diff --git a/src/doomstat.h b/src/doomstat.h
index 26ea96cdb..fbbd72e3a 100644
--- a/src/doomstat.h
+++ b/src/doomstat.h
@@ -777,6 +777,9 @@ struct exitcondition_t
 extern tic_t racecountdown, exitcountdown, musiccountdown;
 extern exitcondition_t g_exit;
 
+extern tic_t darktimer;
+extern fixed_t darkness;
+
 #define DEFAULT_GRAVITY (4*FRACUNIT/5)
 extern fixed_t gravity;
 extern fixed_t mapobjectscale;
diff --git a/src/g_game.c b/src/g_game.c
index b01856ba2..dd4b95c4d 100644
--- a/src/g_game.c
+++ b/src/g_game.c
@@ -279,6 +279,9 @@ mobj_t *hunt3;
 tic_t racecountdown, exitcountdown, musiccountdown; // for racing
 exitcondition_t g_exit;
 
+tic_t darktimer;
+fixed_t darkness;
+
 fixed_t gravity;
 fixed_t mapobjectscale;
 
diff --git a/src/g_game.h b/src/g_game.h
index 9d9593ce5..885c7a44b 100644
--- a/src/g_game.h
+++ b/src/g_game.h
@@ -86,6 +86,8 @@ extern boolean pausebreakkey;
 
 extern boolean promptactive;
 
+extern tic_t darktimer;
+extern fixed_t darkness;
 
 extern consvar_t cv_tutorialprompt;
 
diff --git a/src/k_kart.c b/src/k_kart.c
index 7577ce31d..03dffd662 100644
--- a/src/k_kart.c
+++ b/src/k_kart.c
@@ -101,6 +101,7 @@ static void K_SpawnDuelOnlyItems(void)
 void K_TimerReset(void)
 {
 	starttime = introtime = 0;
+	darkness = darktimer = 0;
 	numbulbs = 1;
 	inDuel = rainbowstartavailable = false;
 	timelimitintics = extratimeintics = secretextratime = 0;
diff --git a/src/objects/shrink.c b/src/objects/shrink.c
index e5dd2b8c6..23613ff52 100644
--- a/src/objects/shrink.c
+++ b/src/objects/shrink.c
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@
 // ██║░░░░░██║██╔╝╚██╗██║░╚═╝░██║███████╗
 // ╚═╝░░░░░╚═╝╚═╝░░╚═╝╚═╝░░░░░╚═╝╚══════╝
 //
-// vertical flip
+// FIXME (because it was completely unsearchable): vertical flip
 //
 
 #define POHBEE_HOVER (128 << FRACBITS)
@@ -544,7 +544,7 @@ boolean Obj_ShrinkLaserCollide(mobj_t *gun, mobj_t *victim)
 			K_RemoveGrowShrink(victim->player);
 		}
 
-		victim->player->growshrinktimer += 3*TICRATE;
+		victim->player->growshrinktimer += 6*TICRATE;
 		S_StartSound(victim, sfx_kc5a);
 
 		if (prevTimer <= 0)
@@ -739,6 +739,8 @@ void Obj_CreateShrinkPohbees(player_t *owner)
 
 	ownerPos = owner->position;
 
+	darktimer = POHBEE_TIME;
+
 	for (i = 0; i < MAXPLAYERS; i++)
 	{
 		player_t *player = NULL;
diff --git a/src/p_saveg.c b/src/p_saveg.c
index dba172f72..e9e17f65e 100644
--- a/src/p_saveg.c
+++ b/src/p_saveg.c
@@ -5875,6 +5875,9 @@ static void P_NetArchiveMisc(savebuffer_t *save, boolean resending)
 
 	WRITEUINT32(save->p, g_pointlimit);
 
+	WRITEUINT32(save->p, darktimer);
+	WRITEUINT32(save->p, darkness);
+
 	// Is it paused?
 	if (paused)
 		WRITEUINT8(save->p, 0x2f);
@@ -6054,6 +6057,9 @@ static boolean P_NetUnArchiveMisc(savebuffer_t *save, boolean reloading)
 
 	g_pointlimit = READUINT32(save->p);
 
+	darktimer = READUINT32(save->p);
+	darkness = READUINT32(save->p);
+
 	// Is it paused?
 	if (READUINT8(save->p) == 0x2f)
 		paused = true;
diff --git a/src/p_tick.c b/src/p_tick.c
index b478a6668..ebcee3991 100644
--- a/src/p_tick.c
+++ b/src/p_tick.c
@@ -942,6 +942,23 @@ void P_Ticker(boolean run)
 		if (racecountdown > 1)
 			racecountdown--;
 
+
+		const fixed_t darkdelta = FRACUNIT/50;
+		if (darktimer) // dark or darkening
+		{
+			darktimer--;
+			darkness += darkdelta;
+			darkness = min(darkness, FRACUNIT/6);
+		}
+		else if (darkness >= darkdelta) // lightening
+		{
+			darkness -= darkdelta;
+		}
+		else // light
+		{
+			darkness = 0;
+		}
+
 		if (exitcountdown > 1)
 		{
 			exitcountdown--;
diff --git a/src/r_debug.cpp b/src/r_debug.cpp
index b7f88a561..500816305 100644
--- a/src/r_debug.cpp
+++ b/src/r_debug.cpp
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
 #include "m_fixed.h"
 #include "r_draw.h"
 #include "r_main.h"
+#include "g_game.h"
 
 using namespace srb2::r_debug;
 
@@ -38,12 +39,14 @@ void R_CheckDebugHighlight(debugrender_highlight_t k)
 
 INT32 R_AdjustLightLevel(INT32 light)
 {
+	constexpr fixed_t kRange = (LIGHTLEVELS - 1) * FRACUNIT;
+
 	if (!debugrender_highlight && cv_debugrender_contrast.value == 0)
 	{
-		return light;
+		const fixed_t darken = FixedMul(darkness, kRange);
+		return std::clamp((light * FRACUNIT) - darken, 0, kRange) / FRACUNIT;
 	}
 
-	constexpr fixed_t kRange = (LIGHTLEVELS - 1) * FRACUNIT;
 	const fixed_t adjust = FixedMul(cv_debugrender_contrast.value, kRange);
 
 	if (debugrender_highlight)