diff --git a/index.html b/index.html
index cd8ca7b..dfc1e46 100644
--- a/index.html
+++ b/index.html
@@ -82,6 +82,25 @@
                 font-size: 13px;
                 color: var(--muted);
             }
+            .pause-btn {
+                background: rgba(34, 211, 238, 0.14);
+                color: #67e8f9;
+                border: 1px solid rgba(34, 211, 238, 0.4);
+                border-radius: 10px;
+                padding: 8px 12px;
+                font-weight: 700;
+                cursor: pointer;
+                transition:
+                    transform 120ms ease,
+                    filter 120ms ease;
+            }
+            .pause-btn:hover {
+                filter: brightness(1.05);
+                transform: translateY(-1px);
+            }
+            .pause-btn:active {
+                transform: translateY(0);
+            }
             header .pill {
                 padding: 6px 10px;
                 border-radius: 8px;
@@ -159,6 +178,25 @@
                 border: 1px solid rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.12);
                 display: inline-block;
             }
+            .pause-overlay {
+                position: absolute;
+                top: 12px;
+                left: 50%;
+                transform: translateX(-50%);
+                background: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.08);
+                border: 1px solid rgba(148, 163, 184, 0.3);
+                color: #e2e8f0;
+                padding: 8px 14px;
+                border-radius: 12px;
+                font-weight: 800;
+                letter-spacing: 0.5px;
+                opacity: 0;
+                pointer-events: none;
+                transition: opacity 160ms ease;
+            }
+            .pause-overlay.visible {
+                opacity: 1;
+            }
             .game-over {
                 position: absolute;
                 inset: 0;
@@ -256,9 +294,11 @@
                     <span class="pill">Physics</span>
                     <span>Link same-colored balls to clear them.</span>
                 </div>
+                <button class="pause-btn" id="pause-btn">Pause</button>
             </header>
             <div id="scene-wrapper">
                 <div class="legend" id="palette-legend"></div>
+                <div class="pause-overlay" id="pause-overlay">Paused</div>
                 <div class="game-over" id="game-over">
                     <div class="game-over__card">
                         <div class="title">Game Over</div>
@@ -295,7 +335,7 @@
                 than the minimum vanish; chains with enough balls clear all
                 linked balls (score: 10 × length²). If the entry gets blocked
                 and a new ball cannot drop in, the run ends—restart to try
-                again.
+                again. Pause/resume with the Pause button or Escape key.
             </div>
         </div>
 
diff --git a/main.js b/main.js
index 67e796b..a3e33f3 100644
--- a/main.js
+++ b/main.js
@@ -29,6 +29,8 @@
   const gameOverEl = document.getElementById("game-over");
   const finalScoreEl = document.getElementById("final-score");
   const restartBtn = document.getElementById("restart-btn");
+  const pauseBtn = document.getElementById("pause-btn");
+  const pauseOverlay = document.getElementById("pause-overlay");
 
   let width = sceneEl.clientWidth;
   let height = sceneEl.clientHeight;
@@ -86,6 +88,7 @@
   let spawnTimer = null;
   let score = 0;
   let gameOver = false;
+  let isPaused = false;
 
   const chain = {
     active: false,
@@ -131,6 +134,13 @@
     spawnTimer = setInterval(spawnBall, config.spawnIntervalMs);
   };
 
+  const stopSpawner = () => {
+    if (spawnTimer) {
+      clearInterval(spawnTimer);
+      spawnTimer = null;
+    }
+  };
+
   const cleanupBall = (ball) => {
     if (ball.plugin && ball.plugin.entryCheckId) {
       clearTimeout(ball.plugin.entryCheckId);
@@ -141,14 +151,19 @@
   const triggerGameOver = () => {
     if (gameOver) return;
     gameOver = true;
+    isPaused = false;
     resetChainVisuals();
-    if (spawnTimer) clearInterval(spawnTimer);
+    stopSpawner();
+    Runner.stop(runner);
+    pauseOverlay.classList.remove("visible");
+    pauseBtn.textContent = "Pause";
     finalScoreEl.textContent = score;
     gameOverEl.classList.add("visible");
   };
 
   const restartGame = () => {
     gameOver = false;
+    isPaused = false;
     score = 0;
     resetChainVisuals();
     balls.forEach((ball) => {
@@ -157,7 +172,10 @@
     });
     balls.length = 0;
     gameOverEl.classList.remove("visible");
+    pauseOverlay.classList.remove("visible");
+    pauseBtn.textContent = "Pause";
     updateHud();
+    Runner.run(runner, engine);
     startSpawner();
   };
 
@@ -166,6 +184,22 @@
     body.render.strokeStyle = on ? "#f8fafc" : "#0b1222";
   };
 
+  const setPaused = (state) => {
+    if (gameOver) return;
+    if (state === isPaused) return;
+    isPaused = state;
+    pauseBtn.textContent = isPaused ? "Resume" : "Pause";
+    pauseOverlay.classList.toggle("visible", isPaused);
+    if (isPaused) {
+      resetChainVisuals();
+      stopSpawner();
+      Runner.stop(runner);
+    } else {
+      startSpawner();
+      Runner.run(runner, engine);
+    }
+  };
+
   const resetChainVisuals = () => {
     chain.bodies.forEach((b) => setHighlight(b, false));
     chain.constraints.forEach((c) => World.remove(world, c));
@@ -220,7 +254,7 @@
   };
 
   const finishChain = (releasePoint) => {
-    if (!chain.active || gameOver) return;
+    if (!chain.active || gameOver || isPaused) return;
     if (chain.bodies.length >= config.minChain) {
       const gain = 10 * Math.pow(chain.bodies.length, 2);
       score += gain;
@@ -264,7 +298,7 @@
   };
 
   const handlePointerDown = (evt) => {
-    if (gameOver) return;
+    if (gameOver || isPaused) return;
     const point = getPointerPosition(evt);
     const body = pickBody(point);
     if (!body) return;
@@ -279,7 +313,7 @@
 
   const handlePointerMove = (evt) => {
     if (!chain.active) return;
-    if (gameOver) return;
+    if (gameOver || isPaused) return;
     const point = getPointerPosition(evt);
     chain.pointer = point;
     const body = pickBody(point);
@@ -407,6 +441,12 @@
 
   window.addEventListener("resize", handleResize);
   restartBtn.addEventListener("click", restartGame);
+  pauseBtn.addEventListener("click", () => setPaused(!isPaused));
+  window.addEventListener("keydown", (e) => {
+    if (e.key === "Escape") {
+      setPaused(!isPaused);
+    }
+  });
   buildLegend();
   updateHud();
   startSpawner();