TopDown Engine is a convenient asset for creating top-down games in Unity. It supports both 2D and 3D and can be used for developing a wide range of game genres, including RPGs, shooters, and action games. This article explains everything from the features of TopDown Engine to its installation, and guides you through running a demo that actually moves a character.
What is TopDown Engine?
TopDown Engine is a “template asset for creating top-down games” sold on the Unity Asset Store.
- Supports both 2D and 3D top-down games
- Includes core functionality like player character movement, attacks, and life management
- Features enemy AI, interactions, inventory, and save functionality
- Enables you to create a “playable state” immediately after starting your project
Its major appeal lies in saving you the hassle of writing scripts from scratch, allowing you to create high-quality games in a short timeframe.
What can it do?
Here are some examples of what you can do with TopDown Engine.
- Character Control: Supports diverse actions like movement, jumping, dashing, running, and crawling. Includes weapon systems for melee, ranged attacks, and combos.
- Effects and Feedback: Easily add screen shake, frame freeze, particles, and more to create immersive game experiences.
- Rich Demos and Assets: Numerous demo scenes, prefabs, and over 300 scripts are provided, allowing you to start development immediately.
- Inventory Management: Includes a robust inventory system for managing items and ammunition.
- AI System: Build enemy AI for patrols, attacks, and more using Inspector-based configuration. Create advanced behaviors without coding.
- Camera Control: Utilize a versatile camera controller based on Cinemachine, featuring camera shake, post-effects, and more.
- Level Creation Tools: Includes moving platforms, room systems, destructible objects, locks and doors, achievements, and save/load functionality.
- Multiplayer Support: Supports local multiplayer, split-screen, and group shot-compatible cameras for multiplayer gameplay.
Functions that would take an enormous amount of time to build from scratch are mostly available as presets.
Installation Instructions
- Create a new project from Unity Hub
Either 2D or 3D Core is acceptable - Purchase and import “TopDown Engine” from the Unity Asset Store
- From the Unity menu:
- Window > Package Manager > Verify that TopDown Engine is added under In Project
Let’s try the demo.
TopDown Engine includes numerous polished demo scenes.
- Open the project’s TopDownEngine > Demos folder
- Double-click your preferred demo scene (e.g., Minimal2D or Minimal3D) to open it
- Press the “▶” button at the top of Unity to play the game
With a variety of demo scenes available, feel free to try them all out。
For example, when you open MinimalSandbox2D and start the game, you can move the rectangular character around to test actions like keys and doors.
The default key bindings are as follows, with WASD keys used for movement.
TopDown Engine supports mobile games as well as PC games.
From File > Build Profiles, select iOS or Android as the platform and click Switch Platform in the upper-right corner.
When I replayed the demo scene, it automatically detected the platform and switched from keyboard controls to using a mobile joystick or on-screen buttons.
Summary
- TopDown Engine is a powerful asset that enables rapid development of top-down games.
- It includes not only core functionality but also enemy AI, UI, and a save system.
- After installation, you can immediately run the demo scene to see it in action.
- It supports not only PC but also mobile platforms.
For anyone looking to create top-down games, this asset is a true game-changer.。
