To learn 3D game development with limited pockets, I guess you've tried many classic, free, open-source game development engines like TV3D (Truevision3D), OGRE and Irrlicht Engine. By contrast, the pros of TV3D are easy to learn and get started with; its cons are that it was built based on the ActiveX control and requires the RunTime DLL to be registered before running; OGRE is better than Irrlicht in that it has a capable and vigorous engine framework, and supports for extending new functionality in the form of plug-ins (this is better than Irrlicht); but its downside is that it's not easy to get started with.

CopperCube (successor of irrEdit) is a free 3D authoring editor, also the most user-friendly 3D game engine. It is developed based on the free and open-source 3D game engine - Irrlicht Engine (SWFZ Engine was rewritten from this engine too), and its essence is a simple, lightweight but powerful interactive 3D scenes designing software with concise and clear user interface, convenient operation, and humanized design. It is mainly used in the production of 3D application, 3D game, 3D website, and 3D animation.

BuildBox is the world's first real sense of foolproof game making tool (founded by Trey Smith in 2014). Because in BuildBox, the entire game development process can be done simply by dragging and dropping operations, no coding, scripting, programming or software design experience required. It's specially developed for entrepreneurs, designers and other game creation enthusiasts without any program development foundation for game design.

The free admission of the commercial 3D game development engine Unreal Engine has attracted more independent game developers, with the majority studying Unreal Engine on their own. Under such circumstance, a well-written guide book becomes very helpful or even necessary. If you are eager to use Unreal Engine to develop your own creative and attractive cross-platform games, then the Unreal Engine 4 Game Development in 24 Hours in Sams Teach Yourself series can be your first choice.

World Machine is a powerful and flexible 3D world terrain generator specially designed for game engines or 3D rendering software. It provides procedural terrain creation, simulations of nature, and interactive editing for you to produce realistic terrains with high-resolution heightfields, textures, and meshes.