Summary

  • Many Unreal Engine 5 games suffer from sub-optimal performance due to bad optimization, but not all.
  • Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 showcases Unreal Engine 5's full potential and runs well on most devices.
  • Manor Lords and Split Fiction are examples of well-optimized games with smooth gameplay and stunning graphics.

Unreal Engine 5 is arguably the most exciting engine, with some of the highest potential for realistic and ambitious games. However, in these early years of the engine's existence, many Unreal Engine 5 games have unfortunately been released with sub-optimal performance levels.

Unreal Engine 5 Best Games With Great Graphics include Black Myth Wukong, RoboCop Rogue City, and Lords of the Fallen
12 Best Games Using Unreal Engine 5

Unreal Engine 5 is one of the most advanced gaming engines in the industry today. So, what are some of the best games powered by it?

This can be extremely grating for those without the highest-end PCs or for those on consoles, as all players would ideally run their new games at solid FPS with no stutters, while still having decently high graphics settings. While UE5 has unfortunately picked up a reputation for bad optimization, there are thankfully a number of titles that buck the trend. The following are the best-optimized games for Unreal Engine 5.

5 Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Stop The Paintress From Painting Death Again

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Display card tags widget
Turn-Based RPG
JRPG
Fantasy
Display card system widget
Display card community and brand rating widget Display card open critics widget Display card main info widget Display card main info widget end Display card media widget start Display card media widget end
Checkbox: control the expandable behavior of the extra info
Display card community and brand rating widget

Released
April 24, 2025
ESRB
Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Strong Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence
Developer(s)
Sandfall Interactive
Publisher(s)
Kepler Interactive
Engine
Unreal Engine 5
Genre(s)
Turn-Based RPG, JRPG, Fantasy

One of the biggest surprises of 2025, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, is a game inspired by JRPGs, which combines turn-based combat with real-time actions such as dodging and parrying. Set in a unique fantasy world inspired by Belle Epoque France, the game has received endless praise for its beauty, storytelling, and character-driven scores.

It is a game that shows the full potential of Unreal Engine 5, and best of all, it runs fantastically on the majority of devices. Even if players have a few problems and can't run the graphics of High settings, the Medium option still looks incredible.

Minimum System Requirements

Operating System

64-bit Windows 10

Processor (CPU)

Intel Core i7-8700K / AMD Ryzen 5 1600X

Memory (RAM)

8 GB

Graphics Card (GPU)

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 6 GB / AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT 6 GB / Intel Arc A380 6 GB

Storage

55 GB

4 Manor Lords

A Realistic Medieval City-Builder

Manor Lords
Display card tags widget
Strategy
City Builder
Display card system widget
Display card community and brand rating widget Display card open critics widget Display card main info widget Display card main info widget end Display card media widget start Display card media widget end
Checkbox: control the expandable behavior of the extra info
Display card community and brand rating widget

Released
April 26, 2024
ESRB
t
Developer(s)
Slavic Magic
Publisher(s)
Hooded Horse
Engine
Unreal Engine 4
Genre(s)
Strategy, City Builder

While Manor Lords was initially made and released on Unreal Engine 4, it was soon upgraded to Unreal Engine 5 and runs just as well, while looking slightly better, especially when it comes to shadows. In this medieval city builder, players will instantly love the organic methods for building and placing plots. Without any grid system, villages thus grow naturally, taking on their own character while looking beautiful thanks to realistic graphics.

It also great for those who love historical accuracy and immersion, with one standout feature for immersion being that in times of war, it is the villagers who are armed, meaning if they die on the battlefield, there is one less pair of hands to bring the harvest in. In this well-optimized game, players can expect smooth gameplay, even when their settlements expand.

Minimum System Requirements

Operating System

64-bit Windows 10

Processor (CPU)

Intel Core i5-4670 (quad-core) / AMD FX-Series FX-4350 (quad-core)

Memory (RAM)

8 GB

Graphics Card (GPU)

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 (2 GB) / AMD Radeon RX-460 (4 GB) / Intel Arc A380 (6 GB)

Storage

15 GB

3 Empire Of The Ants

Lead A Colony Of Ants In This Photorealistic RTS

Empire of the Ants
Display card tags widget
Simulation
Real-Time Strategy
Tactical
Display card system widget
Display card community and brand rating widget Display card open critics widget Display card main info widget Display card main info widget end Display card media widget start Display card media widget end
Checkbox: control the expandable behavior of the extra info
Display card community and brand rating widget

Released
November 7, 2024
ESRB
Everyone 10+ // Fantasy Violence, Mild Language
Developer(s)
Tower Five
Publisher(s)
Microids
Engine
Unreal Engine 5
Genre(s)
Simulation, Real-Time Strategy, Tactical

If players ever dreamed of taking on the role of an ant and leading a colony in war, look no further than Empire of the Ants. This RTS game, which features a campaign and multiplayer, is visually breathtaking, with players experiencing life from the small perspective of an ant in third-person.

most iconic open world RPG worlds feature image
8 Most Iconic RPG Open Worlds Ever Made

Open-world games are the shining star of the gaming industry. Of the many settings found within this genre, these are the most timeless and iconic.

1

The graphics are arguably the game's strongest feature, but it is also thanks to great optimization that players on most devices can enjoy them to such an extent. In terms of gameplay, expect to lead a variety of ant troops against a range of insects or larger creatures, all while staying stocked up on food and wood.

Minimum System Requirements

Operating System

64-bit Windows 10

Processor (CPU)

Intel Core i5 9400 / AMD Ryzen 5 2600

Memory (RAM)

8 GB

Graphics Card (GPU)

6GB VRAM / NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 / AMD Radeon RX 580

Storage

40 GB

2 Satisfactory

Build Efficient Factories In First Person On An Alien Planet

Satisfactory
Display card tags widget
Simulation
Sandbox
Base Building
Open-World
Management
Display card system widget
Display card community and brand rating widget Display card open critics widget Display card main info widget Display card main info widget end Display card media widget start Display card media widget end
Checkbox: control the expandable behavior of the extra info
Display card community and brand rating widget

Released
September 10, 2024
ESRB
Everyone 10+ / Fantasy Violence
Developer(s)
Coffee Stain Studios
Publisher(s)
Coffee Stain Publishing
Engine
Unreal Engine 5
Genre(s)
Simulation, Sandbox, Base Building, Open-World, Management

Satisfactory is a game like no other, with exploration and combat, but most importantly, efficient factory building, all enjoyed in first-person with realistic graphics. Whether players are conquering the alien planet with conveyor belts alone or with friends, performance in this Unreal Engine 5 game is something they can rely on.

Even after hundreds of hours with worlds completely covered in factories, players will still experience smooth frames, something that some other building games struggle with as more assets are added. With fairly low system requirements, this could also be considered one of the best open-world games for those on lower-end PCs.

Minimum System Requirements

Operating System

64 bit Windows 10/11

Processor (CPU)

i5-3570 3.4 GHz 4 Core

Memory (RAM)

8 GB

Graphics Card (GPU)

Nvidia GTX 1650/GTX 1050-ti, or AMD RX 470/RX 570, or equivalent performance & VRAM

Storage

20 GB

1 Split Fiction

The Fantasy Sci-Fi Couch Co-op Game From The Developers Of It Takes Two

Split Fiction
Display card tags widget Display card system widget
Display card community and brand rating widget Display card open critics widget Display card main info widget Display card main info widget end Display card media widget start Display card media widget end
Checkbox: control the expandable behavior of the extra info
Display card community and brand rating widget

Released
March 6, 2025
ESRB
T For Teen // Blood and Gore, Crude Humor, Language, Violence
Developer(s)
Hazelight Studios
Publisher(s)
Electronic Arts
Engine
Unreal Engine 5
Genre(s)
Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Fantasy

From the developers of GOTY winner It Takes Two, Split Fiction is a co-op game which takes the Sci-Fi ideas of Mio and mashes them together with Zoe's fantasy worlds to create a game like no other. Whether players are racing through a cyberpunk city or swinging through lush, enchanted forests, the game looks absolutely stunning.

Amidst the beauty and chaos, players won't even have time to realize just how well the game is running. As long as the fairly modest minimum requirements are met, performance isn't something PC players will even think about while running Split Fiction​​​​​​. Console players can also expect a great time. Most impressive from a game design and optimization point of view is the game's final chapter, but that is best enjoyed without spoilers.

Minimum System Requirements

Operating System

64 bit Windows 10/11

Processor (CPU)

Intel Core i5-6600K or AMD Ryzen 5 2600X

Memory (RAM)

16 GB

Graphics Card (GPU)

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 - 4GB or Radeon RX 470 - 4GB

Storage

85 GB

unreal engine 5 games hellblade 2, ark 2, first descendants
Major Games Confirmed to Be Using Unreal Engine 5

Unreal Engine 5 is the latest version of Epic Games’ creation platform, and plenty of released and upcoming games use the engine.

5
By