How to Record Gameplay on PC in 5 Ways

Quick Answer:
You can record gameplay on your PC with the built-in Xbox Game Bar or NVIDIA ShadowPlay in GeForce Experience (for GeForce graphics card only), or using a third-party game recorder like SurFlex Screen Recorder, Camtasia, or Bandicam. All these tools will help record game clips on PC.

Recording gameplay on PC is a common requirement for avid gamers who want to share their peak performances or funny moments with others on platforms like YouTube, Twitch, and more. Fortunately, with the assistance of built-in and third-party screen recorders for Windows, it is relatively easy to record game on PC. If this is what you are looking for, refer to this guide to learn how to record gameplay on PC using six proven methods.

Best Way to Record Gameplay on PC: Xbox Game Bar

The best way to record gameplay on a PC running Windows 10 or later is undoubtedly by using Xbox Game Bar, the built-in screen recorder for Windows 10. As the name suggests, it is primarily designed for game recording. It not only allows you to record real-time gameplay but also enables you to capture past game clips using its background recording feature. This means that you can record the last 30 seconds or other periods on your PC with the help of Xbox Game Bar recording.

While recording a game on your computer with Xbox Game Bar, you can also capture audio from your system, the game, and your microphone, making it easy for you to capture gameplay with audio.

If you are willing to record video game footage using this app, it is advisable to follow these steps to adjust the recording settings before starting: Go to Start > Settings > Gaming > Captures. Here, you can configure settings such as video quality, maximum recording length, and more. Additionally, you can access the audio settings by going to Xbox Game Bar (Windows + G) > Settings > Widgets and selecting audio to record. After configuring the settings, you can easily proceed to record game clips on your PC by following the steps below.

To record gameplay on PC with Xbox Game Bar:

Step 1. Make sure the game window is currently focused.

Step 2. Press Windows-Alt-R to start recording the game video from now on.

Step 3. When you are done with the recording, press Windows-Alt-R again or click the Stop button in the control bar.

Step 4. Click the Game clip recorded message to check the video or go to Xbox Game Bar > Widgets Menu > Gallery to check the game video.

To record past gameplay on PC with Xbox Game Bar:

Step 1. Click the Start menu to head to Settings > Gaming > Captures.

Step 2. Toggle on Background recording and select to record the last 15 seconds, 30 seconds, or another option, according to your needs.

Step 3. When you are in the game, press Windows-Alt-G to record a game clip.

Step 4. Go to Xbox Game Bar > Gallery to check the gameplay.

Xbox Game Bar is a good choice when you need to record Fortnite or other games on your PC.

Record Gameplay on PC in High Quality

Tool: NVIDIA ShadowPlay

If your computer is equipped with an NVIDIA GeForce series GPU, it provides you with a built-in game recording software called ShadowPlay, which can be accessed through the preinstalled GeForce Experience software. NVIDIA ShadowPlay is designed to record and capture your greatest gaming moments in high quality, supporting resolutions of up to 8K HDR at 30 frames per second or up to 4K HDR at 60 frames per second. If you happen to use a GeForce graphics card, you can utilize this native gameplay recorder to capture high-quality game footage on your computer.

To record game on PC with ShadowPlay:

Step 1. Make sure you have GeForce Experience installed on your PC.

Step 2. When you are in-game, press Alt + Z to open the GeForce Experience overlay.

Step 3. Click Record to start recording a game video.

Step 4. Once the gameplay recording is done, end the recording and go to Gallery in GeForce Experience to check the game clip.

Note: ShadowPlay, similar to Xbox Game Bar, is also helpful for recording what happened on your PC, which can be done with the Instant Replay feature.

Record Yourself Playing Video Games

Tool: SurFlex Screen Recorder

As mentioned earlier, there are also third-party screen recorders that can fulfill your needs for recording games. Depending on your specific needs, the most suitable way for you varies. If you want a lightweight game video capture tool, you can choose to use SurFlex Screen Recorder, an easy and flexible gameplay recorder for both Windows and Mac.

Whether you want to record a game only or record yourself playing video games, SurFlex Screen Recorder will serve you well. It provides different screen recording modes for you to capture anything on your screen and offers rich customizable options for you to create videos in your preferred format or quality.

To record yourself playing video games:

Step 1. Launch the screen recorder on your computer and click Settings to customize the output settings.

Step 2. Select System Sound and Microphone as the audio recording option.

Step 3. To record yourself playing a game, enable Webcam recording and select the camera you’d like to use.

Step 4. Select the game window you’d like to capture and adjust the size and position of the webcam. When you are ready, click REC to start recording yourself playing a game.

Step 5. When you are done, click Stop and then go to the recording list to check the gameplay.

Record Gaming Videos for YouTube

Tool: Camtasia

If you are wondering how to record video games for YouTube, I would recommend using Camtasia as a great solution. Camtasia is a professional-level screen recorder and video editor. Once you capture your gameplay, you can utilize its video editing features to enhance and refine the video before publishing it on YouTube. Therefore, if you are planning to record gaming videos for YouTube, Camtasia would be a better fit for your needs.

To record gameplay for YouTube:

Step 1. Download and install Camtasia on your computer.

Step 2. Launch the screen recorder and sign in.

Step 3. Click New Recording.

Step 4. Select the target screen or window, enable webcam recording if needed, and select the audio recording options.

Step 5. When you are ready, click REC to start recording a video game.

Step 6. When necessary, press F10 to end the recording.

Step 7. Edit the gameplay and click Export > YouTube to share your gameplay to YouTube.

Clip Gameplay on PC While Showing FPS

Tool: Bandicam

As one of the best game recorders, Bandicam enables you to record various 2D and 3D games up to 4K in quality. It has an exclusive game recording mode that helps you to record gameplay on PC without lag. Bandicam has rich screen recording features for you to record screen, webcam, and more on your computer with audio. Besides, it provides advanced features to enhance your gameplay recording, such as mouse effects, real-time drawing, and more. If you want to record high-quality game footage, using this app will be helpful.

To clip gameplay on PC:

Step 1. Download and install Bandicam on your computer.

Step 2. Open Bandicam and click the Game Recording Mode.

Step 3. Select the game window and set up the webcam and audio according to your preferences.

Step 4. Click Start Recording to start capturing the gameplay.

Step 5. When you are finished with the recording, click Stop Recording or F12 to end the recording.

Step 6. Check the video in the Videos section.

Wrapping Up

Now that you are aware of how to record gameplay on PC in Windows 10, Windows 11, or earlier versions, let’s summarize the options. Utilizing a native game recorder such as Xbox Game Bar or Camtasia is the simplest and most convenient choice. However, if you desire additional functionalities and capabilities for your gameplay recording, employing a third-party tool like Camtasia will better fulfill your needs.