emphasis on lighting and post-processing for a cinematic look helps you to create more visually appealing levels, a skill that is vital as a Level Designer. To succeed in this career, one should take this course to gain hands-on experience building a complete open-world environment.

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Game Designer

A Game Designer conceptualizes and designs gameplay mechanics, levels, and overall game experience. This course helps build a foundation in Unreal Engine 5, a critical tool for modern game development. You'll learn to create open-world environments, implement playable characters with fluid movements, and design dynamic enemy AI systems. These are all essential skills, but the experience of designing a functional timer and health system may be particularly useful. Learning to make creative decisions as you bring a game to life prepares you for real-world game design challenges. A Game Designer should take this course to obtain practical experience in designing and building an interactive third-person open-world game.

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Artificial Intelligence Engineer

An Artificial Intelligence Engineer develops and implements AI algorithms and systems. This course may be helpful as it touches on the basics of Unreal Engine, which is sometimes used for AI simulations. The course will help build your skills in implementing a dynamic enemy AI system where enemies chase and attack the player in real time. This provides practical experience in AI behavior. A course such as this can help a AI engineer learn the basics of an AI inside a game.

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AI Programmer

An AI Programmer is responsible for designing and implementing the artificial intelligence that controls non-player characters and other game elements. This course helps build a foundation in implementing a dynamic enemy AI system. The enemies chase and attack the player in real time, providing practical experience in AI behavior. The optional module that teaches you how to add custom characters may be particularly useful for an AI Programmer. The course also touches upon blueprints, which are relevant. Learning to solve problems and make creative decisions during development is valuable for anyone interested in becoming an AI Programmer.

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Virtual Reality Developer

Virtual Reality Developers create immersive experiences for VR platforms, often using game engines like Unreal Engine. This course, which focuses on creating an open-world adventure game, can provide a solid foundation in Unreal Engine 5. The course would help a Virtual Reality Developer create interactive and immersive experiences within a 3D environment. Understanding the UI, navigating the editor, and creating a playable character are essential skills. Optimizing lighting and post-processing, as taught in the course, is also crucial for creating visually appealing VR experiences. Someone who wishes to design VR environments might find this course to be a useful starting point.

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Simulation Developer

Simulation Developers create software that simulates real-world scenarios for training, research, or entertainment purposes. This course on creating an open-world adventure game may serve as a starting point for this field, because it is based on the Unreal Engine. Learning how to build realistic landscapes, implement AI systems, and manage object interactions can be useful. The skills you will learn in the course, such as creating a timer system and implementing health systems, will allow you to integrate dynamic elements into simulations. Anyone who wishes to become a Simulation Developer may find this course useful as they are learning Unreal Engine.

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Technical Artist

A Technical Artist bridges the gap between art and programming, optimizing assets and implementing art-related features in a game engine. This course may be useful as it touches upon multiple aspects relevant to this role. Importing 3D models, adding materials, and optimizing lighting are all relevant to the expertise of a Technical Artist. The course helps you understand the technical aspects of implementing these artistic elements within Unreal Engine 5. The course's focus on optimizing lighting and post-processing for a high-quality look may be particularly useful. A functional knowledge of Unreal Engine gives a Technical Artist an edge, which this course may provide.

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Animator

Animators create the movement and visual behavior of characters and objects in games, films, and other media. While this course touches on animation, its focus on implementing a playable character with fluid parkour movements provides direct experience in game animation. Understanding how to integrate animations into a game engine like Unreal Engine 5, and how to control character behavior, is valuable for an Animator. The course may be particularly useful as it gives a practical understanding of how animations are used in a game. Animators may find that taking this course could lead to success at work.

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Motion Graphics Designer

A Motion Graphics Designer creates animated graphics and visual effects for various media. While this course focuses on game development, learning Unreal Engine 5 can be beneficial for creating high-quality real-time visuals. The skills of implementing cinematic lighting and post-processing taught in the course may be directly applicable to motion graphics. The ability to import 3D models, integrate character animations, and implement visual effects can also be valuable. A Motion Graphics Designer may find the course useful in expanding their skill set into real-time rendering and interactive design.

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Software Engineer

Software Engineers design, develop, and test software applications. While this course focuses on game development, learning Unreal Engine 5 and its blueprint scripting system can provide valuable experience in visual programming and software architecture. The course also touches on how to implement game logic, AI, and UI elements. The experience of packaging the game for distribution may be useful for a Software Engineer. A Software Engineer who wishes to shift into game development should take this course in particular.

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Technical Writer

A Technical Writer creates documentation and guides for software, hardware, and other technical products. While this course is about learning Unreal Engine, understanding the software from a developer's perspective can be valuable for creating documentation and guides. Taking the course may help a Technical Writer create more accurate and comprehensive documentation for Unreal Engine 5. The course may give a Technical Writer firsthand experience with the software. A Technical Writer who wishes to create documentation for Unreal Engine may benefit from taking this course.

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Instructional Designer

Instructional Designers create learning materials and experiences, often using multimedia tools and technologies. Instructional Designers may find this course useful as they are learning to use Unreal Engine. The course may help build a foundation in creating interactive and engaging learning environments. The skills of manipulating objects, and adding visual elements, can be valuable for creating immersive learning simulations. Instructional designers who are teaching game design concepts may find the course especially useful.

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Project Manager

Project Managers plan, execute, and close projects, ensuring they are completed on time and within budget. While this course focuses on building a game, the project-based approach provides practical experience in managing a development project from start to finish. Going through the process of setting up a project, implementing features, testing, and packaging the game can offer valuable insights into the software development lifecycle. It can also give you a head start in organizing developers. The experience of solving problems and making creative decisions throughout the project mirrors the challenges faced by Project Managers. Taking this course may benefit Project Managers.

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