diff --git a/UI/EmuScreen.cpp b/UI/EmuScreen.cpp
index 8c3c74a994..5d5baee855 100644
--- a/UI/EmuScreen.cpp
+++ b/UI/EmuScreen.cpp
@@ -1105,7 +1105,6 @@ void EmuScreen::update() {
 			}
 		}
 	}
-
 }
 
 void EmuScreen::checkPowerDown() {
@@ -1356,8 +1355,7 @@ void EmuScreen::preRender() {
 	// We only bind it in FramebufferManager::CopyDisplayToOutput (unless non-buffered)...
 	// We do, however, start the frame in other ways.
 
-	bool useBufferedRendering = !g_Config.bSkipBufferEffects;
-	if ((!useBufferedRendering && !g_Config.bSoftwareRendering) || Core_IsStepping()) {
+	if ((g_Config.bSkipBufferEffects && !g_Config.bSoftwareRendering) || Core_IsStepping()) {
 		// We need to clear here already so that drawing during the frame is done on a clean slate.
 		if (Core_IsStepping() && gpuStats.numFlips != 0) {
 			draw->BindFramebufferAsRenderTarget(nullptr, { RPAction::KEEP, RPAction::DONT_CARE, RPAction::DONT_CARE }, "EmuScreen_BackBuffer");
@@ -1393,6 +1391,18 @@ void EmuScreen::render() {
 	if (!thin3d)
 		return;  // shouldn't really happen but I've seen a suspicious stack trace..
 
+	// We can still render behind the pause screen.
+	bool paused = screenManager()->topScreen() != this;
+
+	if (paused) {
+		// If we're paused and PauseScreen is transparent (will only be in buffered rendering mode), we just copy display to output.
+		thin3d->BindFramebufferAsRenderTarget(nullptr, { RPAction::CLEAR, RPAction::DONT_CARE, RPAction::DONT_CARE }, "EmuScreen_Paused");
+		if (PSP_IsInited()) {
+			gpu->CopyDisplayToOutput(true);
+		}
+		return;
+	}
+
 	if (invalid_) {
 		// Loading, or after shutdown?
 		if (loadingTextView_->GetVisibility() == UI::V_VISIBLE)
diff --git a/UI/PauseScreen.cpp b/UI/PauseScreen.cpp
index 4cb74d067e..6e3e3d001e 100644
--- a/UI/PauseScreen.cpp
+++ b/UI/PauseScreen.cpp
@@ -364,6 +364,24 @@ GamePauseScreen::~GamePauseScreen() {
 	__DisplaySetWasPaused();
 }
 
+bool GamePauseScreen::isTransparent() const {
+	// We don't support transparent pause screen in skipbuffereffects mode.
+	return !g_Config.bSkipBufferEffects && !IsVREnabled();
+}
+
+void GamePauseScreen::DrawBackground(UIContext &dc) {
+	if (isTransparent()) {
+		// Darken the game screen coming from below, so the UI on top stands out.
+		dc.Flush();
+		uint32_t color = blackAlpha(0.45f);
+		dc.FillRect(UI::Drawable(color), dc.GetBounds());
+		dc.Flush();
+		return;
+	}
+
+	UIDialogScreenWithGameBackground::DrawBackground(dc);
+}
+
 void GamePauseScreen::CreateViews() {
 	static const int NUM_SAVESLOTS = 5;
 
diff --git a/UI/PauseScreen.h b/UI/PauseScreen.h
index 3c66609285..6b48f7bdb2 100644
--- a/UI/PauseScreen.h
+++ b/UI/PauseScreen.h
@@ -31,15 +31,18 @@ public:
 	GamePauseScreen(const Path &filename) : UIDialogScreenWithGameBackground(filename), gamePath_(filename) {}
 	virtual ~GamePauseScreen();
 
-	virtual void dialogFinished(const Screen *dialog, DialogResult dr) override;
+	void dialogFinished(const Screen *dialog, DialogResult dr) override;
 
 	const char *tag() const override { return "GamePause"; }
 
 protected:
-	virtual void CreateViews() override;
-	virtual void update() override;
+	void CreateViews() override;
+	void update() override;
 	void CallbackDeleteConfig(bool yes);
 
+	bool isTransparent() const override;
+	void DrawBackground(UIContext &dc) override;
+
 private:
 	UI::EventReturn OnGameSettings(UI::EventParams &e);
 	UI::EventReturn OnExitToMenu(UI::EventParams &e);