diff --git a/scenes/level_director/level_director.tscn b/scenes/level_director/level_director.tscn
index e84497c..aa7e1a9 100644
--- a/scenes/level_director/level_director.tscn
+++ b/scenes/level_director/level_director.tscn
@@ -1,8 +1,9 @@
-[gd_scene load_steps=4 format=3 uid="uid://4eo7g5abxolw"]
+[gd_scene load_steps=5 format=3 uid="uid://4eo7g5abxolw"]
 
 [ext_resource type="Script" uid="uid://bio2cjqps6kg1" path="res://scenes/level_director/level_director.gd" id="1_4q8ux"]
 [ext_resource type="Script" uid="uid://dikxx4j1auywf" path="res://scenes/levels/states/level_starting.gd" id="2_ywjt3"]
 [ext_resource type="Script" uid="uid://b33kq05ag5tx6" path="res://scenes/levels/states/level_playing.gd" id="3_v2iy6"]
+[ext_resource type="Script" uid="uid://b0216l7nxo06o" path="res://scenes/levels/states/level_paused.gd" id="4_dhas6"]
 
 [node name="LevelDirector" type="Node" node_paths=PackedStringArray("initial_state")]
 process_mode = 3
@@ -17,3 +18,7 @@ metadata/_custom_type_script = "uid://dioh6egp2x760"
 [node name="Playing" type="Node" parent="."]
 script = ExtResource("3_v2iy6")
 metadata/_custom_type_script = "uid://dioh6egp2x760"
+
+[node name="Paused" type="Node" parent="."]
+script = ExtResource("4_dhas6")
+metadata/_custom_type_script = "uid://dioh6egp2x760"
diff --git a/scenes/levels/states/level_paused.gd b/scenes/levels/states/level_paused.gd
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cbd326a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scenes/levels/states/level_paused.gd
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+extends LevelState
+
+
+var player_id: int
+
+
+func _enter(_previous_state_path: String, _data: Dictionary = {}) -> void:
+	print("entering level paused")
+	assert(_data["player"] == 1 or _data["player"] == 2, "invalid player id passed")
+	player_id = _data["player"]
+	get_tree().paused = true
+
+
+func _handle_input(event: InputEvent) -> void:
+	if event.is_action_pressed("p"+str(player_id)+"_pause"):
+		finished.emit(PLAYING)
diff --git a/scenes/levels/states/level_paused.gd.uid b/scenes/levels/states/level_paused.gd.uid
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..263ba02
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scenes/levels/states/level_paused.gd.uid
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+uid://b0216l7nxo06o