Unreal Engine 5 - Level Design

1 Go to the Unreal Engine Website

Visit www.unrealengine.com

Click the big "Download Now" button at the top of the page.

2 Create a Free Account

You'll need to make an account (it's free!). Ask a parent or guardian to help you:

• Click "Sign Up" or "Create Account"
• Enter your email address (or your parent's email)
• Create a password (write it down somewhere safe!)
• Check your email and click the link to confirm your account

3 Download Epic Games Launcher

After you sign in, you'll download the Epic Games Launcher:

• Click "Download" for the Epic Games Launcher
• Run the installer (ask a parent for help if needed)
• Sign in to the launcher with your account

4 Install Unreal Engine

In the Epic Games Launcher:

• Click on "Unreal Engine" in the left menu
• Click "Install Engine"
• Choose the latest version (like 5.3 or 5.4)
• Click "Install" - this will take a while (maybe 30-60 minutes)
• Go get a snack while it downloads! 🍎

Important: Unreal Engine is BIG (about 10-15 GB), so make sure you have enough space on your computer!

1 Open Unreal Engine

After Unreal Engine finishes installing:

• Open the Epic Games Launcher
• Click "Launch" next to Unreal Engine
• When it opens, click "New Project"
• Choose "Games" → "Third Person" template
• Give your project a name like "My4SeasonWorld"
• Click "Create"

2 Get Free Assets from the Marketplace

Unreal Engine has a FREE marketplace with tons of stuff:

• In Unreal Engine, click "Edit" → "Plugins"
• Or go to unrealengine.com/marketplace
• Look for things marked "FREE" or "Free for the Month"
• Click on something you like, then click "Add to Project"

3 Great Free Assets to Start With

Here are some FREE things perfect for making a 4-season world:

• Starter Content - Already in your project! Trees, rocks, and more
• Landscape Materials - Search for "grass", "snow", "autumn leaves"
• Nature Packs - Look for "free nature" or "free trees"
• Weather Effects - Search for "snow", "rain", "sun" effects

Remember: Always look for the "FREE" label before adding anything!

1 Set Up Your World

When your project opens, you'll see a character in a gray world:

• Press F to focus on your character
• You can click and drag to look around
• Use the mouse wheel to zoom in and out

2 Make Four Different Areas (One for Each Season)

We'll create four sections: Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter!

🌱 Spring Area:

• In the Content Browser (bottom), search for "grass" or "flowers"
• Drag green grass and colorful flowers into your world
• Add some small trees with green leaves
• Place this in the front-left area of your world

☀️ Summer Area:

• Add bright green grass and big trees
• Maybe add a sun or bright lighting
• Place this in the front-right area

🍂 Fall Area:

• Search for "autumn" or "fall" materials
• Add trees with orange, red, and yellow leaves
• Add some fallen leaves on the ground
• Place this in the back-left area

❄️ Winter Area:

• Search for "snow" materials
• Add white snow on the ground
• Add trees without leaves (bare branches)
• Maybe add some snowflakes or ice
• Place this in the back-right area

3 Use Third Person Perspective

The Third Person template means you'll see your character from behind as you walk around!

• Your project already has third person set up - that's why we chose that template!
• To test it, click the "Play" button (green triangle) at the top
• Use W A S D keys to move
• Use your mouse to look around
• Press Space to jump!
• Press Esc to stop playing

Tip: Make sure you're in third person view (seeing your character from behind) when you play!

4 Connect Your Seasons

Make paths between your four season areas so you can walk from one to another:

• Add paths or roads between the areas
• You can use the landscape tool to make smooth ground
• Add signs or markers to show which season you're entering
• Test it by playing and walking from Spring → Summer → Fall → Winter!