Game Development in Unreal Engine
About This Block
The final block brings all skills together as students build playable game worlds in Unreal Engine. They learn level design, world building, Blueprint visual scripting, importing 3D characters and animations from previous blocks, and creating interactions and a mini-game. This capstone block prepares students for the end-of-year showcase.
Program Summary
Block 8 is the grand finale -- the capstone that brings together every skill learned across the entire year. Using Unreal Engine, one of the most powerful game engines in the world (used for Fortnite, The Matrix Awakens, and countless AAA titles), students build their own playable game levels from the ground up.
Week 1 introduces the Unreal Engine interface, content browser, and scene management. Week 2 dives into level design and world building -- terrain creation, environment sculpting, and prop placement to create immersive game worlds. Week 3 is a game-changer: students learn Blueprint visual scripting, Unreal Engine's node-based programming system, creating player input, movement controls, and interactive logic without writing a single line of code.
Week 4 connects the pipeline: students import the 3D characters they created in Blocks 5 and 7, set up animation blueprints and state machines, and connect walk cycles and actions to player controls. Week 5 adds gameplay: collectible items, scoring systems, door triggers, interactive objects, UI elements (health bars, menus), and sound effects. The mini-project is the ultimate showcase: a complete, playable Unreal Engine game level featuring custom characters, animations, environments, interactions, and polished gameplay. This project is presented at the end-of-year showcase where families celebrate student achievements across all 8 blocks.
Mini-Project
Build a small Unreal Engine game level
Class Schedule
- Monday & Wednesday: 2 hours per day
- Saturday: 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
- Optional Overflow Days (If Needed): Tuesday & Thursday
Maximum of 20 students per class for quality instruction
At the end of each 6-week block, students receive a Certificate of Completion recognizing the skills they have learned.
6-Week Curriculum
A structured, hands-on program from fundamentals to final project.
Week 1
Introduction to Unreal Engine
- Navigating the Unreal Engine interface and viewport
- Understanding the content browser, outliner, and details panel
- Creating a new project and level setup
- Placing objects, lights, and cameras in a scene
- Basic navigation and editor shortcuts
Week 2
Level Design & World Building
- Introduction to level design principles
- Building environments with geometry and meshes
- Terrain creation, sculpting, and painting
- Placing environmental props and decorations
- Practice: design a small game environment
Week 3
Blueprint Visual Scripting
- Introduction to Blueprint visual scripting system
- Variables, events, and basic logic nodes
- Creating player input and movement controls
- Conditional logic: if/else, branches, and switches
- Practice: script a simple interactive trigger
Week 4
Importing Characters & Animations
- Importing 3D characters from Character Creator and Blender
- Setting up animation blueprints and state machines
- Importing walk cycles and action animations
- Connecting character animations to player input
- Practice: set up a playable character with animations
Week 5
Interactions & Gameplay
- Creating collectible items and scoring systems
- Door triggers, switches, and interactive objects
- Basic UI: health bars, score display, and menus
- Sound effects and ambient audio in the game
- Practice: build interactive gameplay elements
Week 6
Mini-Project: Unreal Engine Game Level
- Assembling the complete game level with all elements
- Importing custom characters, animations, and assets
- Testing, debugging, and polishing gameplay
- Packaging the game for presentation
- Certificate of Completion and end-of-year showcase prep