Lighting & Shadows in Horror Games – How We Used Unreal Engine 5 to Build Devil of Plague

:fire: Creating an Immersive Medieval Horror Experience – First Look at Devil of Plague :fire:

Mesaj:
Hey Unreal Devs! :wave:

We’re excited to share the first in-game screenshots from Devil of Plague, a co-op psychological horror survival game set in a plague-ridden medieval world.

Our goal was to create an authentic medieval horror experience, where darkness isn’t just an aesthetic choice, but a core gameplay mechanic. Players must navigate through eerie environments, use light strategically, and uncover ancient secrets while trying to survive an impending doom.

What we focused on:

:candle: A dynamic lighting system that makes every step uncertain. Torches and lanterns are your only allies, but their flickering glow won’t always be enough.
:european_castle: Highly detailed medieval ruins and forgotten temples filled with environmental storytelling elements.
:performing_arts: AI-driven fear mechanics, where enemies react to your movements, sound, and even your use of light.
We wanted to push Unreal Engine to create a deeply immersive horror experience, where shadows, sounds, and isolation all contribute to the tension.

:framed_picture: Screenshots Below!

We’d love to get feedback from the community! What are some of your favorite horror games that use light and darkness effectively?

:video_game: Wishlist on Steam: (Devil of the Plague on Steam)
:speech_balloon: Join our Discord for more development updates: (Devil of the Plague)