GameOverlay
GameOverlay is a free Windows utility that displays gaming and hardware performance statistics over games.
What GameOverlay is
GameOverlay is a free Windows utility that displays gaming and hardware performance statistics over games. 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, and low-FPS figures are derived from frame times. In Auto mode, network monitoring detects a game server from network traffic and pings the address exchanging the most packets with the game. Each metric has its own visibility control and color picker. Users can also change the overlay position, font, size, opacity, and background box; changes apply immediately and are saved to a configuration file. The overlay stays on top and passes clicks through. 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.
Good
- Displays FPS, low FPS, ping, and packet loss.
- Shows CPU and GPU usage and temperatures.
- Metric visibility and colors are customizable.
- Overlay changes apply immediately and are saved.
Watch out
- Requires administrator access for several readings.
- Cannot draw over exclusive-fullscreen games.
- The standalone executable is unsigned and may trigger antivirus heuristics.
Who it suits
GameOverlay suits Windows users who want selected game performance and hardware readings visible on screen, with controls for which metrics and appearance to use.
Verdict
GameOverlay provides customizable performance readings in an always-on-top, click-through overlay. Users should use a supported display mode and consider the administrator and unsigned-executable notes.
Plans and prices
From GameOverlay's own pricing page, checked 4 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| GameOverlay | Free | Windows performance overlay · MIT licensed |
The facts
Each one read from GameOverlay's own pages, with the date it was checked.
Where it runs
- Appearance controls
- Each metric has its own visibility toggle and color picker, and users can change position, font, font size, opacity, and background box.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Windows requirement
- The app requires administrator access for CPU temperature readings, FPS capture, and ping detection.checked 4 Oct 2026
What it does
- 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.checked 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.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Display limitation
- The overlay cannot draw over exclusive-fullscreen games, so the README recommends Borderless or Windowed Fullscreen mode.checked 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.checked 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.checked 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.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Fullscreen limit
- The overlay cannot draw over exclusive-fullscreen games, so the maker recommends borderless or windowed fullscreen mode.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Hardware monitoring
- CPU and GPU sensors use LibreHardwareMonitor, with Windows GPU counters as a fallback when GPU sensors are unavailable.checked 4 Oct 2026
- License
- The project is MIT licensed and bundles LibreHardwareMonitorLib under MPL 2.0 and Intel PresentMon under MIT.checked 4 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.checked 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.checked 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.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Permissions
- The app requests administrator access for CPU temperature sensors, FPS capture, and ping detection; declining can leave those metrics unavailable.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- GameOverlay is a lightweight, customizable in-game performance overlay for Windows.checked 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.checked 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.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Supported games
- The README says FPS, ping, and packet loss show as unavailable when no game is active, and notes that Counter-Strike 2 can report an exact ping while some games require an approximate reading.checked 3 Oct 2026
The company
- Maker
- The repository identifies kynemyers as its owner and the release author.checked 3 Oct 2026
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