Best 5 Game Recorder PC (Free & Low-End Tools)

In the dynamic world of PC gaming, recording and sharing your gameplay has become an integral part of the gaming experience. Whether you aim to showcase your achievements, create tutorials, or simply relive your most memorable moments, having a reliable gamer recorder for your PC is crucial. With many options available, each boasting unique features and capabilities, choosing the best game recorder tailored to your needs is essential. In this post, we will delve into the best game recorders for PC, exploring their strengths, suitability for various setups, and how they can elevate your gaming journey. So without any further discussion, let’s begin the review!

1 AnyMP4 Screen Recorder

AnyMP4 Screen Recorder is a flexible game screen recorder for PC that can effectively capture gaming footage on your computer screen. It is primarily designed to capture gameplay easily and provide the necessary tools to create high-quality recordings of your gaming sessions. It provides multiple recording modes, customizable settings, and support for various output formats, making it suitable for various recording needs.

Here’s how to record games on PC using AnyMP4 Screen Recorder:

1.Download and install AnyMP4 Screen Recorder. Then, launch it afterward.

2.Navigate to the Game Recorder tab.

3.Toggle the System Sound to record gameplay with system sound. If you want to make a gameplay tutorial, do not forget to turn on your microphone to capture your sound.

4.Switch to your game and click REC to begin recording games without lag.

5.Click the Stop button to complete the recording.

AnyMP4 Screen Recorder is a user-friendly and low-end PC tool for capturing and recording your screen activities, including gameplay. With it, you can effortlessly record high-quality gameplay in various formats.

2 Xbox Game Bar

Xbox Game Bar is a built-in game recorder in Windows 10 that offers gamers a convenient way to capture their gameplay, take screenshots, and interact with their gaming community. It’s specifically designed to make recording gaming content easy and accessible. Additionally, it allows you to capture shorter clips without recording entire gameplay sessions.

Here’s how to capture gameplay in Xbox Game Bar:

1.Press Windows key + G to open the Xbox Game Bar.

2.Click Capture to start recording.

3.Manage recording using overlay.

4.Stop recording with an overlay or Windows key + G.

5.Save the recording at the prompt.

Xbox Game Bar is a convenient and user-friendly option for recording gaming on Windows 10. However, Xbox Game Bar currently doesn’t support recording audio from external sources like microphones, which might be limiting for some users.

3 OBS

OBS is the best free game recording software for low-end PCs. It is known for its capabilities in live streaming and screen recording. Gamers and content creators use it to capture gaming sessions, create tutorials, and stream their gameplay to various platforms. In addition, it allows you to set up different scenes with various sources.

Here’s how to record gameplay in OBS:

1.Click + to create a new scene and name it.

2.Add the Game Capture source, and choose the game.

3.Add Audio Input and Audio Output sources.

4.Click Start Recording in the main window.

5.Click Stop Recording to end the recording.

Due to its customizability, OBS Studio is a robust choice for recording gameplay on PC. However, it requires some learning to use effectively and might impact system performance on lower-end PCs.

4 Fraps

Fraps is a classic low-impact Windows game recorder and benchmarking software used for capturing gameplay footage, especially by gamers and content creators. It lets you capture your game footage directly, ensuring that your recordings focus on gameplay. Additionally, Fraps can display the real-time frame rate in the corner of your screen during gameplay.

1.Open Fraps and configure the settings.

2.Once Fraps is active, start your game as you normally would.

3.In-game, press hotkey (default: F9) to start recording.

4.Press the hotkey again to stop; the video is saved to the specified folder.

Fraps is useful if you’re looking for a simple tool primarily focused on recording gameplay. However, its development has slowed, and newer alternatives with more features and optimizations have emerged.

5 Bandicam

Bandicam is a screen recording and PC game recording software known for its high-quality recording capabilities. It’s often used to capture gameplay footage, record tutorials, and create video content. It lets you capture your game window directly, ensuring that your recording focuses solely on the gameplay.

Here’s how to record gameplay in Bandicam:

1.Configure recording settings.

2.Click Record to start recording.

3.Play the game for capture.

4.Click Stop or use hotkeys to end.

Bandicam is a solid choice for recording gaming sessions due to its high-quality recording capabilities. However, the limitations of the free version should be considered when making a decision.

Part 6. How to Choose the Best Game Recording Software

Performance impact (minimal lag): The software should use hardware acceleration (GPU) to minimize the FPS drop in your game. Low CPU/GPU usage is essential for smooth gameplay while recording.

Video Resolution & frame rate: Ensures your footage is crisp and fluid, matching the quality of your gameplay.

Audio capture: Allows you to separately control and edit your voice and game sounds.

Editing & post-production tools: Saves time by allowing you to make quick cuts, add overlays, or trim clips right within the application.

Instant replay/highlight capture: Lets you save the last 30 seconds to several minutes of gameplay with a single hotkey, so you don't miss epic moments.

To choose the best game recording software from the top five, we test their performance impact and resulting quality side-by-side using standardized settings.

First, establish a baseline FPS in a demanding game without any recording, then use each of the five programs to record a short clip using the same settings (like 1080p, 60 FPS, and hardware encoding), and track the difference in your in-game FPS; the tool causing the lowest FPS drop is the winner for performance. Finally, compare the resulting video files for visual clarity, audio synchronization, and file size efficiency, ultimately selecting the one that offers the best balance of minimal performance impact and high-quality output on your specific hardware.

Conclusion

As we draw the curtains on our journey through the realm of the best game recorders for PC, it becomes clear that the gaming world has transformed its core mechanics. One name shines brightly among the stars; AnyMP4 Screen Recorder. With it, you’re not just recording gameplay but crafting a narrative, a legacy of your gaming prowess. What are you waiting for? Elevate your gaming story with AnyMP4 Screen Recorder, where every victory becomes a tale worth sharing.