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Head-to-head · Game Playtime Trackers

GamingGaiden vs Thusfar

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 2 checks side by side
Higher score GamingGaiden #4 in Game Playtime Trackers 8.5/10 Open source ✓ 1 of 2 features Visit GamingGaiden
Thusfar #6 in Game Playtime Trackers 8.1/10 Open source ✓ 1 of 2 features Visit Thusfar

GamingGaiden leads on 0 checks, Thusfar on 0, and 2 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 2 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreGamingGaiden · 8.5/10

GamingGaiden scores higher on our rubric for game playtime trackers: 8.5 against 8.1 out of 10; our editors rank them #4 and #6.

On tracking mode, Thusfar gives you Hybrid where GamingGaiden offers Automatic.

GamingGaiden is the better fit for PC and emulated-game tracking. Thusfar is the better fit for steam users who want session recaps.

  • GamingGaiden fits best

    PC and emulated-game tracking

  • Thusfar fits best

    Steam users who want session recaps

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Side by side

Feature GamingGaiden 8.5/10 Visit ↗ Thusfar 8.1/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 8.5 8.1
Ranking #4 in Game Playtime Trackers #6 in Game Playtime Trackers
Best for PC and emulated-game tracking Steam users who want session recaps
Pricing model Free Free
Starting price Open source Open source
Free plan Not checked yet Not checked yet
Free trial — —
Deployment Desktop Desktop
Platforms Windows Windows
Integrations 2 integrations 2 integrations
Built for Solo, Small business Solo, Small business
Features GamingGaiden 1/2 · Thusfar 1/2
Mobile app — —
Desktop app ✓ ✓
Specs
Tracking mode Automatic Hybrid
Supported platforms PC games and emulated platforms Windows PC with automatic Steam tracking; consoles, emulators, and non-Steam games via manual logging
History retention Not checked yet Not checked yet
Data export Not checked yet Not checked yet
Our review
Pros
  • Automatically tracks PC games, emulators, ROMs, and RetroArch cores
  • Removes idle time and provides statistics, charts, sorting, and search
  • Stores data offline with backups and multi-PC database sharing
  • Automatically detects Steam game starts and stops
  • Structured recap prompts capture notes at session end
  • Local storage and crash recovery keep session history available
Cons
  • Windows is the verified platform focus
  • There is no mobile app
  • Its focus is individual PC gaming rather than broader platforms
  • Automatic tracking is centered on Steam
  • Console, emulator, and non-Steam sessions require manual logging
  • Windows desktop only, with no mobile app
Our verdict

GamingGaiden is a Windows desktop application for individual PC gamers who want automatic playtime and session history across native and emulated games. It tracks PC games, registered emulators, ROMs, and RetroArch cores, giving players…

Read the review →

Thusfar is an open-source Windows desktop app for players who want more context than a total-playtime number. It automatically detects Steam game starts and stops, records playtime and last-played context, and organizes history through…

Read the review →
  1. GamingGaidenGame Playtime Trackers 8.5Open source
  2. ThusfarGame Playtime Trackers 8.1Open source

Strengths and trade-offs

  • GamingGaiden — where it wins

    • Automatically tracks PC games, emulators, ROMs, and RetroArch cores
    • Removes idle time and provides statistics, charts, sorting, and search
    • Stores data offline with backups and multi-PC database sharing

    Where it doesn't

    • Windows is the verified platform focus
    • There is no mobile app
    • Its focus is individual PC gaming rather than broader platforms

  • Thusfar — where it wins

    • Automatically detects Steam game starts and stops
    • Structured recap prompts capture notes at session end
    • Local storage and crash recovery keep session history available

    Where it doesn't

    • Automatic tracking is centered on Steam
    • Console, emulator, and non-Steam sessions require manual logging
    • Windows desktop only, with no mobile app

More comparisons

All game playtime trackers comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update