Unreal Engine 5 is a significant leap in game development capabilities and movie visuals.
With Unreal Engine 5, you will notice games with life-like terrains, better human character faces, natural lighting, and several other refinements.
In other words, it makes things easier for game developers and adds visual enhancements for the user’s side of things. So, what are the games that you can wishlist?
Best Unreal Engine 5 Games
Some of the best games confirmed to use Unreal Engine 5 include:
Tomb Raider
Tomb Raider is one of the most beautiful action-adventure games available cross-platform.
Starting with its reboot of the original Tomb Raider game to its latest title, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, everything was built using their in-house Foundation Engine. Even without Unreal Engine, they managed to provide an impressive experience at the time.
However, with the next installment to the franchise, the game developer Crystal Dynamics announced that they will be leveraging Unreal Engine 5.
Given that they have previously set visual benchmarks with the game, it should be exciting to see how they use Unreal Engine 5 for the next Tomb Raider game. Unfortunately, no release date has been revealed yet. However, you can check out Tomb Raider Collection’s coverage for more details on the game.
The Matrix Awakens
The Matrix Awakens is a fantastic take on what Unreal Engine 5 is capable of. The game focuses on providing the best immersive cinematic experience yet.
The footage shared gets our hopes up and should increase the standard of next-gen games if all goes well.
The plot for this game needs no introduction; you will be diving into the world of Matrix, where you also have Neo (Keanu Reeves) made using MetaHumans. No release date has been announced for the game, but it has been confirmed to release for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R 2
A first-person shooter set in a post-apocalyptic world with horror elements. It is a sequel to the classic STALKER game.
You’re not being hunted here, but you are the hunter. Curious? I’ll let you wait for the game.
You can expect it to be a big open-world FPS game where your decision will affect the world. So, it should be fascinating to see where it takes you.
As per the gameplay trailer, the game looks impressive and uses Unreal Engine 5. The release date has been confirmed for Q1, 2024.
The Witcher
One of the most anticipated titles, The Witcher 4 Polaris, has been confirmed to use Unreal Engine 5 to provide an immersive experience to the new saga.
We might see Geralt (the protagonist) again in the next installment, considering they did not end the character’s story in the previous game. However, the plot hasn’t been confirmed yet. So, you could keep an eye on surprises.
No release date has been confirmed yet, either. Nonetheless, this is stated to be a new trilogy of AAA RPGs.
Kingdom Hearts 4
A beautiful game by Square Enix, Kingdom Hearts will be getting a sequel with a similar setting and familiar characters.
The graphics should improve, given the use of Unreal Engine 5, including the character design. No release date has been announced as of writing this. It will be interesting to see how the game makes a difference in visuals (which was not one of the strongest points).
Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II
One of the most loved indie titles, Hellblade, is making a comeback with a sequel under Microsoft’s umbrella.
In case you’re curious, Hellblade is a psychological action-puzzle game with a female protagonist fighting against the Viking hell to fight for the soul of her dead lover.
It may not be a perfect fit for every gamer. But, if you’re interested in trying something different that gives you a unique psychological experience with good visuals, Senua’s Saga: Hellblade Sacrifice is a good start.
Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II is slated for release in 2024.
Mass Effect 4
The classic sci-fi shooter by BioWare is finally getting a modern sequel. While no release date has been announced, Mass Effect will be using Unreal Engine 5, as hinted by some of its job listings, to make the development shift.
The game is currently in development, and no release date has been given by the developers. So, I guess we’ll have to wait quite a bit for this one.
Echoes of the End
Echoes of the End is a new title by an indie studio as the first out of three planned for the series.
It is a third-person action-adventure game that focuses on storytelling (narrative). The game has a fantasy setting that looks good in the initial reveal.
With this game, you can expect an immersive experience with character interactions, NPC interaction, and how you interact with the elements in a game. The video above explains all the details if you’re curious.
Dragon Quest XII: The Flames of Fate
The next installment of the Dragon Quest series was announced with a teaser trailer. The game wasn’t particularly a benchmark in terms of visuals, but it has been confirmed to use Unreal Engine 5.
So, it should be an interesting reveal when the gameplay footage goes public. It’s still in development, and no details have been released regarding the gameplay either. However, we could get to know more about this game by the end of the year.
Dreamhouse: The Game
If you are into simulator games to build/craft things, Dreamhouse should be a fascinating addition to your library.
It aims to be a real-like experience to build and design your home. No release date has been announced, but the footage in the video and the pictures available look exceptional.
If you only want to experience the realistic visual made possible by the Unreal Engine 5, this can be the perfect candidate. The game is set for release in 2024.
Fable
Fable, an RPG series known for player choices and good storytelling, can now explore new horizons with Unreal Engine 5. The magical world of Albion, where what you decide can change your destiny, is at the forefront of the upcoming game’s story. Fable promises detailed worlds and exceptional visuals, thanks to the implementation of Unreal Engine 5.
Forspoken
Forspoken is a decent example of how powerful the Unreal Engine 5 truly is. In this action-adventure game, players are transported to the fantastical land of Athia, where they must secure the land from the ruling hand of a tyrant.
The players are granted a certain level of adventure and traversal freedom, and the smooth mechanics were made possible by the utilization of Unreal Engine 5. Forspoken looks great on modern consoles and PCs as well.
While the game received mixed reviews from the gaming industry, it’s still worth trying out if you like fantasy narratives. On top of that, it’s an excellent showcase of what the Unreal Engine 5 is capable of!
Remnant 2
The developers of Remnant and its decent follow-up, Remnant 2, have described the game as “Dark Souls with guns”. Considering how challenging the game actually is, that description isn’t too far off from the truth. Add the fact that Remnant 2 utilizes Unreal Engine 5, and you’ve got a challenging game that looks great (unlike some of the previous Dark Souls games).
I strongly suggest that you play the first game before jumping into this one. That’s because the main plot is an extension of the final DLC that was released for Remnant: From the Ashes!
The Bus
People have mostly liked ‘The Bus’ since it was first available in March 2021. This is quite surprising, since the game is a direct competitor for the likes of the Bus Simulator series.
However, the game got an Unreal Engine 5 update on December 14, 2022. This changed and significantly bettered the visual design, and also accurately depicted Berlin’s landscape. So you can check it out if you like simulation games!
Layers of Fear
Bloober Team’s scary three-part series ended with Layers of Fear coming out in June 2023. The first game was released in 2016, and players assumed the role of The Painter, immersing themselves in a terrifying house. The sequel introduced a new main character and an eerie boat setting.
The intriguing Lighthouse segment was also added to the enhanced version of Layers of Fear, released in 2023. It has all the extra content that adds to both storylines. Adding the Writer as a main character, this new part of the story promises to connect all parts of the trilogy.
Layers of Fear intensifies the thrill for enthusiasts of scary narratives and newcomers alike, crafting a profoundly terrifying experience solely through the utilization of Unreal Engine 5.
Mortal Online 2
The first Mortal Online was a big hit when it was released in 2021. The game was running on Unreal Engine’s fourth edition, which was expected for the time.
Mortal Online 2 is in the works, and Epic Games is working on a stable build for the upcoming MMORPG. Expect developers Star Vault to make the announcement soon.
Cepheus Protocol
Cepheus Protocol is one of the first indie games that used Unreal Engine 5 as its base. The game was released in 2020, and received fairly positive reviews as an RTS shooter. Players play as Captain Winter, and they lead the CERC (Center for Epidemic Research and Control) organization.
As the player, your job is to maintain an organized front and track down Patient 0, who spread the deadly Pangu virus. The main goal is to guard different parts of the city, find survivors, and protect what’s left of the San Francisco Bay area from an epidemic outbreak.
While this is an RTS shooter, the implementation of Unreal Engine 5 shows a scale that you likely haven’t seen in games from independent developers.
Lyra
If you’re a developer who’s interested in understanding the frameworks of Unreal Engine 5, you should check out the Lyra Sample Game. As the name states, this is a sample game from Epic Games, meant for developers to understand the nuances of using Unreal Engine 5 for their own projects.
The game is updated quite frequently with new Unreal Engine plugins, and is perfect for game developers to try and understand the different modules of UE5. Even if you’re not a game developer, you can still try it out, as the game’s actually decent!
Immortals Of Aveum
EA released Immortals of Aveum, the debut major title from Ascendant Studios, utilizing Unreal Engine 5. This game diverges from traditional shooters by emphasizing magic over conventional weapon mechanics, offering players a unique gameplay perspective.
Immortals of Aveum categorizes its gameplay into three distinct types of magic for players to explore and master.
When the game was released, it got fairly mixed reviews from players and critics alike. Since then, more and more players have warmed up to the intriguing gameplay elements and art direction. If you want a different kind of first-person shooter to experiment with, Immortals of Aveum is a game worth trying!
Slender: The Arrival
The original Slender: The Arrival was a cult classic, albeit with dated graphics. Nonetheless, the game saw huge popularity, with the world’s most prominent streamers livestreaming their gameplay for the scares.
The new version is a reimagining of the original, but this time features excellent visuals, as a part of its Unreal Engine 5 upgrade.
After switching to Unreal Engine 5, the game’s graphics have improved significantly. This could give players an all-new experience in terms of ambiance and the overall atmosphere.
Slender: The Arrival should be on your list of must-play horror games.
Now that you’ve checked out the games that will be using or are already using Unreal Engine 5, let’s find out why the rollout of UE5 is such a big deal for the gaming industry.
Why Unreal Engine 5 is an Impressive Feat
In case you’re curious about it, you can watch the demo video of Unreal Engine 5 following its announcement.
To sum up the video, here’s why Unreal Engine 5 is a big deal:
Unreal Engine 5 (UE 5) comes with certain feature additions that will affect the entire gaming and movie industry moving forward. Some of the features include:
- Lumen: Lumen is a real-time global illumination tech that is faster than path tracing (usually used in movies) and better than any other existing lighting technique for in-game visuals. This will result in a life-like reflection while minimizing the work needed to get it right.
- Nanite: With the help of nanite, game developers can now add high-quality assets used in movies without worrying about performance issues. Nanites ensure that the same concept of level of detail is applied without affecting the original quality of assets.
- Megascans: Unreal Engine 5 features a massive library of 3D objects, surfaces, modular objects, plants, and other objects like trees. These objects are scanned manually from across the globe to give you photorealistic objects for free.
- MetaHumans: The character animation, face, and visuals have improved, but with MetaHumans on UE5, you get access to various options to customize/create the character and easily add it to the game. The character will be looking closer to real life with all this.
- Easy Migration to UE5 from UE4: Unreal Engine 5 keeps in mind the capabilities and features of Unreal Engine 4 and does not break the compatibility. So, any game built with Unreal Engine 4 can be converted to Unreal Engine 5 to improve the visuals. This should encourage developers to make better remasters of classic games.
The keynote not only presents some important advancements for Unreal Engine, but also for gaming as a whole.
Unreal Engine 5 to Pave the Way for Next-Gen Games
The gaming experience gets more immersive and closer to real-like visuals with every generation.
The more complex things get, the more challenging it is to implement them by the game studios. Hence, the reason some AAA titles take years to develop.
And, Unreal Engine 5 is a significant step in the right direction to minimize the effort while letting the game developers make the most out of the current technology. In other words, Unreal Engine 5 aims to improve game development workflow.
Not every game can showcase the full potential of Unreal Engine 5, but some upcoming games mentioned above can be intriguing to watch out for.