There’s something deeply cursed about staring at a beautifully obscure game and realizing you’ll never know what it says. Maybe it’s a PlayStation horror game that never got localized. Maybe it’s some early ‘90s Finnish dungeon crawler where the only thing in English is “Game Over.” Either way, you’re stuck.
HOWEVER, some tools that claim to help you translate games in real time are multiplying, but are they any good? I tested three that are making the rounds:
- ShareX – old reliable, not even meant for this
- UGTLive – a new rewrite of an old project
- Gaminik – fast, pretty, and subscription-based
I installed them. I tested them. I suffered. Here’s the real report.
ShareX – Free, Flexible, and the One Game Translation Tool I Always Go Back To
This wasn’t built to translate games, but somehow it still outperforms most of the ones that were. ShareX is a powerful open-source screenshot tool with built-in OCR. With some workflow hacks, you can use it to extract game text and run it through your preferred translator, such as Google, DeepL, or ChatGPT.
I’ve used it to play Famicom Disk System games like Time Twist, pairing it with Textractor to copy and feed text automatically. You can also just keep it simple and use the built-in translation pop-up for fast, one-off interpretations.
Pros:
- Works on nearly every system I’ve thrown at it
- 99% reliable
- Totally free
- Highly customizable
- Doesn’t nag or break
Cons:
- You need to build your pipeline
- No live overlay unless you create one
- More tool than translator, but a damn good one
UGTLive – Vibe-Coded, Install-Pain, Maybe works?
This one nearly broke me. UGTLive is a rewritten version of the old Universal Game Translator. The idea’s solid: real-time OCR with support for modern AI models. But getting this thing installed was a nightmare.
It’s 100% vibe-coded. The instructions are scattered. You’ll be downloading Python libraries, guessing which branch to use, and praying nothing explodes. I did eventually get it working. But once I saw the UI and the “updates,” I honestly wasn’t impressed.
It needs a serious cleanup. Someone could fork this and make it gold, but right now, it’s just a pain to work with.
Pros:
- Open source
- Can use local or cloud LLMs
- Has potential for smart workflows
Cons:
- Setup is miserable
- UI is ugly and clunky
- Not beginner-friendly
- Crashed during multiple tests
Gaminik – Fast, Flashy, and Actually Works (Mostly)
Gaminik is the most polished and “real product” of the bunch. It supports both Android and Windows, and it gives you a slick overlay to translate whatever’s on your screen in real time. It handles modern games beautifully, and I recommend it if you want something that just… works.
That said, it’s not free. It runs on a point system unless you pay, with monthly, yearly, and lifetime options. Personally? Go with the yearly. I don’t trust lifetime models when AI is involved never know when these things disappear with no notice.
Performance? Surprisingly good. PC-98 games translate well, but PC-88 support is rough. Time Twist on the Famicom Disk System gave me trouble too. On Windows 11, though? Big improvement.
Also, while there’s a voice translation feature, I couldn’t get that part working properly yet. Still digging into that.
Pros:
- Looks and feels great
- Fast results with many AI options (ChatGPT, DeepL, Gemini, etc.)
- Simple floating overlay interface
- One of the few tools that doesn’t fight you
Cons:
- You need to pay if you use it often
- Struggles with older games (especially PC-88)
- Voice features are a work in progress
Quick Ratings Chart
| Tool | Ease of Use | Stability | Old Game Support | Cost | Overall Vibes |
| ShareX | 🟢🟢⚪⚪⚪ | 🟢🟢🟢🟢🟢 | 🟢🟢🟢🟢⚪ | 🟢🟢🟢🟢🟢 (Free!) | Solid, nerdy, reliable |
| UGTLive | 🔴⚪⚪⚪⚪ | 🔴⚪⚪⚪⚪ | 🟡🟡⚪⚪⚪ | 🟢🟢🟢🟢🟢 (Free!) | Chaotic, needs help |
| Gaminik | 🟢🟢🟢🟢⚪ | 🟢🟢🟢⚪⚪ | 🟡🟡🟡⚪⚪ | 🔴⚪⚪⚪⚪ (Paid tiers) | Polished, corporate-ish |
Final Thoughts
If I had to pick one?
ShareX wins because it works, doesn’t crash, and plays nice with everything from DOS to weird Famicom disks. If you’re even a little tech-savvy, it’s the best bang for zero bucks.
Gaminik is for when I want fast, clean results on newer titles, especially on Windows 11. It’s great, but the subscription model leaves me cautious. The moment the AI bubble pops, who knows what happens to lifetime plans?
UGTLive is the one I’d love to see reborn. It has the right ideas, but needs a serious overhaul. If someone out there forks it and makes it usable, hit me up.
Go Break These Yourself
- Download ShareX – the toolbox
- Grab UGTLive – if you’re feeling brave
- Try Gaminik – the shiny one
Whether you’re streaming weird horror games, modding untranslated visual novels, or just tired of guessing what the menu says, these are the tools to try. Just… don’t expect miracles.