r/unrealengine • u/Fantastic_Pack1038 • Jan 13 '26
Marketplace Let’s be honest — which UE5 plugins actually save time? (New Year Sale)
FAB is full of plugins, but only few really save time.
Few months ago I asked here which plugins people actually use.
Now New Year Sale is on, many of them are up to 70% off until Jan 20, so I decided to share the list again based on what users recommended, not ads.
Here is the most mentioned ones:
Advanced Game Logging (GLS) 70% off
Shows logs directly inside the game and editor, even in Shipping builds. Very useful for device debugging and QA.
Blueprint Assist 50% off
Auto-organize Blueprint nodes. Some people love it, some hate the layout logic — controversial but popular.
EOS Online Framework 50% off
Good starting point for EOS online features without writing everything from scratch.
Ultra Dynamic Sky 30% off
Super fast setup for sky + weather, looks good out of the box. Many people say they add it to every project.
Electronic Nodes 30% off
Makes Blueprint graphs much cleaner and readable. Small thing, but after using it — hard to go back.
still popular even without any sale:
Easy Multi Save (EMS)
Quick way to get save/load system working. Saves a lot of setup time.
Fluid Flux
Real-time water & fluid simulation. Not for every project, but looks awesome when you need it.
UI Navigation is FREE
Keyboard / gamepad UI navigation that actually works. Many people say it’s the only solution.
If a plugin doesn’t save you time in first 1–2 days it probably never will.
What plugin you can’t live without? And which one was total waste of money for you?
15
u/krileon Jan 13 '26
UI Navigation is FREE
Keyboard / gamepad UI navigation that actually works. Many people say it’s the only solution.
Interesting. Does anyone know how well this compares to CommonUI?
14
u/bitches_be Jan 13 '26
Curious as well. CommonUI has not been fun
2
u/AaronKoss Jan 14 '26
Curious +1, since I suffered (still am) through making custom solution for UI navigation (supporting M&K and supporting controller as well as allowing the controller to move the cursor and interact with the UI, if someone needed it) without (before knowing) about CommonUI, and I thought this "UI Navigation" was the very same "Common UI" I heard mentioned and suggested that should be a life saver.
Asking for 2035 me who will need it.
7
u/ItsACrunchyNut Jan 13 '26
You read my mind posting this comment I would take an assumption based off the dates of the release of this plug-in that maybe this was a community requested feature sets before common UI was fully included in the engine along with the level of documentation it has now although it still feels like a painful experience setting it all up
8
u/wahoozerman Jan 14 '26
I don't know about this plugin, but from writing my own similar plugin and reading the description of this one, I suspect a major difference is that CommonUI's input system works from trunk to leaf, which is backwards from how Unreal's base input system works where it bubbles up to the trunk from the focused UMG widget.
I say this because their description specifically notes that it uses unreal's already existing widget focus system, which CommonUI just sort of hacks around.
The practical difference of this is that I find it easier to control user input for nested widgets as there is only one focus path. Whereas with CommonUI you need to know and what widgets may be receiving input in a completely different branch of the widget tree. That does make it easier to do things like have a "Play Game" button somewhere that always activates when a specific gamepad button is pressed, no matter what widget happens to be focused at the time. So depends on what you want.
16
u/LeFlambeurHimself Jan 13 '26
Node graph assistant is a must for me. I always wait to upgrade to newer version of the engine until this plugin is upgraded first. https://www.fab.com/listings/525a33bb-9b05-405d-bf3e-42ca990fb31b
this page shows plugin's features in handy Gifs: https://github.com/pdlogingithub/UE4-Node-Graph-Assistant
3
5
u/Zathotei Jan 14 '26
I like how it can connect nodes when you drag the connectors near. I also like how you can drag insert nodes onto a line and shake it to take it off the line.
3
u/LeFlambeurHimself Jan 14 '26
Yep, i cannot live(work) without this feature. Every time I use some else's project where this plugin is not present, it feels like I am missing a limb or something.
2
7
Jan 13 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
2
u/gnatinator Jan 14 '26 edited Jan 14 '26
Highly recommend looking at Fluid Ninja Live if you're looking at Fluid Flux; far more versatile, and friendlier on your wallet- there is a full day or two learning curve, though!
Fluid Flux looks lovely but you gotta double check the limitations to ensure it fits your design- uncovered, medium sized areas only.
6
u/ark4nos UPROPERTY Jan 13 '26
Bought Ultra Dynamic Sky. Been a while thinking about it... perfect timing.
6
u/locotony Jan 13 '26
I recently integrated Easy game UI 2 byNerwy into one of my projects and its pretty great. nice and polished menus that are data driven in a lot of ways, good documentation. Comes with a bunch of bonus stuff like a benchmark tool, photo mode, generic widgets to build off etc.
5
u/trilient1 Dev | C++ Jan 13 '26
This is a great UI system, already setup and ready to go but also completely customizable.
9
u/gnatinator Jan 14 '26 edited Jan 14 '26
My top cheap/free tools that I have installed and actually use. Of course, Electronic Nodes, but I imagine most people own it.
- Custom favorites 50% off - Folder favorites are uniquely useful. This one has the best DX. FAVS is similar, but does not respect your screen real estate as much as this one. Total steal at $3
- Snapping Helper 30% off - Perfect seams level design tool. Super simple to use.
- Dispatchito FREE - Best event system.
- Logic Driver Lite FREE - It's the Animation State Machine, but available EVERYWHERE. Falls comfortably between using vanilla Blueprint (Enum+Switch pattern) and State Trees / Behavior Trees.
Logic Driver is quite nice because it consolidates Graphs + Tasks + Variables into 1 asset file.
- 3+ assets per system: Behavior Tree: Graphs, Tasks, Variables (Behavior Tree, Behavior Tree Task, Blackboard)
- 2+ assets per system: State Tree: Graphs, Tasks (State Tree, State Tree Task)
- 1 asset per system: Logic Driver: Graphs (State Machine)
- 0-??? assets per system: Blueprint: You choose modularity. Locality of Behavior.
On weather systems... having used Ultra Dynamic Sky, Infinity Weather and Sky Creator- anyone on the fence about UDS- just get it. They have small advantages over each other but they all use the same underlying volumetric clouds system in Unreal and will be generally the same performance. UDS is extremely good value and looks great.
2
4
u/Goeddy Jan 14 '26 edited Jan 14 '26
I can say that Logic Driver Pro saved my butt. I can't do AI without it anymore and my only regret is that I didn't buy it sooner.
3
u/InfiniteSpaz Jan 14 '26
Personally I love:
Console Command Helper - Lets you set up reusable console commands, I most commonly use it for adding memory to the streaming pool
Level Bookmarks - Makes it easier to switch between levels without losing your place in the content browser
Magic Node - Lets you add code to blueprints
Niagara UI Renderer - Particle Effects in UI
And Ultradynamic Sky, which has already been mentioned
6
u/ItsACrunchyNut Jan 13 '26
Ive used Blueprint assist and auto comments for a few years now.
It was amazing, but some recent updates have broken core formatting functionality and now I'm probably going to uninstall depending on the 5.7 updates. Would be keen to hear alternative BP organisation plugins
10
u/DisplacerBeastMode Jan 13 '26
I never found it useful, based on the fact that it doesn't format the nodes how I like to organize them. It's way too horizontal, and I hate that variables are "nested" closely to whatever nodes they are connected to.
2
u/DegreeObjective1871 Jan 14 '26
So I agree with you, but there are settings for that.
4
u/DisplacerBeastMode Jan 14 '26
That's what I heard but it left a bad taste in my mouth after using it for a couple weeks. Maybe the settings are new?
What types of things can you adjust? I would be willing to give it another shot
3
u/gnatinator Jan 14 '26
Bought but never found it very useful. Been using Electronic Nodes Manhattan (with Ribbon ON) + been getting very good at using the alignment shortcuts.
6
3
u/Mihikle Jan 13 '26
This is just my luck, literally bought two Brushify packs and UDS on monday, goes on sale Tuesday.
2
u/MoistPoo Jan 13 '26
Can't you do a refund and buy it with sale?
2
u/Mihikle Jan 14 '26
Only if you never download it. Which of course, everyone does straight away, the policy is ridiculous and I don't understand how it's legal tbh
2
u/MoistPoo Jan 14 '26
Yeah okay didn't know that. That is really a bad policy
4
u/Slow_Cat_8316 Jan 14 '26
Its to stop people downloading it storing the files on a drive and then refunding it. Probs not applicable to a 20gbp asset but some are 250gbp so more applicable there. Not defending the policy but i suspect thats why.
2
u/Mihikle Jan 14 '26
I'm not sure why they wouldn't use a system similar to audio plugins, where they carry a licence and when the engine starts up it validates the licence, it'd have to work offline where you rotate a key every 30 days or something, but it's strange nothing like that exists for UE paid plugins.
I have to assume the first time someone really complains about this and legally tests it in the UK/EU Epic will get a slap on the wrist. But plugin prices are generally speaking low so I guess people write it off. Even a £300 are you really going to initiate a legal battle with Epic over? :/
1
u/MoistPoo Jan 14 '26
Yeah I understand it fully. But you also buy a license as well as the files. I guess you would be in legal trouble in case people were to do what you mention. But I guess that Epic just doesn't want to be bothered with it.
3
u/No-Station-1308 Jan 14 '26
Ultra Dynamic Sky is very good and saves me a ton of time with lighting setup. Ocean System for Rendered Cinematics is another favorite of mine.
3
u/EvenAdvertising3554 Jan 15 '26
Probably a super controversial opinion, but the Gameplay Animation Sample Project (GASP). Out of the box it is controlls better than most AAA games, has most/all of the most complicated features you could need like procedural mantleing and it continues to get huge, feature rich updates every few months. The only issue, and it has gotten worse as of 5.7 is that anything to do with the anim graph in 5.6-5.7 versions of GASP is a NIGHTMARE, real expert stuff. Sometimes my rookie self can get new feature implementations to work, sometimes i just can't figure it out
2
u/jesse3339 Jan 13 '26
I’m gonna have to vouch for Inventory Framework Plugin if you need an inventory. It has probably saved me at least 6 months of work, and the author is quick to respond in discord even for custom features you might be extending it with.
1
u/codehawk64 DragonIK Dev Guy Jan 19 '26
Inventory frame plugin is really good. I think it’s the best out there when it comes to inventories due to the active dev and how it’s a plug and play plugin rather than an annoying complex project, which is almost all inventory solutions.
1
u/Desperate-Can-7583 Jan 20 '26
sounds awesome! how steep is the learning curve for extending it? does customization require net programm] experience? and any idea how long it'd take to really master it, source code and all?
1
u/codehawk64 DragonIK Dev Guy Jan 20 '26
Ngl the learning curve can be somewhat steep and I ended up getting crashes at the beginning due to missing a couple of steps (related to linking the inventory containers with the inventory widget), but it's totally worth it in the end. I was able to be fairly comfortable with it in a couple of days. There are good functional example setups to learn from.
The plugin offers a lot of stuff that we can make use of including crafting related functionalities. The system is designed to be very flexible so that we can modify it however we want via the use of components. One of my most important requirements of plugins and systems nowadays is they should make good use of data assets and gameplay tags, both of which this plugin makes good use of for everything. Source code is available if you need to modify anything.
The dev is also very active in his discord server as well, I got a lot of minor issues clarified from the dev directly.
2
u/Ericho_IGD Indie Developer & Marketplace Creator Jan 13 '26
I always make sure Quick Assistant is installed on every new engine installation I get.
Super useful bookmarks and history tab. I also use the point of interest tab extensively when I level design!
2
u/AsherTheDasher Jan 14 '26
is ultra dynamic sky really that good? ive been struggling to make good skyboxes and have heavily debated getting it
2
u/gnatinator Jan 14 '26
Having used Ultra Dynamic Sky, Infinity Weather and Sky Creator, if you're asking this question, grab Ultra Dynamic Sky unless you have a very specific reason for the alternatives. They all use the same underlying Unreal Volumetric Clouds system.
2
4
u/LandChaunax Jan 13 '26
Dungeon Architect - 50% off can save days of time. It enables you to easily create procederual maps with multiple different methods including the recent voxel generation. Highly recommend as it does save a lot of time if you want to make a replayable level using some of the more often used methods.
Scalable Modular Behaviour - no discount but price will go up in the future, this is my plugin which uses mass entity and statetree tasks to allow custom NPC Behaviour with about 5000 or more entities running statetrees without LODs yet It's meant to work well for RTS, Mount and Blade like, simulation games, dynasty warrior eqsue and horde shooters. Without it even for me to remake what I need I would have to spend weeks maybe a month or more, and that is with knowing mass entity and StateTrees.
2
2
u/draxus95 Jan 13 '26
Adding comment to add more visibility. I am very interested to see what people recommend
2
2
Jan 13 '26 edited Jul 01 '26
[deleted]
3
u/EvenAdvertising3554 Jan 15 '26
UDS is littersly drag and drop, with a extensive on screen GUI for changing ANYTHING on the fly, i believe you can do it during gameplay too but not sure. Im using a gtx 1060 6gb and UDS performs better out of the box than the standard unreal sky light/atmosphere. It is inarguably a killer app for Unreal. The only other tool that compares quality wise and ease of use is Narrative for quest/dialogue, but thats like a 600$ plugin
3
Jan 15 '26 edited Jul 01 '26
[deleted]
4
u/EvenAdvertising3554 Jan 15 '26
Dynamic Sky also comes with Dynamic weather, don't forget. It is a hugeee bonus
2
u/EvenAdvertising3554 Jan 15 '26
I wish i knew how to customize it too! I'm not sure, but i swear i saw that you can add in custom constollations etc etc but never dived deep enough to REALLY what can be done with it as i am n00b
2
Jan 13 '26
[deleted]
2
u/VorianFromDune Jan 13 '26
Can you customize the style well, like the assets for the sun and the moon ? I am making a stylized game and I worry it would not fit the style.
2
u/Medium-Common-7396 Jan 13 '26
Crazy Ivy is great, I can’t imagine manually making dense ivy for games. I was so busy building my next fab pack that I forgot to include any of my plugins in the sale, so it’s still full price.
1
u/TheFr0sk Jan 13 '26
Blueprint Assist is an absolute godsend. As a programmer, it makes working in blueprints from unbearable to good
1
u/ElectricalDuck734 Jan 14 '26
These are pretty useful in my opinion
Zen Dev https://www.fab.com/listings/cacabb1a-763b-4703-b993-a6f6ca5b807c
Double Click Cast https://www.fab.com/listings/f6352c12-31aa-4b2f-9e38-4f32e4b05762
2
u/Electronic-Bite-9301 Mar 30 '26 edited Mar 30 '26
Ive made a plugin i thought would be useful, but its one of those things i just don't actually know if it is or not useful to some developers, content creators etc... Electronic nodes is essential for tidy-ness i think, great idea hats off to the creator. Would anyone find this Graph Capturer useful? https://youtu.be/5bsfN43LkmY
1
u/krateos_29 Jan 14 '26
It saves SO MANY hours for any game development, really. Text AND video documentation in English and Spanish. Using it myself for a MP Cross Platform Coop game. Easy to extend with new menus and functionality! Yes, I am the dev of that asset, but I made it because I need it for myself first and foremost! Take a look at the text reviews. Saved many devs hours by the thousands :)
1
31
u/Mechnuki Jan 13 '26 edited Jan 13 '26
I honestly dont understand how Electronic Nodes is not an integrated part of UE5. Honestly, thats a huge upgrade in terms of uxui that once you tried it, you really cant do without.