The use of virtual laboratories (VLs) in teaching/learning is increasing in the last decade. As each virtual tool, these educational resources must be constantly updated in order not to become obsolete and, so, to keep student motivation. Thus, an up-to-date and sophisticated virtual 3D environment-fitted as a serious game-is presented in this paper, which shows the operation of a universal testing machine in an interactive way. This 3D-VL motivates students to study the mechanical characterization of materials. According to survey results, students demand not only the combined use of both real and virtual laboratories for their experimental classes, but also they request virtual environments designed in 3D. Thus, 3D interactive VLs become really attractive for teaching, since their use is highly encouraging.