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Programming

Unreal Engine 5 offers two primary options for implementing game logic:

  • C++

    Fast and powerful, C++ is the main language for game development in Unreal. Unreal Engine's flavor of C++ comes with several useful features, including a build system, a reflection system, and a garbage collector tailored to Unreal Engine.

    C++ Manual

  • Blueprint

    Blueprint is a visual scripting language, ideal for artists or non-programmers to create classes, structs, enums, and interfaces without writing code. Though less performant than C++, they’re easier to learn and great for rapid prototyping.

    Blueprint Manual

C++ or Blueprints?

Each option has its strengths and weaknesses:

  • C++: Offers superior performance and control but requires strong knowledge of OOP and Unreal’s API. Also, code changes require recompilation, which can slow down development.
  • Blueprint: Easier to use, and quick to prototype, but less efficient and harder to scale in large projects. Additionally, some Unreal features are only accessible via C++.

Which one should you use? Professionals often combine both—using C++ for low-level, performance-critical tasks and Blueprint for higher-level logic. Blueprint classes can extend C++ classes, letting you combine them seamlessly. Blueprint classes can access and even override the properties and methods of their C++ parent classes.

API Reference

See API Reference for detailed information on Unreal Engine's API.