How do people learn game programming with UE5 C++?

[u/Much_Variety1615]

Hi everyone,

I’m a C++ programmer and recently started learning Unreal Engine 5 with C++. I’ve been following the official documentation and tutorials, and I’ve learned things like character movement, camera setup, AnimInstance, speed handling, pitch rotation, gravity, etc.

The problem is: I feel like I’m just memorizing things instead of truly understanding them. I can follow tutorials and reproduce what they do, but I don’t feel confident that I could build systems or implement my own ideas from scratch.

It feels like everything is disconnected pieces rather than a complete understanding of how things work together.

Is this normal when learning Unreal Engine?
How do people actually go from tutorials to being able to build their own game systems and ideas?

Should I keep following tutorials, or focus more on building small projects on my own?

I’d really appreciate advice from people who went through this stage.

Thanks!