diff --git a/src/doomstat.h b/src/doomstat.h
index 92f4dce2d..458fd004e 100644
--- a/src/doomstat.h
+++ b/src/doomstat.h
@@ -803,8 +803,12 @@ struct exitcondition_t
 extern tic_t racecountdown, exitcountdown, musiccountdown;
 extern exitcondition_t g_exit;
 
-extern tic_t darktimer;
-extern fixed_t darkness;
+#define DARKNESS_FADE_TIME (8)
+extern struct darkness_t
+{
+	tic_t start, end;
+	fixed_t value;
+} g_darkness;
 
 #define DEFAULT_GRAVITY (4*FRACUNIT/5)
 extern fixed_t gravity;
diff --git a/src/g_game.c b/src/g_game.c
index 2dfa5a1bc..877840150 100644
--- a/src/g_game.c
+++ b/src/g_game.c
@@ -277,8 +277,7 @@ UINT8 useSeal = 1;
 tic_t racecountdown, exitcountdown, musiccountdown; // for racing
 exitcondition_t g_exit;
 
-tic_t darktimer;
-fixed_t darkness;
+darkness_t g_darkness;
 
 fixed_t gravity;
 fixed_t mapobjectscale;
diff --git a/src/g_game.h b/src/g_game.h
index f66b665f0..d1378ce30 100644
--- a/src/g_game.h
+++ b/src/g_game.h
@@ -85,9 +85,6 @@ extern boolean pausebreakkey;
 
 extern boolean promptactive;
 
-extern tic_t darktimer;
-extern fixed_t darkness;
-
 extern consvar_t cv_tutorialprompt;
 
 extern consvar_t cv_chatwidth, cv_chatnotifications, cv_chatheight, cv_chattime, cv_consolechat, cv_chatbacktint, cv_chatspamprotection;
diff --git a/src/k_kart.c b/src/k_kart.c
index def73ecfd..eff55c946 100644
--- a/src/k_kart.c
+++ b/src/k_kart.c
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ static void K_SpawnDuelOnlyItems(void)
 void K_TimerReset(void)
 {
 	starttime = introtime = 0;
-	darkness = darktimer = 0;
+	memset(&g_darkness, 0, sizeof g_darkness);
 	numbulbs = 1;
 	inDuel = rainbowstartavailable = false;
 	linecrossed = 0;
diff --git a/src/objects/shrink.c b/src/objects/shrink.c
index 04b703328..58b6cf856 100644
--- a/src/objects/shrink.c
+++ b/src/objects/shrink.c
@@ -749,7 +749,8 @@ void Obj_CreateShrinkPohbees(player_t *owner)
 
 	ownerPos = owner->position;
 
-	darktimer = POHBEE_TIME;
+	g_darkness.start = leveltime;
+	g_darkness.end = leveltime + POHBEE_TIME + DARKNESS_FADE_TIME;
 
 	for (i = 0; i < MAXPLAYERS; i++)
 	{
diff --git a/src/p_saveg.c b/src/p_saveg.c
index 7aa5dfd02..9d7f9aba5 100644
--- a/src/p_saveg.c
+++ b/src/p_saveg.c
@@ -6477,8 +6477,8 @@ static void P_NetArchiveMisc(savebuffer_t *save, boolean resending)
 
 	WRITEUINT32(save->p, g_pointlimit);
 
-	WRITEUINT32(save->p, darktimer);
-	WRITEFIXED(save->p, darkness);
+	WRITEUINT32(save->p, g_darkness.start);
+	WRITEUINT32(save->p, g_darkness.end);
 
 	WRITEUINT16(save->p, numchallengedestructibles);
 
@@ -6662,8 +6662,8 @@ static boolean P_NetUnArchiveMisc(savebuffer_t *save, boolean reloading)
 
 	g_pointlimit = READUINT32(save->p);
 
-	darktimer = READUINT32(save->p);
-	darkness = READFIXED(save->p);
+	g_darkness.start = READUINT32(save->p);
+	g_darkness.end = READUINT32(save->p);
 
 	numchallengedestructibles = READUINT16(save->p);
 
diff --git a/src/p_tick.c b/src/p_tick.c
index 15bcd0baa..8a016597f 100644
--- a/src/p_tick.c
+++ b/src/p_tick.c
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@
 #include "k_objects.h"
 #include "music.h"
 #include "k_dialogue.h"
+#include "m_easing.h"
 
 #include "lua_profile.h"
 
@@ -1045,21 +1046,26 @@ void P_Ticker(boolean run)
 		if (racecountdown > 1)
 			racecountdown--;
 
-		const fixed_t darkdelta = FRACUNIT/50;
-		const fixed_t maxdark = FRACUNIT/7;
-		if (darktimer) // dark or darkening
+		if (leveltime <= g_darkness.end)
 		{
-			darktimer--;
-			darkness += darkdelta;
-			darkness = min(darkness, maxdark);
-		}
-		else if (darkness >= darkdelta) // lightening
-		{
-			darkness -= darkdelta;
+			tic_t fade = g_darkness.end - DARKNESS_FADE_TIME;
+			tic_t t;
+
+			if (leveltime < fade) // dark or darkening
+			{
+				t = leveltime - g_darkness.start;
+				t = min(t, DARKNESS_FADE_TIME);
+			}
+			else // lightening
+			{
+				t = g_darkness.end - leveltime;
+			}
+
+			g_darkness.value = Easing_Linear((t * FRACUNIT) / DARKNESS_FADE_TIME, 0, FRACUNIT/7);
 		}
 		else // light
 		{
-			darkness = 0;
+			g_darkness.value = 0;
 		}
 
 		if (exitcountdown >= 1)
diff --git a/src/r_debug.cpp b/src/r_debug.cpp
index f4774f9fc..b4f2409b7 100644
--- a/src/r_debug.cpp
+++ b/src/r_debug.cpp
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ INT32 R_AdjustLightLevel(INT32 light)
 
 	if (!debugrender_highlight && cv_debugrender_contrast.value == 0)
 	{
-		const fixed_t darken = FixedMul(FixedMul(darkness, mapheaderinfo[gamemap-1]->darkness), kRange);
+		const fixed_t darken = FixedMul(FixedMul(g_darkness.value, mapheaderinfo[gamemap-1]->darkness), kRange);
 		return std::clamp((light * FRACUNIT) - darken, 0, kRange) / FRACUNIT;
 	}
 
diff --git a/src/typedef.h b/src/typedef.h
index be029d99a..77625d4cd 100644
--- a/src/typedef.h
+++ b/src/typedef.h
@@ -141,6 +141,7 @@ TYPEDEF (tolinfo_t);
 TYPEDEF (cupheader_t);
 TYPEDEF (unloaded_cupheader_t);
 TYPEDEF (exitcondition_t);
+TYPEDEF (darkness_t);
 
 // font.h
 TYPEDEF (font_t);