Wow. You made it. I’m honestly shocked. And kind of proud? Don’t get weird about it. This is the final boss: you’re making a real, playable game. Not just a slide deck. Not a pretend mechanic. An actual game. Like… one someone could open and play. On Windows. With their hands.

It’s your last stand. Your game needs mechanics, polish, a UI that doesn’t make people cry, and hopefully less spaghetti code than your earlier attempts. This is it. Drop the mic, ship the build, and show us what you’ve been cooking. Just, uh… make sure it launches.

Overview:

This is your final game development challenge! It’s your moment to showcase everything you’ve learned in Unreal Engine 5. Your task is to design and build a fully playable game, export it as a Windows executable, and submit it for manual review.

Your game should demonstrate core gameplay systems, object-oriented programming, input handling, UI, and Unreal-specific features like Blueprints, actors, pawns, and characters. It should feel complete, fun, and original.

Detailed Instructions:

1. Create a small, original, playable game in Unreal Engine 5. Your game must include:

Input controls (keyboard/mouse or controller)
A functional gameplay loop with player interaction
Clear win and loss conditions
Supporting UI elements like score, HUD, health, etc.
Quality-of-life features: pause, main menu, or settings
Use of Blueprints, actors, and object-oriented structure
Elements of visual/audio polish
At least some creative twist in mechanics, story, or design
A goal to make it fun and replayable

2. Export it as a Windows executable (.exe) in a zipped folder with all required files

3. Create a ‘How to Play’ guide that includes:

An overview of the game
How to win (and loose)
Controls

4. Upload the game executable and your guide to a shared Google Drive folder (shared so anyone can view)

5. Submit your share link here

Scoring:

Game is Playable on Windows (30 pts): Game runs without errors on Windows. No crashes or launch issues.

Sensible Input Controls (30 pts): Inputs are intuitive, responsive, and mapped appropriately for keyboard/mouse or controller.

Functional Game Loop with Player Agency (50 pts): Game includes a meaningful loop (e.g., move-act-react). Player decisions clearly impact outcomes.

Win & Loss Conditions (50 pts): Clear, well-designed win and loss states with appropriate transitions.

Supporting User Interfaces (30 pts): Game includes score displays, health bars, HUD elements, and clear prompts. Polished and readable.

Quality of Life Features (30 pts): Fully functional pause menu, main menu, and settings. Transitions are smooth and user-friendly.

Polish (10 pts): Game has cohesive art/audio, smooth animations, and refined transitions. Feels “complete.”

Creativity (10 pts): Game concept or mechanics are highly original or novel and thoughtfully designed.

Fun Factor (20 pts): Gameplay is highly enjoyable, engaging, and well-paced. Encourages replay.

Game Guide (40 pts): Includes a clear, well-written guide explaining controls, goals, and how to win/lose.

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Game DevelopmentFinal Challenge: Game Development MasterySubmission360minEliteDescription

Final Challenge: Game Development Mastery