Hello all!

I've made a simple game with C++ using SDL, and I will probably make a couple more games in the future using SDL. However, I really want to learn how to use a game engine, because then I can produce more advanced games in less time.

I will start with 2D then make my way into 3D. What game engine should I learn that's good for 2D game dev (and eventually, 3D?). I would like to stick to C++.

I thought I would learn Unreal Engine 4, but people said it was overkill for a beginner and it didn't have good 2D capabilities.

I would like to point out the dichotomy here. Generally engines of any large size and productive merit like Unity are going to isolate you from the code, you're unlikely to be doing much C++. Unity is nothing like SFML or SDL, most big engines like that are centered around suites of content creation tools and scripting.

If there is a good middleground for a simple 2d C++ engine you can just whip out and modify, I have yet to see it. These days in particular you're gonna be split on the issue. Do you care more about practicing your C++ or finishing a game? Modifying a big engine at the source level is usually a quite advanced undertaking and you probably won't be doing it.