Advanced Horror Gameplay and Inventory Systems

Updated in May 2025. This course now features Coursera Coach! A smarter way to learn with interactive, real-time conversations that help you test your knowledge, challenge assumptions, and deepen your understanding as you progress through the course. This advanced course focuses on two crucial aspects of horror game development: gameplay mechanics and inventory systems. You’ll begin by mastering the intricacies of setting up a comprehensive inventory system. From designing the layout and functionality to creating item components, drop-down menus, and handling multiple items, you’ll learn how to create a fluid and engaging inventory system that enhances player interaction. You’ll also explore key features like item descriptions, icons, and advanced inspection systems to improve quality-of-life elements for the player. Building on the inventory system, the course transitions into advanced horror mechanics. You’ll dive into adding flashlight systems with battery depletion, health systems complete with visual effects like blood screens, and more. Learn how to create realistic interactions such as hiding from AI enemies, unlocking combination locks, and reading in-game notes. The course also covers creating dynamic environmental features like footsteps on different surfaces, jumpscares, and even cinematic cutscenes. By the end, you’ll have built an immersive horror environment complete with customizable features that amplify the tension and dread of gameplay. This course is designed for game developers looking to implement sophisticated systems into their horror games. Whether you're working on enhancing an existing project or developing a new game, the combination of inventory management and horror mechanics taught in this course will give you the skills needed to create an engaging, fear-inducing experience. This course is ideal for intermediate to advanced Unreal Engine users looking to create more complex gameplay and inventory systems. A basic understanding of Unreal Engine and prior experience with game development is recommended.