diff --git a/Cargo.lock b/Cargo.lock
index 5cd3e862..c0101592 100644
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -2001,6 +2001,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "serde",
  "strum",
  "strum_macros",
+ "unicode-segmentation",
  "winit",
 ]
 
@@ -4137,6 +4138,12 @@ dependencies = [
  "tinyvec",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "unicode-segmentation"
+version = "1.10.1"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "1dd624098567895118886609431a7c3b8f516e41d30e0643f03d94592a147e36"
+
 [[package]]
 name = "unicode-width"
 version = "0.1.10"
diff --git a/Cargo.toml b/Cargo.toml
index 56745350..2cc5d3af 100644
--- a/Cargo.toml
+++ b/Cargo.toml
@@ -64,6 +64,7 @@ polyanya = "0.2.0"
 bevy_pathmesh = "0.3.0"
 bitflags = "1.3.2"
 iyes_progress = "0.7.1"
+unicode-segmentation = "1.10.1"
 
 # keep the following in sync with Bevy's dependencies
 winit = { version = "0.27", default-features = false }
diff --git a/assets/dialogs/follower.dlg.ron b/assets/dialogs/follower.dlg.ron
index dbfdfa49..57658831 100644
--- a/assets/dialogs/follower.dlg.ron
+++ b/assets/dialogs/follower.dlg.ron
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@
         ),
         "page:exit": (
             text: "Goodbye.\n*The creature\'s gaze shifts ever so slightly. It now looks just past you into the void.*",
+            talking_speed: 2.,
             next_page: Exit,
         ),
         "page:main-choice-unnest": (
diff --git a/src/ingame_menu.rs b/src/ingame_menu.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..41e2cc42
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/ingame_menu.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+use crate::player_control::actions::{Actions, ActionsFrozen};
+use crate::GameState;
+use bevy::prelude::*;
+use bevy_egui::{egui, EguiContext};
+
+/// Handles the pause menu accessed while playing the game via ESC.
+pub struct IngameMenuPlugin;
+
+impl Plugin for IngameMenuPlugin {
+    fn build(&self, app: &mut App) {
+        {
+            app.add_system_set(SystemSet::on_update(GameState::Playing).with_system(handle_pause));
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+fn handle_pause(
+    mut time: ResMut<Time>,
+    actions: Res<Actions>,
+    mut actions_frozen: ResMut<ActionsFrozen>,
+    mut egui_context: ResMut<EguiContext>,
+    mut paused: Local<bool>,
+) {
+    let toggled = actions.ui.toggle_pause;
+    if *paused {
+        if toggled {
+            *paused = false;
+            time.unpause();
+            actions_frozen.unfreeze();
+        } else {
+            egui::CentralPanel::default()
+                .frame(egui::Frame {
+                    fill: egui::Color32::from_black_alpha(240),
+                    ..default()
+                })
+                .show(egui_context.ctx_mut(), |ui| {
+                    ui.vertical_centered_justified(|ui| {
+                        ui.visuals_mut().override_text_color = Some(egui::Color32::WHITE);
+                        ui.add_space(100.0);
+                        ui.heading("Game Paused");
+                        ui.separator();
+                        ui.label("Press ESC to resume");
+                    });
+                });
+        }
+    } else if toggled {
+        *paused = true;
+        time.pause();
+        actions_frozen.freeze();
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/lib.rs b/src/lib.rs
index bfd05c07..a8c1df42 100644
--- a/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/lib.rs
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ pub mod bevy_config;
 #[cfg(feature = "dev")]
 pub mod dev;
 pub mod file_system_interaction;
+pub mod ingame_menu;
 pub mod level_instantiation;
 pub mod menu;
 pub mod movement;
@@ -27,6 +28,7 @@ pub use crate::bevy_config::BevyConfigPlugin;
 #[cfg(feature = "dev")]
 use crate::dev::DevPlugin;
 use crate::file_system_interaction::FileSystemInteractionPlugin;
+use crate::ingame_menu::IngameMenuPlugin;
 use crate::level_instantiation::LevelInstantiationPlugin;
 use crate::menu::MenuPlugin;
 use crate::movement::MovementPlugin;
@@ -57,6 +59,7 @@ enum GameState {
 /// - [`FileSystemInteractionPlugin`]: Handles the loading and saving of games.
 /// - [`ShaderPlugin`]: Handles the shaders.
 /// - [`DevPlugin`]: Handles the dev tools.
+/// - [`IngameMenuPlugin`]: Handles the ingame menu accessed via ESC.
 pub struct GamePlugin;
 
 impl Plugin for GamePlugin {
@@ -69,7 +72,8 @@ impl Plugin for GamePlugin {
             .add_plugin(WorldInteractionPlugin)
             .add_plugin(LevelInstantiationPlugin)
             .add_plugin(FileSystemInteractionPlugin)
-            .add_plugin(ShaderPlugin);
+            .add_plugin(ShaderPlugin)
+            .add_plugin(IngameMenuPlugin);
         #[cfg(feature = "dev")]
         app.add_plugin(DevPlugin);
     }
diff --git a/src/player_control/actions.rs b/src/player_control/actions.rs
index 4b976e9c..031be10f 100644
--- a/src/player_control/actions.rs
+++ b/src/player_control/actions.rs
@@ -72,7 +72,9 @@ pub struct CameraActions {
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Reflect, FromReflect, Default, Serialize, Deserialize)]
 #[reflect(Serialize, Deserialize)]
 pub struct UiActions {
+    #[cfg(feature = "dev")]
     pub toggle_editor: bool,
+    pub toggle_pause: bool,
     pub numbered_choice: [bool; 10],
 }
 
@@ -85,6 +87,7 @@ pub fn set_actions(
 ) {
     *actions = default();
     actions.ui.toggle_editor = GameControl::ToggleEditor.just_pressed(&keyboard_input);
+    actions.ui.toggle_pause = GameControl::TogglePause.just_pressed(&keyboard_input);
     for i in 0..=9 {
         actions.ui.numbered_choice[i] =
             GameControl::NumberedChoice(i as u16).just_pressed(&keyboard_input);
diff --git a/src/player_control/actions/game_control.rs b/src/player_control/actions/game_control.rs
index 9fedfd89..dd108eee 100644
--- a/src/player_control/actions/game_control.rs
+++ b/src/player_control/actions/game_control.rs
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ pub enum GameControl {
     Sprint,
     Jump,
     ToggleEditor,
+    TogglePause,
     Interact,
     NumberedChoice(u16),
 }
@@ -149,6 +150,8 @@ generate_bindings! {
             #[cfg(target_os = "linux")] 0x10,
             #[cfg(target_arch = "wasm32")] 0x10,
         ),
+    ],
+    GameControl::TogglePause => [
         // Esc
         ScanCode(
             #[cfg(target_os = "macos")] 53,
diff --git a/src/world_interaction/dialog.rs b/src/world_interaction/dialog.rs
index 960d0a97..3f6027c0 100644
--- a/src/world_interaction/dialog.rs
+++ b/src/world_interaction/dialog.rs
@@ -2,15 +2,16 @@ use crate::file_system_interaction::asset_loading::DialogAssets;
 use crate::player_control::actions::{Actions, ActionsFrozen, UiActions};
 use crate::util::log_error::log_errors;
 use crate::world_interaction::condition::{ActiveConditions, ConditionAddEvent, ConditionId};
+use crate::world_interaction::dialog::resources::Page;
 pub use crate::world_interaction::dialog::resources::{
     CurrentDialog, Dialog, DialogEvent, DialogId, InitialPage, NextPage,
 };
 use crate::GameState;
 use anyhow::{Context, Result};
 use bevy::prelude::*;
-use bevy_egui::egui::Color32;
 use bevy_egui::{egui, EguiContext, EguiPlugin};
 use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
+use unicode_segmentation::UnicodeSegmentation;
 
 mod resources;
 
@@ -85,6 +86,7 @@ fn set_current_dialog(
     Ok(())
 }
 
+#[allow(clippy::too_many_arguments)]
 fn show_dialog(
     mut commands: Commands,
     current_dialog: Option<ResMut<CurrentDialog>>,
@@ -93,39 +95,62 @@ fn show_dialog(
     mut egui_context: ResMut<EguiContext>,
     mut actions_frozen: ResMut<ActionsFrozen>,
     actions: Res<Actions>,
+    time: Res<Time>,
+    mut elapsed_time: Local<f32>,
 ) -> Result<()> {
     let mut current_dialog = match current_dialog {
         Some(current_dialog) => current_dialog,
-        None => return Ok(()),
+        None => {
+            *elapsed_time = 0.0;
+            return Ok(());
+        }
     };
-    let height = 150.;
     let current_page = current_dialog.fetch_current_page()?;
-    egui::TopBottomPanel::bottom("Dialog")
+    let dialog_text = create_dialog_rich_text(&current_page, *elapsed_time);
+
+    let dialog_size = egui::Vec2::new(500., 150.);
+    egui::Window::new("Dialog")
+        .resizable(true)
+        .anchor(egui::Align2::CENTER_BOTTOM, egui::Vec2::new(0., -30.))
+        .collapsible(false)
         .resizable(false)
-        .exact_height(height)
+        .title_bar(false)
         .frame(egui::Frame {
-            fill: Color32::from_black_alpha(250),
+            fill: egui::Color32::from_black_alpha(220),
+            inner_margin: egui::style::Margin::same(25.),
+            rounding: egui::Rounding::same(30.0),
             ..default()
         })
         .show(egui_context.ctx_mut(), |ui| {
-            ui.vertical_centered_justified(|ui| {
-                ui.add_space(5.);
-                ui.label(current_page.text.clone());
-                ui.add_space(8.);
-                present_choices(
-                    ui,
-                    &mut commands,
-                    &mut current_dialog,
-                    &active_conditions,
-                    &mut condition_writer,
-                    &mut actions_frozen,
-                    &actions.ui,
-                    current_page.next_page,
-                )
-                .expect("Failed to present dialog choices");
+            ui.set_width(dialog_size.x);
+            ui.set_height(dialog_size.y);
+
+            let style = ui.style_mut();
+            style.visuals.button_frame = false;
+            style.visuals.override_text_color = Some(egui::Color32::WHITE);
+            ui.vertical(|ui| {
                 ui.add_space(5.);
+                ui.label(dialog_text.clone());
+                if dialog_text.text() == current_page.text {
+                    ui.add_space(3.);
+                    ui.separator();
+                    ui.add_space(8.);
+                    present_choices(
+                        ui,
+                        &mut commands,
+                        &mut current_dialog,
+                        &active_conditions,
+                        &mut condition_writer,
+                        &mut actions_frozen,
+                        &actions.ui,
+                        current_page.next_page,
+                        &mut elapsed_time,
+                    )
+                    .expect("Failed to present dialog choices");
+                }
             });
         });
+    *elapsed_time += time.delta_seconds();
     Ok(())
 }
 
@@ -139,11 +164,14 @@ fn present_choices(
     actions_frozen: &mut ActionsFrozen,
     actions: &UiActions,
     next_page: NextPage,
+    elapsed_time: &mut f32,
 ) -> Result<()> {
     match next_page {
         NextPage::Continue(next_page_id) => {
-            if ui.button("1. Continue").clicked() || actions.numbered_choice[1] {
+            let text = create_choice_rich_text(0, "Continue");
+            if ui.button(text).clicked() || actions.numbered_choice[1] {
                 current_dialog.current_page = next_page_id;
+                *elapsed_time = 0.0;
             }
         }
         NextPage::Choice(choices) => {
@@ -156,9 +184,8 @@ fn present_choices(
                 })
                 .enumerate()
             {
-                let index = index + 1;
-                let text = format!("{}. {}", index, choice.text);
-                if ui.button(text).clicked() || actions.numbered_choice[index] {
+                let text = create_choice_rich_text(index, &choice.text);
+                if ui.button(text).clicked() || actions.numbered_choice[index + 1] {
                     picked_choice = Some((choice_id.clone(), choice.clone()));
                 }
             }
@@ -166,6 +193,7 @@ fn present_choices(
                 condition_writer.send(ConditionAddEvent(choice_id.clone()));
                 current_dialog.last_choice = Some(choice_id);
                 current_dialog.current_page = choice.next_page_id;
+                *elapsed_time = 0.0;
             }
         }
         NextPage::SameAs(other_page_id) => {
@@ -179,10 +207,12 @@ fn present_choices(
                 actions_frozen,
                 actions,
                 next_page,
+                elapsed_time,
             )?;
         }
         NextPage::Exit => {
-            if ui.button("1. Exit").clicked() || actions.numbered_choice[1] {
+            let text = create_choice_rich_text(0, "Exit");
+            if ui.button(text).clicked() || actions.numbered_choice[1] {
                 commands.remove_resource::<CurrentDialog>();
                 actions_frozen.unfreeze();
             }
@@ -191,6 +221,22 @@ fn present_choices(
     Ok(())
 }
 
+fn create_dialog_rich_text(page: &Page, elapsed_time: f32) -> egui::RichText {
+    const BASE_LETTERS_PER_SECOND: f32 = 60.;
+    let letters_to_display = (BASE_LETTERS_PER_SECOND * page.talking_speed * elapsed_time) as usize;
+    let text: String = page.text.graphemes(true).take(letters_to_display).collect();
+    egui::RichText::new(text)
+        .color(egui::Color32::from_gray(250))
+        .size(16.)
+}
+
+fn create_choice_rich_text(index: usize, text: &str) -> egui::RichText {
+    let text = format!("{}. {}", index + 1, text);
+    egui::RichText::new(text)
+        .color(egui::Color32::from_gray(220))
+        .size(14.)
+}
+
 fn was_just_picked(current_dialog: &CurrentDialog, choice_id: &ConditionId) -> bool {
     current_dialog
         .last_choice
diff --git a/src/world_interaction/dialog/resources.rs b/src/world_interaction/dialog/resources.rs
index 78a21f31..7874f1c2 100644
--- a/src/world_interaction/dialog/resources.rs
+++ b/src/world_interaction/dialog/resources.rs
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ pub struct DialogEvent {
     pub page: Option<PageId>,
 }
 
-#[derive(Debug, Clone, Eq, PartialEq, Resource, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Resource, Serialize, Deserialize)]
 pub struct CurrentDialog {
     pub source: Entity,
     pub id: DialogId,
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ impl CurrentDialog {
     }
 }
 
-#[derive(Debug, Clone, Eq, PartialEq, Serialize, Deserialize, TypeUuid, Default)]
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Serialize, Deserialize, TypeUuid, Default)]
 #[uuid = "f7c10043-7196-4ead-a4dd-040c33798a62"]
 pub struct Dialog {
     pub initial_page: Vec<InitialPage>,
@@ -59,12 +59,28 @@ impl InitialPage {
     }
 }
 
-#[derive(Debug, Clone, Eq, PartialEq, Serialize, Deserialize, Default)]
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Serialize, Deserialize)]
 pub struct Page {
     pub text: String,
+    #[serde(default = "get_default_talking_speed")]
+    pub talking_speed: f32,
     pub next_page: NextPage,
 }
 
+fn get_default_talking_speed() -> f32 {
+    1.
+}
+
+impl Default for Page {
+    fn default() -> Self {
+        Self {
+            text: default(),
+            talking_speed: get_default_talking_speed(),
+            next_page: default(),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, Eq, PartialEq, Serialize, Deserialize)]
 pub enum NextPage {
     /// There is only one automatic option for the next page