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Unreal Engine description
Unreal Engine is a powerful 3D creation tool used to develop video games, simulations, and interactive experiences. Originally designed for game development, its features allow for high-quality visuals, realistic physics, and immersive environments. Unreal Engine is free to use for individuals and companies earning under $1 million in revenue, with royalties applied to game developers after that threshold. Beyond gaming, Unreal Engine is utilized in industries such as film, architecture, and automotive design for visualization and simulation purposes.
Who is Unreal Engine best for
Unreal Engine empowers developers to craft stunning visuals and immersive experiences. It's praised for its Blueprint visual scripting and real-time rendering, but users note a steep learning curve and high system requirements. From indie devs to AAA studios, Unreal Engine fuels creativity across various industries.
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Best for small, medium, and large companies seeking a robust 3D creation tool.
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Ideal for game development, but also applicable to media, entertainment, and software development.
Unreal Engine features
| Supported Unreal Engine has a built-in physics engine, PhysX, for realistic interactions. |
| Supported Unreal Engine supports visual scripting with Blueprints. |
| Supported Unreal Engine allows exporting to multiple platforms like Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android. |
| Supported Unreal Engine supports keyframe animation for objects, characters, and materials. |
| Supported Unreal Engine leverages both CPU and GPU to render photorealistic visuals quickly, but optimization is crucial. |
| Supported Unreal Engine supports importing, animating 3D models, and creating effects. |
| Supported Unreal Engine offers robust world-building tools, including World Partition and Data Layers. |
We evaluate the sentiment that users express about non-functional aspects of the software
Ease of Use
Reliability and Performance
Ease of Implementation
Unreal Engine reviews
We've summarised 149 Unreal Engine reviews (Unreal Engine TrustPilot reviews and Unreal Engine G2 reviews) and summarised the main points below.
- Stunning graphics and immersive environments.
- Blueprint visual scripting system is accessible and powerful.
- Real-time rendering allows for rapid prototyping and iteration.
- Extensive customization options for various projects.
- Large and active community provides support and resources.
- High system requirements make it inaccessible for users with less powerful hardware.
- Steep learning curve, especially for beginners unfamiliar with game engines.
- Large project file sizes can lead to storage issues.
- Occasional bugs and crashes can disrupt workflow.
- Frequent updates can introduce compatibility issues and require relearning.
Unreal Engine pricing
The commentary is based on 20 reviews from Unreal Engine G2 reviews.
Unreal Engine is free to use, with a 5% royalty charged only after your game earns over $1 million. Some users find the pricing structure confusing, while others see it as a cost-effective solution, especially compared to similar game development software.
See the Unreal Engine pricing page.
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Unreal Engine has a free plan.
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Unreal Engine has a free trial.
Free
Free to use for game developers, individuals, small businesses, educators, and schools. Royalties apply after $1 million USD gross product revenue.
Royalty-based
Pay a 5% royalty on lifetime gross revenue above $1 million that is directly attributable to the Unreal Engine product. Revenue generated from sales in the Epic Games Store are royalty-free.
Seat-based
Annual license for commercial projects over $1 million in revenue that do not rely on engine code at runtime and are not licensed to third-party end users. Includes Unreal Engine, Twinmotion, and RealityCapture.
Unreal Engine alternatives
unreal-engine vs UnityBetter for mobile deployments and cross-platform compatibility. Website traffic is growing faster. More suitable for users comfortable with C#. Easier to learn.Read more
BlenderFree and open-source, better for a wider range of industries, and has more momentum. A good Unreal Engine alternative.Read more
Creo ParametricBetter for product design, manufacturing, and engineering workflows. Well-suited for creating detailed 2D drawings and generating toolpaths for CNC machining. Rated 4.1/5 on G2. Easier to use but has limited rendering capabilities and can be expensive.Read more
MayaBetter for film, TV, and advertising. More focused on animation and modeling workflows. Has slower momentum.Read more
GodotBetter for 2D game development. Open-source, free, and has a growing community with faster website traffic and employee growth. A good Unreal Engine alternative for indie developers prioritizing ease of use and cross-platform deployment.Read more
Unreal Engine FAQ
What is Unreal Engine and what does Unreal Engine do?
Unreal Engine is a real-time 3D creation tool used to develop video games, simulations, and interactive experiences. Its features include photorealistic rendering, robust physics, and visual scripting. Free for projects under $1 million in revenue, Unreal Engine finds applications in various industries beyond gaming, such as film and architecture.
How does Unreal Engine integrate with other tools?
Unreal Engine integrates with other tools through plugins and APIs. It supports popular software like Autodesk Maya and 3ds Max, enhancing workflows for 3D modeling and animation. Its open architecture allows developers to create custom integrations, expanding its functionality.
What the main competitors of Unreal Engine?
Top Unreal Engine competitors include Unity, known for its versatile platform and ease of use; Blender, a free and open-source option; and Godot, another free and open-source choice popular for 2D game development. Other alternatives include Vyond and MATLAB.
Is Unreal Engine legit?
Yes, Unreal Engine is safe and legitimate software. It's a popular 3D creation tool used by game developers, filmmakers, architects, and other professionals for high-quality visuals and immersive experiences. It has a large community and extensive resources.
How much does Unreal Engine cost?
Unreal Engine's pricing depends on your use case. It's free for projects under $1 million in gross revenue, with a 5% royalty after that. For projects exceeding $1 million, there's a $1,850/seat/year option. Is Unreal Engine worth it? It's free to try, so explore its powerful features and decide for yourself!
Is Unreal Engine customer service good?
Unreal Engine's customer service receives mixed reviews. Some users praise the helpful tutorials and supportive community, while others find the support lacking and problem resolution slow, especially compared to competitors with larger user bases.
Reviewed by
Michal has worked at startups for many years and writes about topics relating to software selection and IT management. As a former consultant for Bain, a business advisory company, he also knows how to understand needs of any business and find solutions to its problems.
Tymon is a seasoned CTO who loves finding the perfect tools for any task. He recently headed up the tech department at Batmaid, a well-known Swiss company, where he managed about 60 software purchases, including CX, HR, Payroll, Marketing automation and various developer tools.