All great games begin with a single choice, using the right engine.
You have an idea of a game.
Perhaps it could be a side-scrolling quest where the characters are weird.
Perhaps it is a hyper-realistic 3D shooter, or a simple mobile puzzle that you can not forget over and over again.
It is time to begin the construction.
You have watched the YouTube tutorials, subscribed to game dev creators on Twitter, and downloaded a notebook with all the ideas about the levels.
And before anything ever gets alive, you get to that Great fork in the road:
Unity or Unreal?
They both have free trials, the top studios and lone devs alike, and they can be used to create practically anything you can think of. But the twist with it is, going to the wrong one can be like snail’s pace, which will cause irritation or even bring you to quit.
Why? Since both engines are strong, they are different in terms of construction. They do not think the same. But, as a beginner, you want to get a push, not brute force, and the way to get on a roll is simplicity, flexibility, and immediate feedback.
This guide was made for you, the beginner, who is ready to stop overthinking and start developing.
We’ll compare Unity vs Unreal for dummies.
- What they do well
- What are they made for
- But which one will get you from “idea” to “playable” the quickest?
So let’s dispel the myth and get you building that game you have been dreaming of.
What Is Unity?
Unity is the most popular game engine currently in the world, and that is not without a reason.
Its optimal application is among the indie developers, mobile game developers, as well as augmented and virtual reality pioneers. You are probably familiar with Unity already, as you played such games as Among Us, Monument Valley, or Hollow Knight.
So, how come Unity is so popular?
- It runs C#, which is a beginner-friendly and easy to learn but very well-supported language.
- Its interface is clean and straightforward, and that is ideal when you are new.
- It is very lightweight, and hence you can develop games even in the cheaper-end laptops.
Unity works well with 2D games, mobile applications, and rapid prototyping. Not weeks. You can have your first level up and running in hours.
And it supports a huge community, thousands of tutorials, and an incredible Asset Store containing characters, sounds, environments, and scripts, many of which are free.
Unity can be like a soothing embrace to someone who has just gotten their toes wet in game development.
What Is Unreal Engine?
Unreal Engine is a product of Epic Games and is the monster behind most of the largest, most beautiful games.
It is Fortnite, Final Fantasy VII Remake, Gears of War, and The Matrix Awakens demo.
Unreal is not only meant in large studios. It is completely free until your game makes 1 million dollars, and it provides you with the tools that you could previously have access to only as a member of an AAA team.
This is really what makes Unreal unique:
- Out of the box next-gen graphics, owing to Lumen lighting and Nanite rendering.
- Blueprints, a flexible visual scripting system, allows building logic without scripting.
- A more in-depth control using a high-performance C++ backend (when you need it).
- Cinematics, animation, VFX, and world-building tools that are like those of a film studio.
You, with a dream in mind of ultra-realistic 3D games, movie-like experiences, or the most innovative virtual worlds, should use Unreal Engine. It is strong, but its strength is also accompanied by a more drastic learning curve.
Not sure which engine suits your idea of a game? We will assist you to the go in the right direction.
Unity vs Unreal: What They Have in Common
Although Unity vs Unreal is a topic of many debates between people as a competing battle, this is what happens:
Both of them are fantastic and also have much in common.
Which of these you choose, Unity or Unreal, you will obtain:
- Cross-platform: Develop in a single platform and then publish on PC, mobile, consoles or VR.
- Real-time rendering: It lets you see changes as you build.
- Strong asset stores: Grab 3D models, animations, UI packs, and so forth.
- A lot of documentation and tutorials: These are provided in both of them, and there are active forums and large communities.
- No startup costs: You do not have to invest a dime to create and test your game.
Consider it in this way:
Both engines will equip you to realize your dream house. It is the difference in the way the given tools are distributed, and the possibility of starting to use them easily enough.
Comparison Table: Unity vs Unreal
| Feature | Unity | Unreal |
| Coding Language | C# | C++ / Blueprints |
| Graphics Quality | Good (customizable) | Superb (photorealistic w/o change in the settings) |
| Usability | Beginner-friendly | Moderate learning curve |
| Mobile Optimization | Excellent | Moderate |
| Desktop/Con dev Animation Tools |
Good Basic (expandable) |
Excellent Advanced, built-in |
| Feature Set | Modular (lightweight) | Out of the box, feature-rich |
| Community | Massive, beginner-focused | High AAA/pro space |
| Pricing | Free up to 100K in revenue | Free until $1M revenue, then 5% |
| Ratings (G2) | 4.5 out of 5 | 4.6/5 |
Unity vs Unreal: Key Differences
To make the comparison of the two engines as simple as possible, we need to highlight the most critical differences between Unity and Unreal to understand what each of these engines has in store for you and what distinguishes it as the best fit for you.
Graphics & Visual Fidelity
Unreal Engine wins hands down in terms of mind-blowing movies like visuals.
With its Lumen lighting system and its Nanite virtualized geometry, Unreal also features photorealistic rendering out of the box.
Unity is, however, more flexible. Although it does not give you Unreal’s quality level of graphics out of the box, you can still make beautiful games with the proper assets and effects using the right shaders, in particular, mobile and 2D.
Resolution: Unreal takes AAA-level 3D graphics. Unity is awesome when it comes to stylized or mobile visuals.
Ease of Use for Beginners
The interface of Unity is much understandable, and the learning curve is soft when you are getting started. It is written in C, less complex to learn than C++, and possesses an unprecedented collection of tutorials that are tailored to novices.
Unreal is a powerful game, but it may seem too much at the beginning. But Blueprints (its visual scripting system) allows novices to be able to jump in without having to program.
Conclusion: Most beginners will be more comfortable with Unity. Unreal is more powerful and has more to learn.
Scripting Languages
Unity works with C#, tidy, contemporary, and perfect to start.
Unreal employs C++, which is less forgiving and more complex, but also powerful. Unreal also has a visual drag-and-drop option called Blueprints.
Conclusion: Unity is simple to work with; Unreal is flexible (has Blueprints and C++).
Performance & Optimization
Unity thrives in mobile and lightweight platforms, which are fast to build and smaller in size.
Unreal is, in terms of requirements, much more resource-thirsty, but is designed to target high-end PCs and next-gen console development-massive open world, and cinematic Cut-scenes.
Conclusion: Unity on mobile, and fast development, Unreal on powerful platforms, challenging development.
Animation Capabilities
Unreal has powerful animation capabilities such as Control Rig, Sequencer, and MetaHuman incorporation.
Unity takes care of animations in the vast majority of cases, yet it is commonly about needing plug-ins to do advanced character work.
Conclusion: Unreal has better built-in animation tools.
Features & Tools
The Unreal Engine is full of AAA tools, including cinematic editors and even AI.
Unity is modular, you already have a lean engine, and you add whatever you may need/use by voting using the Asset Store or the packages of Unity.
Verdict: Unreal comes with a lot of features by default; Unity is more flexible.
Compatible Platforms
Both engines also have support for popular platforms:
- Linux, Mac, PC
- Android, iOS
- PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, Nintendo
- Headsets VR/AR
Verdict: It’s a draw. The two engines are flexible.
Community & Support
Unity has a huge worldwide community, and there is, therefore, an easier answer, course access, and support.
The community behind Unreal is also big, particularly amongst AAA and enterprise developers.
Conclusion: Unity is easier for the community. In the professional/AAA segment, Unreal has its strength.
Pricing Models
The free plan is per user, and person; you must pay at least $100/yr in salary to get the Pro license (~399/yr).
Unreal is free until your game can achieve 1 million dollars. Subsequently, a 5 per cent royalty would be applicable.
Conclusion: Unity is ideal among small devs. Unreal is liberal quickly developing and charges royalties in the future.
User Ratings
The reviews of the largest platforms confirm:
- Only at G2, and thus on the entire website, there are 4.5/5 stars in the Unity section.
- Unreal: 4.6/5 stars G2
Verdict: Both engines are well-reviewed by people; however, due for different arguments.
Unity vs Unreal: Who Should Use What?
In case you are completely new to game development and if you are looking to have your ideas tested as quickly as possible, then Unity is probably your way to go. It is constructed in a way that is easier to understand; it implements a less demanding coding language (C#), and learning is smoother. Unity is also ideal for making mobile games, 2D, and lightweight indie creation of games that emphasize more on speed and simplicity rather than cinematic detail.
On the other hand, when you are thinking of creating immersive 3D worlds, want to aim at AAA grade, or have a project that requires excellence in visuals, then it is difficult to argue with Unreal Engine. It has beautiful graphics, strong in-built functionality, and can work without writing a single line of code through Blueprints, its visual scripting language.
The correct engine depends on what you want to do. You can generalize by saying that Unity is best when speed of learning and small-scale games are of importance, and Unreal is your choice when you insist on feature-rich and visually stunning work.
Industry Insights
What are most AAA games coded in?
The majority of AAA games, above all, first-person shooters, open-world adventures, and high-fidelity RPGs are developed on Unreal Engine. This comprises such titles as:
- Fortnite
- Final Fantasy VII Remake
- The Matrix Awakens
- Gears of War
Why? Unreal provides strong integrated features of real-time lighting, animation, physics, and complex environments.
Studios using Unity vs Unreal
This is a summary of what people are using:
Unreal Engine
- Epic Games (Fortnite)
- CD Projekt Red (The Witcher 4 is changing to Unreal 5)
- Squeenix, Remedy, Turtle Rock
Unity
- Niantic (Pokémon Go)
- company (Clash Royale)
- Motion Twin (Dead Cells)
- InnerSloth (Among Us)
High-end, console, and cinematic games are powered by Unreal. In mobile, indie, and 2D/VR experiences, Unity tops the list.
Wish to make a first game or a daring world? The best game development company to start is MangoMango, designed to help you get your creative idea to code.
Conclusion: Unity vs Unreal: Which Is Better for Beginners?
So, it is time to sum up.
Unity and Unreal are both powerful game engines, each with something that the other does not have. Unity will be a comfort zone to you when you are concerned with learning and execution within a short time, and are interested in developing 2D games or cell phone games, or even interested in complex code. Conversely, when you are more inclined towards the high-fidelity 3D graphics, when you dream of making games that turn into AAA titles, when you enjoy the thought of creating a cinematic experience for people, you would find Unreal Engine more pleasant.
The greatest thing is? You are not obliged to make a lifelong commitment. Both engines are free to use, have enormous communities supporting them, and a fantastic chance to realize your creative idea. It is not important to select an ideal tool: it is important to begin. Give the engine you feel most excited by currently a go, hop in, and get started developing the game you have been picturing in your mind.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. Is Unreal Engine better than Unity?
Not exactly. Unreal is more appropriate in movies, 3D games, and Unity is more convenient, faster, and easier to learn in simple projects and mobile games.
Q2. As a beginner, should I use Unity or Unreal?
In case you are new to coding or you want to get results faster, start with Unity. Select Unreal in case you are eager to experience 3D visuals and blueprints.
Q3. Why is Unity becoming more popular?
Unity is a well-known, beginner-friendly, and the indie game market leader. It is simpler to study and has a gigantic online community.
Q4. Can I use Unreal assets in Unity?
No. Assets of Unreal Engine cannot be directly used in Unity. Every engine has a unique asset format, ecosystem, and structure.