How to Pause Game in Unity

Welcome to the tutorial on implementing a pause feature in Unity. This simple yet essential feature can greatly enhance the player experience. Let's dive into the step-by-step guide:

Step 1: Create a PauseManager Script

• Start by creating a new C# script in Unity and name it "PauseManager" or a name of your choice.

Step 2: Implement the Pause Functionality

• Open the script and replace the existing code with the following:

'PauseManager.cs'

using UnityEngine;

public class PauseManager : MonoBehaviour
{
    private bool isPaused = false;

    // Update is called once per frame
    void Update()
    {
        if (Input.GetKeyDown(KeyCode.Escape))
        {
            if (isPaused)
                ResumeGame();
            else
                PauseGame();
        }
    }

    void PauseGame()
    {
        Time.timeScale = 0f;
        isPaused = true;

        // Pause all audio
        AudioListener.pause = true;
    }

    void ResumeGame()
    {
        Time.timeScale = 1f;
        isPaused = false;

        // Resume all audio
        AudioListener.pause = false;
    }
}

Step 3: Attach the Script to an Empty GameObject

• Create an empty GameObject in your scene and attach the "PauseManager" script to it. This script will now handle the pause functionality, including the pausing and resuming of audio.

Step 4: Customize as Needed

• Feel free to customize the script according to your game's requirements. You can change the key trigger, add additional features, or modify the behavior to suit your specific needs.

Conclusion

Now, when pressing the designated key during runtime (the default is Escape), the game will seamlessly pause, including a pause on all audio. Upon resuming, both the game and audio will smoothly continue, providing a more immersive gaming experience.