A collection of foundational Unreal Engine / C++ projects, built while completing a comprehensive Unreal Engine C++ course. Each project practices a specific set of mechanics, engine features, and C++ programming concepts.
Note: These are strictly course-following exercises designed to learn the engine. For my original, self-designed game architecture, see NightToll — a "Papers, Please"-style inspection game built from scratch. Also, check out my Europa Universalis V modding projects with thousands of active subscribers: The Prussian Destiny, REAI: Rational Empire AI and REAI: Army & Manpower Overhaul.
1. ShooterSam
A robust third-person shooter built on Unreal's Third Person template. This project covers a complete combat, animation, and AI pipeline:
- Animation Pipeline: Implemented Animation Blueprints, Skeletal Animations, and Blend Spaces. Integrated Animation State Machines, additive animations, and airborne state calculations.
- Combat Mechanics: Created a custom Gun Actor with socket attachment and spawning logic. Programmed bullet line traces, crosshair HUDs, gun particle effects, sound cues, and bullet damage.
- Character Systems: Built health management, health bar HUDs, and dynamic death animations.
- Artificial Intelligence: Developed AI Controllers with line-of-sight and NavMesh movement. Built complex Behavior Trees using Blackboards, custom C++ Tasks (e.g., Shoot Task), Services, Decorators, and Selector Nodes.
- C++ Fundamentals: Deep dive into function overloading, macros, protected members, virtual functions, and range-based for loops.
A top-down tank combat game focused on input mechanics and game loops.
- Gameplay: Player tank controlled via input, facing off against enemy turrets that can actively detect the player.
- Combat: Engineered a projectile firing system complete with health, damage, and destruction mechanics.
- Game Loop & Polish: Implemented explicit win and lose conditions surfaced through the UI, polished with special effects including particles, sounds, and camera shake.
An escape-room style level built on the FPS template. Focuses heavily on environmental interaction and level design.
- Level Mechanics: Coded gameplay elements including Movers, Triggers, Pressure Plates, and an Item System.
- Environment: Setup a test level from scratch, learning Unreal's lighting system, asset importing, and level design fundamentals.
The foundational project in the series. Core C++ and Unreal basics:
- Fundamentals: Project creation and test level setup.
- Mechanics: Introduction to basic C++ by programming independent platforms that move and rotate within the level.
- Design: Imported assets to design a complete obstacle course.
- Engine: Unreal Engine 5
- Language: C++
- IDE: Visual Studio / VS Code
Content/ folders (textures, meshes, and other large assets) are excluded from this repository to optimize size — only source code (Source/), configuration, and project files are tracked.