diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwbase/windowmanager.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwbase/windowmanager.hpp
index 727aee4abc..df6893c1ba 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwbase/windowmanager.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwbase/windowmanager.hpp
@@ -134,8 +134,8 @@ namespace MWBase
         virtual bool isGuiMode() const = 0;
 
         virtual bool isConsoleMode() const = 0;
-
         virtual bool isPostProcessorHudVisible() const = 0;
+        virtual bool isInteractiveMessageBoxActive() const = 0;
 
         virtual void toggleVisible(MWGui::GuiWindow wnd) = 0;
 
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwgui/windowmanagerimp.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwgui/windowmanagerimp.cpp
index b9c52136c1..9bcfb3e158 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwgui/windowmanagerimp.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwgui/windowmanagerimp.cpp
@@ -1539,8 +1539,7 @@ namespace MWGui
 
     bool WindowManager::isGuiMode() const
     {
-        return !mGuiModes.empty() || isConsoleMode() || (mPostProcessorHud && mPostProcessorHud->isVisible())
-            || (mMessageBoxManager && mMessageBoxManager->isInteractiveMessageBox());
+        return !mGuiModes.empty() || isConsoleMode() || isPostProcessorHudVisible() || isInteractiveMessageBoxActive();
     }
 
     bool WindowManager::isConsoleMode() const
@@ -1550,7 +1549,12 @@ namespace MWGui
 
     bool WindowManager::isPostProcessorHudVisible() const
     {
-        return mPostProcessorHud->isVisible();
+        return mPostProcessorHud && mPostProcessorHud->isVisible();
+    }
+
+    bool WindowManager::isInteractiveMessageBoxActive() const
+    {
+        return mMessageBoxManager && mMessageBoxManager->isInteractiveMessageBox();
     }
 
     MWGui::GuiMode WindowManager::getMode() const
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwgui/windowmanagerimp.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwgui/windowmanagerimp.hpp
index 9d79e0a0d7..fae3bb1ec9 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwgui/windowmanagerimp.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwgui/windowmanagerimp.hpp
@@ -160,8 +160,8 @@ namespace MWGui
         bool isGuiMode() const override;
 
         bool isConsoleMode() const override;
-
         bool isPostProcessorHudVisible() const override;
+        bool isInteractiveMessageBoxActive() const override;
 
         void toggleVisible(GuiWindow wnd) override;
 
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwrender/camera.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwrender/camera.cpp
index fbe5c6b4c7..86d5699d75 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwrender/camera.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwrender/camera.cpp
@@ -138,14 +138,12 @@ namespace MWRender
         if (mProcessViewChange)
             processViewChange();
 
-        if (paused)
-            return;
-
         // only show the crosshair in game mode
         MWBase::WindowManager* wm = MWBase::Environment::get().getWindowManager();
         wm->showCrosshair(!wm->isGuiMode() && mShowCrosshair);
 
-        updateFocalPointOffset(duration);
+        if (!paused)
+            updateFocalPointOffset(duration);
         updatePosition();
     }
 
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwworld/datetimemanager.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwworld/datetimemanager.cpp
index 7559242bef..78565cef60 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwworld/datetimemanager.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwworld/datetimemanager.cpp
@@ -263,6 +263,8 @@ namespace MWWorld
 
     void DateTimeManager::updateIsPaused()
     {
-        mPaused = !mPausedTags.empty() || MWBase::Environment::get().getWindowManager()->isGuiMode();
+        auto wm = MWBase::Environment::get().getWindowManager();
+        mPaused = !mPausedTags.empty() || wm->isConsoleMode() || wm->isPostProcessorHudVisible()
+            || wm->isInteractiveMessageBoxActive();
     }
 }
diff --git a/docs/source/reference/lua-scripting/events.rst b/docs/source/reference/lua-scripting/events.rst
index 22cf4710d4..3e689078d0 100644
--- a/docs/source/reference/lua-scripting/events.rst
+++ b/docs/source/reference/lua-scripting/events.rst
@@ -42,3 +42,22 @@ and ``arg`` (for example in the mode ``Book`` the argument is the book the playe
             print('UiModeChanged from', data.oldMode , 'to', data.newMode, '('..tostring(data.arg)..')')
         end
     }
+
+World events
+------------
+
+Global events that just call the corresponding function in `openmw.world`.
+
+.. code-block:: Lua
+
+    -- world.pause(tag)
+    core.sendGlobalEvent('Pause', tag)
+
+    -- world.unpause(tag)
+    core.sendGlobalEvent('Unpause', tag)
+
+    -- world.setGameTimeScale(scale)
+    core.sendGlobalEvent('SetGameTimeScale', scale)
+
+    -- world.setSimulationTimeScale(scale)
+    core.sendGlobalEvent('SetSimulationTimeScale', scale)
diff --git a/files/data/CMakeLists.txt b/files/data/CMakeLists.txt
index afab9b4c79..dbf86cc44d 100644
--- a/files/data/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/files/data/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -91,6 +91,7 @@ set(BUILTIN_DATA_FILES
     scripts/omw/mwui/init.lua
     scripts/omw/ui.lua
     scripts/omw/usehandlers.lua
+    scripts/omw/worldeventhandlers.lua
 
     shaders/adjustments.omwfx
     shaders/bloomlinear.omwfx
diff --git a/files/data/builtin.omwscripts b/files/data/builtin.omwscripts
index b86bedc509..ec08c5299d 100644
--- a/files/data/builtin.omwscripts
+++ b/files/data/builtin.omwscripts
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ PLAYER: scripts/omw/settings/player.lua
 GLOBAL: scripts/omw/activationhandlers.lua
 GLOBAL: scripts/omw/cellhandlers.lua
 GLOBAL: scripts/omw/usehandlers.lua
+GLOBAL: scripts/omw/worldeventhandlers.lua
 PLAYER: scripts/omw/mechanics/playercontroller.lua
 PLAYER: scripts/omw/playercontrols.lua
 PLAYER: scripts/omw/camera/camera.lua
diff --git a/files/data/scripts/omw/activationhandlers.lua b/files/data/scripts/omw/activationhandlers.lua
index 7d185cf9da..2f63f59e92 100644
--- a/files/data/scripts/omw/activationhandlers.lua
+++ b/files/data/scripts/omw/activationhandlers.lua
@@ -23,6 +23,9 @@ local handlersPerType = {}
 handlersPerType[types.ESM4Door] = { ESM4DoorActivation }
 
 local function onActivate(obj, actor)
+    if world.isWorldPaused() then
+        return
+    end
     local handlers = handlersPerObject[obj.id]
     if handlers then
         for i = #handlers, 1, -1 do
diff --git a/files/data/scripts/omw/camera/camera.lua b/files/data/scripts/omw/camera/camera.lua
index 6fcb46bb2f..a3d2ae7b3f 100644
--- a/files/data/scripts/omw/camera/camera.lua
+++ b/files/data/scripts/omw/camera/camera.lua
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ local util = require('openmw.util')
 local self = require('openmw.self')
 local nearby = require('openmw.nearby')
 local async = require('openmw.async')
+local I = require('openmw.interfaces')
 
 local Actor = require('openmw.types').Actor
 
@@ -189,7 +190,7 @@ local function updateIdleTimer(dt)
 end
 
 local function onFrame(dt)
-    if core.isWorldPaused() then return end
+    if core.isWorldPaused() or I.UI.getMode() then return end
     updateIdleTimer(dt)
     local mode = camera.getMode()
     if (mode == MODE.FirstPerson or mode == MODE.ThirdPerson) and not camera.getQueuedMode() then
@@ -273,7 +274,7 @@ return {
         onUpdate = onUpdate,
         onFrame = onFrame,
         onInputAction = function(action)
-            if core.isWorldPaused() then return end
+            if core.isWorldPaused() or I.UI.getMode() then return end
             if action == input.ACTION.ZoomIn then
                 zoom(10)
             elseif action == input.ACTION.ZoomOut then
diff --git a/files/data/scripts/omw/playercontrols.lua b/files/data/scripts/omw/playercontrols.lua
index 56a0b962e6..bea7e5392f 100644
--- a/files/data/scripts/omw/playercontrols.lua
+++ b/files/data/scripts/omw/playercontrols.lua
@@ -107,7 +107,8 @@ local function processAttacking()
 end
 
 local function onFrame(dt)
-    local controlsAllowed = input.getControlSwitch(input.CONTROL_SWITCH.Controls) and not core.isWorldPaused()
+    local controlsAllowed = input.getControlSwitch(input.CONTROL_SWITCH.Controls)
+                            and not core.isWorldPaused() and not I.UI.getMode()
     if not movementControlsOverridden then
         if controlsAllowed then
             processMovement()
@@ -165,7 +166,7 @@ local function onInputAction(action)
         end
     end
 
-    if core.isWorldPaused() then
+    if core.isWorldPaused() or I.UI.getMode() then
         return
     end
 
diff --git a/files/data/scripts/omw/ui.lua b/files/data/scripts/omw/ui.lua
index 0c15e53bc3..8199aec8f0 100644
--- a/files/data/scripts/omw/ui.lua
+++ b/files/data/scripts/omw/ui.lua
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 local ui = require('openmw.ui')
 local util = require('openmw.util')
 local self = require('openmw.self')
+local core = require('openmw.core')
 local ambient = require('openmw.ambient')
 
 local MODE = ui._getAllUiModes()
@@ -10,6 +11,11 @@ local replacedWindows = {}
 local hiddenWindows = {}
 local modeStack = {}
 
+local modePause = {}
+for _, mode in pairs(MODE) do
+    modePause[mode] = true
+end
+
 local function registerWindow(window, showFn, hideFn)
     if not WINDOW[window] then
         error('At the moment it is only possible to override existing windows. Window "'..
@@ -114,6 +120,15 @@ local function onUiModeChanged(arg)
             end
         end
     end
+    local shouldPause = false
+    for _, m in pairs(modeStack) do
+        shouldPause = shouldPause or modePause[m]
+    end
+    if shouldPause then
+        core.sendGlobalEvent('Pause', 'ui')
+    else
+        core.sendGlobalEvent('Unpause', 'ui')
+    end
     self:sendEvent('UiModeChanged', {oldMode = oldMode, newMode = mode, arg = arg})
     oldMode = mode
 end
@@ -145,7 +160,7 @@ return {
     interface = {
         --- Interface version
         -- @field [parent=#UI] #number version
-        version = 0,
+        version = 1,
 
         --- All available UI modes.
         -- Use `view(I.UI.MODE)` in `luap` console mode to see the list.
@@ -204,6 +219,12 @@ return {
         -- @param #string mode Mode to drop
         removeMode = removeMode,
 
+        --- Set whether the mode should pause the game.
+        -- @function [parent=#UI] setPauseOnMode
+        -- @param #string mode Mode to configure
+        -- @param #boolean shouldPause
+        setPauseOnMode = function(mode, shouldPause) modePause[mode] = shouldPause end
+
         -- TODO
         -- registerHudElement = function(name, showFn, hideFn) end,
         -- showHud = function(bool) end,
diff --git a/files/data/scripts/omw/worldeventhandlers.lua b/files/data/scripts/omw/worldeventhandlers.lua
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..4bf6044178
--- /dev/null
+++ b/files/data/scripts/omw/worldeventhandlers.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+local world = require('openmw.world')
+
+return {
+    eventHandlers = {
+        Pause = function(tag) world.pause(tag) end,
+        Unpause = function(tag) world.unpause(tag) end,
+        SetGameTimeScale = function(scale) world.setGameTimeScale(scale) end,
+        SetSimulationTimeScale = function(scale) world.setSimulationTimeScale(scale) end,
+    },
+}