Best Game Recording Software for Streamers [Update 2023]

PC gaming remains a popular choice for gamers, providing a diverse range of game genres to explore, including online games, FPS, and strategy titles. Sharing your gameplay on platforms like YouTube can generate excitement among your audience and even inspire them to try the game. To capture and record your gameplay, we recommend the following 5 best game recording software.

1. Open Broadcaster Software (OBS)

OBS, or Open Broadcaster Software, is a highly versatile and open-source tool that stands out among the competition. It is widely favored by gamers due to its flexibility and the fact that it is free to use. Whether you want to record your gameplay or stream it live, OBS is the go-to solution. With OBS, you can start recording by simply selecting the source you wish to capture without the need for complex settings.

While there is a learning curve to using OBS, you can become proficient with practice. The software supports recording in MP4 and FLV formats, utilizing your PC’s GPU for high-quality streaming. It records at a 1:1 ratio, matching your display’s resolution. In addition to its core recording and saving features, OBS offers various other tools ideal for creating video tutorials, such as Picture-in-Picture mode, Custom Watermarks, and Push-to-Talk mode.

Pros:

• Free and open-source
• Cross-platform support
• Wide range of plugins to enhance the user experience
• Compatible with most live streaming platforms
• Strong community support

Cons:

• Steep learning curve
• User interface may not be the most beginner-friendly

Compatibility: Windows 11, 10, 8.1, 8, and 7; macOS (10.15 and newer); Linux (Ubuntu 20.04 and newer)

Pricing: Free

2. Streamlabs OBS

If you’re new to game recording and find OBS’s interface overwhelming, Streamlabs OBS is a fantastic alternative to consider. Streamlabs OBS is a video recording and streaming platform designed to simplify the user interface of OBS, particularly for beginners. The software is user-friendly and comes packed with integrated features that facilitate game recording and streaming.

As Streamlabs OBS integrates with your Streamlabs account, you can easily import tools from the company’s website, eliminating the need for manual URL copying and pasting. While boasting many of the same features as the original OBS, Streamlabs OBS offers a streamlined interface, resembling a customized version of OBS.

Pros:

• Free to use
• Offers a variety of plugins to enhance the user experience
• Easy setup process
• Cloud-based storage for resources and settings

Cons:

• More prone to crashing when using multiple add-ons
• Fewer encoding options compared to OBS
• Multistream functionality only available in premium version

Compatibility: Windows 10, 8.1, 8, and 7

Pricing: Free, $19/month

3. Nvidia Shadowplay

If you possess an Nvidia GPU, you may have encountered prompts to install GeForce Experience. Besides updating Nvidia drivers, GeForce Experience also includes Nvidia’s Shadowplay tool, which simplifies game recording. One notable advantage of ShadowPlay is its utilization of the GPU (Nvenc) for video encoding, significantly reducing CPU load.

ShadowPlay allows you to record games at the same resolution as your display. Therefore, if you have a 4K panel, your recordings will also be captured in 4K. If you own an Nvidia GPU, trying out the GeForce Experience software is highly recommended. It is free of charge and generally performs well for basic gameplay recording.

Pros:

• Free to use
• Simple and straightforward operation
• GPU-based encoding

Cons:

• Limited to Nvidia GPUs
• Fewer features compared to other software on the list

Compatibility: Windows 10, 8.1, 8, and 7

Pricing: Free

4. Bandicam

Bandicam is a well-known screen recording software that has gained popularity for its versatility. While primarily positioned as a screen recorder for Windows, Bandicam excels as a game recording software as well. It offers exceptional recording capabilities, allowing you to capture videos at high bitrates and frames. With customizable frame rates and support for recording in 4K Ultra HD resolution, Bandicam ensures high-quality recordings.

One notable feature of Bandicam is its built-in compression technology, which maintains video quality while producing smaller file sizes. This makes it convenient to store and share your recordings. Additionally, Bandicam offers two capture modes, allowing you to adjust the recording settings for gaming or other PC activities. You can also resize the capture area to focus on specific regions of the screen.

Pros:

• Two capture modes for different recording scenarios
• Ability to resize the capture area
• Supports numerous codecs and formats
• Built-in compression feature for smaller file sizes

Cons:

• Relatively high cost
• Videos may experience occasional lag issues

Compatibility: Windows 10, 8.1, 8, 7, and Vista

Pricing: Free Trial, $33.26/year for 1 license

5. Gamecaster

Gamecaster is a user-friendly yet powerful recording tool that offers an array of features. Beyond live streaming, this software is ideal for high-quality gameplay recording. With a single button press, you can initiate recording, and Gamecaster will automatically configure the settings based on your PC.

One of its standout features is the ability to utilize picture-in-picture mode, watermarks, video annotations, and social media integration. Gamecaster also includes a built-in video editor, allowing you to edit your recordings effortlessly. Additionally, you can manage all your recorded videos and easily share them with others. The Gamecast Remote functionality enables you to control your gaming session livestream using your smartphone. It is undoubtedly one of the best game recording software options for Windows 10 and Windows 11.

Pros:

• Free software with comprehensive features
• Intuitive and clean user interface
• Option to record locally or stream to popular platforms with one click
• Partner integrations

Cons:

• Highlight feature not available
• Not suitable for advanced users

Compatibility: Windows 10

Pricing: Free

Bonus: Eklipse

After playing games for hours, you probably won’t immediately share the recording results on a video platform. You would most likely select the best parts only, so that viewers won’t get too bored watching a video for hours.

Trimming the video into several parts definitely takes time, especially if you have a busy streaming schedule. Well, that problem can be solved by using Eklipse as video clipper software.

Eklipse is a smart tool that can help you make the best parts of your Twitch, YouTube, or Facebook gaming streams into exciting highlights. It uses artificial intelligence (AI) to automatically identify the most interesting moments, like funny or thrilling experiences in the game. These highlights can then be easily transformed into engaging content for platforms such as TikTok, Reels, and YouTube shorts. With Eklipse, you can create more captivating content for your preferred social media platforms, while still being able to focus on your streaming activities.

Visit Eklipse.gg to learn more and sign up now to start growing your channel.

Conclusion

Various game recording software options provide different levels of control, quality, features, and ease of use. Some are simple and excellent for beginners, while others are more suitable for professionals who aim to stream and create video game tutorials. You can choose the one that suits your needs, and you’re ready to go!