Games Confirmed To Be Using Unreal Engine 5 – TheFantasyTimes

During the State of Unreal 2022 event, Epic Games made Unreal Engine 5 available for all game developers to use for their upcoming projects. Several games, both high-profile and less well-known, have been confirmed to use the platform. Unreal Engine 5 is the latest iteration of the highly successful and popular game engine, and it most likely will see heavy usage as the current console generation develops. The new version is said to be a leap forward in terms of crafting geometry, lighting, and animation.

Back at Summer Game Fest in 2020, Unreal Engine 5 was revealed running on a PS5. The tech demo showcased some of what players can expect from games using the engine in an unprecedented level of detail. During the GDC 2021 event, The Coalition, the studio behind Gears of War‘s recent entries, revealed an Unreal Engine 5 tech demo called Alpha Point, demonstrating the technology’s ability to create realistic shadows and reflections.

A few Unreal Engine 5 games are confirmed for release in 2023, meaning that players hopefully won’t have to wait too long to experience them. That said, the engine’s reign is still in its infancy, and it might be a few years before the world gets to see its full potential actualized. Developers of all sizes are working with Unreal Engine 5, and there is a diverse range of games already confirmed to use the engine.

Lyra

Starting with a different type of release, Lyra is a multiplayer game designed to introduce developers to Unreal Engine 5. Seen solely as a game, Lyra is a rather generic online shooter; however, this software’s true value is its customizability, allowing developers to use it to create their own projects. Epic describes Lyra as a “living project” that will continue to evolve, one that will help introduce creators to UE5’s mechanisms.

Fortnite

When Chapter 3 debuted in December 2021, Epic Games’ Fortnite confirmed that development shifted to Unreal Engine 5. Fortnite has never been considered a technical powerhouse of a game, but this move to Unreal Engine 5 has significantly increased the game’s visual fidelity. While Chapter 3 was mostly a small jump-up, the same cannot be said for its successor. Chapter 4 dramatically improved Fortnite‘s graphics thanks to Unreal Engine 5.

The Matrix Awakens

A tech demo released close to the debut of The Matrix Resurrections, The Matrix Awakens showcases the incredible potential of Unreal Engine 5. Created with assistance from The Coalition, Epic’s title puts fans into the heart of iconic scenes from the original movies, although the gameplay is mostly limited to quick-time events. As a demonstration of UE5, The Matrix Awakens more than does its job, and the demo is free so PS5 and Xbox Series X/S owners have little reason to not experience this short project.

Mortal Online 2

Released in January 2022, Mortal Online 2 is an MMORPG that presently uses Unreal Engine 4. Star Vault has confirmed that Mortal Online 2 will be moved over to UE5 once a suitable build is released by Epic Games. An immersive MMO, MO2 is difficult, complex, and perfect for hardcore players who love PvP gameplay. Survival is the name of the game, and it is never easy.

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Cepheus Protocol

A real-time strategy game that has been in early access for roughly two years, Cepheus Protocol started to transition to Unreal Engine 5 in 2022. This upgrade, unsurprisingly, led to a boost in the visuals. Although it should not be compared to AAA projects, this indie title looks pretty good, and the UE5 update certainly helped. Inspired by classics such as Company of Heroes, Cepheus Protocol is a passion project that has garnered a generally positive reputation on Steam. The developer has yet to announce a full release date.

I Am Jesus Christ: Prologue

I Am Jesus Christ is one of those games that, on the surface, might seem like a joke project; however, that’s far from the case. SimulaM’s Prologue is effectively a free-to-play demo for the in-development full version, and it shows promise. An RPG centering around its eponymous figure, I Am Jesus Christ incorporates fantasy-style abilities courtesy of miracles, all the while pledging to recreate historical locations.

The Bus

The Bus has been in early access since March 2021, garnering a mostly decent reception in the meantime. Driving simulators are a niche genre, and this project has to compete with similar concepts like Bus Simulator 21. One thing TML’s title has in its favor is its visuals, which were upgraded to Unreal Engine 5 on December 14, 2022.

The Bus looks good and does an admirable job of recreating Berlin. That said, the project is a ways off before its full release, so anyone interested in picking this one up should check out some playthroughs to see if they are fine with the game’s current state.

Layers Of Fear

Released in June 2023, Layers of Fear is Bloober Team’s final chapter in the horror trilogy. Released in 2016, Layers of Fear took place in an unsettling mansion and cast players as The Painter. Its sequel shifted things to a ship and a lead actor. Both games produced DLC stories, and all this content is included and remastered in 2023’s Layers of Fear.

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The package contains fresh content in the form of the Lighthouse Chapter. Taking on the role of the Writer, players will experience a new story that promises to tie the trilogy together. Crafted entirely in Unreal Engine 5, Layers of Fear offers the complete experience for anyone looking to dive into the psychological horror franchise.

Immortals Of Aveum

With EA as its publisher, Immortals of Aveum is not only set to be Ascendant Studios’ debut release but also the first AAA Unreal Engine 5 project. While this might add some extra pressure, Ascendant Studios is naturally excited about the game’s future. Along with shining some light on the story and world, the trailers have generally focused on Immortals of Aveum‘s magic-based combat system, and they have done a good job of building up hype. The gameplay’s explosive and vibrant presentation looks set to take full advantage of UE5’s graphical fidelity.

Structure-wise, the game will blend open areas with linear sections. Immortals of Aveum is a single-player experience with a curated story, and it could prove to be one of 2023’s nicer surprises. If nothing else, the project should showcase the potential of UE5 on a larger scale than any release before it.

The Day Before

A post-apocalyptic zombie game, The Day Before was revealed in 2021, with Fntastic aiming for a release sometime in the next year. Ultimately, the open-world survival horror title was delayed to March 2023 to allow time for the project to shift to Unreal Engine 5. Since then, the developer has announced another delay, with the game now set to debut in November of the same year.

Even though The Day Before has attracted its share of controversy, the game is still fairly anticipated for the most part. If it meets its upcoming deadline, the title should be among the first open-world releases to utilize Unreal Engine 5, although its success might be determined by its critical reception.

Ark: Survival Ascended

Studio Wildcard is working on Ark 2, but that game is not only a ways off from release but is also set to be considerably different from Ark: Survival Evolved. Consequently, the studio has decided to create an Unreal Engine 5 version of the original game, which will be entitled Ark: Survival Ascended.

Now, this project was initially expected to cost $50 and come bundled with Ark 2; however, that is no longer the case. Survival Ascended is now being treated as a full-priced standalone release, although the package will eventually include all the expansions. This decision has been divisive.

Hell Is Us

From the studio behind 2015’s Mordheim: City of the Damned comes Hell is Us, a game that appears to have a Soulslike edge to it. The developer has remained tight-lipped about the project, but a captivating teaser provided hints at some of the story’s potential themes, particularly “revenge.” A third-person action-adventure title that blends vicious combat with exploration, Hell is Us is an Unreal Engine 5 game worth keeping an eye on.

While not as well known as EA’s Madden, Maximum Football has presented sports fans with an alternative over the last few years. The 2023 entry marks two major changes in the series. The game will utilize Unreal Engine 5, which is a logical pick for a football sim that prides itself on realism. Furthermore, the upcoming title will be free-to-play, a statement likely to fill players with both excitement and trepidation.

So far, Maximum Football has struggled to leave much of an experience, with its entries garnering less-than-fantastic reviews. It remains to be seen whether the upcoming project will mark a change in fortunes for the franchise.

Off The Grid

Off The Grid is an ambitious cyberpunk battle royale game that includes input from Neill Blomkamp, the director behind District 9. Gunzilla Games is seeking to create a story-driven entry in the genre that goes beyond just adding lore to the characters or the wider universe. Off the Grid could immerse players in a narrative that could be advanced through matches.

The game will be set in a dystopian future that has acquired advanced technology like cybernetic limbs courtesy of metals acquired from space. Off the Grid will take place on a tropical island.

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Paranormal Tales

Digital Cybercherries’s Paranormal Tales is an indie body-cam horror game featuring multiple scenarios. Presented as found footage stories, players get to experience the most terrifying moments of a few characters’ lives. Prioritizing realism and immersion, Paranormal Tales showcases Unreal Engine 5’s potential for bringing pure nightmares to life. More importantly, the project could prove the engine is viable for indie studios that do not have the support of massive companies like Konami.

Rennsport

Expected to be free-to-start, Rennsport is a racing sim designed with eSports in mind. Stated to be created “for racers, from racers,” this project comes from a new German developer and has garnered attention since the debut of its alpha, providing a snapshot into what the game could become in a few years. If everything goes to plan, Competition Company will roll out a closed beta in 2022 and then an open beta in 2023, potentially leading to a full release by the end of the year.

Repo Man

Repo Man is a first-person RPG that casts players in the thankless titular role, immersing them in this profession. As Arthur Newstead, players find themselves saddled with a massive 15 million debt, and clearing this burden will require collecting payments from people who live within the town of San Alma. Repo Man will try to give players the freedom to decide what type of debt collector they would like to be.

Archara Studios is developing Repo Man in Unreal Engine 5, and the project will be published by Games Box S.A. While containing a few rough moments, the trailer highlights the game’s high-quality character designs, along with San Alma’s unique aesthetic.

STALKER 2: Heart Of Chernobyl

STALKER 2 was one of Microsoft’s biggest reveals at E3 2021. Its debut trailer was lauded for its impressive visuals, and, perhaps unsurprisingly, STALKER 2 was confirmed to be in development with Unreal Engine 5. This is one of the most anticipated Unreal Engine 5 games and could be a major tent-pole release for Microsoft’s platforms over the next few years.

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The engine seems to be a better fit for open-world projects compared to previous iterations, which explains why projects such as STALKER 2 have opted to use UE5. The long-awaited sequel was set to be released in December 2022, but it has been pushed back without an exact release date.

Stray Souls

Announced for consoles and PC, Stray Souls is a survival horror game about a guy who inherited his grandmother’s home, only to realize that it comes with a few nightmares. Jukai Studio is a new studio, and this upcoming project will be the developer’s debut release.

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While not without a few clunky moments, Stray Souls‘ reveal trailer showed a lot of promise, particularly when it comes to the game’s environments and lighting. The third-person gunplay and facial expressions of the main character looked stiff in the released footage, but those are both things that could improve as the game’s development progresses.

Wronged Us

A survival horror game inspired by Dark Souls, Resident Evil, and Silent Hill, Wronged Us uses Unreal Engine 5 to bring to life a creepy town filled with monsters and unsettling NPCs. The currently available footage suggests a game drenched in a tense atmosphere where something could go wrong at a moment’s notice. Only small snippets of the gameplay have been shown so far but Wronged Us appears to be an open-world third-person shooter with stealth elements.

ArcheAge 2

ArcheAge is one of the largest MMORPGs ever made, and its sequel is currently being built using Unreal Engine 5. The new ArcheAge game is said to be several years away, so fans shouldn’t expect much news on the title for the foreseeable future. While not much is known about it, gamers can expect greatly enhanced visuals over its predecessor, thanks to the use of Unreal Engine 5.

Ark 2

Ark 2 has been in production for a long time, and while initially announced for a 2023 release, Studio Wildcard has confirmed that the game needs to be delayed until the following year. Despite Ark: Survival Evolved‘s success speaking for itself, the sequel looks set to be quite a departure from its predecessor. Wildcard has said the game will incorporate third-person action and Souls-like combat, two elements that instantly set Ark 2 apart from Survival Evolved​​​​​.

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Black Myth: Wukong

Black Myth: Wukong has impressed players since its initial reveal in 2020. The game is an adaptation, of sorts, of the beloved novel Journey to the West. The action-adventure game has exhibited an incredible level of visual detail and intense boss fights. Black Myth has been compared to FromSoftware’s Dark Souls series and gamers are eager to see more of it in action. In August 2021, it was confirmed that Black Myth is being developed with Unreal Engine 5, which no doubt added to the excitement surrounding the game.

Dreamhouse: The Game

It’s safe to expect that a lot of Unreal Engine 5 games will be impressive AAA titles, but the game engine isn’t limited to just these types of titles. Dreamhouse: The Game is a house construction simulator coming to last and current-gen consoles and PC. The footage so far has been impressive, demonstrating photorealistic graphics. Dreamhouse: The Game doesn’t have a release date set in stone yet, but it’s one to watch for fans of simulation games.

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Still Wakes The Deep

From the same team behind Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs and Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture comes Still Wakes the Deep, a first-person horror game set on an oil rig. Bolstering realistic visuals thanks to the use of Unreal Engine 5, The Chinese Room’s project plans to immerse players in a grounded but unusual setting that blends natural dangers with the supernatural. Along with taking on water and being disconnected from the rest of the world due to a vicious storm, the oil rig has also been invaded by something that appears to not be human.

Still Wakes the Deep leans into survival horror by featuring an underpowered and ordinary protagonist. Players will not have access to weapons or unique powers, and they will have to think their way out of this mess.

Mictlan: An Ancient Mythical Tale

Open-world games have become commonplace, however, the subgenre covers such a wide range of settings that new entries can still feel fresh. Mictlan takes inspiration from pre-Columbian Mesoamerican cultures, a part of history barely touched by the gaming industry. The project will mix fantasy and reality.

Abandoned

From a bungled PS5 app launch to news reports suggesting development has stalled, Abandoned has been shrouded in controversy since its debut. Garnering attention due to refuted claims that it shares similarities with Silent Hill, this upcoming horror game serves as a testament that not all publicity is good publicity, and one has to assume that Blue Box needs to get its next reveal or showcase spot on in order to salvage the project. Abandoned‘s director, Hasan Kahraman, partially blamed the teaser app’s disastrous launch on the game’s use of Unreal Engine 5.

Arker: The Legend Of Ohm (3D)

Arker: The Legend of Ohm is an NFT-based game that allows users to earn cryptocurrency through gameplay. The 2D version has been out for a while, with 2022 being a relatively strong year for the mobile-focused title. Arker Labs has revealed that it is working on a 3D alternative based in Unreal Engine 5, although this project is still early in development. From what has been announced, this version will not be replacing the 2D original.

Ashes Of Creation

Although initially built in Unreal Engine 4, in December 2021, Intrepid Studios confirmed that Ashes of Creation has been migrated to Unreal Engine 5. The MMORPG is currently in its Alpha phase, so the final version is most likely not that close to a release date. As the team behind the game prioritizes transparency, Ashes of Creation‘s development can be followed closely by those interested in the title.

Avowed

Unlike its predecessors, Unreal Engine 5 is compatible with open-world designs, and quite a few developers have taken note. Obsidian’s Avowed is a fantasy first-person RPG set within the Pillars of Eternity universe, one that appears to focus on magic and sword-based combat. Although a release date has not been announced, rumors suggest Avowed could be released early into 2023, making it one of the first open-world tests for Unreal Engine 5.

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Ballistic Moon’s Unreal Engine 5 Game

Ballistic Moon is a new studio that has alumni from Supermassive Games, the developer behind horror titles like Until Dawn and The Quarry. While nothing has been officially announced yet, on Twitter, Ballistic revealed that it is working on an Unreal Engine 5 game with a big publisher.

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Nothing is currently known about this project besides the fact that it exists, and that is unlikely to change anytime soon. Nevertheless, Ballistic’s background in motion capture suggests this could be an interactive game similar to Supermassive’s creations. That said, that is just speculation based on very little information.

Chrono Odyssey

An open-world MMORPG, Chrono Odyssey‘s gameplay trailer undeniably leaves a good impression with high-quality visuals, fun and varied combat, and large-scale battles. Developed by Npixel, a South Korean company, the MMO takes place in Setera, a fantasy realm that is home to gorgeous cities, serene scenery, and monsters that can burn everything to the ground without breaking a sweat.

Npixel is predominantly known for mobile RPGs as the developer has produced Knight Survivors and Gran Saga, the latter of which features action-based combat that is somewhat similar to Chrono Odyssey​​​​​​.

Code: To Jin Yong

Through the release of a demo trailer, Lightspeed Studios has revealed a new martial arts game, Code: To Jin Yong, based on a wuxia novel. While still very much in its early days, the demo showcases the title’s free-flowing combat that combines ground and aerial maneuvers. The footage highlights the appeal of Unreal Engine 5, demonstrating the technology’s ability to capture minute details and handle fast-paced gameplay.

The Coalition Projects, Including Gears Of War 6

Prior to releasing its GDC 2021 tech demo, The Coalition released a blog post confirming that future games will utilize Unreal Engine 5. Gears of War has regularly been at the forefront of the game engine’s development, and this will remain the case moving forward. At the moment, The Coalition has not announced any specific games, although the studio appears to be working on multiple projects. That said, one has to imagine that Gears 6 is already in the pipeline since the previous entry sets things up for a sequel.

Crystal Dynamics’ New Tomb Raider Game

Following the State of Unreal 2022 showcase, Crystal Dynamics confirmed that a new Tomb Raider project is in development that will make use of Unreal Engine 5. Nothing concrete has been revealed about the game besides its existence, so it is not clear whether it will be a sequel to Shadow of the Tomb Raider or something else entirely. It should be noted that while Crystal Dynamics handled 2013’s Tomb Raider and 2015’s Rise of the Tomb Raider, Eidos Montreal developed Shadow of the Tomb Raider.

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Development on Lara Croft’s latest adventure has just begun, therefore, a release date is unlikely to be announced in the near future. It was always a given that Tomb Raider would produce another title sooner or later, but this confirms that the project will use Unreal Engine 5, indicating that Crystal Dynamics hopes to push the series to new heights.

Deadrop

In December 2021, Dr. Disrespect announced that he has opened a triple-A studio called Midnight Society. Soon after, the company confirmed that its first project will be built in Unreal Engine 5. The game has been confirmed to be called Deadrop, a PVPVE free-to-play first-person shooter set in a world inspired by the 1980s. Deadrop‘s official website suggests that loot will be the primary focus, and the combat will largely take place in a tower with seven sectors.

Dragon Quest 12: The Flames Of Fate

Dragon Quest 12 is set to be a departure for Square Enix’s JRPG series as it won’t feature traditional turn-based battles. Another change is that the new Dragon Quest will use Unreal Engine 5 for its development. This could have big implications for its world and overall story, especially so because the new entry is set to take the game in a darker direction. With a new game engine in tow and a different overall direction for the series, Dragon Quest 12 could be a memorable entry in the acclaimed series.

Echoes Of The End

Icelandic developer, Myrkur Games, is currently developing a single-player RPG called Echoes of the End. Players will take on the role of Ryn, a warrior of immense power. Echoes of the End is one of the many new IPs coming from publisher Koch Media, and it aims to blend cinematic scope with a story-driven RPG experience. This could be one to watch for fans of immersive single-player experiences, especially those yearning for a narrative-driven adventure.

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The First Descendant

Showcased at Gamescom 2022, The First Descendant dropped a gorgeous trailer that instantly made the third-person shooter the talk of the event. Blending cutscenes and in-game footage, the footage introduces a sci-fi universe where humans in exoskeletons take on a wide assortment of threats. Going by the trailer, co-op seems to be at the heart of The First Descendant, which could help set the project apart from other live service games (if the title goes down this route).

Unsurprisingly, the game’s visuals look spectacular in the trailer, with the character and enemy designs being particularly impressive. Unreal Engine 5 should provide studios with the necessary tools to create lavish worlds, but it is up to the developers to take full advantage of the technology.

I.G.I Origins

A prequel to 2000’s Project I.G.I., I.G.I. Origins is a tactical first-person shooter with a heavy focus on stealth. The game casts players as Michael King, an ex-SAS operative who has been recruited by MI6 to stop a World War before it happens. So far, AntiMatter has released a world teaser and gameplay trailer, which provide a small glimpse into I.G.I. Origins‘ presentation and gunplay. Even though the content that has been shown is exciting, the project likely still has a ways to go before a release is on the horizon.

ILL

Team Clout’s ILL is a survival horror game that appears to place a heavy emphasis on exploration and detective work. While not much has been revealed about the release, the available footage highlights ILL‘s stunning attention to detail which is made possible through the developer’s use of Unreal Engine 5. Immersion is such a crucial part of the horror experience, and ILL looks set to take things to the next level.

Instinction

A shooter set in a pre-historic landscape, Instinction puts players in the shoes of April Summers, an adventurer on a personal quest. She also happens to be surrounded by dinosaurs. The trailer shows first-person gunplay and a few stunning dinosaur models and environments.

Instinction will incorporate puzzles and exploration alongside its combat. According to the game’s Steam profile, players will have the option to switch between third-person and first-person. They can also customize the HUD.

Into The Echo

An ambitious MMO built in Unreal Engine 5, Into the Echo is an enticing prospect, even if most of the game is still shrouded in mystery. The available teaser does not provide much indication of the MMORPG’s content or gameplay, but it does reveal that the game is a “time travel odyssey” and that pre-alpha is set to launch soon. Hopefully, more information about Into the Echo is revealed soon as it could be one of the more exciting projects in the MMO genre.

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Kingdom Hearts 4

Square Enix’s reveal of Kingdom Hearts 4 did not show the game running on Unreal Engine 5, but Tetsuya Nomura has confirmed that will change in the future. Dropping Sora in a realistic metropolis, KH4 seems primed to take the franchise in a new direction, be it through tweaks to the gameplay, story, or structure. The new art style should make it easier for Square’s series to explore Disney’s live-action properties like the MCU and Star Wars.

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The city showcased in the trailer is called Quadratum, and this hub world will connect Sora to other universes. This entry marks the beginning of a new arc in Kingdom Hearts as well, so it seems fitting that this era would come with a graphical change courtesy of UE5.

Legend Of Ymir

As a follow-up to 2021’s MIR4, WeMade has unveiled a true next-gen MMORPG in the form of Legend of Ymir. The studio has released a tech demo going through its plans for the RPG while showing a few glimpses of in-game footage, although development has a ways to go before any significant content is likely to be revealed to the public. Although the series has always been more popular in Asia than in Western countries, MIR4 did get more of a foothold in North America than the previous entries, so Legend of Ymir might look to capitalize on its predecessor’s intentional presence.

Mabinogi

Mabinogi is a Korean MMORPG that has been around since 2004, and while not that well known in Western nations, the game has showcased its staying power over the last two decades. Although the visuals looked good for their time and have a nostalgic charm to them, Mabinogi naturally shows its age by this point, which has inspired Nexon to announce plans to shift the game to Unreal Engine 5.

Nexon has a history of taking measures to try and keep Mabinogi relevant and continuously evolving, and the upcoming change will be the project’s most ambitious endeavor yet.

Netmarble’s Mobile Game Of Thrones Game

Announced earlier in 2022, Netmarble is working on an open-world Game of Thrones adaptation for mobile devices, and the game is being developed in Unreal Engine 5. Very little footage of the title has been released, but Netmarble has produced a few licensed products before like Star Wars: Force Arena and Marvel Future Fight along with RPGs such as Lineage 2: Revolution and Ni no Kuni: Cross Worlds, so the company does have a track record.

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Primitive

Games Box’s Primitive is an open-world game set in the Stone Age. Revolving around survival gameplay, the project seeks to craft a gorgeous but cutthroat world free of modern sensibilities and technology. Wild animals roam the land, towering over human hunters armed with bows and arrows. According to its Steam description, the game will incorporate a hierarchy system that rewards hunters, allowing them to climb up its ranking.

Primitive‘s announcement trailer showcases Unreal Engine 5’s ability to produce stunning photorealistic visuals, a feature that could be used to immerse players in strange environments like never before.

Project: A.I.D.A.

From the same developer behind 2022’s Fobia – St. Dinfna Hotel, Project A.I.D.A. is a sci-fi survival horror game. At the moment, very little information about the project has been revealed. The teaser trailer is primarily set in an abandoned building that could perhaps be a prison, and it ends with a brief trip to the sewer. Going by this footage, the game will be played from a first-person angle, which does match Pulsatrix’s previous release.

Although it did not make many waves in the grand scheme of things, Fobia was a respectable first effort by the developer. The game primarily revolves around puzzles and limited combat, and its visuals and sound design are both impressive. If Project A.I.D.A. builds upon Fobia‘s strongest features, the horror game could be something special.

Project M

Not to be confused with 2008’s Project M mod or Hound13’s upcoming Project M RPG, NCSOFT’s Project M is a gorgeous interactive movie built in Unreal Engine 5. The currently available information suggests this story-driven experience will allow players to make decisions that impact the narrative’s progression en route to one of the multiple endings.

Project M is quite a departure for NCSOFT as the studio is predominantly known for MMORPG such as Lineage, Blade & Soul, and the defunct WildStar. As is the case for most Unreal Engine 5 games, this title is probably still a few years away from completion.

Project RYU

Developed by a small indie team, Project RYU‘s reveal trailer showcases a string of gorgeous Korean environments, along with brief snippets of gameplay from the perspective of a female protagonist. Although it is not clear what type of game this will be, Project RYU‘s available footage serves as a fantastic demonstration of Unreal Engine 5’s potential for realism.

Quantum Error

A first-person horror game, TeamKoill’s Quantum Error is now being developed on Unreal Engine 5. From the footage revealed so far, the game offers stylized visuals and a rich ambiance, the latter of which received a notable enhancement following the shift to UE5 due to the engine’s improved lighting.

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This FPS looks intense, terrifying, and fun. Cast as a firefighter, players head to a research facility on a rescue mission, one that takes a strange turn into cosmic horror territory. A release date has yet to be announced for Quantum Error.

Payday 3

After a long wait, Payday 3 is officially here and looks set to build on the immeasurable success of its predecessor. Swapping Washington for New York, the co-op shooter brings the Payday Gang out of retirement as they seek to turn the Big Apple on its head. Like the previous game, Payday 3 is all about carefully planning heists to ensure they go as smoothly as possible, even if things rarely go exactly to plan.

Debuting in September 2023, Payday 3 utilizes Unreal Engine 4 since the project has been in development for a number of years. Overkill has stated there are plans to upgrade the engine to UE5 post-launch, although no timeline has been provided for when this should be expected.

Respawn’s Star Wars FPS Game

Respawn is working on a few Star Wars games. While that 2023 release does not appear to use Unreal Engine 5, the same cannot be said for Respawn’s untitled first-person shooter. Led by Peter Hirschmann, this project’s existence and UE5 usage are essentially the only details that have been revealed. The title is probably still a couple of years away from publication, but assuming everything goes to plan, this FPS could be the most beautiful Star Wars game of all time.

Rooted

An ambitious multiplayer survival game, Rooted takes place two decades following a war that decimated the world, leaving behind cities overrun with nature. Combat does not appear to be the focus of this title, rather the developer emphasizes crafting, customization, and salvaging in the description of the game. There are also plans to include co-op.

Sentinel

Pathless Productions has pedigree in the FPS genre as some of the team has ties to Call of Duty and Halo; consequently, the company’s first project leans into this experience. Sentinel is a sandbox shooter with a sci-fi aesthetic and a focus on social gameplay. As far as first-person gunplay is concerned, the trailer is fairly run-of-the-mill, although by no means bad. However, as the footage is pre-alpha, it should be mainly viewed as a demonstration of the concept.

Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2

Ninja Theory’s Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 has been in development for quite a while, and the studio has remained fairly tight-lipped about the project. That said, it was confirmed early on that the sequel will use Unreal Engine 5, something that was showcased beautifully at the GDC 2023 event. This short clip focuses on Senua’s facial animations, which are impressively realistic. The original game was by no means lacking in this area, but the sequel looks set to blow its predecessor out of the water.

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At the moment, Ninja Theory has opted to not provide any hints on when the game might launch. That said, Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 will debut exclusively on the Xbox Series X/S and PC, making it one of the former’s most sought-after upcoming titles.

Shadow Of Conspiracy: Section 2

A dystopian thriller set in 2087 Berlin, Shadow of Conspiracy: Section 2 has revealed more gameplay footage than most games using Unreal Engine 5. While first-person shooter gunplay is the meat of the gameplay, the title also features stealth and RPG mechanics.

A cinematic experience, the story centers around the murder of a police chief and takes place in a metropolis defined by corruption. The game appears to take inspiration from the likes of Metal Gear Solid.

Silent Hill 2 Remake

After a long spell of silence, Konami finally revealed its plans for Silent Hill in October 2022. The standout announcement was Silent Hill F, a new mainline entry in the series, but that project’s engine has not been confirmed. However, something that has been established is that Bloober Team is developing a Silent Hill 2 remake using Unreal Engine 5.

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Originally released in 2001, Silent Hill 2 is considered one of the greatest psychological horror titles of all time. Although still playable in this day and age, the game’s combat and controls leave something to be desired. Along with modernizing the visuals through Epic’s UE5, Bloober’s remake will also shift the camera to an over-the-shoulder perspective.

Silent Hill: Townfall

Another project announced during Konami’s Silent Hill special, Townfall is still largely shrouded in mystery. Developed by No Code, the company behind 2019’s Observation, Townfall has yet to reveal its gameplay style, setting, or story placement. Except for a cryptic trailer, the developer has kept a tight lip on this game’s content, although reports indicate that No Code will be creating Townfall in Unreal Engine 5.

Squirrel With A Gun

With an eye-catching title, Squirrel with a Gun has the potential to attract a fanbase similar to something like Goat Simulator. The sandbox game’s title summarizes its premise: players control an armed squirrel. Developed by a single person, Dan DeEntremont’s title includes a trust system, which will see NPCs react depending on the squirrel’s actions. The game also incorporates gun-based puzzles that will require players to master the squirrel’s weapon to execute jumps.

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Naturally, the upcoming third-person shooter will not take itself too seriously, and that extends to a largely non-existent plot. The squirrel steals a special acorn from a government operation, prompting the animal to go on the run as they are pursued by agents.

State Of Decay 3

Undead Labs is working on the successor to State of Decay 2, and the third entry looks set to be the franchise’s most ambitious project to date. While the survival horror series has amassed a dedicated fan base, the IP is still fairly niche and there is definitely room for improvement. As exciting as the prospect of living in zombie-infested world crafted in Unreal Engine 5 is, reports have suggested that there has not been a great work environment at Undead Labs.

In recent months, Undead Labs has brought in Gears of War‘s The Coalition to help take the property to the next level. The latter is working on other UE5 projects and the developer’s expertise could prove invaluable in ensuring that State of Decay 3 is the best game it can be.

Stormgate

Founded by former Blizzard developers, Frost Giant Studios specializes in real-time strategy games. For its debut, the company is working on an Unreal Engine 5 project, with the developers vocalizing their excitement at the prospect of implementing technological advancements provided by the engine.

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Stormgate is a free-to-play RTS with a social edge. Set in the far future, Earth has become home to portals that allow demonic forces to invade, forcing humanity to take up arms. Players can play as either of these groups, along with other unannounced factions. Boasting a colorful aesthetic, Stormgate seems to be trying to balance accessibility with depth, including a PvE mode that sees three players team up to take on an AI opponent.

Unrecord

Unrecord is a bodycam first-person shooter that is unbelievably realistic, to the point that its reveal trailer started a discussion on whether the game is actually real or not. The footage released so far is that impressive, particularly in relation to the lighting.

While rather short, the gameplay trailer still highlights the game’s potential as it follows a police officer as he investigates a seemingly abandoned building. Due to its photorealistic presentation and subject, Unrecord has been subject to some controversy.

Tekken 8

During Sony’s State of Play event in September 2022, Bandai Namco revealed the next project in the Tekken franchise. 2015’s Tekken 7, the most recent entry in the series, utilizes Unreal Engine 4, and the fighting game is well regarded for its crisp visuals and fine-tuned gameplay. This title was also the first time the series adopted Epic’s Unreal, and the experience was evidently positive enough to encourage Bandai Namco to try the software’s successor.

In order to take the next step, Bandai Namco has confirmed that Tekken 8 will be using Unreal Engine 5, and the benefits provided by this leap are evident in the game’s announcement trailer. Katsuhiro Harada, Bandai Namco Entertainment’s General Manager, also confirmed the upcoming game is being built from scratch in UE5, including the character models. At the moment, a release date has not been provided, but Tekken 8 will probably not hit store shelves until late 2023 or early 2024 at the earliest.

Vigilance 2099

From the footage available, Vigilance 2099 looks incredible. A cyberpunk action RPG set in a city overflowing with neon lights, sci-fi touches, and neo-noir ambiance, this open-world game appears to prioritize player freedom. As an ex-fed, players can complete bounties, make business deals, and develop their persona as they see fit. Envoidant has emphasized hand-to-hand combat and gunplay, along with some hints of platforming similar to Uncharted.

The Witcher Polaris

In a huge reveal, CD Projekt Red confirmed that a new Witcher game is in development; more importantly for this article, the project will be using Unreal Engine 5 rather than the REDengine the studio has employed since The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings. Outside its existence and an image containing the School of the Lynx medallion, CD Projekt Red opted against including any other information regarding the upcoming game.

However, the company’s Global PR Director, Radek Grabowski, released a tweet stating that CD Projekt Red did not announce The Witcher 4, suggesting the franchise might be heading in a fresh direction. Please note that this is just speculation. During Epic’s State of Unreal 2022 event, CD Projekt Red explained that Unreal Engine 5 was selected since it focuses on open-world game design rather than linear projects.

The Witcher Remake

Formerly known as Project Canis Majoris, CD Projekt Red has confirmed that the studio Fool’s Theory is working on a remake based on 2007’s The Witcher, the first game in the series. As it is still early in development, the project is likely a long way off completion, but CD Projekt Red has confirmed it will employ Unreal Engine 5.

Although a respected RPG in its own right, The Witcher‘s peculiar combat can be off-putting to players accustomed to the sequel’s real-time action systems. It remains to be seen whether the remake retains the original’s gameplay or tweaks it to be more in line with the later games.

Witches Of The New World

One of two projects in development by Horizontal Entertainment, a new studio, Witches of the New World is a Souls-like inspired by the Salem witch trials. As an investigator named Jedediah Hopkins, players are sent to examine the infamous event’s aftermath to determine what exactly transpired. Blending history with fantasy, the upcoming Unreal Engine 5 game looks set to teleport people to a bygone time while also offering them an alternate reality where supernatural entities play a part.

The reveal trailer suggests the game’s main weapons will be a sword and flintlock, but it is still too early in the title’s development to make any definitive statements. Souls-likes have exploded in popularity over the last couple of years, but Witches of the New World‘s unique setting could help set it apart from its peers.

The Wrestling Code

The Wrestling Code aims to offer an alternative to WWE 2K22 and the upcoming AEW Fight Forever. Focusing on unsigned wrestlers like Ken Shamrock, Kurt Angle, and Sandman, Virtual Basement’s title could have an impressive roster if everything comes together well. The developer has only shown tiny snippets of gameplay, with most of the pre-release content focusing on the project’s utilization of motion capture technology. Wrestling fans should keep an eye on The Wrestling Code as it develops over the upcoming months and years.

Games Rumored To Be Using Unreal Engine 5

The following games are rumored to be using Unreal Engine 5, however, this has not been confirmed by the developer. In some cases, the games have yet to be officially announced as well.

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