Quick Answer:
You can record gameplay with OBS Studio to effortlessly capture game clips only, record yourself playing a game, or record past gameplay.
When you are looking to record gameplay on your PC or Mac, you may consider using OBS Studio to capture game videos. OBS Studio is a free, open-source, and cross-platform tool for screen recording and live streaming, enabling you to record games for free on your computer. If you want to learn how to record gameplay with OBS, continue reading, and you will discover how to do it with just a few simple clicks.
Table of contents
How to Record Gameplay with OBS
OBS Studio has rich screen recording features and allows you to capture any on-screen activities on your computer. When it comes you game recording, it provides you with a Game Capture source so that you can record game videos in high quality. Besides, you can also record game audio during the gameplay recording. Now follow the steps below to learn how to use OBS to record gameplay on your computer.
To record gameplay with OBS:
Step 1. Download and install OBS Studio on your computer.
Step 2. Launch OBS Studio and then go to File > Settings.
Step 3. Click Output to set up the output settings.
Step 4. Go back to the main interface and head to the Sources panel.
Step 5. Click the plus icon and choose Game Capture.
Step 6. Name the source and click OK.
Step 7. In the new window, choose Capture specific window, select the game window, and then click OK.
Step 8. Click the plus icon in Sources to add Audio Output Capture so that you can record the game audio as well.
Step 9. Go to the Audio Mixer panel to adjust the audio volume.
Step 10. Click Start Recording to start recording gameplay with OBS.
Step 11. When you are done, click Stop Recording and go to File > Show Recordings to check the gameplay.
How to Record Yourself Playing a Game with OBS
OBS Studio also allows you to record yourself playing a game. You can add a webcam overlay to the gameplay recording and then record your screen and the webcam at the same time. If that’s what you want, follow the steps below:
Step 1. Launch OBS Studio on your computer.
Step 2. Go to the Sources panel to add these recording sources: Game Capture (or Window/Display Capture), Video Capture Device (your webcam), Audio Input Capture (your microphone), and Audio Output Capture (your speakers).
Step 3. Adjust the audio volume in the Audio Mixer panel and adjust the size and position of the webcam overlay.
Step 4. Click Start Recording to start recording yourself playing a game.
Step 5. When you are done, click Stop Recording and go to File > Show Recordings to check the game video.
How to Record Past Gameplay on PC with OBS
In addition to capturing real-time game videos, OBS Studio enables you to record past gameplay on your computer via its Replay Buffer feature. Via proper settings, you can clip with OBS to record what happened on your PC, which allows you to record the last 30 seconds, 1 minute, or more on your computer.
To record past gameplay on PC with OBS:
Step 1. Head to OBS Studio > File > Settings > Output and enable Replay Buffer.
Step 2. Set the Maximum Replay Time according to your needs and set the Maximum memory limit you prefer.
Step 3. Click Apply to save the settings.
Step 4. Go to the Sources panel to add the recording sources you need.
Step 5. Click Start Replay Buffer to start buffering replays on your computer.
Step 6. When you need to record a recent moment, click the Save Replay button in the Controls panel.
Step 7. Go to C:\Users\admin\Videos to check the game clip.
Wrapping Up
Whether you aim to record a game video, capture yourself playing a game, or record past gameplay on your computer, OBS Studio can fulfill these requirements. However, it’s important to note that using OBS requires manual configuration for recording. For a simpler solution to record gameplay on your PC or Mac, it is advisable to try SurFlex Screen Recorder, a lightweight video recorder. With just a few simple clicks, SurFlex Screen Recorder enables you to effortlessly record a variety of games. You can then upload the gameplay footage to YouTube for sharing purposes.