Unity3D has been making great strides of late, it’s has been one of the big go-to middleware engines for budding iOS and Android game developers and even expanded its reach to Web, Windows desktop and other platforms.

Be sure to also check out the sister post to this article “Monster Set of Resources” for even more content, I try to keep these up to date with new additions as I find them.

It’s recent Microsoft partnerships have also been making big waves and have spurred on its adoption, introducing both the Windows Phone 8 and Windows 8 platforms and more recently with the announcement of Xbox One support, best of all it’s completely free for all Microsoft platforms.

Unity3D comes in three flavours:

Unity3D Trial When you first download Unity3D and setup a new account you get access to all of Unities tools and accessories that are included in the Pro version for 30 days, after that it will revert to the Free version or you can pay for Pro. Unity3D Free As it says on the box, this is the default Free tier for Unity, you get access to the editor and all the basic features, however some advanced performance, profiling and graphics features are disabled. You can still make one heck of a game if you do it right and it’s perfect while you are learning Unity. But once your game gets beyond a certain size you may find the lack of the pro features limiting. With Unity 5, this gap has closed a lot with the installed editor, the Pro version now focuses on the new Cloud features. Unity3D Pro Basically every tool and feature of Unity at your disposal, for Unity 4 this includes LOD support, texture batching, asset streaming, custom splash screens, 3D textures and HDR. For Unity 5, most editor features (except splashscreen config) are included and Pro now focuses on the cloud features. For a detailed comparison check the Unity download page for a view of the Pro vs Free features.

So how to get started?

As with my Monster links post, I’ve compiled an extensive list of resources at your disposable on your Unity3D journey, split up in to sections to allow you to target what you need.

Beginner tutorials

Best starting place for newbies – Unity3D’s own live training catalogue – http://unity3d.com/learn/live-training/archive

Unity basics video series by Infinite Ammo – http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEEAEA1E6B11B4DAE

UnityCG’s Unity3D crash course video series – http://cgcookie.com/unity/cgc-courses/crash-course-learn-unity/

Another guide similar to this one – http://www.alabsoft.com/unity3d.shtml

Now you’re thinking with components – http://gamedev.tutsplus.com/articles/glossary/unity-thinking-with-components

Twexa have a new slow into for brand new Unity3D devs – http://twexa.com/

1 Game – 3 minutes, best into to Unity I’ve seen in a while – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i30menw6gvU

Intermediate tutorials

Unity Gem’s breakdown series – http://unitygems.com/

Make a 2D platformer in Unity3D (pre 4.3) – http://www.rocket5studios.com/tutorials/make-a-2d-game-in-unity3d-using-only-free-tools-part-1/

2D specific tutorials

A nice easy look into Unity’s new 2D system – http://jessefreeman.com/game-dev/introduction-unitys-new-2d-workflow/

Great view into 2D animation in Unity – http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/AlexRose/20130905/199662/Animation_in_2D_Unity_Games_InDepth_Starter_Guide.php

Books

Mastering Unity 2D Game Development (by yours trully :D) – https://darkgenesis.zenithmoon.com/portfolio/mastering-unity-2d-game-development/

Unity 3D UI Essentials (also by me) – https://darkgenesis.zenithmoon.com/portfolio/unity-3d-ui-essentials/

Project based training – learn by doing

Unity’s own Project tutorials from beginner to advanced – http://unity3d.com/learn/tutorials/projects

Walker boys studio projects – http://walkerboystudio.com/html/unity_training___free__.html

Unity3D platformer starter kit (must read) – http://digitalerr0r.wordpress.com/2013/09/30/unity-game-starter-kit-for-windows-store-and-windows-phone-store-games/

Catlike coding’s side scrolling runner tutorial – http://catlikecoding.com/unity/tutorials/runner/

Video based tutorials

Introduction to building games with Unity – http://channel9.msdn.com/Events/Windows-Camp/Building-Windows-Games-with-Unity/Introduction-to-building-games-with-Unity

Quill18’s game based video tutorials – http://quill18.com/unity_tutorials/

CGVillage Unity3D tutorial videos – http://www.cg-village.com/unity-3d-game-engine-tutorials

Making Mecanim compatible rigs in blender – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9iUm2llVPc&feature=youtu.be

Mouse and touch behaviours plus more video tutorials – http://www.devination.com/

How to Build games video series (recommended) – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIR4PYHfjys

Unity 2D (in 3D, pre 4.3) game tutorial (beginner) – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZucUpZtg2U

Unity3D basics video tutorial (V3) – but it’s the Tornado Twins, follow and see! (and if you have never heard of TT, they correct that immediately) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wxe1IUu5QA&feature=relmfu

The End to end RPG Unity tutorial – http://www.youtube.com/user/CodingMadeEasy?feature=watch

Over 100 Unity training shorts, less of a learn Unity as more of a how to make this cool effect – http://www.youtube.com/user/JesseEtzler0

Building a Better Shooter in Unity – http://fixbyproximity.com/2014/07/04/building-a-better-shooter-in-unity/

7 Minute Tutorial on making a Hover Car in unity3d – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5B6ALcOX4b8

Unity3D component tutorials

Unity3d’s own component tutorial videos – http://unity3d.com/learn/tutorials/modules

Jesse Etzlers awesome Unity 101 series (1-100) – http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxLNqnnCshwlE0UebbpV_v8M4kcLhXEz9

Jesse Etzlers awesome Unity 101 series (100-beyond) – http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxLNqnnCshwm9ayxqMpeWH4P1SLzrN92-

Infinite Skills advanced series – http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtNErhYMkHnEqGtygzs_1qW_VNR1i9oIp

Burgzergar arcades Hack and Slash series – http://www.burgzergarcade.com/hack-slash-rpg-unity3d-game-engine-tutorial

Unity 101 series by Cracked Spoon – http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_N_IEJ7SLOr3k_cd2Zcx07NOTjd-OnCP

Unity3D coroutines in detail – http://www.altdevblogaday.com/2011/07/07/unity3d-coroutines-in-detail/

Unity3D master sites – Unity training is just their thing

Unity3D’s Unite conference recordings, a goldmine of beginner / intermediate / advanced stuff – http://unity3d.com/unite

CGCookies Unity section – http://cgcookie.com/unity/

Armed Unity forum, full of examples tutorials and q&A – http://armedunity.com/

Unity3D student, full of help and challenges – http://www.unity3dstudent.com/

Unity tutorials on the Tuts+ network – http://hub.tutsplus.com/search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&search%5Bkeywords%5D=unity&button=

Unity3D paid for training

Unity Magic, training and assets for Unity3D – http://www.unitymagic.com/shop/en/

Udemy’s Unity3D master class – https://www.udemy.com/unity-3d-master-class-game-development-for-beginners

GameDev Academys Unity training offer – http://www.gamedevacademy.org/unity-training-anyone-can-learn-how-to-make-a-game/

Design 3’s profession training services and videos – http://www.design3.com/

Scripting links and help

Nick Gravelyn’s awesome Unity Toolbag crammed full of scripts – https://github.com/nickgravelyn/UnityToolbag

Cat like codings scripting series – http://catlikecoding.com/unity/tutorials/

Creating graphics in Unity3D – http://catlikecoding.com/unity/tutorials/graphs/

How to make collidable curves – http://playmedusa.com/blog/how-to-create-collidable-curves-trail-lines-whatever-in-unity3d/

Curve Rotating script for Unity3D by Fivearcher – http://pastebin.com/izFTvt4Z

– http://pastebin.com/izFTvt4Z Move using a curve script by Fivearcher – http://pastebin.com/TFEL9MLg

– http://pastebin.com/TFEL9MLg Scale by curve script by Fivearcher – http://pastebin.com/Bh6GVfEw

– http://pastebin.com/Bh6GVfEw Tiny tween lib for Unity3D and XNA by Nick Gravelyn – https://gist.github.com/nickgravelyn/4953988

Unity scripts to charge a weapon – http://www.otakunozoku.com/unity-scripts-to-charge-up-a-weapon/

Piracy prevention script for Unity3D – http://www.otakunozoku.com/unity3d-piracy-prevention/

Changing script order execution dynamically – http://gamedevrant.blogspot.com.es/2013/07/unity3d-change-scripts-execution-order.html?m=1

Dependency Injection with Unity – http://dwulf.com/2013/09/bottom-up-dependency-injection-in-unity3d/

Goal Oriented Action Planning AI in Unity – https://github.com/sploreg/goap & Blog post http://t.co/NrnIg2HJIb

Keeping the player inside the screen – http://answers.unity3d.com/questions/174958/keeping-the-player-inside-the-screen.html

Huge collection of community scripts in one Reddit post – http://www.reddit.com/r/Unity3D/comments/24u3l1/a_collection_of_scripts_i_add_to_everything_i_make/

How to Code HUD Cooldown Bars – http://t.co/Gu1NkybMVP

Frustrated with unity3d ‘s simplistic script defines interface, Here’s a little GUI for it – https://t.co/eAtEaLftTd

‘s simplistic script defines interface, Here’s a little GUI for it – https://t.co/eAtEaLftTd Walk through of pausing your game without pausing – http://gamasutra.com/blogs/AdamWinkels/20140326/213972/Lovers_in_a_Dangerous_Spacetime_DevLog_9_Pausing_Without_Pausing.php

Twitter API helper library – http://stevenyau.wordpress.com/2013/12/26/working-with-twitter-api-1-1-with-unity/

Design or 3D modelling help

Game Design Tutorials – http://zooperstuff.com/game-design/game-design/game-design-tutorial-2-unity3d-blender-and-crazybump-level-up-literally/

Shader help and tutorials

Prime31’s advanced shader series – http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLb8LPjN5zpx1tauZfNE1cMIIPy15UlJNZ

Retro flat shading by Kenneth Backus – http://dev.tutsplus.com/tutorials/go-beyond-retro-pixel-art-with-flat-shaded-3d-in-unity–gamedev-12259

Selection of Shader tutorials by Kashif Riley – http://www.youtube.com/user/JamesRayder2020/videos

Clifford M Roche walks through Unity debugging in MonoDevelop – http://www.cliffordroche.ca/monodevelop-4-xamarin-studio-debugging-in-unity/

Shader help and free dissolve shader for Unity – http://kylehalladay.com/all/graphics/2013/09/22/Dissolve-Shaders.html

HowTo create volumetric light in Unity Free – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4IlGqRl09M&feature=youtu.be

Showing off the Shy Shaders – http://blogs.unity3d.com/2014/05/01/showing-off-the-shy-shaders/

Replaced preprocessor in hlsl2glsl with a Mojoshader-based one. Fixes a bunch of stuff – https://t.co/Oeyo8kl29i

Performance and architecture

Richard Fine on best practice – http://video.unity3d.com/video/4929984/luug-11-pt-2-of-4-

C# Memory management by Wendelin Reich – http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/WendelinReich/20131109/203841/C_Memory_Management_for_Unity_Developers_part_1_of_3.php

4 ways to improve performance by Yorick – http://www.paladinstudios.com/2012/07/30/4-ways-to-increase-performance-of-your-unity-game/

IOC containers in Unity3D – http://blog.sebaslab.com/ioc-container-for-unity3d-part-1/

Top 5 tips for Unity3D development ( must read ) – http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/JohnWarner/20130910/194559/The_top_5_things_Ive_learned_as_a_Unity_developer.php

) – http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/JohnWarner/20130910/194559/The_top_5_things_Ive_learned_as_a_Unity_developer.php A* the efficient way – http://unitygems.com/astar-1-journeys-start-single-step/

Create a responsive UI with Unity3D – http://blog.sergeymohov.com/fully-responsive-user-interface-with-unity-gui/

UNITY3D: IOS PERFORMANCE TIPS by @MVINetwork – http://www.kwalee.com/2012/11/23/unity-3d-ios-performance-tips/

Optimisation for Unity – crucial stuff – http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/AmirFassihi/20130828/199134/0__60_fps_in_14_days_What_we_learned_trying_to_optimize_our_game_using_Unity3D.php

On Hunting the Uncommon Elephant – http://blogs.unity3d.com/2014/04/22/on-hunting-the-uncommon-elephant/

Build process automation for Unity3D – http://www.justapixel.co.uk/pipeline-automation/

Focused article on mobile game optimisation in Unity – http://indiedevspot.azurewebsites.net/2014/03/12/optimizing-mobile-games-in-unity/

Platform specific

Lee Stott’s getting started on Windows Phone with Unity – http://bit.ly/18vM2rx

Deep dive: Tips & tricks for porting games from other platforms to Windows 8 – http://channel9.msdn.com/Events/Windows-Camp/Building-Windows-Games-with-Unity/Deep-dive-Tips-tricks-for-porting-games-from-other-platforms-to-Windows-8

End-to-End: Develop, debug and deploy a Unity game for the Windows Store – http://channel9.msdn.com/Events/Windows-Camp/Building-Windows-Games-with-Unity/End-to-End-Develop-debug-and-deploy-a-Unity-game-for-the-Windows-Store

Unity3D Custom Fog Shader on Windows Phone 8 – http://www.software7.com/blog/unity-custom-fog-shader-on-windows-phone-8/

Profiler tips for WIndows 8 – http://www.markermetro.com/2013/07/technical/using-the-unity-profiler-for-performance-profiling-windows-store-apps-in-unity-4-2/

Porting Tips and HowTo (plus code) for WP8 / Win8 – http://unity3d.com/pages/windows/porting

Great post from Lee Stott about starting with Unity on Windows Phone – http://blogs.msdn.com/b/uk_faculty_connection/archive/2013/09/11/getting-started-building-windows-phone-games-with-unity.aspx

Interesting series on tackling porting problems to Windows 8 for Unity – http://www.npruehs.de/tag/unity3d/

Animation and Mecanim

CGCookie breakout course on Mecanim – http://cgcookie.com/unity/cgc-courses/crash-course-breakout-mecanim/

Mecanim Animations walkthrough and more – http://blog.diabolicalgame.co.uk/2014/06/mecanim-animations.html (also check the rest of the blog for interesting Unity stuff)

Generic Tips and Tricks

50 Tips for working with Unity on DevMag – http://devmag.org.za/2012/07/12/50-tips-for-working-with-unity-best-practices/

Common pitfalls with Unity on UnityGems – http://unitygems.com/mistakes1/

Integrating Unity with WordPress – http://www.ana-todor.ro/integrating-unity-player-in-your-wordpress-blog/03/10/2012/

How to dig holes in terrain – http://www.blog.radiator.debacle.us/2012/08/how-to-dig-holes-in-unity3d-terrains.html

Adding AdMob to Unity – http://fastegggames.com/blog/2013/3/30/tutorial-admob

AdRotator support for Unity3D – http://getadrotator.com/new-beta-for-adrotator-v1-integration-for-unity3d/

how to create awesome terrains – http://www.bitsalive.com/how-to-create-awesome-terrains-in-unity/

Unity3D & SQLite – http://wiseman-safiq.blogspot.co.uk/2010/11/unity-3d-sqlite-database-connection.html

Creating destructables on GameDevTuts – http://gamedev.tutsplus.com/tutorials/implementation/how-to-make-an-object-shatter-into-smaller-fragments-in-unity/

Using Free MoCap data in Unity3D – http://alastaira.wordpress.com/2013/07/24/using-free-mocap-data-for-game-character-animation-in-unity/

Integration tips and tricks – http://sdkgame.com/blog/2013/9/9/our-favourite-unity-plugins

Unity reference search engine – https://www.google.com/cse/home?cx=001712401338047450041:csfhqk-trfa

Yet another Terrain tutorial – http://blogs.msdn.com/b/designmichel/archive/2012/09/24/the-3d-and-windows-8-unity-3d-4.aspx

Using Unity with GIT source control – http://grapefruitgames.com/2013/04/22/unitygitpt1/

Custom skydomes with Unity3D – http://rockandroald.net/wordpress/custom-skyboxes-and-cloud-domes-in-unity/

Fake baking shadows for Unity3D – http://laboratoriesx86.wordpress.com/2013/04/17/fake-baked-shadow/

Asset creation using MoDo, Substance and Unity3D – http://www.itsartmag.com/features/asset-creation-pipeline-using-modo-substance-and-unity/#.UoUNQ_lT5kG

Integrating Google Analytics with Unity3D – http://g3zarstudios.com/blog/google-analytics-in-unity/

HowTo: Showing gizmos, colliders and raycasts in play mode – http://imgur.com/ThYDmH8

Another Tips and tricks site with animated gifs – http://tequibo.com/unity3d-tips/

Massive collection of tips – regularly updated – http://unitytips.tumblr.com/

Unity tips, tricks and tutorials collections – http://unitylinks.blogspot.co.uk/

Unity3D Resumable Downloads – http://enva.to/1gATdIy

Importing models with textures from Blender to Unity – http://bit.ly/VY9cHP

Multiplayer tutorials

Online multiplayer by Paladin – http://www.paladinstudios.com/2013/07/10/how-to-create-an-online-multiplayer-game-with-unity/

Rocket5 studio’s 2 player 2D platformer tutorial – http://www.rocket5studios.com/tutorials/skillswap-making-a-2-player-2d-game-with-unity/

AppWarp and App42 integration – http://blogs.shephertz.com/2013/08/23/bridging-the-gap-plugin-for-unity-and-ios/

New Tanks multiplayer using the new native Unity networking – http://forum.unity3d.com/threads/multiplayer-networked-tanks-demo-q-a.356443/

Music and Audio

Managing music and audio with Unity3D – http://www.bitsalive.com/audio-manager/

Unity addons and engines

Futile 2D framework for Unity3D (pre 4.3 or for 3D scenes) – http://struct.ca/futile/

Cubiquity voxel (aka Minecraft) engine For Unity3D- http://www.volumesoffun.com/blog/

FFWD porting tool, create XNA games from Unity3D projects – https://github.com/fehaar/FFWD

FFWD porting tool, create XNA games from Unity3D projects – https://github.com/fehaar/FFWD UnityVS getting started – http://edrivengui.com/getting-started-with-unityvs/

Combining Pure Data with Unity3D – http://kylehalladay.com/all/blog/2013/11/10/Libpd-and-Unity.html

Multi-Platform tool kit with Unity3D – http://blogs.unity3d.com/2013/07/18/tutorial-multiplatform-toolkit-by-owlchemy-labs/

Cloud and backend systems

Using Cloud Services to make a Leaderboard for a Unity Game – http://blogs.msdn.com/b/uk_faculty_connection/archive/2014/04/01/using-cloud-services-to-make-a-leaderboard-for-a-unity-game.aspx

BitRave direct link from above post – http://www.bitrave.com/azure-mobile-services-for-unity-3d/

Awesome New Gaming backend platform with literally everything (based on Azure) – http://www.gamesparks.com/unity/

Help and forums

Unity3D’s main forum, the main go to for Q&A – http://forum.unity3d.com/forum.php

Unity3D students get help and get started resources – http://www.unity3dstudent.com/get-help/

Unity3D Tips – twitter save feed for #Unity3DTips hashtags – http://mvinetwork.co.uk/unity3dtips/

Unity Answers – Stack Overflow type forum – http://answers.unity3d.com/index.html

Unity developers forums – http://unity.freeforums.org/index.php

Unity official Wiki (Must see) – http://wiki.unity3d.com/index.php/Main_Page

Sample Projects

Departure – Unity3D Game – http://unpolishedcreations.com/2014/07/06/departure-unity3d-game/

Unity SHMUP template in JS and C# – http://davevoyles.azurewebsites.net/unity-shmup-template-js-c/

New TANKS sample Unity 5 game (also check the networked version) – http://forum.unity3d.com/threads/tanks-tutorial-q-a.356440/

The new UI system (uGUI)

Unity 3D UI Essentials (also by me) – https://darkgenesis.zenithmoon.com/portfolio/unity-3d-ui-essentials/

(Will add more shortly, got a host of links :D)

Resources

Forrest map pack free – http://www.mediafire.com/download/s0c3i77e1471aa9/Forest+Map.zip

Tons of free art – http://www.graphic-buffet.com/freebies/

Book on creating assets for Unity – http://www.monroyasesores.com.mx/manager/uploads/pdf/0240815637Creating3D.pdf

Huge collections of other links and tutorials – http://www.virtualgamelab.com/unity-resources.html

Other things to check

Minecraft in Unity3D, one week programming challenge – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdwUkYrHosk

Unity3D creative Magazine free issues – http://unity.freeforums.org/old-unity-creative-magazine-issues-for-free-t11.html

Satellite Reign – Animation Pipeline walkthrough – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRqrGl308JY

Interesting showroom of Unity Tech – http://www.passion47.com/our-work/unity-3d-show-room/

Creating a Machinima game trailer with Unity3D – http://gamasutra.com/blogs/PeterCardwellGardner/20140527/218604/Creating_a_Machinima_game_trailer_with_Unity.php

– http://gamasutra.com/blogs/PeterCardwellGardner/20140527/218604/Creating_a_Machinima_game_trailer_with_Unity.php Ton of Unity3D posts and tutorials on AltDevBlog – http://www.altdev.co/?s=unity3d

Interesting post about hidden features of unity3d 4.5 – http://t.co/8qbW7p2Ozd

4.5 – http://t.co/8qbW7p2Ozd A collection of Free tools / resources to help Unity devs – http://appgoodies.net/asset-reviews/top-free-unity-assets-every-developer-must-have/

On with the show

If you know of any other stella resources out there that will help out a new comer to Unity3D or a set of advanced tutorials and resources then be sure to comment below and I’ll add them in.

Like the other “Monster Set of Resources” post, I try to keep these up to date with new additions as I find them.

Party on.

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