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GameOverlay
What it is
GameOverlay is a free Windows performance overlay that displays gaming and hardware statistics on screen. It can show FPS, 1% and 0.1% low FPS, ping, packet loss, and CPU and GPU usage and temperatures. FPS capture uses bundled Intel PresentMon, with low-FPS figures calculated from frame times. In Auto mode, it identifies a game server from network traffic and pings the address exchanging the most packets with the game. Each metric has a visibility toggle and color picker; users can also adjust the overlay’s position, font, size, opacity and background box. It stays on top, allows clicks to pass through and saves changes to a configuration file. Downloads include a standalone executable and a folder ZIP, and the project documents running from source with Python 3.10 or later on Windows. Administrator access is needed for CPU temperature readings, FPS capture and ping detection. The overlay cannot draw over exclusive-fullscreen games; the maker recommends borderless or windowed fullscreen mode.
For and against
For
- Displays FPS, low FPS, ping and packet loss.
- Shows CPU and GPU usage and temperatures.
- Metric visibility and colors can be customized.
- Overlay is always on top and click through.
- Available as an executable or folder ZIP.
Against
- Cannot draw over exclusive-fullscreen games.
- Administrator access is needed for several readings.
- Declining access can leave some metrics unavailable.
- Single-file executable is unsigned and may trigger antivirus heuristics.
The verdict
GameOverlay provides customizable performance metrics for Windows, with executable, ZIP and source-running options. Exclusive-fullscreen use is unsupported, and some readings depend on administrator access.
Who it suits
GameOverlay suits Windows users who want selected performance metrics visible while gaming. It is best suited to people who can use borderless or windowed fullscreen mode and grant administrator access for certain readings.
Plans and prices
GameOverlay
Windows performance overlay · MIT licensed
Read 4 Oct 2026 · github.com
On the record
- Appearance controls
- Each metric has its own visibility toggle and color picker, and users can change position, font, font size, opacity, and background box.github.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- CPU sensor fallback
- When Windows blocks the bundled sensor driver's CPU temperature access, the app can read temperature from Core Temp while it is running.github.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Customization
- Each metric has its own visibility toggle and color picker, and users can change the overlay position, font, size, opacity, and background box.github.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- Display limitation
- The overlay cannot draw over exclusive-fullscreen games, so the README recommends Borderless or Windowed Fullscreen mode.github.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- Distribution
- The latest release offers a standalone GameOverlay.exe and a GameOverlay-folder.zip, and the source can also be run with Python 3.10 or later on Windows.github.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Downloads
- The project offers a standalone GameOverlay.exe and a GameOverlay-folder.zip, and also documents running from source with Python 3.10 or later on Windows.github.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- FPS integration
- FPS data comes from bundled Intel PresentMon, which supplies frame times used to calculate average FPS and the 1% and 0.1% lows.github.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Fullscreen limit
- The overlay cannot draw over exclusive-fullscreen games, so the maker recommends borderless or windowed fullscreen mode.github.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Hardware monitoring
- CPU and GPU sensors use LibreHardwareMonitor, with Windows GPU counters as a fallback when GPU sensors are unavailable.github.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- License
- The project is MIT licensed and bundles LibreHardwareMonitorLib under MPL 2.0 and Intel PresentMon under MIT.github.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Maker
- The repository identifies kynemyers as its owner and the release author.github.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- Network monitoring
- Automatic ping mode identifies a game server from network traffic, while custom mode pings a user-entered host; packet loss is calculated after at least 10 pings.github.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Overlay behavior
- The overlay is always on top and click through, and changes apply instantly and are saved to a configuration file.github.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Performance metrics
- It displays FPS, 1% and 0.1% low FPS, ping, packet loss, CPU usage and temperature, and GPU usage and temperature.github.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Permissions
- The app requests administrator access for CPU temperature sensors, FPS capture, and ping detection; declining can leave those metrics unavailable.github.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- GameOverlay is a lightweight, customizable in-game performance overlay for Windows.github.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Security
- The README says the single-file executable is unsigned and may trigger antivirus heuristics; it suggests the folder ZIP or running from source as alternatives.github.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- Security notes
- The maker says the single-file executable is unsigned and may trigger heuristic antivirus warnings, and provides a folder ZIP build that is flagged less often.github.com · read 4 Oct 2026
