Games That Use Unreal Engine: UE1–UE5 Examples
A generation-by-generation guide to representative Unreal Engine games, from Unreal and Deus Ex to Fortnite, Black Myth: Wukong, and S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2.
Posted: February 06, 2026
Direct answer
Which games use Unreal Engine?
Representative examples include Unreal, Deus Ex, Splinter Cell, BioShock, Gears of War, Mass Effect, Batman: Arkham Asylum, Fortnite, PUBG, Dead by Daylight, Final Fantasy VII Remake, Black Myth: Wukong, and S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2.
This selective directory groups shipped examples by UE1–UE5. For a larger, current UE5-only list with source links, use the dedicated Unreal Engine 5 games directory.
UE5
2022 · Current generation
SEELE games · Fortnite Chapter 4 · Black Myth: Wukong · S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2
View examples
UE4
2014 · Multiplatform growth
Fortnite at launch · PUBG · Dead by Daylight · FFVII Remake
View examples
UE3
2006 · HD-console era
Gears of War · Mass Effect · Batman: Arkham · Borderlands
View examples
UE2
2002 · Third-party expansion
UT 2003/2004 · Splinter Cell · BioShock
View examples
UE1
1998 · PC roots
Unreal · Unreal Tournament · Deus Ex · Rune
View examples
Unreal Engine games by generation
Use the release-specific examples below as a fast lookup. A sequel, remaster, port, or live-service migration can use a different engine branch, so do not assign one engine version to an entire franchise.
2022
Current generation
Unreal Engine 5 games
UE5 launched publicly in 2022. Alongside major studio releases, the three original games below show the different Unreal genres SEELE has published on itch.io.
| Game | Release | Genre / context |
|---|---|---|
| Echoes of the Wildwater | SEELE | Third-person exploration · Windows · Published by SEELE |
| Shattered Front | SEELE | Tactical FPS / TPS · Windows · Published by SEELE |
| Mystic Forest | SEELE | Top-down action roguelite · Windows · Published by SEELE |
| Fortnite Chapter 4 | 2022 | Battle royale; major UE5 features |
| Senua's Saga: Hellblade II | 2024 | Action-adventure |
| Black Myth: Wukong | 2024 | Action RPG |
| S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl | 2024 | Survival FPS |
| Tekken 8 | 2024 | Fighting game |
Need more current titles, platforms, and source links? Open the dedicated UE5 games directory.
2014
Multiplatform growth
Unreal Engine 4 games
UE4 powered multiplayer, live-service, indie, and AAA releases. Fortnite launched on UE4 before Epic migrated it to UE5, showing why engine assignments need a date or release context.
| Game | Release | Genre / context |
|---|---|---|
| Fortnite at launch | 2017 | Battle royale / survival; later migrated to UE5 |
| PUBG: Battlegrounds | 2017 | Battle royale |
| Dead by Daylight | 2016 | Asymmetric multiplayer horror |
| Sea of Thieves | 2018 | Multiplayer adventure |
| Final Fantasy VII Remake | 2020 | Action RPG |
| Valorant | 2020 | Tactical shooter |
Dead by Daylight uses Unreal Engine 4. That specific shipped-game question belongs in a cross-version directory rather than a current UE5 release list.
2006
HD-console era
Unreal Engine 3 games
UE3 became strongly associated with the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 generation. Gears of War was its defining first-party showcase, while Mass Effect, BioShock Infinite, and Batman: Arkham brought it to RPG, shooter, and action audiences.
| Game | Release | Genre / context |
|---|---|---|
| Gears of War | 2006 | Third-person cover shooter |
| Mass Effect | 2007 | Action RPG |
| Batman: Arkham Asylum | 2009 | Action-adventure |
| Borderlands 2 | 2012 | Looter shooter |
| BioShock Infinite | 2013 | First-person shooter |
Several franchises changed engine versions between entries, so a series name alone does not identify the technology used by every installment.
2002
Third-party expansion
Unreal Engine 2 games
UE2 widened the engine's reach across PC and console projects. Unreal Tournament remained Epic's showcase, while Splinter Cell used the technology for stealth. BioShock is commonly described as using a heavily modified UE2.5 branch.
| Game | Release | Genre / context |
|---|---|---|
| Unreal Tournament 2003 | 2002 | Arena shooter |
| Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell | 2002 | Stealth action |
| Unreal Tournament 2004 | 2004 | Arena shooter with vehicles |
| BioShock | 2007 | Immersive sim; modified UE2.5 lineage |
Engine labels can be less tidy in this era because studios often licensed a branch and modified it throughout a long production cycle.
1998
PC roots
Unreal Engine 1 games
The first generation is most closely associated with late-1990s and early-2000s PC games. Unreal introduced the engine, Unreal Tournament made it a multiplayer showcase, and Deus Ex proved it could support a systems-heavy immersive sim.
| Game | Release | Genre / context |
|---|---|---|
| Unreal | 1998 | First-person shooter |
| Unreal Tournament | 1999 | Arena shooter |
| Deus Ex | 2000 | Immersive sim / action RPG |
| Rune | 2000 | Third-person action-adventure |
UE1 established reusable rendering, networking, level-building, and scripting foundations that studios adapted beyond shooters.
Evidence checklist
How to verify which engine a game uses
- Start with a developer or publisher statement naming the engine.
- Check Epic Games case studies, spotlights, or release announcements.
- Use technical talks, credits, job listings, or documentation tied to the shipped project.
- Use reputable secondary databases only when first-party evidence is unavailable.
Attach the evidence to a specific game, platform, and time. “This release used UE4” is stronger than “the franchise uses Unreal.” First-party starting points include Epic's Fortnite Chapter 4 UE5 overview and games spotlight archive.
From research to an original concept
Which play pattern fits your Unreal idea?
Choose a gameplay structure—not a copyrighted world or character. On the next page, describe your own setting, mechanics, goals, and visual identity.
Movement + combatArena shooter
Compact map, readable pickups, fast respawns, and movement-first encounters.
Start this direction Camera + traversalThird-person actionResponsive movement, lock-on combat, and deliberately paced encounters.
Start this direction Tension + escapeHorror & survivalConstrained resources, spatial tension, pursuit, and an escape loop.
Start this direction Discovery + growthRPG & explorationQuests, exploration, progression, and environmental storytelling.
Start this directionOriginal concepts only. The examples above explain engine history; they are not templates for copying game IP.
Frequently asked questions
What popular games use Unreal Engine?
Examples across different generations include Fortnite, Gears of War, Mass Effect, Batman: Arkham Asylum, PUBG, Dead by Daylight, Final Fantasy VII Remake, Black Myth: Wukong, and S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2.
Is Fortnite UE4 or UE5?
Both answers can be correct when time is included. Fortnite launched using UE4 and later migrated to UE5. Epic's Chapter 4 materials document the use of major UE5 features.
What engine does Dead by Daylight use?
Dead by Daylight is built with Unreal Engine 4. It appears in the UE4 section because the question concerns the shipped game's engine generation.
Are all games in a franchise on the same Unreal Engine version?
No. Sequels, remasters, platform ports, and live-service migrations can change the engine or branch. Verify individual releases.
Where is the larger Unreal Engine 5 games list?
Use the dedicated UE5 games directory for a broader current list. This page is intentionally organized for UE1–UE5 comparison.
