diff --git a/osu.Game/Configuration/OsuConfigManager.cs b/osu.Game/Configuration/OsuConfigManager.cs
index 42474ce80b..b000f08369 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Configuration/OsuConfigManager.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Configuration/OsuConfigManager.cs
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Configuration
             // Graphics
             Set(OsuSetting.ShowFpsDisplay, false);
 
+            Set(OsuSetting.ShowStoryboard, true);
             Set(OsuSetting.CursorRotation, true);
 
             Set(OsuSetting.MenuParallax, true);
@@ -89,6 +90,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Configuration
         GameplayCursorSize,
         AutoCursorSize,
         DimLevel,
+        ShowStoryboard,
         KeyOverlay,
         FloatingComments,
         PlaybackSpeed,
diff --git a/osu.Game/Overlays/Settings/Sections/Graphics/DetailSettings.cs b/osu.Game/Overlays/Settings/Sections/Graphics/DetailSettings.cs
index 0e348f3791..00e6b8b722 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Overlays/Settings/Sections/Graphics/DetailSettings.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Overlays/Settings/Sections/Graphics/DetailSettings.cs
@@ -14,6 +14,11 @@ namespace osu.Game.Overlays.Settings.Sections.Graphics
         {
             Children = new[]
             {
+                new SettingsCheckbox
+                {
+                    LabelText = "Storyboards",
+                    Bindable = config.GetBindable<bool>(OsuSetting.ShowStoryboard)
+                },
                 new SettingsCheckbox
                 {
                     LabelText = "Rotate cursor when dragging",
diff --git a/osu.Game/Screens/Play/Player.cs b/osu.Game/Screens/Play/Player.cs
index 593abb7d26..e120c7f193 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Screens/Play/Player.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Screens/Play/Player.cs
@@ -24,6 +24,8 @@ using osu.Game.Screens.Ranking;
 using osu.Framework.Audio.Sample;
 using osu.Game.Beatmaps;
 using osu.Game.Online.API;
+using osu.Game.Storyboards.Drawables;
+using OpenTK.Graphics;
 
 namespace osu.Game.Screens.Play
 {
@@ -59,6 +61,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Screens.Play
         #region User Settings
 
         private Bindable<double> dimLevel;
+        private Bindable<bool> showStoryboard;
         private Bindable<bool> mouseWheelDisabled;
         private Bindable<double> userAudioOffset;
 
@@ -66,6 +69,9 @@ namespace osu.Game.Screens.Play
 
         #endregion
 
+        private Container storyboardContainer;
+        private DrawableStoryboard storyboard;
+
         private HUDOverlay hudOverlay;
         private FailOverlay failOverlay;
 
@@ -77,6 +83,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Screens.Play
             this.api = api;
 
             dimLevel = config.GetBindable<double>(OsuSetting.DimLevel);
+            showStoryboard = config.GetBindable<bool>(OsuSetting.ShowStoryboard);
 
             mouseWheelDisabled = config.GetBindable<bool>(OsuSetting.MouseDisableWheel);
 
@@ -145,6 +152,12 @@ namespace osu.Game.Screens.Play
 
             Children = new Drawable[]
             {
+                storyboardContainer = new Container
+                {
+                    RelativeSizeAxes = Axes.Both,
+                    Clock = offsetClock,
+                    Alpha = 0,
+                },
                 pauseContainer = new PauseContainer
                 {
                     AudioClock = decoupledClock,
@@ -196,6 +209,9 @@ namespace osu.Game.Screens.Play
 
             scoreProcessor = RulesetContainer.CreateScoreProcessor();
 
+            if (showStoryboard)
+                initializeStoryboard(false);
+
             hudOverlay.BindProcessor(scoreProcessor);
             hudOverlay.BindRulesetContainer(RulesetContainer);
 
@@ -211,6 +227,16 @@ namespace osu.Game.Screens.Play
             scoreProcessor.Failed += onFail;
         }
 
+        private void initializeStoryboard(bool asyncLoad)
+        {
+            var beatmap = Beatmap.Value.Beatmap;
+
+            storyboard = beatmap.Storyboard.CreateDrawable(Beatmap.Value);
+            storyboard.Masking = true;
+
+            storyboardContainer.Add(asyncLoad ? new AsyncLoadWrapper(storyboard) { RelativeSizeAxes = Axes.Both } : (Drawable)storyboard);
+        }
+
         public void Restart()
         {
             sampleRestart?.Play();
@@ -266,12 +292,12 @@ namespace osu.Game.Screens.Play
                 return;
 
             (Background as BackgroundScreenBeatmap)?.BlurTo(Vector2.Zero, 1500, Easing.OutQuint);
-            Background?.FadeTo(1 - (float)dimLevel, 1500, Easing.OutQuint);
+
+            dimLevel.ValueChanged += dimLevel_ValueChanged;
+            showStoryboard.ValueChanged += showStoryboard_ValueChanged;
+            updateBackgroundElements();
 
             Content.Alpha = 0;
-
-            dimLevel.ValueChanged += newDim => Background?.FadeTo(1 - (float)newDim, 800);
-
             Content
                 .ScaleTo(0.7f)
                 .ScaleTo(1, 750, Easing.OutQuint)
@@ -310,8 +336,33 @@ namespace osu.Game.Screens.Play
             return true;
         }
 
+        private void dimLevel_ValueChanged(double newValue)
+            => updateBackgroundElements();
+
+        private void showStoryboard_ValueChanged(bool newValue)
+            => updateBackgroundElements();
+
+        private void updateBackgroundElements()
+        {
+            var opacity = 1 - (float)dimLevel;
+
+            if (showStoryboard && storyboard == null)
+                initializeStoryboard(true);
+
+            var beatmap = Beatmap.Value;
+            var storyboardVisible = showStoryboard && beatmap.Beatmap.Storyboard.HasDrawable;
+
+            storyboardContainer.FadeColour(new Color4(opacity, opacity, opacity, 1), 800);
+            storyboardContainer.FadeTo(storyboardVisible && opacity > 0 ? 1 : 0);
+
+            Background?.FadeTo(!storyboardVisible || beatmap.Background == null ? opacity : 0, 800, Easing.OutQuint);
+        }
+
         private void fadeOut()
         {
+            dimLevel.ValueChanged -= dimLevel_ValueChanged;
+            showStoryboard.ValueChanged -= showStoryboard_ValueChanged;
+
             const float fade_out_duration = 250;
 
             RulesetContainer?.FadeOut(fade_out_duration);
diff --git a/osu.Game/Storyboards/CommandLoop.cs b/osu.Game/Storyboards/CommandLoop.cs
index 02b5eb0122..0d8b57e46c 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Storyboards/CommandLoop.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Storyboards/CommandLoop.cs
@@ -10,8 +10,8 @@ namespace osu.Game.Storyboards
         public double LoopStartTime;
         public int LoopCount;
 
-        public override double StartTime => LoopStartTime;
-        public override double EndTime => LoopStartTime + CommandsDuration * LoopCount;
+        public override double StartTime => LoopStartTime + CommandsStartTime;
+        public override double EndTime => StartTime + CommandsDuration * LoopCount;
 
         public CommandLoop(double startTime, int loopCount)
         {
diff --git a/osu.Game/Storyboards/Drawables/DrawableStoryboard.cs b/osu.Game/Storyboards/Drawables/DrawableStoryboard.cs
index f88e5d118f..5df88b342f 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Storyboards/Drawables/DrawableStoryboard.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Storyboards/Drawables/DrawableStoryboard.cs
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ using OpenTK;
 using osu.Framework.Allocation;
 using osu.Framework.Graphics;
 using osu.Framework.Graphics.Containers;
+using osu.Framework.Graphics.Sprites;
 using osu.Framework.Graphics.Textures;
 using osu.Game.IO;
 
@@ -14,6 +15,16 @@ namespace osu.Game.Storyboards.Drawables
     {
         public Storyboard Storyboard { get; private set; }
 
+        private readonly Background background;
+        public Texture BackgroundTexture
+        {
+            get { return background.Texture; }
+            set { background.Texture = value; }
+        }
+
+        private readonly Container<DrawableStoryboardLayer> content;
+        protected override Container<DrawableStoryboardLayer> Content => content;
+
         protected override Vector2 DrawScale => new Vector2(Parent.DrawHeight / 480);
         public override bool HandleInput => false;
 
@@ -39,6 +50,18 @@ namespace osu.Game.Storyboards.Drawables
             Size = new Vector2(640, 480);
             Anchor = Anchor.Centre;
             Origin = Anchor.Centre;
+
+            AddInternal(background = new Background
+            {
+                Anchor = Anchor.Centre,
+                Origin = Anchor.Centre,
+            });
+            AddInternal(content = new Container<DrawableStoryboardLayer>
+            {
+                Size = new Vector2(640, 480),
+                Anchor = Anchor.Centre,
+                Origin = Anchor.Centre,
+            });
         }
 
         [BackgroundDependencyLoader]
@@ -55,5 +78,10 @@ namespace osu.Game.Storyboards.Drawables
             foreach (var layer in Children)
                 layer.Enabled = passing ? layer.Layer.EnabledWhenPassing : layer.Layer.EnabledWhenFailing;
         }
+
+        private class Background : Sprite
+        {
+            protected override Vector2 DrawScale => Texture != null ? new Vector2(Parent.DrawHeight / Texture.DisplayHeight) : base.DrawScale;
+        }
     }
 }
diff --git a/osu.Game/Storyboards/Drawables/DrawableStoryboardAnimation.cs b/osu.Game/Storyboards/Drawables/DrawableStoryboardAnimation.cs
index d8b7d05ee9..9757756316 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Storyboards/Drawables/DrawableStoryboardAnimation.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Storyboards/Drawables/DrawableStoryboardAnimation.cs
@@ -14,9 +14,6 @@ namespace osu.Game.Storyboards.Drawables
     {
         public StoryboardAnimation Animation { get; private set; }
 
-        protected override bool ShouldBeAlive => Animation.HasCommands && base.ShouldBeAlive;
-        public override bool RemoveWhenNotAlive => !Animation.HasCommands || base.RemoveWhenNotAlive;
-
         public bool FlipH { get; set; }
         public bool FlipV { get; set; }
 
@@ -59,11 +56,8 @@ namespace osu.Game.Storyboards.Drawables
             Position = animation.InitialPosition;
             Repeat = animation.LoopType == AnimationLoopType.LoopForever;
 
-            if (animation.HasCommands)
-            {
-                LifetimeStart = animation.StartTime;
-                LifetimeEnd = animation.EndTime;
-            }
+            LifetimeStart = animation.StartTime;
+            LifetimeEnd = animation.EndTime;
         }
 
         [BackgroundDependencyLoader]
diff --git a/osu.Game/Storyboards/Drawables/DrawableStoryboardLayer.cs b/osu.Game/Storyboards/Drawables/DrawableStoryboardLayer.cs
index 2b5db5b6fa..737704f6d0 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Storyboards/Drawables/DrawableStoryboardLayer.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Storyboards/Drawables/DrawableStoryboardLayer.cs
@@ -28,9 +28,8 @@ namespace osu.Game.Storyboards.Drawables
         {
             foreach (var element in Layer.Elements)
             {
-                var drawable = element.CreateDrawable();
-                if (drawable != null)
-                    Add(drawable);
+                if (element.IsDrawable)
+                    Add(element.CreateDrawable());
             }
         }
     }
diff --git a/osu.Game/Storyboards/Drawables/DrawableStoryboardSprite.cs b/osu.Game/Storyboards/Drawables/DrawableStoryboardSprite.cs
index 4b491fa008..9153b3e514 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Storyboards/Drawables/DrawableStoryboardSprite.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Storyboards/Drawables/DrawableStoryboardSprite.cs
@@ -14,9 +14,6 @@ namespace osu.Game.Storyboards.Drawables
     {
         public StoryboardSprite Sprite { get; private set; }
 
-        protected override bool ShouldBeAlive => Sprite.HasCommands && base.ShouldBeAlive;
-        public override bool RemoveWhenNotAlive => !Sprite.HasCommands || base.RemoveWhenNotAlive;
-
         public bool FlipH { get; set; }
         public bool FlipV { get; set; }
 
@@ -58,11 +55,8 @@ namespace osu.Game.Storyboards.Drawables
             Origin = sprite.Origin;
             Position = sprite.InitialPosition;
 
-            if (sprite.HasCommands)
-            {
-                LifetimeStart = sprite.StartTime;
-                LifetimeEnd = sprite.EndTime;
-            }
+            LifetimeStart = sprite.StartTime;
+            LifetimeEnd = sprite.EndTime;
         }
 
         [BackgroundDependencyLoader]
diff --git a/osu.Game/Storyboards/IStoryboardElement.cs b/osu.Game/Storyboards/IStoryboardElement.cs
index d5fc86b0f7..74b6a8d8bc 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Storyboards/IStoryboardElement.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Storyboards/IStoryboardElement.cs
@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@ namespace osu.Game.Storyboards
     public interface IStoryboardElement
     {
         string Path { get; }
+        bool IsDrawable { get; }
+
         Drawable CreateDrawable();
     }
 }
diff --git a/osu.Game/Storyboards/Storyboard.cs b/osu.Game/Storyboards/Storyboard.cs
index 111cdd5d41..59cbe74650 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Storyboards/Storyboard.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Storyboards/Storyboard.cs
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 // Copyright (c) 2007-2017 ppy Pty Ltd <contact@ppy.sh>.
 // Licensed under the MIT Licence - https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ppy/osu/master/LICENCE
 
+using osu.Game.Beatmaps;
 using osu.Game.Storyboards.Drawables;
 using System.Collections.Generic;
 using System.Linq;
@@ -12,6 +13,8 @@ namespace osu.Game.Storyboards
         private readonly Dictionary<string, StoryboardLayer> layers = new Dictionary<string, StoryboardLayer>();
         public IEnumerable<StoryboardLayer> Layers => layers.Values;
 
+        public bool HasDrawable => Layers.Any(l => l.Elements.Any(e => e.IsDrawable));
+
         public Storyboard()
         {
             layers.Add("Background", new StoryboardLayer("Background", 3));
@@ -29,7 +32,32 @@ namespace osu.Game.Storyboards
             return layer;
         }
 
-        public DrawableStoryboard CreateDrawable()
-            => new DrawableStoryboard(this);
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Whether the beatmap's background should be hidden while this storyboard is being displayed.
+        /// </summary>
+        public bool ReplacesBackground(BeatmapInfo beatmapInfo)
+        {
+            var backgroundPath = beatmapInfo.BeatmapSet?.Metadata?.BackgroundFile?.ToLowerInvariant();
+            if (backgroundPath == null)
+                return false;
+
+            return GetLayer("Background").Elements.Any(e => e.Path.ToLowerInvariant() == backgroundPath);
+        }
+
+        public float AspectRatio(BeatmapInfo beatmapInfo)
+            => beatmapInfo.WidescreenStoryboard ? 16 / 9f : 4 / 3f;
+
+        public DrawableStoryboard CreateDrawable(WorkingBeatmap working = null)
+        {
+            var drawable = new DrawableStoryboard(this);
+            if (working != null)
+            {
+                var beatmapInfo = working.Beatmap.BeatmapInfo;
+                drawable.Width = drawable.Height * AspectRatio(beatmapInfo);
+                if (!ReplacesBackground(beatmapInfo))
+                    drawable.BackgroundTexture = working.Background;
+            }
+            return drawable;
+        }
     }
 }
diff --git a/osu.Game/Storyboards/StoryboardSample.cs b/osu.Game/Storyboards/StoryboardSample.cs
index bcf6a4329d..e7a157c2f4 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Storyboards/StoryboardSample.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Storyboards/StoryboardSample.cs
@@ -2,12 +2,15 @@
 // Licensed under the MIT Licence - https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ppy/osu/master/LICENCE
 
 using osu.Framework.Graphics;
+using System;
 
 namespace osu.Game.Storyboards
 {
     public class StoryboardSample : IStoryboardElement
     {
         public string Path { get; set; }
+        public bool IsDrawable => false;
+
         public double Time;
         public float Volume;
 
@@ -19,6 +22,8 @@ namespace osu.Game.Storyboards
         }
 
         public Drawable CreateDrawable()
-            => null;
+        {
+            throw new InvalidOperationException();
+        }
     }
 }
diff --git a/osu.Game/Storyboards/StoryboardSprite.cs b/osu.Game/Storyboards/StoryboardSprite.cs
index 598167d720..349a59dee0 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Storyboards/StoryboardSprite.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Storyboards/StoryboardSprite.cs
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@ namespace osu.Game.Storyboards
         private readonly List<CommandTrigger> triggers = new List<CommandTrigger>();
 
         public string Path { get; set; }
+        public bool IsDrawable => HasCommands;
+
         public Anchor Origin;
         public Vector2 InitialPosition;
 
diff --git a/osu.Game/Tests/Visual/TestCaseStoryboard.cs b/osu.Game/Tests/Visual/TestCaseStoryboard.cs
index f7ac58c632..c6ef3f4ecf 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Tests/Visual/TestCaseStoryboard.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Tests/Visual/TestCaseStoryboard.cs
@@ -79,11 +79,13 @@ namespace osu.Game.Tests.Visual
                 storyboardContainer.Remove(storyboard);
 
             var decoupledClock = new DecoupleableInterpolatingFramedClock { IsCoupled = true };
-            decoupledClock.ChangeSource(working.Track);
             storyboardContainer.Clock = decoupledClock;
 
-            storyboardContainer.Add(storyboard = working.Beatmap.Storyboard.CreateDrawable());
+            storyboard = working.Beatmap.Storyboard.CreateDrawable(beatmapBacking);
             storyboard.Passing = false;
+
+            storyboardContainer.Add(storyboard);
+            decoupledClock.ChangeSource(working.Track);
         }
     }
 }