mpv

If you are looking for a simple and straightforward video player, then you shouldn't look any further than mpv. It is a combination between mplayer2 and MPlayer, but it adds its own unique features to the mix. The software comes with a high quality video output and high performance, thanks to its advanced GPU decoding capabilities and other functions.

The player is absolutely free and you can have it up and running in no time. Its core components come in a ZIP archive, so you only need to extract them and run an executable. There are no special requirements you have to meet and you won't notice any impact on your computer's performance.

For regular users, running mpv and loading a video file is all they have to do. Videos can be imported by simply dragging and dropping them over the user interface, after which the application will start playing right away. The user interface can't be any simpler. It presents only a set of standard playback and volume controls, which fades in when you move the mouse cursor, while playing a video.

The application has various advantages, which may not be too obvious at a first glance. For example, it comes with a straightforward API, which can be used to embed the player in other applications. Also, mpv's streamlined CLI options is particularly easy to master, thanks to the intuitive and memorable names and semantics.

With its high quality playback capabilities and intuitive functionality, mpv can serve everyone's needs, from regular users to experts.