Ultimate Horror Framework

⚡ Quick Start — Working Horror Game in 5 Minutes

Zero Blueprint work required. Set 4 classes in your GameMode and press Play. Everything auto-creates: HUD, widgets, full player movement with WASD + mouse look, sprint, crouch, jump, interact, flashlight, lean, inventory — all input bindings are built-in.

1 Enable the Plugin

Go to Edit → Plugins, search for "Horror Framework", enable it, and restart the editor.

2 Set Up GameMode

Create or open your GameMode Blueprint. Set these 4 classes in the Details Panel:

📋 GameMode — Details Panel (Classes)

Default Pawn ClassHF_HorrorCharacter

Player Controller ClassHF_HorrorPlayerController

HUD ClassHF_HorrorHUD

Game State ClassHF_GameState

3 Hit Play!

That's it. You now have all of this working automatically:

🏃 Movement

WASD, mouse look, sprint (Shift), crouch (C), jump (Space). Gamepad support included.

❤️ Health System

HP with damage, healing, regen, invincibility frames, death, and revive.

😱 Fear & Sanity

Sanity drains in darkness. Fear spikes from scares. Visual effects intensify automatically.

🔦 Flashlight

Toggle with F key. Battery drains over time. Flickers when low. Auto-created SpotLight.

🤚 Interaction

Line trace from camera. "[E] Open Door" prompts on HUD. Works with all built-in interactables.

🎒 Inventory

12-slot system with stacking, weight, equip/unequip. Toggle with Tab.

🖥️ Full HUD

HP / Sanity / Stamina / Battery bars, crosshair, interaction prompt, damage vignette.

🔊 Noise System

Walk/run/crouch produce different noise levels. AI hears you through AwarenessComponent.

4 Add an Enemy (Optional)

Create a Character Blueprint. Set HF_HorrorAIController as AI Controller Class. Drop it in the level. The AI will automatically detect the player via sight + hearing, chase when awareness is high enough, patrol between points, and search hiding spots.

5 Customize Controls (Optional)

Input works out of the box! The PlayerController auto-creates all InputActions, MappingContext, and key bindings on BeginPlay. No manual Input setup required.

Want to change keys? Open your PlayerController Blueprint → Details → Horror | Input | Keys:

📋 HF_HorrorPlayerController — Key Bindings

Move Forward / Back / Left / RightW / S / A / D

SprintLeft Shift

CrouchC

JumpSpace Bar

InteractE

FlashlightF

InventoryTab

Lean Left / RightQ / R

PauseEscape

🧩 All 16 Default Components on HF_HorrorCharacter

These are auto-created in the constructor. You get them all instantly when you use HF_HorrorCharacter as your Default Pawn Class.

#	Component	What It Does
1	CameraBoom (SpringArm)	Camera mount. First-person by default (TargetArmLength = 0).
2	FirstPersonCamera	Player camera, attached to boom.
3	HF_HealthComponent	HP, damage, healing, regen, i-frames, death, status effects, stagger.
4	HF_FearSanityComponent	Sanity drain in darkness, fear spikes from scares, visual effects.
5	HF_InteractionComponent	Line trace from camera, shows prompts on HUD when aiming at interactables.
6	HF_InventoryComponent MULTIPLAYER	Slot-based inventory with stacking, weight, equip/unequip.
7	HF_NoiseSystemComponent	Tracks player noise (walk/run/crouch). AI hears it.
8	HF_NoteReaderComponent	Collect and read notes/documents. Widget auto-shows.
9	HF_HorrorHUDComponent	Bridges character state (HP, sanity, stamina, battery) to HUD widget.
10	HF_LeanPeekComponent	Lean left/right to peek around corners without exposing your body.
11	HF_DeathManager	Handles death: respawn, permadeath, lives, or downed state.
12	HF_CameraManager	Head bob, sprint FOV boost, fear tremble, night vision.
13	HF_AccessibilityComponent	Scare intensity scaling, subtitles, motion sickness mode.
14	HF_FlashlightComponent	Toggle flashlight on/off. Battery drains. Flickers when low.
15	HF_BreathHoldComponent	Hold breath while hiding to reduce detection chance.
16	HF_WeaponSocketComponent	Attaches visible weapon meshes to character skeleton sockets.

💡 All auto-created

You don't need to add any of these manually. They're all created as default subobjects in the constructor. Just use HF_HorrorCharacter and they're there.

❤️ Health & Damage System

Already included on HF_HorrorCharacter with bIsPlayer = true. For custom characters or enemies, add HF_HealthComponent manually.

Dealing Damage

Two ways to deal damage to anything with a HealthComponent:

Option A: Unreal's Built-in Damage (recommended)

Apply Damage

Base Damage: 50.0

Damaged Actor: Target

HealthComponent auto-receives damage via OnTakeAnyDamage binding. No extra wiring needed.

Option B: Direct Call

Get Health Component → Apply Simple Damage

Amount: 50.0

Damage Causer: Self

Properties (Details Panel)

Property	Default	What It Does
MaxHealth	100	Maximum HP. Horror games typically use 50–100.
bEnableRegeneration	false	ON: modern horror (RE7). OFF: classic survival horror (healing items only).
RegenRate	1.0/s	HP per second when regenerating. 0.5 = punishing, 5.0 = forgiving.
RegenDelay	5.0s	Seconds after last damage before regen starts.
bEnableIFrames	true	Invincibility after taking damage. Prevents stunlock.
IFramesDuration	0.5s	0 = enemies can stunlock. 0.5–1.0 = fair. 2.0+ = very forgiving.
Armor	0	Flat damage reduction. Applied before damage type multipliers.
bIsPlayer	false	Set `true` for player — applies difficulty DamageMultiplierToPlayer.
bIsImmortal	false	Cannot take any damage at all. Used by EnemySlasher.
bIsUnkillable	false	HP cannot drop below 1. Takes damage but never dies.
bEnableStagger	false	Accumulated damage triggers stagger at threshold.
StaggerThreshold	50	Damage needed to trigger stagger. Resets after triggering.

Functions

Function	Description
ApplyDamage(DamageInfo)	Full damage with type, direction, armor, crits, difficulty scaling.
ApplySimpleDamage(Amount, Causer)	Quick damage — just amount + who caused it.
Heal(Amount)	Restore HP. Clamped to MaxHealth.
HealToFull()	Full heal to MaxHealth.
Kill(Killer)	Instant death (blocked by bIsUnkillable/bIsImmortal).
Revive(HP)	Bring back from death. Sets bIsAlive = true.
SetInvincible(Duration)	Timed invincibility.
GetHealthPercent()	0.0–1.0 for HP bars.

Events (bind in Blueprint)

Event	When	Parameters
OnDamageReceived	Any damage taken	FHF_DamageInfo (amount, type, instigator)
OnHealed	Any healing	HealAmount, NewHealth
OnDeath	HP reaches 0	DeadActor
OnHealthChanged	Any HP change	CurrentHP, MaxHP, Delta
OnStaggered	Stagger threshold reached	—

Status Effects

HealthComponent manages 10 status effects: Bleeding, Poisoned, Burning, Frozen, Infected, Stunned, Blinded, Slowed, Hallucinating. Each can stack, deal tick damage, and auto-expire.

Status Effect Usage

HealthComp → Apply Status Effect (Burning, 10s, 5dmg/tick)

HealthComp → Remove Status Effect (Burning)

HealthComp → Has Status Effect (Poisoned) → true/false

Burn/Poison/Bleed auto-deal HP damage if HealthComponent is on the same actor. No extra wiring.

Multiplayer

MULTIPLAYER CurrentHealth, MaxHealth, bIsAlive, bIsInvincible are replicated. Damage and healing only process on the server (authority check in ApplyDamage and Heal). Clients receive replicated values via OnRep.

😱 Fear & Sanity System

Sanity = long-term mental state. Drains passively in darkness, recovers in safe zones.
Fear = short-term reaction. Spikes from scare events, decays over time. Both drive visual effects, hallucinations, and gameplay penalties.

How It Works

Fear & Sanity Flow

Player enters DarknessZone → Sanity starts draining (PassiveSanityDrain/s)

Player walks through ScareTrigger → Fear spikes (FearImpact) + Sanity drops (SanityImpact)

Fear level rises → Visual effects intensify (vignette, chromatic, grain, camera shake)

Player enters SafeRoomZone → Sanity recovers (SafeZoneRecoveryRate/s)

Fear decays naturally over time (FearDecayRate/s)

Fear Levels

Level	Threshold	Effects
Calm	0	Normal gameplay
Uneasy	15	Subtle vignette begins
Anxious	35	Heartbeat audio starts
Scared	55	Camera trembles, breathing gets heavy
Terrified	75	Hallucination chance, chromatic aberration
Panic	90	Maximum distortion, heavy grain, loud heartbeat

Properties

Property	Default	What It Does
MaxSanity	100	Maximum sanity value.
PassiveSanityDrain	0.5/s	Drain rate in darkness. 0.1 = slow (explore freely). 2.0 = flashlight CRITICAL.
SafeZoneRecoveryRate	2.0/s	Recovery in safe rooms. High = powerful safe rooms.
bSanityDepletionKills	false	ON: zero sanity = death (Amnesia). OFF: zero = visual effects only (Eternal Darkness).
FearDecayRate	varies	How fast fear naturally decays.
ScareIntensityMultiplier	1.0	Scale all scare impacts (0 = no fear, 2 = double fear). Set by AccessibilityComponent.
DarknessDrainMultiplier	1.0	Extra multiplier for darkness drain.

Functions

Function	Description
DrainSanity(Amount)	Reduce sanity by amount.
RestoreSanity(Amount)	Restore sanity.
SetSanity(Value)	Set exact sanity value.
AddFear(Amount)	Spike fear.
SetFear(Value)	Set exact fear value.
CalmDown()	Instantly reset fear to 0.
GetSanityPercent()	0.0–1.0 for sanity bar.
GetFearPercent()	0.0–1.0 for fear indicator.
EnterDarkness() / LeaveDarkness()	Toggle darkness drain.

Events

Event	When
OnSanityChanged	Any sanity change — use for sanity bar
OnFearLevelChanged	Fear level changed (Calm → Uneasy, etc.) — use for music layers
OnSanityDepleted	Sanity hit zero

MULTIPLAYER CurrentSanity, CurrentFear, and CurrentFearLevel are all replicated.

🤚 Interaction System

HF_InteractionComponent fires a line trace from the camera every tick. If it hits an actor implementing IHF_InteractableInterface, it shows the interaction prompt on HUD.

Interaction Flow

InteractionComp traces from camera (InteractionRange units)

Hits actor with IHF_InteractableInterface? → CanInteract()?

HUD shows prompt: "[E] Open Door"

Player presses E → Interact() fires on the target actor

Making an Actor Interactable

1 Create Actor Blueprint

Create a new Actor Blueprint.

2 Add Interface

Class Settings → Interfaces → Add → HF_InteractableInterface

3 Implement Events

Right-click Event Graph → Add Event from Interface: Interact, Get Interaction Prompt, Can Interact, Get Interaction Type.

Built-in interactables that already implement the interface: HF_DoorActor, HF_HidingSpot, HF_GeneratorActor, HF_CombinationLock, HF_LightSwitchActor, HF_WorkbenchActor.

Property	Default	Description
InteractionRange	250	Trace distance in Unreal units. Lower = more immersive.
TraceChannel	Visibility	Collision channel for the trace.

🎒 Inventory System

MULTIPLAYER Slot-based inventory with stacking, weight limit, equip/unequip. Slots array is replicated.

Functions

Function	Description
AddItem(ItemData, Qty)	Returns number actually added. Inventory might be full or too heavy.
RemoveItem(ItemID, Qty)	Returns number actually removed.
UseItem(SlotIndex, Target)	Triggers OnItemUsed event. Consumes item if bConsumable.
HasItem(ItemID, Qty)	Check if player has at least Qty of item.
EquipSlot(Index)	Set active equipped item.
ClearInventory()	Remove all items.
GetCurrentWeight()	Total weight of all items.
IsFull()	No free slots remaining.

Properties

Property	Default	What It Does
MaxSlots	12	Lower (4–6) = RE-style inventory management. Higher (20+) = hoard everything.
bUseWeight	false	Enable weight limit. OFF = slot-based only.
MaxWeight	50	Maximum carry weight (only if weight enabled).

Item Data (FHF_ItemData)

Field	Type	Description
ItemID	FName	Unique identifier (e.g. "Medkit", "Key_Basement")
DisplayName	FText	Shown in inventory UI
Description	FText	Item description text
Icon	UTexture2D	Inventory icon image
Weight	float	Weight per unit (if weight system enabled)
bStackable	bool	Can multiple units share one slot?
MaxStackSize	int32	Max units per stack
bConsumable	bool	Consumed when UseItem is called?
bKeyItem	bool	Key items (doors, puzzles)

Events

Event	When
OnItemAdded	Item added — use for "+1 Medkit" floating text
OnItemRemoved	Item removed
OnItemUsed	Item consumed/used
OnInventoryChanged	Any change — use to refresh inventory UI

⚔️ Weapon System

HF_WeaponComponent handles melee attacks, firearms with ammo/reload, and throwables. Add it to any actor — weapon pickups, NPCs, or the player. It handles cooldowns, stamina cost, noise generation, and sound.

Weapon Types

Type	Behavior
Melee	No ammo. Attack within range, consumes stamina, respects cooldown.
Firearm	Uses ammo from clip. Must reload when empty. Plays empty-click at 0.
Throwable	Single-use throw. Implement throw logic in your Blueprint on OnAttack.

Properties

Property	Default	Description
Damage	25	Damage dealt per attack
AttackRange	150	Melee range (units)
AttackCooldown	0.8	Seconds between attacks
StaminaCost	10	Stamina consumed per attack
NoiseLoudness	0.7	Noise generated — AI hears this via NoiseSystem
MaxAmmo	12	Total reserve ammo (firearm)
ClipSize	6	Max ammo per clip (firearm)
ReloadTime	2.0	Seconds to reload (firearm)

Socket Properties (for visible weapon mesh)

Property	Description
WeaponMesh	Static Mesh to display on the character's socket (e.g. SM_Axe, SM_Pistol)
AttachSocketName	Per-weapon socket override (empty = use WeaponSocketComponent default)
SocketOffset	Position/rotation/scale offset on the socket

⚠️ Important

Applying damage to a target is YOUR responsibility. Bind to OnAttack and do a line trace, overlap, or any hit detection you want. Then call HealthComp→ApplySimpleDamage() on whatever you hit. The weapon handles the "can I attack?" logic — you handle the "what did I hit?" logic.

Events

Event	When	Params
OnAttack	Attack performed	float Damage
OnReloadComplete	Reload finished	—
OnAmmoEmpty	Tried to fire at 0 ammo	—

MULTIPLAYER CurrentAmmo is replicated. Attack() and Reload() block on simulated proxies.

Weapon Socket System

HF_WeaponSocketComponent attaches a visible weapon mesh to your character's skeleton socket. Already on HF_HorrorCharacter.

1 Add socket `weapon_r` to your skeleton (right-click hand_r → Add Socket)

2 On WeaponComponent, set `WeaponMesh` to your Static Mesh

3 Call `WeaponSocketComp→EquipWeapon(WeaponComp)`. Mesh appears on socket. `UnequipWeapon()` removes it.

Swapping: EquipWeapon() auto-unequips the previous weapon. Events: OnWeaponEquipped, OnWeaponUnequipped.

🔦 Flashlight

Already on HF_HorrorCharacter. Auto-creates a SpotLight if none assigned. Toggle with F key (auto-bound).

Property	Default	What It Does
MaxBattery	120s	2 minutes of light. Lower (30–60s) = scramble for batteries.
DrainRate	1.0/s	Battery per second when on. Higher = faster drain, more panic.
bUseBatteries	true	OFF: infinite light, no resource anxiety.
FlickerThreshold	0.15	Battery % when flickering starts.

Function	Description
Toggle()	Switch on/off
TurnOn() / TurnOff()	Explicit control
RechargeBattery(Amount)	Add battery from pickup
ReplaceBattery()	Full recharge to max

Events: OnToggled, OnBatteryLow, OnBatteryDepleted. MULTIPLAYER bIsOn and CurrentBattery are replicated.

🤖 AI Enemy System

No animations or meshes included. This is a C++ runtime plugin — you bring your own character mesh, animations, and sounds. The plugin provides all AI logic, awareness, pathfinding, and behaviors.

Setting Up Your First Enemy

1 Create Enemy Character Blueprint

Content Browser → Blueprint Class → Character. Add your Skeletal Mesh.

2 Set AI Controller

In Details Panel: AI Controller Class = HF_HorrorAIController, Auto Possess AI = Placed in World or Spawned.

ℹ️ What happens automatically

When the enemy spawns, HF_HorrorAIController possesses it. The controller auto-creates an AwarenessComponent, auto-targets the player, applies difficulty scaling, and starts listening to events. Zero Blueprint logic needed.

3 Create Behavior Tree + Blackboard

Content Browser → AI → Behavior Tree. Content Browser → AI → Blackboard. Assign in AI Controller.

4 Add NavMesh

Place Nav Mesh Bounds Volume in level → Build → Build Paths → Press P to visualize (green = walkable).

🚨 NavMesh required!

Without a Nav Mesh, the AI cannot move. All enemies use Unreal's navigation for pathfinding.

Awareness System (Detection)

HF_AwarenessComponent handles sight + hearing. States progress: Unaware → Suspicious → Searching → Alerted → Chasing → Attacking → LostTarget.

Property	Default	Description
SightRange	1500	How far the AI can see
SightAngle	60°	Field of view. 360 = omnidirectional (Slender-style)
HearingRange	2000	How far the AI can hear noise
DecayRate	5/s	Awareness drops if not detecting

Built-in BT Nodes

Node	Type	What It Does
HF Patrol	Task	Walk between PatrolPoints array
HF Chase Player	Task	Chase with rubber-banding speed
HF Search Hiding Spots	Task	Check nearby HidingSpots for hidden player
HF Stalk	Task	Maintain distance, hide when player looks
HF Teleport Behind	Task	Teleport behind player when not looking
HF Check Awareness	Decorator	Branch based on AwarenessState
HF Update Perception	Service	Keep perception data fresh

Built-in Enemy Classes

Class	Description	Key Differences
HF_EnemyCharacterBase	Base class. HP, attack sphere, death, AI-ready.	Foundation for all enemies. 5 montage slots.
HF_EnemyMelee	Killable. Zombie/mutant/infected.	HP=150, HeavyAttack 20% chance (2x damage), ChaseSpeed=400.
HF_EnemySlasher	Unkillable. Outlast/Alien:Isolation style.	bIsImmortal=true, Damage=999 (instant kill), FearOnSight=10, FearOnAttack=40.

AI Events

Event	When
OnChaseStarted / OnChaseStopped	Chase mode toggle — play chase music
OnTargetSpotted / OnTargetLost	First sight / lost player — play roar/confused
OnNoiseHeard	Heard a noise — look toward source
OnAwarenessStateChanged	Any state transition
OnTeleported	AI teleported — play VFX

🚪 Hiding & Safe Rooms

HF_HidingSpot

Place in level (closets, lockers, under beds). Player interacts → enters hiding. AI can search with configurable find chance.

Property	Description
SpotType	Closet, Locker, UnderBed, Curtain, Barrel, Dumpster
HidingCameraOffset / Rotation	Camera position and angle when hiding
bCanPeek	Player can peek while hiding
NoiseReductionMultiplier	Noise output while hiding (0.1 = 10%)
CustomFindChance	AI probability of finding player (0.15 = 15%)

HF_BreathHoldComponent

Already on HorrorCharacter. Hold breath to become nearly silent. Drains over time. Releasing makes a gasp noise.

Property	Description
MaxBreathHoldTime	Seconds the player can hold breath
WarningThreshold	% remaining when warning event fires

HF_SafeRoomZone

Place in level as a safe area.

Property	Default	Description
bBlocksAI	true	AI enemies cannot enter
bRestoresSanity	true	Sanity recovers inside
bAllowsSaving	true	Player can save here

👻 Scare Events

Actor	Description
HF_ScareTrigger	Box trigger — player enters → sound + camera shake + fear spike. Configurable: FearImpact, SanityImpact, bOneShot.
HF_MannequinScare	Moves toward player when not looking (SCP-173 style).
HF_ApparitionActor	Ghost appears, fades in/out, disappears when looked at directly.
HF_ObjectMoveScare	Object slides/moves when player isn't looking.
HF_FlashbackTrigger	Screen fades, shows flashback scene, fades back.
HF_RandomScareScheduler	Randomly triggers scare events at configurable intervals.
HF_HallucinationComponent	Spawns hallucination actors when sanity is low.
HF_FlickerLightComponent	Random light flicker. Attach to any light component.
HF_FogManager	Dynamic fog transitions based on threat level.
HF_ScriptedEventSequencer	Timed sequence of events (sounds, spawns, fear spikes).
HF_PossessionComponent	Player gets "possessed" when sanity drops below threshold.

🔑 Doors, Locks & Environment

HF_DoorActor

States: Closed → Open → Locked → Barricaded → Broken. Auto-animates rotation.

Function	Description
OpenDoor() / CloseDoor()	Open/close with sound
LockDoor() / UnlockDoor()	Lock/unlock
TryUnlockWithKey(KeyID)	Check inventory for correct key
BreakDoor()	Permanently open (broken state)
DamageDoor(Amount)	Reduce door HP, breaks at 0

MULTIPLAYER DoorState is replicated.

Other Environment Actors

Actor	Description
HF_BarricadeActor	Boards to block enemies. Each board adds HP.
HF_WindowActor	Breakable windows with health. Barricadable.
HF_LightSwitchActor	Toggle connected lights. MULTIPLAYER
HF_GeneratorActor	Fuel-powered. Powers linked systems.
HF_KeyLockComponent	Requires specific key from inventory.
HF_DarknessZone	Triggers sanity drain when player enters.
HF_DayNightCycle	Directional light rotation. Day/night with colors.
HF_TrapActor	Damage + stun on trigger. Configurable for player/AI.

🎥 Camera System

HF_CameraManager auto-finds the CameraComponent and applies effects.

Property	Default	Description
bEnableHeadBob	true	Sinusoidal bob when walking/running
HeadBobIntensity	0.5	Bob strength. 1.5+ = nausea risk.
BaseFOV	90	Default field of view
SprintFOVBoost	10	Extra FOV when sprinting
bEnableNightVision	false	Night vision toggle with battery

Additional: HF_DollyZoomComponent (Hitchcock vertigo), HF_FixedCameraTrigger (classic RE angles), HF_ForcedLookComponent (force camera at target), HF_PostProcessFearDriver (auto vignette/grain from fear), HF_LeanPeekComponent (lean around corners).

💀 Death & Respawn

HF_DeathManager auto-connects to HealthComponent::OnDeath.

Mode	Behavior
Respawn	Teleport to last checkpoint after delay, full heal
Permadeath	Game over — death screen shows
Lives	Limited lives, respawn until 0, then game over
DownedState	Co-op: go down, teammates revive within time limit

HF_CheckpointActor — place in level, player walks through → respawn point updated.
HF_ConsequenceManager — escalating penalties per death (enemies faster, fewer resources).
HF_InjuryComponent — persistent injuries: Leg (slow), Arm (slow interact), Bleeding (HP drain), Infection (worsens).

💾 Save System

HF_SaveManager is a Blueprint Function Library. Call from anywhere.

Save / Load Functions

HF Save Manager → Save Game (SlotName, UserIndex)

HF Save Manager → Load Game (SlotName, UserIndex)

HF Save Manager → Quick Save / Quick Load

HF Save Manager → Auto Save

HF Save Manager → Does Save Exist (SlotName)

HF Save Manager → Delete Save (SlotName)

What Gets Saved

Data	Source
Player position + rotation	Character transform
Health, MaxHealth, bIsAlive	HealthComponent
Active status effects (all)	HealthComponent
Sanity + Fear level	FearSanityComponent
Full inventory (items + quantities + icons + everything)	InventoryComponent
Equipped item	InventoryComponent
Flashlight battery	FlashlightComponent
Lives remaining + last checkpoint	DeathManager
Objective progress (active + completed)	ObjectiveTracker
Story flags (dialogue branching)	DialogueComponent
Game phase + difficulty	GameMode
Threat level, death count, play time	GameState
Solved puzzles, collected keys, triggered scares	GameState

Custom data: use SaveGame→SetModuleValue(ModuleName, Key, Value) and GetModuleValue() for your own systems.

🔊 Noise System

HF_NoiseSystemComponent on HorrorCharacter. AI hears noise through AwarenessComponent.

Property	Default	Description
WalkNoise	0.3	Noise when walking
RunNoise	0.7	Noise when sprinting — running is dangerous!
CrouchNoise	0.1	Noise when crouching — nearly silent
NoisePropagationRadius	1500	How far noise travels (units)

WeaponComponent automatically calls MakeNoise(NoiseLoudness) on attack. No extra setup needed.

💬 Dialogue, Notes & Radio

Component	Description
HF_DialogueComponent	Node-based branching dialogue with story flags. Widget auto-shows. `SetStoryFlag("HasKey", true)` / `GetStoryFlag("MetNPC")`.
HF_NoteReaderComponent	Collect and read notes/documents. Widget auto-shows.
HF_MonologueComponent	Sequential voice lines with subtitles. Play(), PlaySingle(), Stop().
HF_RadioContactComponent	Incoming radio messages with static noise and speaker name.
HF_WalkieTalkieComponent	Range-based walkie-talkie with signal quality (distance-based).

🔨 Crafting & Resources

Component	Description
HF_CraftingComponent	Recipe-based. CanCraft(ID), Craft(ID), DiscoverRecipe(ID). Auto-consumes from inventory.
HF_ConsumableComponent	Use items: Health, Sanity, Stamina, Battery, Antidote, Custom. Events: OnUsed.
HF_DurabilityComponent	Tools/weapons break after use. Repair at workbench. BreakSound on zero.
HF_FuelSystemComponent	Generic fuel/resource for generators. AddFuel(), StartConsuming(), StopConsuming().
HF_WorkbenchActor	Interactable crafting station. OnWorkbenchUsed event.

🤝 Companion & NPCs

Component	Description
HF_CompanionComponent	AI companion: Following, Waiting, Hiding, Downed, Dead. Morale + Trust system. CommandFollow(), CommandWait(), CommandHide().
HF_CompanionAIController	AI logic for companion behavior. Detects threats, assists player.
HF_NPCScheduleComponent	Time-based NPC routines. Schedule entries: start/end time, location, idle anim.

🔍 Investigation Tools (Phasmophobia-style)

Ghost-hunting equipment. Each is a separate component — add only what you need.

Component	Description
HF_EMFReaderComponent	Levels 0–5 based on proximity. BeepSound on detection. Events: OnEMFLevelChanged, OnHighEMFDetected.
HF_ThermometerComponent	Temperature drops near ghost. FreezingThreshold. Event: OnFreezingDetected.
HF_SpiritBoxComponent	Radio-frequency communication. ResponseChance per scan. Event: OnGhostResponse.
HF_PhotoCaptureComponent	SceneCaptureComponent2D photo evidence. MaxPhotos, ShutterSound. Event: OnPhotoCaptured.
HF_EvidenceComponent	Tracks collected evidence. CollectEvidence(), HasEvidence(), GetCompletionPercent().
HF_ExamineComponent	Pick up and 3D-rotate objects to inspect. ExamineDistance, RotationSpeed.

👥 Co-op Multiplayer

HF_CoopManager — player proximity, isolation detection, shared sanity, revive system.

Property	Description
CoopMode	SinglePlayer, CoopSymmetric, CoopAsymmetric (1 ghost), Versus
MaxPlayers	Maximum players (default 4)
bSharedSanity	All players share lowest sanity value
bReviveSystem	Enable downed/revive mechanic
IsolationDistance	Distance to be "isolated" — AI prioritizes lone players

HF_SpectatorComponent — dead players spectate living teammates. NextTarget() / PrevTarget().

Replicated systems (22 properties): Health, FearSanity, Inventory, DoorState, Flashlight, GameState, CoopManager, LightSwitch, WeaponAmmo.

🖥️ UI / HUD System

Everything is automatic. Set HF_HorrorHUD as HUD Class. It auto-creates 10 widgets on BeginPlay.

Widget	Visibility	When Shown
HorrorHUDWidget	Always	HP, sanity, stamina, battery bars, crosshair, prompt
InventoryWidget	Hidden	ShowInventory() / ToggleInventory()
PauseMenuWidget	Hidden	ShowPauseMenu()
DeathScreenWidget	Hidden	Auto on player death
DialogueWidget	Hidden	Auto when dialogue starts
NoteReaderWidget	Hidden	Auto when reading note
SubtitleWidget	Hidden	During monologue/dialogue
CombinationLockWidget	Hidden	ShowCombinationLock()
EvidenceBoardWidget	Hidden	ShowEvidenceBoard()
LoadingScreenWidget	Hidden	ShowLoadingScreen()

💡 Customizing Widgets

Create Widget Blueprint → Parent Class = the widget you want to replace. Customize colors/sizes in Details. Assign in HUD Blueprint under Horror|UI|Widgets. If a slot is None, the built-in C++ default is used automatically.

🎵 Audio System

Component	Description
HF_AdaptiveMusicManager	Layered music responding to threat/fear level. SetFearLevel(), PlayStinger().
HF_HeartbeatComponent	Heartbeat speeds up with fear or low HP. SetIntensity(), ForceSpike().
HF_BreathingAudioComponent	4 states: Normal, Heavy, Panicked, Holding. Auto-transitions from stamina/fear.
HF_AmbientSoundManager	Named audio layers. EnableLayer("Wind"), SetLayerVolume("Crickets", 0.3).
HF_AudioOcclusionHelper	Auto line-trace occlusion for 3D sounds. Volume reduces through walls.
HF_StingerSystem	One-shot scare sounds with cooldown. PlayStinger("JumpScare01"), PlayRandom().
HF_ReverbZoneComponent	Per-zone reverb effects (caves echo, bathrooms tile).

⚔️ Difficulty System

5 presets. Change at runtime: GameMode→SetDifficulty(NewDifficulty). All systems update immediately.

Setting	Story	Easy	Normal	Hard	Nightmare
Damage to Player	0.25x	0.5x	1.0x	1.5x	2.5x
Enemy Speed	0.7x	0.85x	1.0x	1.15x	1.3x
Enemy Detection	0.5x	0.75x	1.0x	1.3x	1.75x
Sanity Drain	0.3x	0.6x	1.0x	1.5x	2.0x
Resources	2.0x	1.5x	1.0x	0.7x	0.4x
Permadeath	No	No	No	No	Yes

📦 Module System (23 Modules)

The ActiveModules bitmask in PluginSettings controls which systems run. Disabled modules auto-deactivate — zero CPU cost.

Module	What Gets Disabled When OFF
Core	GameMode, GameState, EventHub, SaveManager — never turn off
HealthDamage	HealthComponent, InjuryComponent
FearSanity	FearSanityComponent, PostProcessFearDriver
AIEnemy	HorrorAIController, all BT tasks
AwarenessDetection	AwarenessComponent (sight, hearing)
EnvironmentAtmosphere	DarknessZone, FlickerLight, Fog, DayNight
InteractionInventory	Interaction, Inventory, Crafting, Grabbable, Examine
HidingStealth	HidingSpot, BreathHold, Noise, LeanPeek
PuzzleProgression	PuzzleBase, CombinationLock, ObjectiveTracker
JumpScareEvents	ScareTrigger, MannequinScare, Apparition, ObjectMove
CameraPerspective	CameraManager, ForcedLook, DollyZoom
NarrativeStory	Dialogue, NoteReader, Monologue
Multiplayer	CoopManager, Spectator
UIHUD	HorrorHUDComponent, all 10 widgets
Audio	AdaptiveMusic, Heartbeat, Breathing, Reverb
DeathConsequence	DeathManager, ConsequenceManager
CraftingResources	Crafting, Consumable, Durability, Fuel
PhysicsDestruction	Destructible, Throwable, Rope
TimeWorldState	DayNight, WorldPhase, Timer, Trail
ProceduralReplayability	RandomPlacement, DifficultyMutators, MultipleEndings
PhotoEvidence	PhotoCapture, EMF, SpiritBox, Thermometer
CompanionNPC	Companion, CompanionAI, WalkieTalkie
Accessibility	AccessibilityComponent

💡 Start minimal

Begin with only Core + HealthDamage + FearSanity + UIHUD enabled. Add modules as you build features. This way you see only what you need and keep performance tight.

🔧 Plugin Settings Data Asset

Your master control panel. One file controls everything.

1 Create: Content Browser → Right Click → Miscellaneous → Data Asset → pick `HF_PluginSettings`

2 Assign in GameMode Blueprint → Details → `HorrorSettings`

Controls: ActiveModules bitmask, player health/regen, fear/sanity settings, AI defaults, flashlight, inventory, hiding, save, audio, camera, accessibility, and difficulty presets. Without it, all systems use hard-coded defaults.

📡 Event Hub

UHF_EventHub is a GameInstance Subsystem. Central event bus — all systems broadcast through it.

Get Event Hub & Bind Events

Get Game Instance → Get Subsystem → HF Event Hub

Then bind to any event:

OnPlayerDeath / OnEnemyDeath

OnItemPickedUp / OnItemUsed

OnStatusEffectApplied / OnStatusEffectRemoved

OnScareTriggered / OnPlayerHealthChanged

OnGameSaved / OnGameLoaded

OnGamePhaseChanged / OnDifficultyChanged

💡 Pro tip

Use EventHub instead of direct component references. This decouples your systems — e.g., your audio manager listens to OnScareTriggered without knowing about ScareTrigger directly.

🎮 Cheat Manager

HF_CheatManager — type in the UE console (press ~):

Command	Description
HF_God	Toggle invincibility
HF_HealFull	Full HP
HF_Kill	Instant death
HF_MaxSanity / HF_ZeroSanity	Set sanity
HF_MaxFear / HF_ZeroFear	Set fear
HF_InfiniteBattery	Toggle infinite flashlight
HF_SetThreat [0–100]	Set threat level
HF_SetPhase [0–5]	Set game phase
HF_AddItem [ID] [Qty]	Add item to inventory
HF_ClearInventory	Remove all items
HF_TeleportToCheckpoint	Teleport to last checkpoint
HF_NoClip	Toggle fly mode

❓ FAQ / Troubleshooting

HUD doesn't show

Make sure your GameMode has HF_HorrorHUD as HUD Class.

Camera doesn't rotate with mouse

Make sure you're using HF_HorrorPlayerController — it auto-creates Enhanced Input.

AI enemy doesn't move

You need a Nav Mesh Bounds Volume in your level. Build → Build Paths. Press P to visualize.

Systems don't respond to difficulty changes

Call GameMode→SetDifficulty() — it broadcasts through EventHub.

Module disabled but component still runs

Module checks happen in BeginPlay. Restart PIE after changing settings.

Flashlight doesn't toggle

FlashlightComponent is auto-created on HorrorCharacter. Make sure you're using HF_HorrorCharacter as Default Pawn Class.

⚡ Quick Start — Working Horror Game in 5 Minutes

1 Enable the Plugin

2 Set Up GameMode

3 Hit Play!

🏃 Movement

❤️ Health System

😱 Fear & Sanity

🔦 Flashlight

🤚 Interaction

🎒 Inventory

🖥️ Full HUD

🔊 Noise System

4 Add an Enemy (Optional)

5 Customize Controls (Optional)

🧩 All 16 Default Components on HF_HorrorCharacter

❤️ Health & Damage System

Dealing Damage

Properties (Details Panel)

Functions

Events (bind in Blueprint)

Status Effects

Multiplayer

😱 Fear & Sanity System

How It Works

Fear Levels

Properties

Functions

Events

🤚 Interaction System

Making an Actor Interactable

1 Create Actor Blueprint

2 Add Interface

3 Implement Events

🎒 Inventory System

Functions

Properties

Item Data (FHF_ItemData)

Events

⚔️ Weapon System

Weapon Types

Properties

Socket Properties (for visible weapon mesh)

Events

Weapon Socket System

1 Add socket weapon_r to your skeleton (right-click hand_r → Add Socket)

2 On WeaponComponent, set WeaponMesh to your Static Mesh

3 Call WeaponSocketComp→EquipWeapon(WeaponComp). Mesh appears on socket. UnequipWeapon() removes it.

🔦 Flashlight

🤖 AI Enemy System

Setting Up Your First Enemy

1 Create Enemy Character Blueprint

2 Set AI Controller

3 Create Behavior Tree + Blackboard

4 Add NavMesh

Awareness System (Detection)

Built-in BT Nodes

Built-in Enemy Classes

AI Events

🚪 Hiding & Safe Rooms

HF_HidingSpot

HF_BreathHoldComponent

HF_SafeRoomZone

👻 Scare Events

🔑 Doors, Locks & Environment

HF_DoorActor

Other Environment Actors

🎥 Camera System

💀 Death & Respawn

💾 Save System

What Gets Saved

🔊 Noise System

💬 Dialogue, Notes & Radio

🔨 Crafting & Resources

🤝 Companion & NPCs

🔍 Investigation Tools (Phasmophobia-style)

👥 Co-op Multiplayer

🖥️ UI / HUD System

🎵 Audio System

⚔️ Difficulty System

📦 Module System (23 Modules)

1 Add socket `weapon_r` to your skeleton (right-click hand_r → Add Socket)

2 On WeaponComponent, set `WeaponMesh` to your Static Mesh

3 Call `WeaponSocketComp→EquipWeapon(WeaponComp)`. Mesh appears on socket. `UnequipWeapon()` removes it.

1 Create: Content Browser → Right Click → Miscellaneous → Data Asset → pick `HF_PluginSettings`

2 Assign in GameMode Blueprint → Details → `HorrorSettings`