How to Review Your Own Gameplay

Reviewing your own footage is the most reliable improvement tool available to you, and it does not require anyone else's time. The trick is to review with structure so you finish with one clear change.

Record first

On PC, Windows Game Bar (Windows + Alt + R) is enough. On PlayStation and Xbox, the console's built-in capture works; transfer the file to a device where you can watch or upload it.

Review one question at a time

  • Why did I die each time?
  • Did I take first contact?
  • Was my ultimate used, or held too long?
  • Did I fight with my team or ahead of it?

Timestamp the decision, not the consequence

If you died at 2:19 because you walked into an open angle at 2:14, the useful timestamp is 2:14. Write down the decision moment — that is the habit you are changing.

Finish with one sentence

End every review with a single sentence you can apply next game, such as "I will not push past the first choke without my tank."

Common mistakes

  • Watching a whole match with no question in mind.
  • Only noticing teammates' mistakes.
  • Collecting ten problems and fixing none of them.
  • Timestamping the death instead of the decision that caused it.

What to practice next

  • Review one 10-minute segment with a single question.
  • Write one sentence to apply in your next three games.
  • Upload the same clip to the Match Analyzer and compare notes.

Put this into practice in RankUp

Upload a clip and the Match Analyzer reviews the hero you actually played in that recording.

Analyze your gameplay with RankUp

More guides

All guides

Where to go next

  • Hero guides — abilities, strengths, weaknesses and rank-specific tips for the hero you play.
  • Counter Watch — a plan for the enemy hero that keeps ending your games.
  • Overwatch news — balance changes that affect the heroes in your pool.