Best Gaming Chair The world of gaming is changing quickly and drastically. Instead of sitting in front of your monitor and enjoying games on your own, more people want to share their progress with the rest of the world. This is made possible with the help of a gaming recording software. However, these programs can be quite expensive.
If you wish to create your own highlight reels or stream, then you will definitely need the best free gaming recording software out there. We’ve found a few great programs that you can use to your advantage.
Best Free Gaming Recording Software
The more free things you can take advantage of when it comes to gaming, the better. This includes the best free gaming recording software. With so many programs to choose from, finding the best one can be tough. Lucky for you, we’ve got that covered.
Below, you will find three of our favorite game recording software programs that you can take advantage of absolutely for free!
1. OBS Studio
What makes OBS Studio so impressive is that it offers high-quality recordings for nothing in return. You can easily capture your games or stream them with the help of its fantastic features. As it’s designed to be free, it has lacks advantages that other programs with free trials have.
Review
The key features of OBS Studio include:
- Endless Video Length
Unlike other free programs that put a restriction on the length of your screen captures, OBS Studio doesn’t. You can record videos as long as you’d like, which is ideal for people making YouTube videos.
- HD Capabilities
With this free program, you have the ability to record and stream in HD. You can also choose to stream directly to YouTube or Twitch.
- Impressive Recording Capabilities
OBS Studio works directly with your graphics card. This means that you won’t have to record games windowed; you can record them entirely full screen. It also gives you the ability to record them at 60FPS.
- Customizable Features
For the everyday gamer, you’ll appreciate the functionality of this program. OBS Studio allows you to create customized hotkeys, so you have full control of your recording during full screen.
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2. Debut Video Capture
If you’re someone looking for a free game recording program, then check out Debut Video Capture. This impressive game recording software features a relatively outdated user-interface, but it’s easy to use and boasts a lot of features.
Review
The most impressive features of Debut Video Capture include:
- Versatile Recording Options
Unlike other programs, Debut Video Capture doesn’t just capture your screen. In fact, you can use the program to capture external camera footage as well. This just means that you can also record your webcam.
- Ability to Set Recording Schedules
As another feature that you’d likely not see in other programs, this one allows you to set scheduled recordings. Although this might not be the most essential feature for gaming, it’s great for other uses, such as if you use Debut Video Capture for your home security system.
- Custom Watermark Integration
Instead of dealing with a shoddy program watermark, you can create your own. This is great for developing custom content for YouTube. Unfortunately, Debut Video Capture doesn’t have any post-editing tools. However, you can add captions, watermarks, and filters.
- Plenty of Format Options
You can save your videos in a variety of formats, including .AVI, .MOV, and .MP4.
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3. NVIDIA ShadowPlay
Every free gaming recording software list needs NVIDIA ShadowPlay on it. This is because it’s one of the most seamless and stress-free programs that you can get.
With that being said, you’ll need a GTX 650 (or better) graphics card to be able to use it. Then again, most gaming PCs and ultrabooks are equipped with the right hardware.
Review
The most notable features of NVIDIA ShadowPlay include:
- Instant Replay
The Instant Replay function is designed similarly to your DVR in that you can use a hotkey to save the last 30 seconds that you played. This will save the video file directly to your hard drive or upload it straight to YouTube or Facebook.
- Unlimited Recording
With NVIDIA ShadowPlay, you can record videos at any length. Its most impressive recording feature is that it records at up to 4K and 60FPS. Additionally, you won’t have to worry about any lagging, as the program is hardware-accelerated.
- Built-In Broadcasting
Another feature you’ll love is the built-in broadcasting. This function enables you to broadcast to Facebook Live, YouTube Live, and Twitch straight through the program. You can also take advantage of custom overlays and graphics to enhance your broadcast.
- .GIF Creation
Ideal for the creative-minded, NVIDIA ShadowPlay supports .GIF creation. You can create a 15-second .GIF from your favorite gameplay. You can also add any text to the video and upload it.
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Final Recommendation
Overall, we’d recommend NVIDIA ShadowPlay simply because it offers the most functionality. You’ll be able to broadcast directly to any platform, access customizable features, and easily manage your recorded content. The main problem with NVIDIA ShadowPlay is that you need specific graphics cards to get the program for free.
On the other end of the spectrum, we also like OBS Studio. The most notable thing about this program is that it works on any computer. It’s ideal because of its high definition streaming and recording for any length of time. Also, just like ShadowPlay, you can broadcast directly to the most popular platforms with ease.
Above all else, you can record on OBS Studio while on full screen. This really helps to transform the streaming and recording experience, as your game doesn’t need to be windowed.
If you’re interested in creating your own catalog of fantastic gameplay, all you need is the right recording software. However, it’s important to note that the majority of free programs are legal to use for personal and not commercial purposes. If you intend on making money off of your videos, you’ll need to invest in a for-profit program.
