Quick Answer:
The best way to record gameplay on PC varies according to your needs. There are some of the best game recorders you can try: Xbox Game Bar, GeForce Experience, OBS Studio, Bandicam, and SurFlex Screen Recorder.
Although there are many ways available for recording game videos, not all of them are equally effective. If you are wondering, “What is the best way to record gameplay on PC?” this guide is for you. Here, I would like to present the four best ways to record gameplay on PC in various situations. Choose the most suitable method based on your preferences and use it to effortlessly capture game clips on your computer without any hassle.
Table of contents
Best Way to Record Gameplay on PC Directly
Tool: Xbox Game Bar
If you are going to clip gameplay on a PC that runs Windows 10 or later, the optimal choice to record gameplay on your computer is to use the built-in game recorder, Xbox Game Bar.
It helps to record gaming videos at 30 or 60 fps and in standard or high quality. During the game recording, it can capture audio as well, including system sound, game audio, microphone, and more. Whether you want to record Minecraft, LOL, or other computer games, you can use Xbox Game Bar recording to capture your desired content.
What’s more, Xbox Game Bar is capable of recording past gameplay on PC, helping you capture highlights during the gameplay with ease. If you want to record the last 30 seconds, 1 minute, or more, enable Background Recording in Xbox Game Bar settings and then use Windows-Alt-R to clip gameplay when you need to.
However, it can’t record screen and webcam at the same time. That means you can’t record yourself playing a game with Xbox Game Bar. If that’s what you want, read on to use one of the other tips.
To record gameplay on PC:
Step 1. Click Start > Settings > Gaming > Captures to finish the recording settings.
Step 2. Go to Xbox Game Bar (Windows + R) > Settings > Widget to select the audio recording option.
Step 3. When you are in the game, press Windows + Alt + R to start recording a gaming video immediately.
Step 4. To end the recording, press Windows + Alt + R again.
Step 5. Go to Xbox Game Bar > Gallery to check the recorded gameplay.
Best Way to Record Gameplay on PC in 1080p
Tool: GeForce Experience
To record gameplay on PC in 1080p or high resolutions, using GeForce Experience will fulfill your needs well. It provides you with excellent gameplay recording features and enables you to record gameplay in 8K, 4K, and more. If you want to create high-quality gaming videos, using GeForce Experience is a highly recommended choice.
Similar to Xbox Game Bar, this app can also record past gameplay on PC via its Instant Replay feature. You can enable this option via Settings and set the target recording period. Besides, it can capture highlights automatically via proper settings. Moreover, it can capture a webcam during the game recording, allowing you to record yourself playing a game with ease. In short, GeForce Experience is one of the best game recorders available.
However, GeForce Experience is only preinstalled on computers that use GeForce GPUs. You can check its system requirements first before you use it.
To record a game video on PC in 1080p:
Step 1. Open GeForce Experience and sign in.
Step 2. Click Settings to enable in-game overlay.
Step 3. When you are playing a game, press Alt + Z to open the GeForce Experience overlay.
Step 4. Click Settings > Video Capture to select 1080p as the target resolution and then customize other recording settings.
Step 5. When you are ready to capture gameplay, click Record > Start or press Alt + F9.
Step 6. Once completed, press Alt + F9 again to end and save the recording to your PC.
Step 7. Check the game video by going to GeForce Experience > Gallery.
Best Way to Record Game Clips on PC for Free
Tool: OBS Studio
In addition to built-in game recorders, there are third-party screen recorders available for you to record gameplay on PC in Windows 11, 10, 8, and more for free. One of them is OBS Studio. It is freeware for screen recording and live streaming. With its screen recording features, you will be able to capture any video or audio source on your PC, including games. Whether you want to record gameplay only or record yourself while playing a game, it will get it done for you. If you are interested in this method, you can check this guide: how to use OBS to record gameplay.
To record a game with OBS Studio:
Step 1. Download and install OBS Studio on your PC.
Step 2. Launch OBS Studio and go to File > Settings > Output to select the output options.
Step 3. Head to the Sources panel and click the plus icon to add the recording sources you need, such as Game Capture and Audio Output Capture.
Step 4. Make sure the game window is selected and click Start Recording.
Step 5. Once the recording is completed, click Stop Recording in OBS.
Step 6. Go to File > Show Recordings to check the gameplay.
Optimal Choice to Record Gameplay with No Lag
Tool: Bandicam
As a professional game recorder, Bandicam can record game videos up to 4K UHD and in 480 FPS. It also provides convenient access for you to share your gameplay on YouTube. If you are going to record gaming videos for YouTube, it’s advisable to try Bandicam.
To record a game with no lag using Bandicam:
Step 1. Download and install Bandicam on your PC.
Step 2. Open Bandicam and select the Game Recording Mode.
Step 3. Click the game window to select it as the recording area.
Step 4. Set the audio recording and webcam recording options according to your needs.
Step 5. Once ready, press F12 on your keyboard to start recording gameplay.
Step 6. Once done, press F12 again and go to the Videos section to check the game clip.
Easiest Way to Record Game on PC
Tool: SurFlex Screen Recorder
If you want an easy way for game recording on your computer, SurFlex Screen Recorder is worth trying. It can record 4K videos in its original quality and allows you to customize the video format, video quality, and more. It offers a simple solution to record anything on your computer. Whether you are looking to capture gameplay or other on-screen activities, you can use SurFlex Screen Recorder to help.
Besides, it has an online free screen recorder for you to record videos on a PC or Mac via Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge for free. It won’t add any watermark or impose a time limit on your recordings. If you need to screen record on Windows or Mac often, don’t hesitate to give it a try.
To record a game clip on PC:
Step 1. Launch the screen recorder and click Settings.
Step 2. Set up the output settings and then click OK.
Step 3. Enable audio recording and select the audio recording option you need. Then choose to record the full screen or a selected region.
Step 4. Select the game window and then click REC. The recording will start after five seconds (you can change it in Settings).
Step 5. After you record gameplay on your PC, click Stop in the Controls bar and then check the game video in the recording list.
Wrapping Up
Depending on your needs, the best way to record gameplay on a PC varies. Specify your needs and pick up the most suitable way to record gaming videos on your computer. Among them, OBS Studio, Bandicam, and SurFlex Screen Recorder are also helpful in other screen recording situations. If you need to record videos and audio on your computer often, use any of them to capture your desired content.