See how they are different in fights.
Animation is a complex thing that can be done differently. Don't know what to choose? Check out this comparison of ragdoll and Root Motion animations created in Unreal Engine by an artist known as BACON on Reddit.
"With Root Motion animations, you can drive character movement with animation data to create more grounded movement within levels," Epic Games defines. On the other hand, ragdoll animation doesn't need an introduction, it is a well-known "limp and lifeless" state that is used in many games.
BACON compared the two in a fight inside the engine and concluded that "the ragdoll version added [a] little extra realism. It works best on single player but not quite feasible on multiplayer since these ragdolls don't simulate synchronously enough."
Despite that, in the comments, most people say the ragdoll animation is better.
If you want to see more from BACON, check out their YouTube channel.
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