Do you enjoy capturing epic gaming moments and creative gameplay? But raw recordings rarely showcase your skills. With the right editing tools, you can craft professional-grade gaming videos to share online.
Let‘s compare the top free video editors for spicing up your gaming content.
Gaming videos have exploded in popularity on sites like YouTube, Facebook Gaming, and Twitch. In 2021 alone, over 356 billion minutes of gaming content was watched on YouTube. Top streamers like PewDiePie and Markiplier earned over $13 million each from their videos and livestreams.
But successful gaming influencers rely on more than just great gameplay skills. Editing raw footage into compelling videos is key to engaging subscribers and racking up views.
The good news is you don’t need fancy expensive software to edit like a pro. Plenty of free gaming video editors exist with features to take your content to the next level.
In this guide, we’ll compare the 7 best free options for polishing gameplay recordings based on:
- Ease of use
- Available editing tools
- Gaming format support
- Speed and performance
- Output options
- Library of templates, effects, media
Let’s dive in and transform your gaming clips into viewed, loved, and shared videos!
Why Proper Editing is Crucial for Gaming Videos
Simply recording yourself playing games generally won’t attract much of an audience. But creatively editing videos can make gameplay shine.
Here are just some of the improvements possible with editing:
- Highlight exciting moments – Cut together your best kills, moves, and wins into an action-packed montage.
- Enhance visibility – Adjust colors, apply filters, and increase brightness to make dark scenes clearer.
- Include commentary – Record and overlay your voice narrating the action to share insights.
- Add graphics – Intro/outro templates, subtitles, scores, logos, pictures and more make videos pop.
- Sync music – The right background tracks enhance dramatic or funny moments.
- Share widely – Export in optimal formats for different platforms like YouTube, TikTok, Instagram.
Quality editing takes your random raw clips and transforms them into a compelling video story. The tools covered below all provide features to help you achieve this goal.
Comparison of the Top 7 Free Gaming Video Editors
Here’s an overview of the capabilities of each recommended free editing tool:
| Tool | User-Friendliness | Advanced Features | Gaming Formats | Library | Output Options | Learning Resources |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windows Movie Maker | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐ |
| AVS Video Editor | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Quik | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| InVideo | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐ |
| iMovie | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Lightworks | ⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Filmora Go | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ |
Now let‘s look at each gaming video editor in more depth.
1. Windows Movie Maker
As the built-in video editing app for Windows, Movie Maker provides an easy entry point for novices. The straightforward interface makes slicing clips, rearranging timelines, and adding transitions intuitive.
Key features:
- Drag-and-drop timeline
- Trim, split, rearrange clips
- Transitions and text overlays
- Music and narration tracks
- Export to social media sites
Pros:
- Simple enough for total beginners
- Quick exporting for easy sharing
- Handy guided views for basic editing
Cons:
- Limited advanced tools like color grading and multicam editing
- Prone to crashes on larger projects
- Only available on Windows
Overall, Windows Movie Maker is great for introducing new gamers to editing basics. But you may desire more control as your skills improve.
2. AVS Video Editor
Touted as having “Hollywood-level” effects, AVS provides professional tools yet an intuitive interface. You get a multi-track timeline for overlaying gameplay, voiceover, sound effects, and more. Apply filters, animations, chroma keying, and other enhancements.
Key features:
- Multi-layer timeline editing
- 300+ effects and transitions
- Color correction tools
- Real-time previews
- Supports 4K, HD, SD footage
Pros:
- Wide range of advanced editing tools
- Useful audio cleaning features
- Quick rendering for easy sharing
Cons:
- Interface has steeper learning curve
- Must purchase add-ons for expanded functionality
Skilled gamers can create incredibly polished, complex videos with AVS. But expect a longer ramp-up than simpler tools.
3. Quik
Quik automates the editing process by analyzing your clips to build polished videos for you in minutes. Just import footage, select music and visual style, and Quik handles the rest. Further customize by trimming clips, adding text, and syncing to beats.
Key features:
- Automated editing based on AI
- Imports clips from multiple sources
- Library of styles and music
- Customizable after auto-edit
- Exports for social media
Pros:
- Creates great-looking videos instantly
- Simple pick-and-choose editing
- Handy for quick daily recaps
Cons:
- Less control over the editing process
- Limited to edits Quik suggests
For gamers short on time, Quik produces awesome videos with minimal effort. But it may feel too automated for some.
4. InVideo
InVideo‘s enormous library of templates, media, and easy drag-and-drop editor provide everything you need to make killer gaming videos in minutes. Choose from intros, outros, transitions, and more specially designed for gaming content.
Key features
- Huge template and media library
- Customizable templates
- Drag-and-drop editor
- Text overlays and stickers
- No download required
Pros:
- Great for easily making polished gaming intros, outros etc.
- Browser-based so no storage needed
- Thousands of videos, audio, GIFs, and images
Cons:
- Limited fine-tuning of clips on timeline
- Exports can include watermark
InVideo expedites gaming video creation through robust templates. But advanced timeline edits remain tricky.
5. iMovie
Apple’s free multi-track timeline editor comes preinstalled on iOS/macOS. It offers all essential tools from trimming to music syncing in a clean interface. Share directly to YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and more.
Key features:
- Intuitive timeline editing
- Audio editing tools
- Color correction options
- Library of sound effects
- 4K support
Pros:
- User-friendly for beginners
- iCloud syncing across Apple devices
- Quick exporting to social media
Cons:
- Limited to Apple ecosystem
- Lacks more advanced features
iMovie strikes a nice balance of usability and tools. But switching from Windows/Android poses challenges.
6. Lightworks
Hailed as professional-grade editing software, Lightworks is packed with capabilities for precise editing and effects. Timeline trimming, multicam editing, color grading, and VFX plugins enable polished 4K videos.
Key features:
- Advanced trimming and precision editing
- 100+ visual effect plugins
- Real-time video/audio effects
- YouTube 4K publishing
- Supports all major formats
Pros:
- Robust tools rivaling paid software
- Active user community for help
- Speedy rendering
Cons:
- Steep learning curve
- Free version limits exports
- Requires powerful computer
Lightworks works great for skilled gamers pursuing premium quality. But novices may find it overly complex.
7. Filmora Go
Filmora Go couples easy templates with robust timeline editing tools. Choose from professionally designed intros, titles, transitions, etc. to instantly stylize gaming videos. Further refine with overlays, audio editing, trimming, and more.
Key features:
- Library of templates
- Drag-and-drop timeline
- Music and overlays
- Color presets
- Direct social media export
Pros:
- Balances automation with editing control
- Great for producing consistent branding
- Affordable paid tiers
Cons:
- Free version limits some exports
- Fewer advanced tools than premium options
Filmora Go offers nice middle-ground between usability and customization for prolific gamers.
Recommended Gaming Video Editors Based on Your Needs
Given their strengths, certain tools make sense for specific gaming video needs:
- Beginners – Focus on the easiest to learn programs like Windows Movie Maker, Quik, InVideo, or iMovie.
- Advanced users – Take full control with tools like AVS Video Editor, Lightworks, or Filmora Go.
- Occasional clips – Quick and simple using Quik or iMovie.
- Consistency – Leverage templates in InVideo or Filmora Go.
- High-end polish – Harness pro tools like AVS or Lightworks.
- Livestream highlights – Quik and Filmora Go allow fast turnaround.
- Reviews/commentary – Add voiceovers with iMovie or InVideo.
No one program will suit every gamer‘s needs. Evaluate your experience level, video goals, and platform ecosystem to pick the best free option.
Start Editing Like a Pro Gamer
Raw gaming recordings simply won’t attract much of an audience. But creatively edited videos that highlight your skills will leave viewers thrilled and hungry for more.
The great news is you can edit gaming footage to professional standards without expensive software using the free tools covered above. Take your content to the next level by:
- Slicing together exciting moments
- Enhancing visibility and coloring
- Recording and integrating insightful commentary
- Using graphics, titles, intros/outros to brand your channel
- Syncing music and sound effects to make moments more dramatic
- Outputting videos optimized for YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, etc.
Check out the many tutorials and communities available to learn these programs in-depth. Before long, you’ll be editing gaming videos worthy of the top influencers out there.
So download one of these fantastic free video editors today. Then start wowing audiences with your amazing editing skills and fantastic gameplay!
