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Best Video-Editing Software for Gaming

March 31, 2023
  • 1,677
  • 19 Minutes

Many gamers love uploading highlights of their gameplay online – whether for profit or pure fun. But to do this effectively requires access to a good video editor. So, what is the best gaming editing software? In this article, we’ll discuss video editors that gamers use, so you can get the most out of the time you spend gaming and sharing online.

 

Movavi Video Editor

Movavi Video Editor is one of the best video-editing software for gaming. It packs all the powerful features of a professional video editor – but without the complexity. Its intuitive user interface makes it effortless to create stunning videos for gaming, quickly and easily. 

Movavi Video Editor is the perfect choice for gamers just getting into video game editing software. It offers an extensive library of templates, including titles, transitions, filters, and even stickers that can be applied in a few clicks – making it incredibly simple to create amazing clips of your gameplay. 

The gaming editor also offers advanced features that YouTube Gaming creators will likely use, such as picture-in-picture, AI background removal, and voice-over. Movavi Video Editor makes it easy to share your videos on popular social media platforms, like YouTube and TikTok.

Movavi Video Editor includes a free trial download, and it’s available for a full 7 days without any payment. The trial version gives access to all its main features (with a watermark on output files), so you can try before you buy. 

Features: 

  • Extensive library of transitions, titles, filters, and stickers
  • Aesthetic and simple user interface
  • Powerful AI tools, like motion tracking and background removal
  • Support for multiple file formats

Pros:

  • Highly intuitive user interface
  • Plenty of templates
  • Direct uploads to TikTok and YouTube

Cons:

  • Free trial version places a watermark

 

OpenShot

OpenShot is an open-source video editor and is often considered one of the best free editing software for gaming. With its easy trimming, cutting, and slicing capabilities, as well as the ability to pan and zoom – OpenShot provides a sophisticated alternative with no cost attached. Supported by an active community, this powerful tool can help you create amazing gaming videos! 

The software also supports unlimited tracks, meaning you can easily overlay commentary, background music, webcam footage, and sound effects over your gaming footage. You can level up your audio editing, too, with OpenShot’s patented waveform feature.

Seasoned gamers will also appreciate OpenShot’s powerful video editor, which can produce stunning 4K Ultra HD footage to give your gaming videos an extra edge. Furthermore, use its slow motion and time effects functions to elevate the amazing visual graphics in your clips. 

While it’s one of the best editing software for gaming, OpenShot is certainly lacking on the user-friendly front. Yes, it does have a simple and customizable interface for editing games. But its more advanced features have a steep learning curve. Beginners who want to get the hang of editing quickly might be better served elsewhere. 

Features:

  • Multiple tracks
  • 4K resolutions support
  • 3D animation tools for titles and effects
  • Slow motion and time effects
  • Customizable user interface

Pros:

  • Unlimited tracks 
  • Absolutely free with no watermark

Cons:

  • Steep learning curve
  • History of crashes

 

Final Cut Pro

Apple’s Final Cut Pro has been a mainstay in the filmmaking world for years, and gamers can now take advantage of its powerful features to easily edit their gaming footage.

Of particular note is the Magnetic Timeline, a feature that lets you effortlessly adjust clips without affecting other elements on your timeline. 

Final Cut Pro provides gamers with an array of powerful sound-editing tools, allowing them to layer multiple audio tracks for a professional-sounding mix. It also offers advanced color correction and motion graphics capabilities, making it easy to customize the look and feel of gaming footage. 

The only downside is its price – unless you’re a pro, Final Cut Pro’s hefty cost might be hard to justify. However, users can try out the trial version, which has some restrictions.

If this software is within your budget, make sure to download this top gaming editing software – it’s one of the best on the market today.

Features:

  • Magnetic timeline
  • Multichannel audio capabilities
  • Multicam editing
  • Motion graphics tools

Pros:

  • Direct sharing to YouTube
  • Object tracker and cinematic mode
  • Easy transfers to Apple devices
  • Extreme speed renders

Cons:

  • Trial version has limitations
  • Only available for a Mac

 

Pinnacle Studio

If you’re looking for an all-in-one video maker for games, then Pinnacle Studio is the perfect choice. It offers a powerful editing suite with advanced features, such as chroma key, multi-cam editing, and 360° VR capability. Plus, it comes preloaded with over 1,000 effects and transitions to customize your footage.

The built-in audio tools are also excellent – easily remove background noise or balance sound levels of voice-overs/commentary overlaid on your game clips. You can even leverage the audio ducking feature, which automatically adjusts audio levels so you don’t have to worry about it!

Pinnacle Studio has a user-friendly interface that makes navigating a breeze. Its ability to save projects across multiple devices and platforms means you can work from anywhere at any time, making it a convenient choice.

Pinnacle Studio comes at a premium price, with three versions – Standard, Plus, and Ultimate. While the most affordable version is available, some advanced functions may not be accessible. 

For gamers on a tight budget looking for free or low-cost editing tools, this software likely won’t cut it. However, Pinnacle does offer a 15-day trial for those who want to test out the features before investing in it. 

Features:

  • 4K, multi-cam, and 360-degree video-editing capabilities
  • Wide range of audio tools (noise profiles, audio ducking, channel mixer)
  • Plenty of transitions, motion graphics, and effects
  • Unlimited tracks

Pros:

  • 360-degree editing that’s good for VR 
  • Clean user interface
  • Powerful features for beginners
  • Robust audio editing

Cons:

  • Not fully free
  • Lower versions don’t have all the features

 

VideoStudio Ultimate

VideoStudio Ultimate, Corel’s all-in-one video-editing software, makes creating professional-quality gaming clips easier than ever. It comes preloaded with templates and effects specifically designed for gaming footage, enabling you to quickly give your highlights the extra polish. 

Need to add context? No problem – VideoStudio Ultimate has text and voice-over capabilities as well.

For those looking to get creative, VideoStudio Ultimate also offers advanced features, such as chroma-key (green screen) support and an audio-ducking capability for impressive montages.

Features:

  • Wide range of filters, effects, overlays, graphics, and animated AR stickers
  • Color grading, color correction, and LUT profiles
  • Powerful video masking
  • Instant project templates

Pros:

  • Many preloaded templates to choose from
  • Fast rendering speeds
  • Simple and easy to use

Cons:

  • Not available for a Mac
  • Limited audio editing capabilities

 

Cyberlink PowerDirector

Cyberlink PowerDirector is a standout on the list of the best gaming video-editing software. Gamers and YouTubers alike praise its intuitive design, advanced effects, and transitions, as well as its powerful tools that make creating captivating videos effortless.

One of the best features of Cyberlink PowerDirector is Express Project, making creating gaming videos a breeze. With just 3 steps – selecting a template, adding your media files, and customizing with transitions, titles, or effects – you can quickly create stunning gaming highlights. It’s no wonder why this program may be the best video-editing software for gaming montages

PowerDirector offers gamers 360-degree editing and a convenient speech-to-text function so they can easily add captions to their videos. This is helpful – especially when dealing with footage from VR gaming experiences. However, the software does come with a steep learning curve, so users should budget in some time to become fully proficient. 

Features:

  • Over 8 million stock videos, photos, and audio
  • Extensive library of designed templates
  • Smart features for video and audio editing
  • Screen recording and speech-to-text functions

Pros:

  • Useful video templates
  • Plugins are available
  • Express editing features

Cons:

  • Learning curve is steep
  • Too many options for casual editors

 

Adobe® Premiere® Pro

Adobe® Premiere® Pro is an excellent gaming video editor for your PC or Mac. Professionals in many industries use it, so gamers can be assured that they are using a powerful tool to get their editing done.

The software platform boasts an impressive range of features, including ultra HD support for 4K and 8K footage, real-time effects and transitions, automatic color correction tools, advanced audio-processing capabilities – the list goes on. 

Access to Adobe® Creative Cloud® suite of apps also makes it easy to store clips online and collaborate with remote team members. Get ready to take your projects up a notch! 

That said, getting up to speed with Premiere® Pro can be a challenge for novices due to its steep learning curve. Moreover, the software requires an expensive Creative Cloud® subscription in order to stay updated and make use of all features. Fortunately, it does offer a 7-day free trial period.

Features:

  • Animated templates, graphics, stickers, and visual effects
  • Comprehensive audio and color correction tools
  • Huge Adobe stock library
  • Easy integration with other Adobe software

Pros:

  • Industry-standard editing
  • Access to other Adobe programs
  • Easy import of different formats

Cons:

  • Quite bulky
  • May be too confusing for beginners

 

DaVinci Resolve

DaVinci Resolve is one of the best gaming editing apps for professional-level editing. It is a fully-featured, professional-grade video editor with powerful color-grading tools and an intuitive user interface.

DaVinci Resolve is a powerful video-editing software for gamers that allows to create polished and professional-looking videos. It can handle 4K resolution and 60 FPS gameplay footage from the latest triple-A games on a PC and consoles, such as PlayStation and Xbox

Moreover, its “Fusion” integration allows users to add stunning 2D or 3D motion graphics to their projects, as well as combine multiple clips together for sensational visual effects. 

Furthermore, DaVinci Resolve comes with noise reduction tools that effectively eliminate background noise from recorded game audio – ensuring crisp sound quality in your videos. Finally, you can easily add text titles with the built-in text functions of this editor! 

Features:

  • Node-based workflows
  • Robust color correction features
  • Motion graphics capabilities
  • Library of free sound effects, transitions, and video effects
  • Customizable interface

Pros:

  • Intuitive user interface
  • Cinema-grade editing
  • Available for a PC for free

Cons:

  • Absolute beginners may not find it straightforward
  • High minimum system requirements

 

iMovie

For gamers seeking a quick and easy way to get into video editing, Apple’s iMovie is the perfect choice. 

Its user-friendly interface allows users of all levels to trim and cut clips with ease, while also providing cool effects, like picture-in-picture overlays, split screens, and slow motion.

You can also upload your gaming highlights directly from the app to YouTube or Vimeo, and there are a plethora of third-party plugins available to customize your footage even further.

While iMovie is free with Macs, there is currently no free download for Windows users. If you’re not a Mac user, you’re better off considering one of the alternatives on this list. 

Features:

  • 4K support
  • Direct sharing to social media platforms
  • Simple user interface
  • Efficient video- and audio-editing features

Pros:

  • Good starting point for beginners
  • Easy and efficient editing
  • Straightforward effects

Cons:

  • Not available for Windows
  • 4K support not available for older Macs

 

AVS Video Editor

AVS Video Editor is an ideal choice for streamers, both novice and professional. Offering a comprehensive set of features, it’s easy to add effects, transitions, and titles, with just a few clicks. 

Like OpenShot, AVS Video Editor also supports up to 4K Ultra HD resolutions. But the real benefit is its intuitive user interface that makes editing a breeze. With an orderly timeline view and a drag-and-drop feature, you can quickly arrange clips into the desired sequence with ease.

Other notable features include voice-over recording, chroma key support, automatic scene detection, and audio effects. Additionally, the video editor is compatible with Windows 10 PCs and supports almost all popular video formats.

Features:

  • Support for popular formats
  • 4K capabilities
  • Recording features
  • Adjustments for Android and iOS devices

Pros:

  • Over 300 effects and transitions
  • Basic and advanced modes
  • Good for mobile videos

Cons:

  • For Windows only
  • Frequent crashes

 

Lightworks

Lightworks, famously used for Hollywood films, is also an advanced video-editing solution ideal for gaming. 

Boasting an intuitive interface and powerful features to enhance your gaming footage, it supports 4K Ultra HD as well as transitions and effects between clips. Plus, the built-in titling tools make adding text titles a breeze. 

One of Lightworks’ standout features is its intuitive timeline editor, ideal for quickly editing large gaming footage files. 

Plus, the software supports popular video-based social networks, such as YouTube and Vimeo, allowing you to upload edited videos directly without having to convert formats.

Unfortunately, Lightworks’ full features require annual subscription fees, which may be too costly for some new gaming video editors. However, you can use the free version – just remember to activate your license periodically.

Features:

  • Drag-and-drop user interface
  • Efficient features, like background processing and proxy workflows
  • Storyboard bins

Pros:

  • Support for multiple formats
  • Professional features made easy
  • Versatile editing

Cons:

  • Free license needs to be re-activated periodically

 

What to look for in a video-editing software for gaming

Struggling to choose the best gaming editing software? Here’s what you need to consider: 

  • User-friendliness: you need a program that is intuitive and easy to use, so you can quickly create stunning gaming videos without spending hours learning complex techniques. Professional-level programs may have a steep learning curve, but the effort you put in will be rewarded with great results.
  • Output options: ensure your software offers options for exporting high-resolution output at lightning speed; think 4K resolution or Full HD quality. Additionally, some programs offer cloud storage for uploading directly from desktop applications, like YouTube, TikTok, and other social media platforms, perfect for sharing your work! 
  • Video effects and transitions: look for a video editor with plenty of pre-made templates with special effects and transitions – this will help you customize your gaming videos and give them a professional sheen with just a few clicks of the mouse.
  • Audio support: proper audio support is essential for gaming videos. Make sure the software you choose has tools that allow you to sync narration with gameplay and adjust sound levels. 
  • Stock library: some video-editing software includes a library of stock footage, music, and sound effects that you can use to make your videos more engaging.
  • Green screen capabilities: if you want more advanced features, look for software with green screen capabilities and easy background removals so that you can add your gameplay footage behind your webcam footage.
  • 360-degree editing: if you want to create 360-degree videos, look for a program that offers specific tools and features designed specifically for creating virtual reality content.
  • Pricing: a few good programs offer free versions with basic features, while others come as subscription-based or one-time purchase plans. Some are absolutely free but may require more time and effort to learn. Weigh your options and decide which one fits your budget.
  • Compatibility: ensure the program is compatible with your computer’s operating system and hardware. You don’t want to be stuck with a program that doesn’t work on your computer!
  • Popularity among gamers: if you still can’t decide, try to find out which video-editing software is most popular among gamers and gaming creators. This will give you an insight into what features and tools are used the most by other gamers, so you can get an idea of what works best for them.

 

Summary

There are plenty of video-editing software tools available for gamers, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. The best video-editing software for gaming will depend on your particular needs and budget.

Still, some of the most popular options include Movavi Video Editor, Adobe® Premiere® Pro, DaVinci Resolve, OpenShot, and iMovie. These programs have powerful features that can help you create professional-quality videos from your gaming footage.