1. Can I record gameplay on PC without losing quality?

Yes, you can. Nvidia ShadowPlay can record games without losing FPS. It also supports hardware acceleration technology and lets you share your gameplay on various platforms. However, if you can’t use Nvidia ShadowPlay for some reason, the 4Easysoft Screen Recorder is your best alternative.

2. Why does my gameplay recording keeps lagging?

You need to remember that screen recording is a CPU-exhaustive process. In this case, lag issues may occur during the recording process, especially if other applications or programs run in the background while you are recording.

3. What Frame rate should I use to record high-quality gameplay on PC?

The best frame rate is 60 fps. The game recorder you will use should offer or possess the ability to record any gameplay with 60 fps without comprising the smoothness recording and quality drop.

4Easysoft Screen Recorder

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Best Software to Record Gameplay on PC Without Lag

Posted by Ethan Brooke to Record Gameplay Apr 17, 2026

Wondering how to record gameplay on PC to capture your wonderful gaming moments? With so many gameplay recorders available, it can be difficult to decide which one to choose. In this guide, we'll introduce 4 popular tools: 4Easysoft Screen Recorder, Xbox Game Bar, OBS Studio, and NVIDIA ShadowPlay. Read on to find the best gameplay recorder for your needs!

Guide List

Part 1: Best Software to Record Gameplay on PC in High Quality Part 2: How to Record Gameplay on PC with Xbox Game Bar Part 3: How to Record Gameplay on PC with OBS Studio Part 4: How to Record Gameplay on PC with NVIDIA ShadowPlay Part 5: Comparison: Which Gameplay Recording Software Should You Choose?

Part 1: Best Software to Record Gameplay on PC in High Quality

If you want an all-in-one tool to record gameplay on PC without lag, 4Easysoft Screen Recorder is your ultimate choice. It allows you to record gameplay, window, webcam, phone calls, and all on-screen activities on Windows and macOS. You can adjust the recording settings as you like, up to HD/4K quality and 60 FPS.

Pros: Deliver high-quality recordings up to 4K at 60 FPS.; Support real-time drawing to add annotations while recording.; Provide various output formats with built-in converting/editing tools.; Improve audio quality with noise cancellation and microphone enhancement.

Cons: Does not support streaming to other platforms.; The free version has some limitations.; Provides fewer advanced design options.

Steps to record gameplay on PC with 4Easysoft Screen Recorder:

Step 1Download this software and launch it on your computer.

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Choose "Game Recorder" in the top left corner.

Step 2Open your game; the recorder will automatically detect it. Click the "Select Game" button and choose the gameplay. Turn on "Webcam" and "Microphone" if you want to record overlays and sound.

Step 3Click "Preferences" to set the frame rate and quality. Choose "60 FPS" and "Lossless Quality" for high-quality recordings, then click "OK" to save the settings.

Step 4Click the "REC" button to start recording the gameplay.

Step 5When finished, click the "Stop" button. Preview or edit the recording before saving by clicking the "Save" button.

Part 2: How to Record Gameplay on PC with Xbox Game Bar

For gamers who want a quick and simple way to record gameplay on a Windows PC, Xbox Game Bar is a convenient option. Xbox Game Bar is a built-in overlay in Windows for capturing videos and screenshots while playing PC games. It is compatible with a wide range of games and supports recording in full-screen and windowed modes.

Pros: Built into Windows 10/11, no download required.; Completely free and very easy to use for all Windows users.; Offer basic editing tools, such as trimming and adding transitions.; Allow you to monitor CPU performance while recording.

Cons: Can't record gameplay with webcam.; The recording quality may not be crisp.; Few advanced recording settings.

Steps to record gameplay on PC with Xbox Game Bar:

Step 1Open "Start Menu", type "Xbox" in the search box, or use the keyboard shortcut "Windows + G" to open the Xbox Game Bar.

Step 2Click the red "Start Recording" button, or press "Windows + Alt + R" to begin recording.

Step 3You can take screenshots by hitting the second "Camera" button.

Step 4If finished, press "Windows + G" to bring up the Game Bar, and click the red "Stop Recording" button. The recording will be stored in a local folder.

Part 3: How to Record Gameplay on PC with OBS Studio

Open Broadcaster Software is a free and open-source program for video recording and live streaming. It can capture full screen, a selected area, and your webcam while recording Xbox gameplay on Windows, macOS, or Linux. OBS Studio provides powerful and flexible recording settings, allowing users to customize their recordings with scenes, overlays, and plugins. Its built-in audio mixer also helps capture clear and high-quality sound during recording.

Pros: Free and open-source recording software.; Provide advanced recording settings, plugins, scenes, and overlays.; Supports streaming to platforms like Twitch, YouTube, Facebook, and more.; Features a powerful audio mixer and studio mode for better control.

Cons: The interface may feel complicated for beginners.; There may be a steep learning curve for new users.; It may consume significant CPU resources while running.

Steps to record gameplay on PC with OBS Studio:

Step 1Download and install the latest version of OBS from the official website.

Step 2 Click the "+ (Add)" button under "Scenes" to create a new scene and give it a name.

Step 3In the "Sources" panel, click the "+ (Add)" button and choose "Game Capture." Create a new source and select the game you want to record.

Step 4Go to "Settings" > "Audio" to ensure that the microphone and system audio are turned on. Check other OBS recording settings if needed.

Step 5Open the game and click "Start Recording" in the "Controls" panel to begin capturing gameplay. When you finish, click "Stop Recording."

Tips

For beginners, it's recommended to use the "Simple" mode in "Output Settings" and choose the "High Quality", "Medium File Size" preset for translation. This option offers a good balance between output quality and file size.

Part 4: How to Record Gameplay on PC with NVIDIA ShadowPlay

ShadowPlay is a live streaming and recording tool developed by NVIDIA. It allows users to record gameplay on PC in up to 4K resolution at 60 FPS. With GPU hardware acceleration, ShadowPlay has less impact on CPU performance compared with many other software. What's more, the Instant Replay feature lets you save specific highlights from your stream.

Pros: Easy to use and completely free for NVIDIA GeForce users.; Supports high-quality recording up to 4K at 60 FPS.; Smooth recording performance with GPU hardware encoding.; Instant Replay feature to capture the last 20 minutes of gameplay.

Cons: Only works with NVIDIA graphics cards.; Only works with GeForce Experience.; Lack built-in video editing tools.; Requires an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 600 series graphics card or newer.

Steps to record gameplay on PC with NVIDIA ShadowPlay:

Step 1Install and open "NVIDIA GeForce Experience" on your PC.

Step 2Press "Alt + Z" to open the ShadowPlay overlay.

Step 3Click "Record" > "Settings" > "Video Capture" to adjust recording options such as resolution, frame rate, and bitrate. Click "Save" to keep changes.

Step 4Open the game you want to record. Click "Record" > "Start" or press "Alt + F9" to start recording gameplay on PC.

Step 5Press "Alt + F9" again to stop recording. Click "Record" > "Stop and save". Your gameplay video will be saved automatically in the "Videos" folder on your PC.

Part 5: Comparison: Which Gameplay Recording Software Should You Choose?

After exploring the four tools above, you may still wonder which one is the best way for recording gameplay on your PC. The table below provides a more detailed comparison to help you choose the right one.

Software	Supported System	Recording Quality	Ease of Use	CPU Performance	Customization	Live Streaming
4Easysoft Screen Recorder	Windows macOS	High	Easy	Low	Medium	Not Supported
Xbox Game Bar	Windows 10/11	Medium	Easy	Low	Low	Not Supported
OBS Studio	Window macOS Linux	High	Difficult	High	High	Supported
NVIDIA ShadowPlay	NVIDIA GPU only	High	Easy	Low	Low	Supported (Twitch/YouTube/Facebook)

Conclusion

Choosing the best software to record gameplay on PC depends on your specific needs. If you want an easy all-in-one recorder, 4Easysoft Screen Recorder is a good option. If you prefer a built-in tool, Xbox Game Bar is convenient for Windows users. For advanced recording and streaming features, OBS Studio offers powerful customization. Gamers using NVIDIA graphics cards may prefer NVIDIA ShadowPlay for its smooth performance. Overall, with the tools introduced above, you can easily capture and share your favorite gaming moments!

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Free Download

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Ethan Brooke

With a strong background in video and audio recording, Ethan writes guides on capturing screens, voices, system audios, and gameplay videos efficiently. Having tested a wide range of recording programs, Ethan understands what users struggle with most, which are dropped frames, unclear sound, and complicated setups. Therefore, he breaks down recording workflows step by step, making it easier for beginners and creators alike to capture exactly what they need.

Best Software to Record Gameplay on PC Without Lag

Part 1: Best Software to Record Gameplay on PC in High Quality

Part 2: How to Record Gameplay on PC with Xbox Game Bar

Part 3: How to Record Gameplay on PC with OBS Studio

Part 4: How to Record Gameplay on PC with NVIDIA ShadowPlay

Part 5: Comparison: Which Gameplay Recording Software Should You Choose?

Conclusion

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