I’m trying to recreate the map view transition system seen in Manor Lords. The game seamlessly switches between:
- A 3D gameplay view (isometric perspective with terrain, buildings, units)
- A 2D strategic/diplomacy map view (top-down with stylized graphics, region names, and icons)
What I’ve observed:
- The transition happens at runtime smoothly
- In 2D mode, the terrain appears flat/stylized with different materials
- UI elements (region borders, icons, labels) overlay the 2D view
- Both views seem to share the same world data
My Questions:
- Is this achieved through camera switching (orthographic vs perspective)?
- Are there two separate material states for the terrain?
- Should I use Render Targets or direct camera manipulation?
- How would you implement the UI overlay system for the 2D mode?
I’m working in Unreal Engine 5 and would appreciate any guidance on the best architectural approach for this system.

