Game Design: Game Engine Overview (Introduction to Game Design) by Ortus Publishing

Do you want to build your own game? Are you just interested in what goes into developing a game? Are you looking for the ultimate guide on game engines? A guide that will walk you through what game engines are, how to choose the right one and a look at some of the top engines in use today? Then you have come to the right place.
What you will learn here is the fundamental knowledge that you need to get started on using a game engine. You will learn:

What a game engine is
Why most developers opt for third-party engines and not in-house
How to choose an engine

You will also learn about the most popular game engines in use today, some of the top games made on those engines and what their pros and cons are, including:
Unity game engine
Unreal game engine
Game Maker engine
Cocos2D engine
Corona engine

Even if you opt not to use one of these engines, you will know what to look for when you do your own research.