Epic’s latest engine will help shape and advance the gaming landscape in the years to come. What games are there?
The Unreal Engine 5 is causing mouths to drop, especially with its new core features Nanite and Lumen. But it will be a while before we get to see graphics like those in the official demos in our beloved games. After all, the titles have to be finished first.
But some games are already using UE5. To keep you up to date, we have created this overview. Here you can see at a glance which games rely on the Unreal Engine 5.
Please note that the use of UE5 has not yet been officially confirmed for some games. In these cases, we will of course always explain to you which signs indicate this:
Unreal Engine 5 games in development
These games rely on Unreal Engine 5:
- ArcheAge 2
- Ark 2
- Ashes of Creation
- Black Myth: Wukong
- Dragon Quest 12: The Flames of Fate
- Dreamhouse: The Game
- Echoes of the End
- Fortnite
- ILL
- Instinction
- Into the Echo
- Layers of Fear
- Legend of Ymir
- Mass Effect 4
- Mortal Online 2
- Off The Grid
- Quantum Error
- Redfall
- Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2
- Stalker 2
- The Day Before
- The Matrix Awakens
- The Witcher: A New Saga
- Vigilance 2099
- Wronged Us
These games are said to rely on Unreal Engine 5:
- Bioshock
- Gears of War
- The Outer Worlds 2
- State of Decay 3
Ark 2
(Genre: Survival – Release: 2023 – Developer: Wildcard)
The popular survival sandbox is finally getting a sequel. Ark 2 was announced at this year’s press conferences and is scheduled for release as early as 2023. Not much is known about the sequel yet, except that Vin Diesel will take over the main role of the protagonist Santiago da Costa.
You heard right: Ark 2 apparently also focuses on a single-player experience, but without neglecting the core multiplayer. Since no gameplay was shown in the latest trailer, it remains to be seen in which splendour the dinosaurs will shine thanks to the Unreal Engine 5.
Ashes of Creation
(Genre: Online role-playing game – Release: 2022 – Developer: Inteprid Studios)
Ashes of Creation has been in Early Access on Steam since 2019. The final game is scheduled for release in 2022 and is currently being migrated to Unreal Engine 5. How good the online role-playing game with a medieval fantasy setting looks in it, the developers prove with a current, 18-minute walkthrough. The rocky areas in particular are reminiscent of the first tech demo for Unreal Engine 5.
Bioshock
(Genre: Shooter – Release: Not known – Developer: Cloud Chamber)
Officially, almost nothing is known about the next Bioshock. Unofficially, on the other hand, a lot is known, although of course all information should be viewed with a healthy portion of scepticism as long as it has not been confirmed.
And what about the Unreal Engine 5? On the other hand, it is almost certainly the graphics engine of Bioshock 4, because in a job listing that has since disappeared from the official (Website) of the developer, they were looking for a Senior Gameplay Programmer who should have experience in working with the Unreal Engine 5. It is quite possible that the position has been filled in the meantime.
Black Myth: Wukong
(Genre: Action-Adventure – Release: 2023 – Developer: Game Science)
Even when it was announced, Black Myth: Wukong caused a stir with its graphics quality. And now, with the brand new 12-minute gameplay trailer, the action adventure is also causing open mouths. If you want to know what future UE5 titles may look like, you should definitely watch the video!
Black Myth: Wukong is a reinterpretation of the classic story “Journey to the West”. You slip into the role of the monkey king Wukong, who has supernatural abilities. In addition, the plot is still a surprise bag. But lovers of Chinese myths will certainly get their money’s worth.
The gameplay promises the finest action fare à la God of War or Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order. You have access to a range of weapons and can also beat up your opponents with martial arts skills. All of this – yes, we have to point it out again – takes place against a sometimes stunning backdrop!
However, the graphic splendour shown on the basis of Unreal Engine 5 also has its price, namely a release date still far in the future: According to current information, the earliest release date is 2023.
Dragon Quest 12: The Flames of Fate
(Genre: Role-playing game – Release: Not known – Developer: Square Enix)
For the upcoming main spin-off of the long-lived Dragon Quest series, there is currently only a short teaser trailer that shows nothing of the game yet. According to first statements, the look and the story will apparently go in a somewhat darker direction.
The battle system is also supposed to be different compared to the predecessors. According to this, there could be no more turn-based battles in Dragon Quest 12. It remains to be seen whether the game world will move more in the direction of an open world, as it did in the predecessor. Thanks to the Unreal Engine 5, the developers would certainly have the opportunity to do so.
Dreamhouse: The Game
(Genre: Simulation – Release: Not known – Developer: Desand Game Studios)
Have you always wanted to build your own house? In a hopefully not too distant future, you won’t have to run to the bank and burden yourself with a loan for decades – at least not if a virtual home is enough for you. Because the simulator Dreamhouse: The Game is supposed to provide you with all possibilities from the first foundation stone to the interior design. Optically, the Unreal Engine 5 is supposed to provide almost photo-realistic images.
Your task is to take care of all the details of the building process. Optimally, you should also learn something for your real construction project and profit from it. As a young civil engineer, you take on assignments – from the general renovation of a ruined building to the construction of a small forest hut to the realisation of a huge villa.
It is not yet known when the game will be released. (On Steam) however, you can already put Dreamhouse on your wish list.
Echoes of the End
(Genre: Action-Adventure – Release: Not known – Developer: Myrkur Games)
The action avnture Echoes of the End was announced at E3 2021. The debut work of the small, Icelandic developer studio Myrkur Games takes you into a breathtaking fantasy world. There you slip into the role of Ryn. In good old third-person style, you explore the chic game world in the Unreal Engine 5. However, it is not yet known when Echoes of the End will be released.
Fortnite
(Genre: Shooter – Release: July 25, 2017 – Developer: Epic Games)
Not surprisingly, Epic’s flagship in-house title Fortnite has also been relying on the Unreal Engine 5 since the start of Season 3. This is to ensure that the long-running hit will continue to be technically up-to-date and can be consistently developed further in the future.
Are there any graphics differences? Of course, Fortnite will not become a new game by switching to the Unreal Engine 5. The style remains the same, only in details some progress can already be seen, such as a much more natural sky. The video above by Youtuber ETH 2.0 shows you these differences in moving form.
Gears of War
(Genre: Shooter – Release: Not known – Developer: The Coalition)
The Coalition, the developer responsible for the Gears series, released a highly impressive Unreal Engine 5 tech demo some time ago. At the same time, they published a (entry) on the in-house blog, where they confirmed that all future games of the studio will rely on the Unreal Engine 5.
While a new entry in the Gears of War series has not yet been officially announced. But we would be sorely surprised if publisher Microsoft pulled the plug on one of its most popular Xbox bandwagons. Therefore, the next Gears is likely to be a UE5 title.
ILL
(Genre: Shooter – Release: Not known – Developer: Team Clout)
Do you have weak nerves? Then it’s best to keep scrolling. In the horror-survival-shooter ILL there’s a lot going on. The debut work of the indie studio Team Clout is supposed to offer a straightforward story that is full of shocking decisions.
Nothing more is known about the gameplay. The trailer above is just one of a few signs of life from the game so far. Also a rough release date is not yet known.
Instinction
(Genre: Survival shooter – Release: Not known – Developer: Hashbane)
When you were a kid, did you watch Jurassic Park and dream of being stuck on an island full of hungry dinosaurs yourself? If so, you can rejoice, because the survival shooter Instinction wants to make this dream come true.
In terms of gameplay, you can expect a mixture of exploration, combat and puzzles. Visually, the spectacle has so far been packaged in the Unreal Engine 4, but that has changed since April 2022. The developer has completed the port to the new UE5 and shown the result in a new trailer, which you can watch above.
Into the Echo
(Genre: MMO – Release: Not known – Developer: Etlok Studios)
The Unreal Engine 5 is especially popular with ambitious MMO projects. You’ll notice that when looking through this list. One of these titles is Into the Echo.
The MMORPG is supposed to revolutionise the genre and combine classic approaches with new technologies. Players are transported to the planet Raava, whose inhabitants possess a strange power called Quen. What exactly this is all about is not yet known.
A special feature of the MMO will be time travel. Together with your fellow players, you will jump back and forth in time in order to survive all kinds of adventures and eliminate dangers. The game is supposed to put a big focus on the discovery of the planet.
Layers of Fear
(Genre: Horror – Release: Not known – Developer: Bloober Team)
The popular horror series Layers of Fear will also rely on the Unreal Engine 5. So far there is not much to see of the game by the Polish studio Bloober Team, but at least the short teaser gives you a little taste.
Officially, the next Layers of Fear is in development as an exclusive title for the PlayStation 5. However, it is not impossible that a port for the PC will also appear at an unknown time in the future. After all, the two predecessors were also released for the home computer.
Legend of Ymir
(Genre: MMO – Release: Not known – Developer: WeMade Entertainment)
Another MMORPG based on the Unreal Engine 5: Legend of Ymir takes you unmistakably to Nordic realms. Unfortunately, nothing more is known about the gameplay, story and other game content. However, the choice of the technical framework was apparently easy for the developer WeMade Entertainment, because they already presented a UE5 tech demo for Legend of Ymir.
Mass Effect 4
(Genre: Role Playing Game – Release: Not Known – Developer: Bioware)
Unfortunately, there is still no solid info on the next entry in the Mass Effect saga. After the rather unpopular Mass Effect: Andromeda, fans longed for a continuation of the storyline from the trilogy. The next part is supposed to fulfil exactly this wish.
The fact that Mass Effect “4” will most likely be based on the Unreal Engine 5 can be inferred from a statement by producer Brenon Holmes. He wrote on Twitter some time ago:
BioWare is hiring talented programmers with UE4/5 experience! Come, join our team and work with us on the next Mass Effect game!https://t.co/6Wr7CpRnh4BioWare hiring UnrealEngine
– Brenon Holmes (@BrenonHolmes) December 17, 2021
BioWare is hiring talented programmers with Unreal Engine 4/Unreal Engine 5 experience. Join our team and work with us on the next Mass Effect game]
Mortal Online 2
(Genre: MMO – Release: Jan 25, 2022 – Developer: Star Vault)
The next MMO on this list. Mortal Online 2 is currently still based on the Unreal Engine 4, but a port to the new version of the game engine has already been confirmed by the developers. In a (FAQ) on the official website they write that they have already planned the porting process and will start with it as soon as Epic releases a stable version of UE5.
Off The Grid
(Genre: Shooter – Release: 2023 – Developer: Gunzilla Games)
If you’re getting tired of battle royale, this upcoming shooter might be right up your alley. Because Gunzilla Games have brought in none other than film director Neill Blomkamp, who is best known for his blockbuster District 9.
Even though the trailer doesn’t reveal too much yet, we already have some info for you. Apparently Off The Grid will take place on a tropical island in a cyberpunk setting and will be completely from the third-person view. In addition to the classic Battle Royale mode, the focus will also be on story and missions. The combination of Neill Blomkamp and the Unreal Engine 5 could therefore provide a breathtaking production in 2023.
Quantum Error
(Genre: Shooter – Release: 2022 – Developer: TeamKill Media)
Quantum Error is a horror shooter from developer TeamKill Media. You fight numerous terrifying monsters in outer space. The first trailer was released in March 2021 and was recorded in the old engine. However, the gritty shooter is to move to the Unreal Engine 5. The release is planned for 2022.
Redfall
(Genre: Co-op Shooter – Release: 2022 – Developer: Arkane Studios)
Since the takeover of Bethesda by Microsoft, it is clear that all Arkane Studios titles (Deathloop, Dishonored) will also be released primarily for the Xbox and Windows PCs. Redfall is no exception. The open-world co-op shooter is scheduled for release in 2022 and also already relies on the new Unreal Engine 5.
As one of four playable characters, you go into battle against vampires and human adversaries. Each character has individual abilities, such as telekinesis or a special sniper rifle. You also have a kind of robot dog at your side. In addition to the co-op mode, single players will also be able to experience the story of the game.
Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2
(Genre: Action-Adventure – Release: Not known – Developer: Ninja Theory)
The sequel to 2017 s Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice was announced in late 2019 with an impressive trailer. At first, many assumed that the scene shown was a render trailer. But Microsoft clarified that it is indeed an in-engine sequence and developer Ninja Theory still used Unreal Engine 4 for it.
But a switch to the new Unreal Engine 5 has already been confirmed. This should further benefit the already impressive graphics through Nanite, Lumen and the other main features. In Hellblade 2, you once again slip into the skin of Senua, who has now moved to Iceland. What exactly her new adventure will be about is not yet known. However, it is safe to assume that Senua’s mental illness will once again play a big role.
When exactly Hellblade 2 will be released is currently unknown. At the Game Awards 2021, however, a new trailer was finally shown, which is supposed to show us real gameplay scenes. You can find the video a few lines further up.
Stalker 2
(Genre: First-person shooter – Release: December 8, 2022 – Developer: GSC Gameworld)
Who would have thought it: when it was announced in 2020, we still assumed that Stalker 2 must be an Unreal Engine 4 title. But we thought wrong: as the developer GSC Gameworld recently revealed, they are already building on the fifth edition of the Epic Engine. The studio announced this via Twitter:
Hey @UnrealEngine,
Feel free to mention we’re running on UE5 🤝 https://t.co/GLXdLM5YoV– S.T.A.L.K.E.R. OFFICIAL (@stalker_thegame) August 11, 2021
What special technical treats the PC version of Stalker 2 will receive is not yet known. However, it is supposed to have mod support right from the launch. This should ensure that Stalker 2, similar to its predecessors, will receive some impressive fan projects.
For the game version on Xbox Series X, the developers promise ray tracing support, 4K UHD and up to 120 FPS.
State of Decay 3
(Genre: Survival shooter – Release: Not known – Developer: Undead Labs)
The survival shooter is currently in the making at the Microsoft studio Undead Labs and will almost certainly be based on the Unreal Engine 5. This is supported by the fact that some time ago a sound designer was sought via the industry website BambooHR. There, it was stated that the person would, among other things, implement audio in the game via Blueprints (UE5).
This information probably speaks for itself. Blueprint is the visual scripting system of the Unreal Engine and the information in brackets also confirms the version. What kind of visuals State of Decay 3 will come up with remains to be seen. There is no gameplay material yet.
The Day Before
(Genre: 3rd-person shooter – Release: Mar 1, 2023 – Developer: Fntastic)
The extremely ambitious open-world MMO The Day Before flaunts breathtaking graphics in trailers, an interesting setting á la The Division and is thus already the great hope of many survival shooter fans. So it’s no wonder that this title has already landed on many people’s wish lists on Steam. Even if a great deal of scepticism has spread, as the last multiplayer titles from the relatively small studio Fntastic were mixed.
As the developers of Fntastic now announced, they too are switching from Unreal Engine 4 to Unreal Engine 5 shortly before the release originally scheduled for June, postponing the release by a whole year in the same breath. Since The Day Before is based on an open world, including various large cities and rural regions, the developers should also have a lot to do with the change.
The Matrix Awakens
(Genre: Tech Demo – Release: Dec 10, 2021 – Developer: Epic Games)
On the occasion of the theatrical release of Matrix: Resurrections, the filmmakers, together with Epic Games, have come up with something special to do PR for the new flick on the one hand, and on the other hand, to show how the boundaries between games and reality will blur in the future thanks to the Unreal Engine 5.
The Matrix Awakens is the result of this cooperation. You can download the free tech demo and experience the special graphics features of the UE5 on your own system.
The Outer Worlds 2
(Genre: Role-playing game – Release: Not known – Developer: Obsidian Entertainment)
The sequel to the sci-fi role-playing game was officially announced at E3 2021. In terms of technology, there is little that is solid at the moment. In this case, too, a job listing that was found on Obsidian’s website some time ago makes us sit up and take notice and invites speculation:
The company was looking for a Technical Artist who has experience with the 3D software Houdini, but also a solid understanding of the Unreal Engine 4 and 5. Under the paragraph Responsibilities
it was also required that the person be able to test world-building issues in Houdini and Unreal Engine 4/5.
While the person in question could also be working on Grounded or the role-playing game Avowed it is also possible that he or she could be working on the game. But it is also quite possible that the job application was meant for The Outer Worlds 2.
The Witcher: A New Saga
(Genre: Role Playing Game – Release: Not Known – Developer: CD Projekt RED)
Most role-playing game fans probably already know that CD Projekt RED has announced a new Witcher game. However, despite a trailer, there is still virtually nothing to see. Info is also scarce. What has already been confirmed? That this time the company’s own Red Engine will no longer be used, but instead the Unreal Engine 5.
Tomb Raider
Crystal Dynamics is incredibly excited about the future of Unreal and how it will help us take our storytelling to the next level. That’s why we’re proud to announce that our next tombraider game is being built on Unreal Engine 5! pic.twitter.com/UFMiWzJAZc
– Tomb Raider (@tombraider) April 5, 2022
Lara Croft plunges into a new adventure! After the trilogy that functioned as prequels, the last part of which, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, was released in 2018, it has been somewhat quiet around the world’s most famous archaeologist.
That is now over. The developer studio Crystal Dynamics has officially announced that they are working on a new game with Lara. In the same statement, they also confirmed that the title will use the Unreal Engine 5.
“We recently began development on our next Tomb Raider game, powered by Unreal Engine 5. Our goal is to push the boundaries of realism, and deliver a high quality, cinematic action-adventure experience that fans of both Crystal Dynamic and the Tomb Raider franchise deserve ”
What else is known? Unfortunately not much at the moment. Information about gameplay or even the plot is still scarce. However, the makers did manage to elicit one small detail:
The aim is to merge the timelines of the Tomb Raider series. Because currently there are the adventures of the young Lara (Tomb Raider (2013), Rise of the Tomb Raider, Shadow of the Tomb Raider) and those of the old, more experienced Ms. Croft from 1996 to 2008.
Vigilance 2099
(Genre: Action-Adventure – Release: Not known – Developer: Envoidant Studios)
An open-world city that screams Blade Runner and a bounty hunter on the prowl for criminals: On paper, Vigilance 2099 sounds pretty promising and a bit like the earlier Prey 2, which was later discontinued.
However, behind the open-world action adventure is not a big developer, but a studio of just three people. But they have big plans and a vision that they want to realise together with the publisher Behemoth Interactive and a Kickstarter campaign that is still to come.
Graphically, the team is relying on the Unreal Engine 5 and already shows in a first prototype where the journey is to go. Neon lights, a dystopian-looking city and floating cars at least give the game a lot of future flair. But it remains to be seen whether all this will be realised.
Wronged Us
(Genre: Survival-Horror – Release: 2023 – Developer: Delusional Studio)
The survival horror game is probably the most ambitious project on this list. Because the solo developer has set his sights on a lot. Wronged Us takes you to an abandoned small town that needs to be explored. The game does not rely on individual sections that are separated from each other, but on an open world that can be freely explored.
In the town you have to solve various puzzles but also fight the monsters that shuffle through the streets. At the moment, the developer is still looking for more team members so that nothing stands in the way of a release in 2023 for PC and consoles. The graphic splendour, which is based on the Unreal Engine 5, can be marvelled at in the latest trailer.
ArcheAge 2
(Genre: Online role-playing game – Release: Not known – Developer: XL Games)
Not much is really known about ArcheAge 2 yet. However, the developer XL Games has already confirmed that the online role-playing game will be based on the Unreal Engine 5. There are also first screenshots, which were still made using the UE 4. The title is currently still in the production phase.
Unsurprisingly, ArcheAge 2 is based on an open game world. It is supposed to be a kind of parallel universe to the first ArcheAge. Once again, the focus will be on playful freedom and many sandbox elements. New playable races should also give veterans of the first game a reason to play.
The developers have set themselves great goals. In addition to housing, sea battles and vehicles, ArcheAge 2 is also supposed to offer a “new approach” to trade and social interaction with other games. The bottom line is that the creators describe their project as the “epitome of a NextGen MMORPG”.
