GetGameInstance — get the GameInstance (persists across levels)

Pure node. Ideal for storing data that persists across level loads.

GetSubsystem — get a subsystem instance (GameInstance, World, etc.)

Pure node. For GameInstance subsystems: GetGameInstance → GetSubsystem. For World subsystems: GetWorld → GetSubsystem. Subsystems are auto-instanced singletons — great for organizing game systems.

Game subsystem: persistent game manager with auto-init

SETUP: Create Blueprint inheriting UGameInstanceSubsystem (or UWorldSubsystem for level-scoped). Override Initialize(Collection) to set up. Override Deinitialize to clean up. Add game variables here (Score, PlayTime, Settings). ACCESS FROM ANYWHERE: GetGameInstance → GetSubsystem(BP_GameSubsystem) → CastTo<BP_GameSubsystem> → access variables. WHY: Subsystems auto-create, auto-destroy, and don't need FindActor. Better than GameInstance for well-organized systems. UGameInstanceSubsystem persists across levels. UWorldSubsystem is recreated each level.

Save and load game data with SaveGame class

Save: CreateSaveGameObject(MySaveGameClass) → Cast → SET variables → SaveGameToSlot(Object, SlotName, 0). Load: DoesSaveGameExist(SlotName, 0) → Branch → True: LoadGameFromSlot(SlotName, 0) → Cast to MySaveGame → GET variables. Put save/load logic in GameInstance for persistence across levels.

GetGameInstance — get persistent game instance

UGameplayStatics::GetGameInstance. Persists across level loads.

CreateSaveGameObject — create save game instance

UGameplayStatics::CreateSaveGameObject. Cast result to your SaveGame class.

CreateSaveGameObject — create a new SaveGame instance

Cast ReturnValue to your SaveGame subclass (e.g. UBP_SaveGame) to set variables on it.

GetGameState — get current game state

LoadGameFromSlot — load game data from named slot

Returns nullptr if slot doesn't exist. Always check DoesSaveGameExist first.

SaveGameToSlot — save game data to named slot