Create Stunning Digital Worlds: Best Unreal Engine Courses 2024

The Unreal Engine is one of the best examples of top-of-the-line 3D engines out there. Not only has it been used for many gaming applications, but it also creates mind-bending animations and short films as well. The Unreal Engine is also known for being one of the most technical and challenging game engines, especially if you’re new to the world of programming. If you’re looking for assistance on where to look for courses on the Unreal Engine, you’ve come to the right place.

In this article, we’ll go over the very best online educational courses for the Unreal Engine on the market today. First, we’ll review the basics you need to look for in a high-quality Unreal Engine course. After that, we’ll take a deep dive straight into the course reviews. Finally, we’ll take an even deeper look at the intricacies of the Unreal Engine and why we think it’s one of the best examples of a top-tier gaming engine.

So, sit down, strap yourself in, and get ready. Let’s look at the bare minimum you need to know about the Unreal Engine before deciding to pursue some more nuanced education on the subject.

Orientation: Understanding Unreal Engine Courses

The Unreal Engine is one of the top choices used in modern-day game design. If you’re completely new to it, however, you might be overwhelmed by the number of possibilities there are when it comes to online courses. In this section, we’ll show you what we think matters the most when it comes to choosing an Unreal Engine course that fits your needs. Afterward, we’ll give you a chart that showcases the differences in each of the courses we selected. This will enable you to find the one that fits your specifications.

Things to Look For in an Unreal Engine Course

We know you want to get into designing next-generation games fast, so we’ll get right to it. Here are a few considerations to note when looking for an Unreal Engine course:

Your Educational Needs

Some of the courses presented here will fulfill a different niche compared to others. Be sure to assess your level of competence with the Unreal Engine, or game design in general, before choosing one of these courses. It’s a good idea to go with a complete beginner’s course in order to fully orientate yourself, especially if you are new to game design. However, this could be said for all game engines, not just Unreal. We think that the Unreal Engine’s inherent complexity requires some getting used to compared to, say, a 2D game engine.

Career Goals

If you’re looking for a way into the gaming industry, it’s not such a bad idea to get a heads up by investing in a high-quality course on a specific gaming engine. Several of the courses in this article are affiliated with Epic Games, which are the creators of the Unreal Engine. We think these are the gold standard if you are looking to enter the modern gaming industry, as the engine itself is already one of the top competitors in the market when it comes to 3D graphics. Why not immerse yourself in a course that is endorsed by the very company that made the engine itself?

What’s Your Schedule Like?

We’ve all got lives to lead, and some of us have more of a time crunch than others. A lot of the courses listed here are going to be fairly intensive and take far longer than most other subjects to complete. This is the nature of the complex systems in play when it comes to game design, especially advanced titles with next-generation 3D graphics. Be sure that you have the time to complete these courses to the fullest to get the most bang for your buck.

Interactive Versus Merely Instructional

Some courses may have projects and hands-on teaching from the instructor. If that’s more your style of learning, then go for things like that. If you’re more laid-back or pressed for time, it might be best to just go for a generalized course. It can’t be stressed enough that the Unreal Engine is a massive undertaking. It can take a while to learn its ins and outs fully. If you’re the kind of person that likes to take their time or has prior responsibilities, then it might be best to focus on less interactive and time-sensitive courses.

Cheat Sheet

If you’re looking to get more of a bird’s-eye view of the Unreal Engine courses, take a look at this helpful chart. Each portion of it is a small breakdown of each course so you can quickly find the instructional material you are looking for.

Title	Platform	Course Length	Price	Focus	Rating
Unreal Engine 5 C++ Developer	Udemy	34.5hrs	$109.99	Learning C++ for Unreal Engine development.	5.0
Unreal Engine 4: How to Develop Your First Two Games	Udemy	15.5hrs	$119.99	Developing two prototype games with Blueprint coding	4.5
Unreal Engine Blueprint Game Developer	Udemy	10.5hrs	$109.99	Beginner training for non-programmers	4.5
Getting Started With Unreal Engine	EdX	Up to 28 hours	$199 for diploma track, otherwise can be audited	First course in a professional certificate series.	4.5
Unreal Engine 5: The Complete Beginner’s Course	Udemy	10hr	$99.99	Complete beginner’s course on Unreal Engine 5	4.5
Introduction To Character Animation In Unreal Engine 4	Skillshare	4hrs	$19 per month or $99 per year	Character animation basics in Unreal Engine 4	4.5
Unreal Engine 4: Character Skill System	Skillshare	Over 24 hours	$19 per month or $99 per year	Adobe Illustrator for Fashion Design	4.0
Unreal Engine 4: Beginners Guide to Lighting	Udemy	3hrs	$19.99	Unreal Engine Lighting Concepts	4.0
Unreal Engine 4: Realtime Motion Graphics	LinkedIn	4hr 33min	$19.99 for annual access or $29.99 per month	3D imaging made easy.	4.0
Unreal Engine: Product Visualization	LinkedIn	1hr 9min	$19.99 for annual access or $29.99 per month	Mockups designs of future products	3.5

Ok, it’s now time to get to what you’ve all been waiting for. We’ve compiled the very best courses for the Unreal Engine with all skill levels in mind, and we’re excited to showcase them to you. If you’re looking for more detail on the Unreal Engine, please take a look at our Extra Credit section right after the course reviews.

Top 10 Best Unreal Engine Courses 2024

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1. Best for Beginners: Unreal Engine 5 C++ Developer

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Why we like it

Learn the principles of the Unreal Engine and create four fully playable games in this course specially curated by Udemy and Epic Games!

What You’ll Learn

This course expects students to have no prior programming experience. By the time you’re finished, you will have learned the basics of C++, the coding language of the Unreal Engine. This course goes over basic game design logic and workflow; by the end of it, you will have produced four different game types, one of which is a first-person shooter. This course is also great for digital artists who are looking to get a handle on the Unreal Engine to be better assets to their team. Also, if you’re an established programmer and are new to the Unreal Engine in general, this is a great head-start course for you as well.

Verdict

This is a fantastic beginner’s course and is the most popular Unreal Engine course on Udemy’s platform. However, it’s limited in its scope and doesn’t go over more niche engine topics. If you’re looking to create multiplayer games for massive online worlds, it’s best to start elsewhere. However, if you’re a total novice to Unreal Engine mechanics and game design, this is the course for you.

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2. Best for Non-Programmers: Unreal Engine 4: How to Develop Your First Two Games

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Why we like it

Make two full playable games with the Unreal Engine Blueprint system in this Epic Games-approved course.

What You’ll Learn

This course shows you a basic overview of the in-engine editor. It also goes over how to import custom assets to give your game its unique look and feel. Additionally, one of the most important things this course goes over is how to debug your code and deal with any errors that come up, which is something a lot of new programmers need to be able to deal with effectively.

By the end of this course, you will develop a fully playable pinball and survival-related game to show you the capabilities of the engine and the vast (or intimate) worlds one can create with it. Not a programmer? Not to worry. This course focuses on the Blueprint system, a visual scripting mechanism that is intuitive and easy to learn.

Verdict

The worst thing we can say about this course is how limited it is. More advanced programmers and people wanting to get the fullest out of the Unreal Engine for complex games need to look elsewhere. But for non-coders and other novices, this is a great jumping-off point for your journey.

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3. Best for Fast Results: Unreal Engine Blueprint Game Developer

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Why we like it

Make a completely playable video game fast in just a little over an hour in this epic games-approved course.

What You’ll Learn

Considered to be a partner course with the Complete Unreal C++ Developer this particular course series is dedicated to using the integrated Blueprint system of the Unreal Engine to create and prototype games fast. One of the claims of this course is that you will be able to make a Marble-Run equivalent game in under 15 minutes. So, if you’re a total newbie to game design, this course gives you the inspiration needed to continue your journey.

We think the coolest part of this course is the inclusion of a section that shows the basics of character modeling and animation. This is great for visual artists new to the Unreal Engine who want to get their feet wet.

Verdict

This is a beginner-level course, and it makes no qualms about it. More advanced programming gurus and Unreal Engine professionals need not apply. However, if you’re completely new to game design and want to prove to yourself that you can get a prototype up and running fast with powerful tools at your disposal, look no further.

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4. Best for a Career Track: Getting Started With Unreal Engine

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Why we like it

In this first part of a three-part professional certificate provided by the Rochester Institute of Technology, this course teaches the Unreal Engine from scratch.

What You’ll Learn

This is a complete introductory course in Unreal Engine 4 provided by the Rochester Institute of Technology. It is part of a three-course track that leads to a professional certificate of competence in the Unreal Engine. This is a great opportunity for those who want to enter the game development industry and show professional-grade aptitude in one of the most well-known game engines in the business today. This certificate will qualify you for other industries as well, such as the burgeoning virtual reality field, architecture, and even animation rendering used for training new hires.

This course goes over environmental design, importing 3D assets, lighting and post-processing practices, and the materials editor for customization. It’s not a complete look at the Unreal Engine, but it’s more than enough to get a great head-start in learning this next-level game development platform.

Verdict

While this is an introductory course, it’s suggested that you have some background in 3D development before taking this course. It’s not a requirement, but overall, this isn’t a course for complete novices. However, if you want to go the professional route, we can’t recommend it enough.

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5. Best for Unreal Engine 5: Unreal Engine 5: The Complete Beginner’s Course

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Why we like it

Unreal Engine 5 is the next iteration of the Unreal Engine. Learn the ins and outs of the engine in this compact Udemy course.

What You’ll Learn

The Unreal Engine 5 is the newest version of the Unreal Engine. Because of that, there’s not as much information out compared to Unreal Engine 4. This course teaches you the fundamentals of how the Unreal Engine works while also showing you the newest features of version 5.

The main goal of this course is to give you the knowledge necessary to take your ideas and manifest them into reality via Unreal Engine 5. The course gives you the basics and expects you to internalize and utilize them: the only limit is your imagination.

Verdict

The main issue we had with this course is there are no step-by-step tutorials on making your first game. Many of the courses on this list show you the proper pace and workflow when it comes to game design in the Unreal Engine. That doesn’t mean this particular course is bad. However, for a complete beginner’s course, we would like to see something like that implemented.

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6. Best for Character Animation: Introduction to Character Animation in Unreal Engine 4

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Why we like it

If you’re invested in creating unforgettable imaginary characters or interested in animation in general, this course will enthrall you.

What You’ll Learn

This course is a complete immersion into animating character models in the Unreal Engine. It comes with its own special alien character mockup, complete with 28 different animations that have been motion-captured. This course also teaches you what lighting and camera tools are needed to bring even more photorealism to your future creations. It has everything you need out of the metaphorical box to get you ready to learn 3D animation.

Another thing we like are all the extras. There are two additional character models to work with, and a complete sci-fi themed starship interior to have your characters chew up the scenery. This course is sure to get your creative juices flowing and will make you a relative expert in animation in the Unreal Engine by the time you finish it.

Verdict

If you’re into animation, this is a great course; however, it’s mostly focused on creating short films and videos with the Unreal Engine. If you want to learn more about how to integrate your new creations in, say, a full-blown video game, you’ll need some more instruction down the line.

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7. Best for RPG Developers: Unreal Engine 4: Character Skill System

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Why we like it

Learn how to put together the framework of a basic RPG skill system in this fun course.

What You’ll Learn

If you’ve always wanted to create your own RPG but didn’t know where to start, the Unreal Engine is powerful enough to make your wildest fantasies come to life. In this course, you will learn the basics of how to effectively create a skill system for an RPG without relying on any programming know-how.

The thing that’s staggering about this course is that there’s over 24 hours’ worth of content available to go through. Also, all the assets utilized in the course are completely free to download, which we think is a pretty great deal.

Verdict

This is considered an intermediate-level course, so it’s not meant for absolute beginners looking to learn the basics in the Unreal Engine. Also, one of the biggest positives of the course also happens to be one of its negatives. There’s so much content here that it is quite a time investment. However, if you’re passionate about RPGs, that probably won’t impede you.

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8. Best for Learning Lighting: Unreal Engine 4: Beginners Guide to Lighting

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Why we like it

Lighting is one of the most important parts of a modern-day video game, but it can also be the most confusing to craft. This course will show you the basics of the best lighting practices.

What You’ll Learn

If you’re coming to the Unreal Engine, you probably want to make the best-looking game you possibly can. After all, you’re using one of the world’s most advanced 3D engines, right? The problem is that it is easier said than done, especially in regard to lighting. Lighting is notorious for being one of the most complicated aspects of creating a top-of-the-line game in a modern 3D engine.

This course covers everything a beginner needs to know when it comes to the best Unreal Engine lighting practices. It does this through practical interactive case studies to apply what you learn as you go. The final section focuses on troubleshooting and common concerns that everyone runs into at the beginner stage.

Verdict

If you’re looking to learn about proper lighting concepts in the Unreal Engine, this is the course for you. While it is a beginner-level course, we advise having a bit of knowledge on hand before diving into the more complex aspect of this powerful game engine.

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9. Best for Visual Artists: Unreal Engine 4: Realtime Motion Graphics

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Why we like it

Utilize the power and simplicity of the Unreal Engine to bring your creations to life in this lean and mean instructional course provided by LinkedIn.

What You’ll Learn

Traditional 3D rendering software tools are known for being time sinks due to all the processes they must deal with. This is because they are designed for modeling and sculpting and less for real-time animation and motion. The good news is that the Unreal Engine simplifies this harsh reality tremendously.

This course shows you how to import assets of all kinds, including static as well as pre-animated, into the Unreal Engine. It also shows you how to use the Matinee Editor. This is the Unreal Engine’s built-in video editor for creating animated films. The instructor also goes over the importance of lighting and shading for your scenes as well as post-processing procedures.

We think the real meat of this course is how the instructor goes over in detail three different animation projects to show you the full power and scope of the Unreal Engine for the digital artist.

Verdict

The biggest downside of this course is it is not specifically related to gaming per se. If you want something more specific to the gaming niche, it’s best to look elsewhere. However, we think the course would benefit artists in that niche if they were completely new to the Unreal Engine itself.

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10. Best for In-House Design: Unreal Engine: Product Visualization

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Why we like it

Utilize the power and versatility of the Unreal Engine to design high-quality product visuals for your company in this short and sweet LinkedIn course.

What You’ll Learn

The Unreal Engine is commonly known for next-generation game development, but it has its niche aspect in professional-grade 3D modeling and design as well. In this course, you will learn the most efficient techniques to become accustomed to the Unreal Engine so that you, too, can make effective and striking visualizations for your company or brand.

Everything you need to know, from lighting to importing existing assets into the engine, is covered here. You will even learn how to create interactive segments for your animations that are perfect for orientation and training new hires.

Verdict

This is a quality niche course, but it’s fairly limited in its scope. If you’re a professional that isn’t interested in programming or game design, then there’s nothing for you here. This is mostly a decent survey course on the power and versatility of the Unreal Engine in modern-day business applications. If that’s what you’re searching for, though, this course could very well suit your needs.

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