The Best Gaming Recording Software

Gaming has become one of the biggest sources of entertainment for many people across the world. Since most games have secrets and a lot of tricks to learn, people are always looking for some kind of video tutorials. Gamers like you, therefore, record the games they are good at to help others learn or just for fun. But which software should you use to record your gameplay efficiently?

There is no shortage of free game recording tools out there. Before settling on one, it’s always important to consider factors such as the resolution, the period of time it records, commentary, streaming ability, and the impact on game performance. Considering these and other factors, we’ve compiled a list of five of the best freeware gaming recording tools to help you evaluate the best one for your needs.

Open Broadcaster Software

Open Broadcaster Software, also known as OBS, is a widely-used open-source solution for game recording and streaming. Originally created as a streaming tool, OBS can now broadcast game streams on popular platforms like Twitch, Hitbox, and YouTube. It supports FLV and MP4 formats, and leverages the computer's GPU to produce high-quality streaming. However, it has a steep learning curve and can be overwhelming for beginners who just want a simple game recording solution.

Pros:

1. Open-source and free to use
2. Supports various platforms for streaming
3. High-quality streaming using the computer's GPU
4. Offers advanced features and customization options
5. Allows recording from multiple sources simultaneously
6. Provides a wizard to help optimize recording or streaming setup
7. Supports multi-screen setup for gameplay and OBS monitoring

Cons:

1. Steep learning curve and may be difficult for beginners
2. Requires time and effort to master the software
3. May require additional plugins or configurations to work properly
4. Can be resource-intensive and may affect game performance
5. Some users have reported occasional stability issues
6. Technical support and assistance may be limited.

Nvidia ShadowPlay

Nvidia ShadowPlay is a free game recording software that provides an easy and effective way to capture full-screen or desktop gameplay video and screens, as well as simple streaming. ShadowPlay offers two recording modes: Shadow mode that runs in the background and records a user-set duration, and Manual mode that allows users to start and stop recording manually. ShadowPlay provides customizable options for video quality, activation, length, and audio, and it saves recorded videos directly to the user's computer. ShadowPlay allows users to add commentary while recording and supports output sharing and webcam overlay.

The software uses the GPU (Nvenc) for video encoding, which does not require much CPU power. ShadowPlay also includes a new feature called ShadowPlay Highlights, which automatically records the best highlights of a game. However, it is only compatible with Nvidia graphics cards and requires OpenGL to be enabled in the Preference setting for games that use it.

Pros:

1. Free to use with Nvidia graphics card
2. Easy to use and set up
3. Provides two recording modes and customizable options for video quality and audio
4. Uses GPU for video encoding, which does not require much CPU power
5. Allows users to add commentary while recording and supports output sharing and webcam overlay
6. Automatically records the best highlights of a game using ShadowPlay Highlights

Cons:

1. Only compatible with Nvidia graphics cards
2. Requires OpenGL to be enabled for some games
3. Lacks advanced features and customization options
4. May not work well with older or less powerful GPUs
5. Some users have reported occasional stability issues
6. Technical support and assistance may be limited.

AMD ReLive

AMD also offers its own game recording software (Radeon ReLive) for people with Radeon graphics cards. This software replaced the Raptr-powered AMD Evolved in 2016. ReLive allows you to record and stream videos, take screenshots, and capture highlights. It is located inside the Radeon Settings app, with its own tab front, and is usually disabled by default. To fire it up, open Crimson and enable ReLive under the settings section. You can also launch it by using the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Shift + R.

Pros:

1. Integrated into Radeon Settings app and easily accessible
2. Uses GPU for most of the encoding, saving CPU cycles for other programs
3. Offers comprehensive settings for output resolutions and streaming options
4. Allows you to set how far back the video goes, from 15 seconds to as far as 20 minutes

Cons:

1. Only available for AMD Radeon graphics card users
2. May not be as feature-rich as other game recording software
3. Requires enabling ReLive in settings to use it
4. May not work properly without proper configurations

MSI Afterburner

MSI Afterburner is not exactly a game recording tool. It is predominantly a graphics card overclocking tool which is popular with gaming enthusiasts. However, it offers uncompressed full-frame video recording. Therefore, if you already have the program, there’s no need to get a separate tool for video capturing. You can get the video capture by clicking on the settings icon then scroll to the Video capture tab. The program allows you to set your own hotkey to begin recording or set it to automatically start recording whenever you start a game.

Pros:

1. Offers uncompressed full-frame video recording
2. Minimal impact on game performance
3. Ideal for gamers with simple PCs who just want to record high-quality videos
4. Allows customization of audio and video quality, as well as the frame rate
5. Provides a wide selection of frame size options and codecs suitable for high-resolution screens

Cons:

1. Not a dedicated game recording tool
2. Large file sizes for recorded videos requiring a large SSD

Ezvid

Ezvid is an all-in-one game capture program with an inbuilt editor and slideshow maker. It has a user-friendly interface, making it easy to capture your gaming activity with quick keyboard shortcuts. It supports WMV output format, allows you to record long videos of up to 45 minutes, and offers features such as commentary and annotations. It does not put watermarks on recorded videos and allows recording from your microphone. However, files cannot be saved directly to your PC and must be uploaded to YouTube. Additionally, running the game in windowed mode may be necessary.

Pros:

1. User-friendly interface and easy to use
2. Quick keyboard shortcuts for easy recording
3. Supports WMV output format
4. Allows recording from your microphone
5. Does not put watermarks on recorded videos
6. Automatically pieces together multiple recordings in the recorder
7. Allows for clip deletion, splitting, and addition of images and other video clips

Cons:

1. Files cannot be saved directly to your PC and must be uploaded to YouTube
2. Running the game in windowed mode may be necessary

Conclusion

With this list, you're now fully equipped with the right tools to share your gaming skills with everyone. All the game recording programs mentioned above record at high quality and give you complete control over recording your games while playing. However, they might differ in ease of use and features available. They won't disappoint you with their performance.