Intro to Particles in Unreal

Tiny sparks, floating leaves, billowing smoke – particles are the building blocks of visual effects. In this tutorial video “Niagara Particles & Materials [UE4/UE5]” by PrismaticaDev, you’ll learn what particles are and how they work within Unreal’s Niagara system. The presenter demonstrates how particles are spawned and controlled, and even how they interact with materials to create different looks. By understanding the role of a particle – essentially a small animated element like a sprite or mesh – you’ll see how complex effects (fire, rain, magic spells) are actually made of many simple particles working together. This knowledge is crucial for any VFX project: it helps you design your own effects from scratch and is a foundational skill for a future career as a game VFX artist.