A good game launcher can organize your game apps and boost system performance while you're playing. Android gamers have many options for game launchers, boosters, and combination apps, but how can you choose the best game launcher?

Let's take a look at five of the best game launchers for Android.

1. Google Play Games

Google Play Games is the default gaming app on most Android phones. It focuses on the social aspect of gaming, integrating an achievement and level system so you can easily compare your progress with friends. You’ll also see fan content and discussions from YouTube, Reddit, and more on each game's page.

You can also live-stream to YouTube or record videos to edit and upload later. It doesn’t integrate with Twitch, but it does save you some trouble by adding an optional cutout for your selfie camera.

Android doesn’t support internal audio recording, so you will have to record the game audio and your voice on the same track. Google can’t be faulted for this though, as it’s a limitation of the Android operating system, and is true for all launchers, many of which don’t offer streaming capability at all.

Related: The Best Screen Recorder Apps for Your Android

Integration with the Google Play Store lets this app suggest new games for you to try. It also keeps a record of games you've played before that aren't currently installed. Lastly, it features an Instant Play section where you can try new game apps without installing them, and you can “playlist” these games to try back to back.

Overall, Google Play Games is good for gamers who like engaging with friends and fan communities, friendly competition, and constantly discovering new things.

Download: Google Play Games (Free)

2. Games Launcher---Booster & Screen Recorder

Ofir Miron's Game Launcher organizes your games into an attractive library that hovers over the home screen. You can sort the apps as desired, including by most-played, and customize the display color if bright red isn't your style.

It also offers a search feature, which is helpful if you have a lot of games. The interface is stripped-down, focusing on just keeping all your games in one place. When you tap a game, it loads, the library closes, and the Game Booster features kick in.

Booster features can be configured from the library, but by default, the booster will shut down apps running in the background to free up RAM. At your option, you can also tell it to turn on Do Not Disturb (DND) mode when you start a game. This made it one of few apps we found that could suppress notifications.

Games Launcher also offers a screen recording function, but it can’t override Android’s “no recording internal audio” rule. It also doesn’t add a face-cam, and it can’t live-stream.

This app does a good job of organizing your apps and optimizing your system for casual gaming, but if high-power games or live-streaming are your priorities, there are better options.

Download: Games Launcher---Booster & Screen Recorder (Free, premium version available)

3. Games Launcher---Game Booster 4x

This launcher from G19 Mobile focuses more on enhancing system performance. Games Launcher automatically cleans up RAM and mode uses AI to select the most optimized settings for each game. The home screen also displays your ping (internet) speed, which is useful for online gaming.

It also includes a graphic effects (GFX) booster. In this menu, you can customize your game display resolution, select a graphics level between Smooth and Ultra HD. The app offers various turbo modes that can be enabled from here.

The user-friendly interface and AI also make sure that you don't need to be a hardware expert to make the best choices. GFX options, for instance, are displayed on sliders, and the boost screen tells you exactly what the app is doing and why.

The app doesn't automatically launch a game after optimizing it, but you can still open the games from the optimization screen. You can also set a Junk Clean Schedule to have the app improve performance between sessions.

The Pro version offers additional boosting power. It displays more system info on the home screen and adds an Auto-boost and an Ultra Boost mode.

Download: Games Launcher 4x Faster Free - GFX Tool Bug Lag Fix (Free)

Download: Games Launcher 4x Faster Pro - GFX Tool Bug Lag Fix ($0.78)

4. Game Booster---Speed Up and Livestream Games

This Game Booster from The N Apps Studio is definitely more loaded with ads than other launchers. However, it's also a very powerful boosting tool for high-powered games.

Game Booster focuses on optimization. You can select different boosting modes for each app, including a RAM-focused mode, a battery-focused mode, and an offline mode. You can also set up a custom game mode with a mix of focuses.

Game Booster lets you live-stream to YouTube or Twitch straight from the app, giving you access to two of the best streaming services out there. It can record in very high quality, up to 2560x1440 resolution for live-streaming, or 1920x1080 for screen recordings. This recorder also includes a cutout for your selfie camera.

The GFX booster is the main feature. Using it, you can fine-tune your FPS and other graphics settings, such as anti-aliasing. This app's GFX has a lot more options than any of the others we looked at, and made running apps that usually burn your battery run a lot cooler and faster.

If you don't mind the clutter, this launcher is a great choice for heavy-duty games.

Download: Game Booster---Speed Up and Livestream Games (Free)

5. Game Booster | Play Games Faster & Smoother

Another lightweight booster from BGN Mobi, this app is suitable for those who are mostly into casual mobile games and want a simple interface that stays out of your way.

The home screen has everything you need. It has a sortable library, and if you long-press on a game, you can choose to hide it from the library or check for updates. The top of the screen also monitors your available RAM and current battery temperature.

These insights can help you further optimize since they make it clear when you should be cooling off your phone or shutting down unnecessary apps.

The info tab gives more in-depth information, including notes on your battery health, CPU and internal storage, and more. You can unlock additional boosting features such as an FPS monitor or on-screen crosshair with a subscription.

Related: How to Boost Gaming Performance on Your Android Phone

Unlike some other boosters, this app performs a game boost whether you launch a game from the launcher or somewhere else. This means you can save your favorites to the home screen and still use the app's enhancements.

Game Booster suggests ways you could improve your performance and security when you close a game, which is a nice touch for those new to mobile gaming. It's also the only booster we found that allows users to opt-out of data sharing and personalized ads.

Download: Game Booster | Play Games Faster & Smoother (Free, subscription available)

The Best Game Launcher for Android

The best launcher for you will depend on your priorities, but we were most impressed with G19 Mobile's Games Launcher. Its balance of high-powered boosting and streamlined organization make it a great match for nearly any mobile gamer.

If you need even more boosting power than this launcher offers, the stronger but more cluttered booster from N Apps Studio (#4) might suit your purposes. However, you could also consider investing in a more powerful gaming phone.