Game Groups > Gameplay feature: Recordable replays

Games in which the player can record gameplay actions (by saving to a file) and later view them (non-interactively). Often done in replay editor mode, which enables changing camera views, playback control etc. Other games require to be run with command-line switches to allow recording/playback.

Replays are sometimes called demos, confusingly (as this term has many other meanings).

History of use

While generally superseded today by video capture, before the required advances of video compression and improvements in computers' performance it was the only way to record the player's gameplay (without a camera).

Such recordings can be used to document speedruns, as any user with the same version of the game can play it back. New game version may cause things to play out-of-sync (or fail to play at all, usually the case with older versions). Synchronization errors may also occur in the case of recording multiplayer events.

Saved replays (also gameplay recorded via video capture) are used to create machinima (usually after being edited using other software). Similar technique may be applied (coupled with scripting) to produce game-engine based cutscenes.

Limitations

  • Games which only offer short non-recordable after-action instant replays (usually sport/racing games) do not qualify.
  • Games which allow the player to chase a ghost of oneself (usually racing games) do not qualify.
  • While some recorded replays allow the player to re-enter the action, replay recordings should not be confused with savegames.
  • Not to be confused with so-called demo mode (attract mode), when computer plays the game by itself (AI vs. AI).

See also:

Related Groups

183 Games [ view in game browser ] [ add game ]

Title Released Platforms Genres Moby Score
box cover thumbnail 1942: The Pacific Air War 1994 DOS Simulation
7.8
box cover thumbnail Aces of the Pacific 1992 DOS Simulation
8.0
box cover thumbnail Aces Over Europe 1993 DOS Simulation
7.8
box cover thumbnail Act of Aggression 2015 Windows Strategy / tactics
7.0
box cover thumbnail Act of War: Direct Action 2005 Windows Strategy / tactics
8.1
box cover thumbnail Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition 2019 Windows, Windows Apps (+3 more) Strategy / tactics
8.2
box cover thumbnail Age of Empires II: HD Edition 2013 Windows Strategy / tactics
7.4
box cover thumbnail Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings 1999 Windows, PlayStation 2 (+1 more) Strategy / tactics
8.3
box cover thumbnail Age of Empires III 2005 Windows, Macintosh Strategy / tactics
8.0
box cover thumbnail Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition 2020 Windows, Windows Apps Strategy / tactics
7.7
box cover thumbnail Age of Empires IV 2021 Windows, Windows Apps (+2 more) Strategy / tactics
7.9
box cover thumbnail Age of Mythology: Extended Edition 2014 Windows Strategy / tactics
n/a
box cover thumbnail AirMech 2012 Windows, Xbox 360 (+3 more) Action, Strategy
7.4
box cover thumbnail Beaver Builder 2010 Windows Puzzle
n/a
box cover thumbnail Blood 1997 DOS Action
8.1
box cover thumbnail Carmageddon 1997 DOS, Windows (+5 more) Action, Racing / Driving
7.9
box cover thumbnail Chuck Yeager's Air Combat 1991 DOS, Macintosh Simulation
7.6
box cover thumbnail Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars 2007 Windows, Xbox 360 (+2 more) Strategy / tactics
8.3
box cover thumbnail Command & Conquer 4: Tiberian Twilight 2010 Windows Strategy / tactics
6.3
box cover thumbnail Command & Conquer: Generals 2003 Windows, Macintosh Strategy / tactics
8.0
box cover thumbnail Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3 2008 Windows, Xbox 360 (+2 more) Strategy / tactics
7.8
box cover thumbnail Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3 - Uprising 2009 Windows Strategy / tactics
6.8
box cover thumbnail Command & Conquer: Remastered Collection 2020 Windows Strategy / tactics, Compilation
8.3
box cover thumbnail Company of Heroes 2006 Windows, iPhone (+2 more) Strategy / tactics
8.9
box cover thumbnail Company of Heroes 2 2013 Windows, Linux (+1 more) Strategy / tactics
7.7
box cover thumbnail Company of Heroes 2: Ardennes Assault 2014 Windows, Linux (+1 more) Strategy / tactics
n/a
box cover thumbnail Company of Heroes 2: The British Forces 2015 Windows, Linux (+1 more) Strategy / tactics
n/a
box cover thumbnail Company of Heroes 2: The Western Front Armies 2014 Windows, Macintosh (+1 more) Compilation
7.3
box cover thumbnail Company of Heroes 3 2023 Windows Strategy / tactics
8.0
Company of Heroes: Online 2010 Windows Strategy / tactics
n/a
box cover thumbnail Company of Heroes: Opposing Fronts 2007 Windows Strategy / tactics
8.3
box cover thumbnail Company of Heroes: Tales of Valor 2009 Windows Strategy / tactics
6.9
box cover thumbnail Demigod 2009 Windows Strategy / tactics
7.3
box cover thumbnail Descent 1995 DOS, Linux (+4 more) Action
8.0
box cover thumbnail Descent II 1996 DOS, Windows (+2 more) Action
8.1
box cover thumbnail Desperados III 2020 Windows, PlayStation 4 (+5 more) Strategy / tactics
8.3
box cover thumbnail Destruction Derby 1995 DOS, PlayStation (+5 more) Racing / Driving
7.3
box cover thumbnail Devil Daggers 2016 Windows, Macintosh (+1 more) Action
8.1
box cover thumbnail Dissidia: Final Fantasy 2008 PSP Action, Role-playing (RPG)
8.0
box cover thumbnail Doom 1993 DOS, Linux (+8 more) Action
7.6
box cover thumbnail Doom II 1994 DOS, Windows (+4 more) Action
8.1
box cover thumbnail Driv3r 2004 PlayStation 2, Windows (+1 more) Action, Racing / Driving
5.5
box cover thumbnail Driver 1999 PlayStation, Windows (+6 more) Simulation, Racing / Driving
7.6
box cover thumbnail Duke Nukem 1991 DOS, Windows (+2 more) Action
6.6
box cover thumbnail Duke Nukem 3D 1996 DOS, PlayStation (+5 more) Action
8.1
box cover thumbnail Eradicator 1996 DOS, Windows (+2 more) Action
6.8
box cover thumbnail F-Zero GX 2003 GameCube Action, Racing / Driving
8.3
box cover thumbnail FireStarter 2003 Windows Action
6.8
box cover thumbnail Gradius ReBirth 2009 Wii Action
6.7
box cover thumbnail Gran Turismo 4 2004 PlayStation 2 Simulation, Racing / Driving
8.4

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